Easy Egg Casserole Recipe: Perfect for Christmas Morning
Do you ever need an easy recipe for a breakfast casserole to serve for the holidays or family brunches? This is a hearty dish with loads of flavor that is so simple to make with some grocery store time savers. You can also make this egg casserole the night before, which can be a huge benefit since there is usually limited time in the mornings. I have made this recipe many times over the years, tweaking it for improvements. It is now a dish that always gets compliments and never results in leftovers.
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sweet vidala onion, chopped
- 1/3 cup red bell pepper, chopped
- 7 slices cooked bacon, crumbled, discard fatty part
- 2 cups frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
- 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 eggs or Egg Beater equivalent, beaten
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon herbs de provence
Recipe Shortcuts
There are a couple of ready made items that can be purchased at the grocery store to save time. I really like Egg Beaters. They are half the calories of regular eggs and all the protein since they are made from egg whites. Not a big deal, but they are also easier to use than cracking and beating eggs. Boars Head pre-cooked bacon is also a good tasting item that makes this dish so much easier. I just heat it in the microwave and then crumble it in the recipe. It is much better than using imitation bacon bits and far easier than cooking bacon and dealing with all that grease! You can also purchase packaged, shredded cheese to cut down on that step as well. I prefer shredding my own cheese for better taste and less preservatives.
Easy-to-Make Egg Casserole Recipe
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Layer bottom on 13 x 9 inch pan with hash brown potatoes.
- Sprinkle bacon, onion and red pepper over potatoes. Then sprinkle cheese.
- Beat eggs in medium bowl. Add milk, salt and herbs de provence and stir. Pour over mixture in baking dish.
- Bake 40-45 minutes. Casserole is done when table knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
The Provence Region of France
Herbs De Provence: The Secret Ingredient
In addition to the bacon, onion and red pepper, the single ingredient that packs this dish full on flavor is herbs de provence. If you have never tried this combination of herbs before, I have a feeling you will thank me for it. Originated in southern France, Herbs de provence is marketed under the McCormick brand of spices in the United States. It is a traditional mix of herbs containing marjoram, thyme, lavender, rosemary and savory. Though it is great on meats, it is especially delectable on eggs.
In France, herbs de provence is sold in just about every souvenir shop. It comes is small burlap bags. Though I have tried the herbs sold in France, I prefer the McCormick Organic Herbs de Provence. The authentic version is not chopped as fine and as a result I found it a bit too "earthy" tasting.
Hearty Breakfast: Good Source of Protein
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1 rectangle | |
| Calories | 268 |
| Calories from Fat | 126 |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Fat 14 g | 22% |
| Saturated fat 6 g | 30% |
| Unsaturated fat 0 g | |
| Carbohydrates 17 g | 6% |
| Sugar 3 g | |
| Fiber 2 g | 8% |
| Protein 17 g | 34% |
| Cholesterol 31 mg | 10% |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
An Egg Casserole to Make Ahead
If you are pushed for time, as many of us our in the mornings, you can go ahead and make this entire casserole the night before. Just cover and refrigerate. In the morning, remember to take it out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before you want to put it in the oven. If you forget that part, your cooking time will be longer.
