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Cozy Slow Cooker Christmas Breakfast Casserole (Easy Recipe)

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A fluffy, cheesy slow cooker breakfast casserole packed with sausage, veggies, and custard-like texture—perfect for a stress-free Christmas morning.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 10 large eggs (room temperature preferred)
  • 2 cups whole milk (or half-and-half)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 8 cups cubed day-old bread (brioche, challah, or French bread)
  • 1 pound breakfast sausage (bulk or links, casings removed)
  • 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped (optional)
  • ¼ cup melted butter (for topping)
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs (for topping)
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Brown the sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the breakfast sausage, breaking it up, until browned and crumbly (6-8 minutes). Leave about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan. Transfer sausage to a paper towel-lined plate.
  2. Sauté the aromatics: In the same skillet, cook the diced onion and red bell pepper over medium heat until softened (4-5 minutes). Add spinach in the last minute and stir until wilted.
  3. Whisk the egg mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, dry mustard, garlic powder, and nutmeg until frothy (about 1 minute).
  4. Layer in the slow cooker: Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with nonstick spray or use a liner. Layer half the bread, half the sausage, half the veggies, and 1 cup cheddar. Repeat with remaining bread, sausage, veggies, and top with remaining cheddar and mozzarella.
  5. Pour the egg mixture: Slowly pour the whisked eggs over the layers. Gently press down with a rubber spatula to ensure even soaking. Do not stir. Cover and refrigerate overnight (8-12 hours).
  6. Cook: In the morning, let the slow cooker insert sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the center is set and a knife inserted comes out clean.
  7. Make the topping (optional): About 30 minutes before serving, mix melted butter, panko breadcrumbs, and Parmesan. Sprinkle over the casserole, cover, and cook for the remaining 30 minutes.
  8. Rest: Turn off the slow cooker and let the casserole sit uncovered for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the overnight soak—it creates a tender, custard-like texture. Shred your own cheese for best melting. If your slow cooker runs hot, check at the 5-hour mark on LOW. The casserole holds on WARM for up to 2 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker breakfast casserole, Christmas breakfast, overnight casserole, egg casserole, holiday breakfast, sausage casserole

Find it online: https://dinadinnertable.com/cozy-slow-cooker-christmas-breakfast-casserole-easy-recipe/