Holiday breakfast hack: Bacon and egg casserole that you can make ahead

The holidays are a perfect time to enjoy this hearty breakfast casserole, but really, it’s perfect any time of the year. You could even whip it up in the morning, place it in the fridge and have brinner ready for you.

Chock full of bacon, ham, spinach, feta cheese and eggs, this is my life saver on Christmas morning because this casserole feeds a crowd. It can serve between 6 to 10 people, depending on how hungry everyone is. Definitely a perfect option for around the holidays since you only need to spend about 10 minutes in the kitchen putting it together the night before. Then, just let it bake!

After baking, the bread is tender, not soggy, soft and incredibly flavorful. And let’s not even discuss the other simple but stellar flavors going on: hearty bacon, a bit of ham, some cheese — a casserole that will satisfy everyone at the table.

Make-ahead breakfast casserole recipe

Serves 8 – 10

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 50 minutes | Total time: 1 hour + overnight

Ingredients:

• 8 slices bacon, cooked to a desired crispness and crumbled
• 1 (8-ounce) loaf French bread, cut into 2-inch cubes
• 8 large eggs
• 3 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup diced ham
• 1 (8-ounce) package fresh baby spinach
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
• Shredded cheddar cheese, for topping (optional)

Directions:

1. Lightly grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish or a 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray and set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and milk; whisk the two until well blended.
3. Stir in the crumbled bacon, ham, spinach, cheeses and ground nutmeg; season the mixture with salt and pepper.
4. Add the bread; mix it all until thoroughly combined.
5. Pour the mixture into previously prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with shredded cheese, if you are using the cheese topping.
6. Cover the casserole with foil and refrigerate it overnight.
7. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
8. Bake the casserole uncovered for 50 minutes or until the eggs are cooked and the top is puffed and golden brown.
9. Let it stand for several minutes before serving.

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