My Christmas breakfast casserole with sausage is the easy, make-ahead breakfast I count on for Christmas morning. Savory breakfast sausage, sweet peppers, onion and sharp cheddar bake in a creamy egg custard, with no bread to soak.
It's my easy take on the old-fashioned Christmas wife saver breakfast casserole. Put it together the night before, then slide it into the oven while the coffee brews.
This one always takes me back to Christmas as a kid. Our mom always made a breakfast casserole for Christmas morning, and we had to wait for it to bake before we could open a single gift.
My sister and I even had to do the dishes first! Making it the night before means the only wait is for the oven.
If you love a good retro casserole, you'll also like my baked ziti and old-fashioned tuna noodle casserole, or browse all of my retro casserole recipes.
What to Know About This Christmas Breakfast Casserole
- No bread needed - unlike the classic wife saver, this one skips the bread, so there's nothing to turn soggy overnight.
- Real breakfast sausage - a pound of pork breakfast sausage gives every bite that cozy Christmas morning flavor.
- Easy overnight make-ahead - assemble it the night before, cover it and keep it in the fridge until morning.
- 350°F for about 35 minutes - it bakes in a 9x9 or 7x11 dish and serves 6.
- Creamy, not rubbery - sour cream and heavy cream keep the eggs soft and tender.
Ingredients for Christmas Breakfast Casserole with Sausage
- Eggs - the base of the creamy custard.
- Sour cream - adds richness and a little tang. Plain Greek yogurt works too.
- Heavy whipping cream - keeps the eggs tender. Half-and-half or whole milk works in a pinch.
- Salt and black pepper
- Pork breakfast sausage - a classic roll like Jimmy Dean is just right.
- Yellow onion - dice it small so it softens quickly.
- Green and red bell peppers - the red and green look so festive on the Christmas table.
- Sharp cheddar cheese - shred it from the block for the smoothest melt. Colby Jack or pepper jack are good swaps.
Full amounts are in the recipe card below.
How to Make Christmas Breakfast Casserole
Step 1: Brown the sausage
Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9x9 or 7x11 baking dish. Brown the sausage in a skillet, breaking it into crumbles, then drain off all but a little of the grease.
Step 2: Cook the peppers and onion
Add the onion and both bell peppers to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until they start to soften. Stir everything together with the sausage.
Step 3: Layer the casserole
Spread the sausage and veggies in the baking dish and sprinkle the cheddar over the top.
Step 4: Pour on the egg mixture
Whisk the eggs, sour cream, cream, salt and pepper until smooth, then pour it evenly over the sausage and cheese. To make it overnight, cover the dish now and refrigerate it.
Step 5: Bake
Bake for about 35 minutes, until the edges are set and the center barely jiggles. Ovens vary, and a casserole straight from the fridge needs a little longer. Top with sliced green onions and serve.
Grandma's Tips for the Best Christmas Breakfast Casserole
- Leave a little grease - a spoonful left in the skillet flavors the peppers and onion.
- Watch the middle - take it out when the center just barely jiggles. It keeps setting as it sits.
- Give it a few minutes - a short rest before slicing gives you neat squares.
- Use a thermometer if you have one - the center should read 160°F.
How to Make Ahead and Store Christmas Breakfast Casserole
- Overnight - assemble it through Step 4, cover it tightly and refrigerate up to 1 day. Bake it straight from the fridge and add a few extra minutes.
- Leftovers - keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
- Reheating - warm single squares in the microwave, or cover a bigger piece with foil and reheat it in a 350°F oven until hot.
Modern Updates
- Swap the meat - diced ham or crumbled bacon work in place of the sausage.
- Turn up the heat - use pepper jack instead of cheddar.
- Add more veggies - stir in sautéed mushrooms or a handful of spinach.
What to Serve With Christmas Breakfast Casserole
I like to set this out with something sweet for a cozy Christmas brunch. My old-fashioned monkey bread, homemade cinnamon rolls and easy pumpkin muffins are all family favorites.
A bowl of old-fashioned ambrosia salad adds something fresh and fruity. For toppings, set out avocado, sour cream or salsa.
FAQs
What is a wife saver casserole?
A wife saver is an old-fashioned make-ahead breakfast casserole, usually layered with bread, ham, eggs and cheese. You put it together the night before, so Christmas morning takes almost no work. My version skips the bread and uses sausage and peppers.
Can I make this Christmas breakfast casserole the night before?
Yes. Assemble it, cover it and refrigerate it overnight, up to 1 day. Bake it straight from the fridge and give it a few extra minutes.
How do I know when breakfast casserole is done?
The edges should be set and the center should barely jiggle when you gently shake the dish. A thermometer in the center should read 160°F.
How do you reheat leftover breakfast casserole?
Warm single squares in the microwave until hot. For a bigger piece, cover it with foil and reheat it in a 350°F oven.
More Christmas Recipes
- 30 Old-Fashioned Christmas Dinner Recipes
- 30 Church Cookbook Holiday Recipes
- Christmas Appetizers
- Old-Fashioned Christmas Candy
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
Easy Christmas Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x9 or 7x11 baking dish.
- Brown the sausage in a large skillet, breaking it into crumbles.
- Drain off all but a little of the grease.
- Add the onion and bell peppers and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until they start to soften. Stir them into the sausage.
- Spread the sausage mixture in the baking dish and top with the cheddar.
- Whisk the eggs, sour cream, cream, salt and pepper until smooth. Pour it evenly over the sausage and cheese.
- Bake for about 35 minutes, until the edges are set and the center barely jiggles. Ovens vary, so check early.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and serve with avocado, sour cream or salsa if you like.
Notes
- Ovens vary, so start checking at 35 minutes. A casserole straight from the fridge needs a few extra minutes.
- To make ahead, assemble through step 6, cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.
- Leave a little sausage grease in the skillet to flavor the peppers and onion.
- Plain Greek yogurt works in place of sour cream, and half-and-half or whole milk in place of the cream.
- Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
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