Description
Ina Garten’s brunch egg casserole delivers comfort and flavor in one delightful dish. Layers of creamy eggs, crisp bread, and savory ham create a crowd-pleasing morning meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 4 strips bacon, chopped and partially cooked
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups unseasoned stuffing cubes or croutons
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- Dash black pepper
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly coat an 11×7-inch baking dish with unsalted butter to prevent sticking.
- Create a foundation layer by distributing croutons uniformly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, ensuring complete coverage.
- Generously sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the crouton base, allowing for even cheese distribution.
- In a medium mixing bowl, vigorously whisk large eggs, whole milk, kosher salt, ground mustard powder, onion powder, and freshly ground black pepper until the mixture becomes smooth and well-integrated.
- Carefully cascade the seasoned egg mixture over the crouton and cheese layers, guaranteeing comprehensive coverage throughout the baking dish.
- Delicately arrange partially cooked bacon strips across the top of the casserole, creating an appetizing protein layer.
- Transfer the assembled casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, monitoring until the egg mixture sets completely and a knife inserted into the center emerges clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes, enabling the ingredients to settle and flavors to meld.
- Slice into generous portions and serve warm, accompanied by fresh seasonal fruit or a crisp mixed green salad for a complete brunch experience.
Notes
- Grab day-old bread or stale slices for maximum texture absorption and crunch.
- Nestling cheese between bread layers creates melty pockets of gooey deliciousness.
- Whisk eggs and milk thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly throughout the mixture.
- Pre-cook bacon until slightly tender, ensuring it won’t turn tough during baking.
- Test casserole doneness by inserting a knife near the center – a clean blade signals perfect cooking completion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 368 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 602 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg