Christmas Breakfast Sausage Casserole 

Christmas morning is a time of joy, merriment and overly excited kids. Children tend to wake up extra early on this day. It is not a morning that you want to spend hours in the kitchen making breakfast. You want to sit there and watch their eyes light up with happiness.

This is a quick and easy breakfast meal. It requires very few ingredients, very little time and you can prepare it the night before. Then all you need to do is preheat and let it bake.

I do not tend to leave this alone on other holidays either. It is perfect for those times when you want to spend as much time together as you can.

Christmas Casserole is one of those comfort foods that just make you warm inside. Guess what? You can even feel a little healthier after eating it!

We are going to hit everyone of the basic food groups with this meal. This is a one pan meal, and when you make it the night before, makes Christmas morning even more fun.

Variations and Additions:

I love to change up foods, just to prevent boredom and to also give a little surprise when my family is expecting food a certain way.

So some of the methods I use include:

1. Add bacon, freshly cooked and crumbled, to the top
2. Instead of sausage, use ham or beef
3. Add some diced red and green peppers
4. Sneak in some diced vegetables such as mushrooms or broccoli
5. Use a different type and flavor of bread. Texas Toast, Brioche, Challah or even French bread
6. Try a different type of cheese. Pepperjack, Swiss, Mozzarella or your favorite flavor

Tips, Tricks and Storage

Some of these tips may seem obvious, however, they are still useful. I know they tend to make my life easier.

1. Make ahead: Preparing this casserole the night before is the smart thing to do for Christmas morning. This also allows the flavors to seep into each other, and overnight allows the egg mix to seep into the bread of choice. You need at least 2 hours for this, but overnight is best.
2. For those that worry the casserole will be soggy, use stale bread, or heat the bread in an oven for 10 minutes at 350*
3. After storing in the refrigerator overnight, set the casserole out for half an hour. This will allow the casserole to bake evenly.
4. The Christmas casserole can be frozen after preparing, but not baking. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and then with a layer of aluminum foil. The casserole can then be frozen for 1 to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before baking.

What ingredients do you need for Christmas Casserole

1  tsp mustard powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 pound ground sausage

2 cups of milk 

4 eggs beaten

6 slices of cubed bread of choice

8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese

How to make Christmas Casserole

FIRST STEP:

Preheat oven to 350* (the next morning)

Crumble the sausage into a skillet and cook until done, drain the fat

 

SECOND STEP:

In a mixing bowl, mix together the milk, the eggs, salt and mustard powder.

Add in the bread cubes, sausage, and cheese. Stir to coat evenly

THIRD STEP:

Pour the mixture into a lightly sprayed 9 x 13 baking dish

Cover and store overnight in the refrigerator.

FOURTH STEP:

Leave the cover on and bake for 45 to 60 minutes.

Uncover, lower the heat to 325* and bake for another 30 minutes or until it is set.

Enjoy!