Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Make-ahead ham and cheese breakfast casserole! Just bread, cheese, tomatoes, ham, eggs, and milk. Feeds a crowd.

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
Sheryl Julian

Put four favorite breakfast ingredients – ham, eggs, cheese and bread – into one dish and you have the perfect morning wake-up call for a house full of guests.

Depending on what part of the country you're from, you might think of this as savory bread pudding, breakfast strata, or breakfast casserole.

No matter what you call it, this hearty make-ahead breakfast has everything going for it!

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
Sheryl Julian

This casserole is made by layering triangles of white bread in a dish with diced ham, sliced tomatoes, and grated cheese. Pour some eggs whisked with milk over top, then send it to the fridge overnight.

What happens as the casserole sits is like magic.

The bread absorbs all the liquid, like a sponge. When baked, the top forms a delicious eggy crust while the middle stays soft and chewy. It's rich with tomatoes and melted cheese, and a little smoky from the ham.

Squares of this casserole slice neatly and lift from the pan cleanly. The individual layers look so impressive when served!

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 60 mins
Total Time 80 mins
Servings 10 servings

Look for loaves of bread at the store marked "toasting." These are generally firmer than other loaves of white sandwich bread. (And if you can't find toasting bread, just buy sandwich bread that seems fairly firm and substantial.)

If the tomatoes at the store don't look ripe, it's fine to skip them for this recipe.

You can substitute another melting cheese in place of the cheddar, if you want, like Swiss cheese or Monterey jack.

Ingredients

  • Butter (for the dish)

  • 1 loaf sliced white toasting bread

  • 3/4 pound mild cheddar, grated

  • 8 small tomatoes, or 16 cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced

  • 1 thick slice (3/4 pound) flavorful baked ham, cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 2 1/2 cups diced)

  • 10 large eggs

  • 3 cups whole milk

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method

  1. Prepare the bread:

    Butter a deep 9-x 13-inch baking dish. Cut the bread slices on a diagonal to make large triangles. Fit as many triangles as you can in the bottom of the dish, cutting smaller pieces to wedge between the larger ones, if necessary, to completely cover the bottom.

    Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
    Sheryl Julian
  2. Begin layering the casserole:

    Sprinkle the bottom layer of bread with half the cheese. Lay half the tomato slices here and there over top, and sprinkle with half the ham.

    Add another layer of bread, again cutting smaller pieces, if necessary, to make a solid layer. Sprinkle with all but 2 tablespoons of the remaining cheese, and the remaining tomatoes and ham. Cover with a third layer of bread. (You may have a few slices of bread leftover.)

    Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
    Sheryl Julian
    Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
    Sheryl Julian
  3. Whisk together the eggs and milk:

    In a bowl, beat the eggs, milk, and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Pour the mixture carefully over the bread. With your hands, press the bread into the egg mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons cheese over top.

    Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
    Sheryl Julian
  4. Cover and refrigerate:

    Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 48 hours.

  5. Preheat the oven and let the dish come to room temperature:

    When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 375°F. Take the dish out of the refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature for 30 minutes.

  6. Bake:

    Remove the plastic wrap or foil and place on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake until it is puffed and golden brown and cooked through in the middle, 55 to 60 minutes.

    A thermometer inserted into the center of the dish should register 160°F. If the casserole needs to cook longer, cover it loosely with foil and continue cooking for 5 to 10 minutes.

    Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
    Sheryl Julian
  7. Let the casserole rest:

    Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before cutting into squares.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
524 Calories
24g Fat
45g Carbs
31g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories 524
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 24g 31%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Cholesterol 251mg 84%
Sodium 1064mg 46%
Total Carbohydrate 45g 17%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 31g
Vitamin C 10mg 50%
Calcium 470mg 36%
Iron 4mg 23%
Potassium 575mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.