You Can Make This Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake Up to 24 Hours in Advance

Name: You Can Make This Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake Up to 24 Hours in Advance
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 1/2 c. low-fat (1%) milk; 8 large eggs; 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard; 1 tsp. chopped thyme; 1 large baguette, thinly sliced; 8 oz. Cheddar cheese, shredded; 8 oz. thinly sliced deli ham; 1 tbsp. snipped chives

Plus, it's the most customizable breakfast casserole recipe EVER.

By Heather Finn and The Good Housekeeping Test KitchenUpdated: Dec 10, 2018

Yields:

Prep Time:

20 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 20 mins

Jump to recipe

There are few things that make me happier than starting out the weekend with a warm, hearty brunch, and this easy breakfast casserole recipe is the brunch dish to end all brunch dishes. Plus, it can sit in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking, so if you assemble the dish the night before you want to eat it, you can just pop it in the oven when you wake up. (Perfect for Christmas morning breakfast!)

My favorite part about this breakfast bake, though, is that it's ridiculously customizable. Experiment with your own additions or try your hand at these Test Kitchen-approved spins on the original recipe:

Adjust the herbs and cheese to your tastes. We use thyme and cheddar in this recipe, but you can mix and match herbs and cheeses to match your preferences. (Basil and mozzarella would be one delicious combo, for example.)
Go vegetarian. If you're trying to feed a crowd with some dietary restrictions, have no fear: This recipe is just as tasty minus the ham and plus sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or broccoli.
Make it sweet instead of savory. Craving something a little sweeter? Stir some sugar and spices into the milk mixture, and replace the ham and cheese with berries.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups
low-fat (1%) milk
8
large eggs
2 Tbsp.
Dijon mustard
1 tsp.
chopped thyme
1
large baguette, thinly sliced
8 oz.
Cheddar cheese, shredded
8 oz.
thinly sliced deli ham
1 Tbsp.
snipped chives

Directions

1. Step 1Spray square 2-quart baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Step 2In bowl, whisk milk, eggs, mustard, thyme, and ¼ tsp. each salt and pepper to blend.
3. Step 3Arrange half of bread, overlapping, in baking dish. Pour half of milk mixture over bread; sprinkle with half of cheddar. Top with ham, then repeat layering of bread, milk, and cheddar. Cover dish; chill 1 hour or up to overnight.
4. Step 4Heat oven to 350°F. Uncover and bake until golden and custard is set, 50 to 55 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chives.