Description
This Ultimate Overnight Beef Breakfast Casserole is a delicious and hearty make-ahead recipe perfect for busy mornings. Cubed sturdy bread is tossed with olive oil and seasoned, then layered with a flavorful mixture of cooked ground beef, sautéed bell peppers, onions, and spinach. A rich custard of eggs and milk is poured over, topped with shredded cheese, and refrigerated overnight. The next morning, it bakes to a golden, cheesy perfection, making a satisfying breakfast or brunch dish that can be garnished with fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Bread Mixture
- Sturdy bread (like sourdough or French bread), cut into cubes – 6 cups
- Olive oil – 1 tablespoon
- Salt – ½ teaspoon
- Pepper – ¼ teaspoon
Meat and Veggies
- Ground beef – 1 pound
- Diced bell peppers – 1 cup
- Diced onions – 1 cup
- Spinach – 1 cup fresh, roughly chopped
- Garlic powder – 1 teaspoon
- Salt – ½ teaspoon
- Pepper – ¼ teaspoon
Egg Custard
- Large eggs – 12
- Whole milk (or 2% or almond milk) – 2 cups
Topping
- Shredded cheddar cheese (or pepper jack or mozzarella) – 2 cups
- Fresh herbs (like chives or parsley), chopped – 2 tablespoons for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Bread: In a large bowl, toss cubed bread with olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated. Spread the bread cubes evenly in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish to form the base layer.
- Cook Beef and Veggies: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook ground beef until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat. Add diced onions and bell peppers to the skillet, cooking until softened. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper for flavor.
- Whisk Egg Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and any additional seasonings you prefer to create the egg custard.
- Assemble Casserole: Layer the cooked beef and vegetable mixture evenly over the bread in the baking dish. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the top to soak the layers.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese or your preferred cheese variety evenly over the casserole surface.
- Refrigerate Overnight: Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator overnight to allow the bread to soak the custard and flavors to meld.
- Bring to Room Temperature: In the morning, remove the casserole from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes to ensure even baking.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes until the top is golden brown and the eggs are fully set.
- Cool and Serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- Using sturdy bread like sourdough or French bread helps maintain texture after soaking in the egg mixture.
- You can substitute whole milk with 2% or almond milk based on dietary preferences.
- For added nutrition, spinach is included, but you can omit or replace it with other greens.
- The casserole can be customized with different cheeses such as pepper jack or mozzarella.
- Letting the casserole rest at room temperature before baking helps it cook evenly.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: overnight breakfast casserole, beef breakfast casserole, make-ahead breakfast, baked egg casserole, hearty breakfast recipe
