Description
This Croissant Breakfast Casserole is a rich and savory morning dish perfect for brunch or a special holiday breakfast. Featuring buttery croissant pieces soaked in a creamy custard of eggs, milk, and cream, combined with cheddar, mozzarella, and your choice of bacon or breakfast sausage, this casserole offers a delightful blend of textures and flavors. Topped with green onions and baked to golden perfection, it can be prepared ahead of time for effortless serving.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 4 large croissants, cut into 1-inch pieces
Custard Mixture
- 6 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
Cheeses and Meat
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup cooked bacon or breakfast sausage, crumbled
Seasonings and Extras
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- Butter or nonstick spray (for greasing the baking dish)
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish well with butter or nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange croissants: Spread the 1-inch croissant pieces evenly in the prepared baking dish to form the base of the casserole.
- Mix custard and fillings: In a large bowl, vigorously whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until fully combined. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese, shredded mozzarella cheese, crumbled cooked bacon or breakfast sausage, and chopped green onions until evenly distributed.
- Combine custard with croissants: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the croissant pieces in the baking dish. Gently press down on the croissant pieces so they soak up the custard mixture thoroughly, ensuring a rich custardy texture after baking.
- Let soak: Allow the casserole to sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes to let the croissants absorb the custard well. Alternatively, for a make-ahead option, cover the dish and refrigerate overnight.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set and no longer jiggly.
- Rest and serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes to allow it to firm up slightly before slicing into 8 servings and serving warm.
Notes
- Customize by adding sautéed vegetables like bell peppers or spinach for extra nutrition and flavor.
- Feel free to use different cheeses such as Swiss, Monterey Jack, or Gruyère for variation.
- This casserole is great for make-ahead meal prep and reheats well in the oven or microwave.
- Perfect for holiday breakfasts, brunches, or family gatherings.
