Description
Garten’s Easiest EVER Overnight Breakfast Casserole is a delightfully simple, hands-off brunch recipe inspired by Ina Garten’s effortless style. Loaded with bread, eggs, cheese, and savory breakfast sausage, it soaks overnight and bakes into a golden, fluffy, crowd-pleasing casserole—perfect for holidays, weekends, and entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb breakfast sausage (pork or turkey)
- 1 loaf French bread or brioche, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 8 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced (optional)
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook sausage in a skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain and set aside.
- Add bread cubes to the baking dish, then sprinkle sausage and both cheeses evenly over the top.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole, pressing the bread lightly so it absorbs the liquid.
- Cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (at least 8 hours).
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake uncovered for 45–55 minutes, or until puffed, golden, and set in the center.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing.
- Garnish with green onions and serve warm.
Notes
You can customize this casserole endlessly—swap in ham or bacon, add sautéed spinach or mushrooms, or replace Gruyère with Swiss cheese. To prep ahead even earlier, assemble up to 24 hours in advance. For a richer flavor, use brioche or challah bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 930mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 265mg
Keywords: overnight breakfast casserole, garten breakfast casserole, make-ahead brunch, sausage egg casserole, holiday breakfast, easy brunch recipe