Winter Brunch Egg Casserole (Printable)
Hearty baked casserole with eggs, vegetables, and cheese for cozy winter mornings.
# What you'll need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 1 medium onion, diced
02 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
03 - 1 cup baby spinach, chopped
04 - 1 cup cremini or white mushrooms, sliced
→ Dairy
05 - 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
06 - 1 cup whole milk
07 - ½ cup heavy cream
→ Eggs
08 - 8 large eggs
→ Bread
09 - 4 cups rustic bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (day-old or lightly toasted)
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 tsp salt
11 - ½ tsp black pepper
12 - ½ tsp dried thyme
13 - ¼ tsp smoked paprika
→ Optional Additions
14 - ½ cup cooked breakfast sausage or bacon, crumbled (for non-vegetarian version)
15 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and bell pepper, cooking for 4–5 minutes until softened. Add sliced mushrooms and cook for another 3 minutes. Stir in chopped spinach and cook until wilted, about 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and smoked paprika until fully blended and frothy.
04 - Add bread cubes, sautéed vegetables, half the shredded cheddar cheese, and cooked sausage or bacon (if using) to the egg mixture. Gently fold together until all bread pieces are evenly coated.
05 - Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top.
06 - Bake for 40–45 minutes until the center is firm and set, and the top is golden brown. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean.
07 - Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired. Serve warm.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The custard stays impossibly creamy while those top cubes get golden and crisp
- You can assemble it the night before and just bake when guests arrive
02 -
- The custard needs at least 30 minutes to set or it will weep all over your cutting board
- Day-old bread is crucial because fresh bread turns into pudding instead of maintaining those lovely crispy edges
03 -
- Cube the bread slightly larger than you think you should because it shrinks as it absorbs the custard
- Let the casserole rest on the counter for 20 minutes before baking so it cooks evenly throughout