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cheesy ham & bacon breakfast casserole

(2 ratings)
sokygal avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Teresa G.
@sokygal
Here, KY

This is one of our favorite "assemble the night before" breakfast casseroles and is a great use for the leftovers from that holiday meal. It's a yummy combination of croissants and Italian bread soaked in a savory eggy custard with smoked ham and three melty cheeses and topped with finely crumbled bacon and fresh chives. So delicious!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Wow, not only does this breakfast casserole taste delicious it smells wonderful too! The croissants are what makes this special. They add a fabulous buttery flavor to the dish that other breakfast casseroles can lack. The ham and bacon are a tasty pair and the glorious cheese is melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(2 ratings)
yield 9 to 12
prep time 1 Hr 15 Min
cook time 1 Hr
method Bake

Ingredients For cheesy ham & bacon breakfast casserole

  • 5 lg
    croissants (stale, torn/cut bite-size)
  • 2 thick slice
    Italian bread (stale, torn bite-size)
  • 1 1/2 c
    chopped leftover baked ham
  • 1 lg
    shallot, minced
  • 6 oz
    baby Swiss cheese, shredded or chopped
  • 3 - 4 oz
    Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 4 lg
    eggs
  • 2 c
    milk (whole or 2%)
  • 3/4 - 1 tsp
    Jane's Krazy Mixed Up Salt (or your favorite seasoned salt)
  • 1/8 c
    sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 - 4 Tbsp
    real, finely crumbled smoked bacon bits
  • 1 Tbsp
    minced fresh chives

How To Make cheesy ham & bacon breakfast casserole

  • 1
    The evening before, gather and prep ingredients.
  • 2
    Grease a 13" x 9" baking dish.
  • 3
    Evenly distribute torn croissants and bread in the baking dish.
  • 4
    Evenly distribute the ham, shallots, baby Swiss and Monterey Jack over the bread; set aside.
  • 5
    In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and about 1/2 cup of the milk until well blended; whisk in the salt. Add the remainder of the milk in several stages, whisking well after each addition.
  • 6
    Slowly pour milk mixture over the casserole.
  • 7
    Scatter a small amount of cheddar over the casserole. Lightly press down on the casserole with a large spoon or impeccably clean hands (as Julia Child would say) to help the bread soak up the liquid.
  • 8
    Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil; place in refrigerator overnight.
  • 9
    The next day, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes before mealtime, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • 10
    Remove casserole from refrigerator, temporarily remove foil, and scatter bacon bits over top.
  • 11
    Re-cover with foil. Place casserole dish on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, rotate baking sheet 180 degrees and bake, uncovered, for an additional 30 minutes.
  • 12
    Allow to cool for a few minutes. Scatter chives over the top. Serve immediately. Cover and refrigerate leftovers.
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