By Becky Hardin
Updated Feb 27, 2025
Ham And Cheese Breakfast Casserole is my family’s favorite make-ahead breakfast for special occasions. Packed with ham, cheese, bread, eggs, and aromatic herbs, this easy breakfast casserole is both hearty and delicious. It’s cheesy, savory, and is so easy to make!
5-Star Review
“Sweet Heaven! This is sooo decadent and delicious!!!” -Sandi
Breakfast Casserole with Ham, Egg, and Cheese
My overnight ham and cheese breakfast casserole is the perfect solution for serving a satisfying and filling meal to a crowd, especially during holidays. You can prep it the night before and just bake it when you’re ready to serve your guests or your family. It’s so comforting, creamy, simple, and bursting with flavor!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 4 cups day-old, challah or brioche bread, cut into 1-inch cubes.
- ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ▢ 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ▢ 1 medium sweet yellow onion peeled and diced
- ▢ ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ▢ ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ▢ ½ lb. thinly-sliced good deli ham roughly cut
- ▢ 6 large eggs
- ▢ 1½ cups milk or half and half
- ▢ ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ▢ ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- ▢ 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves minced
- ▢ salt & pepper to taste
- ▢ 1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
Video
Instructions
- Spray an 8-inch baking dish (1½-2 qt) with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cut brioche bread into small cubes and spread the cubed bread in the bottom of the dish. 4 cups
- Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add diced onion, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Sauté until onions are lightly caramelized, approximately 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn the onion. 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 medium sweet yellow onion, ½ teaspoon Kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon granulated sugar
- In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, half and half, dry mustard, nutmeg, thyme, salt, and pepper. 6 large eggs, 1½ cups milk or half and half, ½ teaspoon dry mustard, ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, salt & pepper
- Spread the ham over the bread cubes, then spread the onion mixture on top of the ham. ½ lb. thinly-sliced good deli ham
- Layer on the Gruyere or Swiss cheese then pour the egg mixture over the cheese. 1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
- Press down gently on the top to ensure all bread cubes get soaked with the egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Before baking, warm the casserole on the counter for 15 minutes and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until center is set and edges are bubbly and top begins to brown. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean.
- If casserole is browning too soon, loosely cover it with foil near the end of the cooking time. The casserole is delicious served for any meal. Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Ham and Egg Casserole Step by Step
Start by spraying an 8-inch baking dish (1½-2 qt) with non-stick cooking spray.
Cube the bread : Cut brioche bread into small cubes (should be 4 cups) and spread the cubed bread in the bottom of the dish.
Cook onions : Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
To this add 1 medium diced sweet yellow onion, ½ teaspoon of Kosher salt, ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon of granulated sugar.
Sauté until onions are lightly caramelized, approximately 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn the onion.
Prepare the egg mix: Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the 6 large eggs, 1½ cups of half and half (or milk), ½ teaspoon of dry mustard, ¼ teaspoon of grated nutmeg, 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme leaves, and salt and pepper. Keep it aside.
Layer the casserole: At this point start layering the casserole. Spread the ½ lb. thinly-sliced deli ham over the bread cubes, then spread the onion mixture on top of the ham.
Now layer on the 1 cup of shredded Gruyere (or Swiss cheese) then pour the egg mixture over the cheese.
Press down gently on the top to ensure all bread cubes get soaked with the egg mixture. Cover with plastic sheet and refrigerate overnight.
Bake and serve: Before baking, bring the casserole to room temperature for 15 minutes and preheat the oven to 350°F.
Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until center is set and edges are bubbly and the top begins to brown. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean.
If casserole is browning too soon, loosely cover it with foil near the end of the cooking time. Enjoy!
How to Store and Reheat
Leftovers can be refrigerated for 3-5 days. Reheat in the microwave and serve.
To freeze, let the casserole come to room temperature. Cut in portions, wrap each portion in plastic wrap. Transfer all individually wrapped pieces to a freezer-friendly bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat in the microwave.
Serving Suggestions
I enjoy my ham and cheese breakfast casserole with White Bread slices sometimes and a serving of Sautéed Vegetables . If I have any leftover Ham Fried Rice then the combination is just heavenly!
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Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups day-old, challah or brioche bread, cut into 1-inch cubes.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 medium sweet yellow onion peeled and diced
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ lb. thinly-sliced good deli ham roughly cut
- 6 large eggs
- 1½ cups milk or half and half
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves minced
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
Instructions
- Spray an 8-inch baking dish (1½-2 qt) with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cut brioche bread into small cubes and spread the cubed bread in the bottom of the dish. 4 cups
- Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add diced onion, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Sauté until onions are lightly caramelized, approximately 10 minutes. Be careful not to burn the onion. 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 medium sweet yellow onion, ½ teaspoon Kosher salt, ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, ¼ teaspoon granulated sugar
- In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, half and half, dry mustard, nutmeg, thyme, salt, and pepper. 6 large eggs, 1½ cups milk or half and half, ½ teaspoon dry mustard, ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg, 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves, salt & pepper
- Spread the ham over the bread cubes, then spread the onion mixture on top of the ham. ½ lb. thinly-sliced good deli ham
- Layer on the Gruyere or Swiss cheese then pour the egg mixture over the cheese. 1 cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese
- Press down gently on the top to ensure all bread cubes get soaked with the egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Before baking, warm the casserole on the counter for 15 minutes and preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bake, uncovered, 40-50 minutes or until center is set and edges are bubbly and top begins to brown. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean.
- If casserole is browning too soon, loosely cover it with foil near the end of the cooking time. The casserole is delicious served for any meal. Enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
