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This Christmas morning casserole is the perfect savory dish to enjoy with family during the holidays. Filled with sausage, cheddar cheese, and soft bread cubes, it’s an easy make-ahead meal that brings festive flavors to your holiday breakfast table.
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Pin ItWhy You’ll Love This Breakfast Casserole
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prep it the night before, pop it in the oven the next morning, and enjoy a cozy, stress-free brunch. It’s my go-to for Christmas brunch!
- Layered with Flavor: Buttery bread cubes (kind of like my favorite stuffing), savory sausage, sharp cheddar, and creamy cheese—every bite is warm and comforting.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: Whether it’s holiday brunch, Easter, or a lazy Sunday with friends, this casserole is always a crowd favorite.
- Easy to Customize: Swap the sausage for bacon or veggies, or change up the cheese—there are so many ways to make it your own (see my tips below!).
Christmas Morning Casserole Ingredients
Country White Bread: Thick slices of this slightly chewy bread soak up the egg mixture and add a great texture.
Pork Breakfast Sausage is the savory star of the dish! Opt for loose sausage so you can crumble it as it cooks.
Melted Butter: Helps keep the bread soft and adds richness to the casserole.
Dried Sage: A warm, earthy herb that pairs beautifully with sausage.
White and Yellow Cheddar Cheese: A mix of cheeses gives the casserole creamy and sharp flavors.
Eggs & Whole Milk: This combination creates the custardy base that holds the casserole together.
Cayenne Pepper & Dry Mustard: These spices add a subtle kick and a bit of tanginess to balance the rich flavors.
How to Make This Breakfast Casserole
Bake – Bake for about 40 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (if baking right away). If you’re prepping ahead, wait to preheat until the next morning.
Cook the sausage – In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the breakfast sausage until browned, about 10 minutes. Break it up into crumbles with a wooden spoon.
Prep the baking dish – Spray a 9×13-inch dish with nonstick cooking spray and add cubed bread. Pour melted butter evenly over the bread.
Add layers – Sprinkle the cooked sausage over the bread.
Make the egg mixture – In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cayenne, sage, dry mustard, salt, and pepper.
Pour it in – Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole. Then sprinkle cheese on top.
Bake or chill – You can bake it right away or cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Recipe Tips & Variations
Switch up the sausage: If you want to change things up, try turkey or spicy Italian sausage.
Vegetarian option: Omit the sausage and replace it with sautéed veggies like spinach, mushrooms, and bell peppers.
Cheese swap: For a unique twist, try using different cheeses, such as Gruyère or Monterey Jack.
Bread variations: You can use sourdough or brioche instead of country white bread for a different texture and flavor.
Freezing the leftovers: This casserole freezes well if you have any leftovers! Just portion it out and store it in airtight containers.
How to Store
To store any leftover Christmas morning casserole, cover it tightly with foil or transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze individual portions for up to 2 months; just reheat in the oven or microwave when you’re ready to enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
A breakfast casserole is a delicious and hearty dish made by layering classic breakfast ingredients like bread, eggs, cheese, sausage, and seasonings in a baking dish and cooking it all together.
The eggs and milk form a custard-like base that holds everything together as it bakes, creating a savory, satisfying meal. It’s often prepared the night before, making it a convenient, make-ahead option for busy mornings or when hosting brunch.
More Christmas Brunch recipes
This cheesy sausage breakfast casserole is truly a brunch favorite—easy, hearty, and always a hit!
If you make it, leave a comment and star rating below. I’d love to hear how it turned out and if you made it ahead for a special morning!
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Christmas Morning Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 slices white bread
- 1 lb pork breakfast sausage, loose
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1 tsp dried sage
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese , shredded
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- If you're going to bake right away, preheat the oven to 350°F; otherwise, preheat the oven the following day to 350°F (175°C)
- Prepare a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add the loose pork breakfast sausage to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Using a wooden spoon, break up the sausage into crumble-sized pieces and cook until browned about 10 minutes.
- Add the cubed bread to a baking dish. Pour the melted butter evenly over the bread cubes.
- Sprinkle the cooked sausage evenly over the bread.
- Whisk together the eggs, milk, cayenne pepper, sage, dry mustard, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread, sausage, and cheese.
- Sprinkle the cheese over the top.
- You can bake immediately (which I did) or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the following day.
- Bake for about 40 minutes until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I serve this every year on Christmas morning! It’s the best!