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Ultimate Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast Casserole with Sausage and Gruyère

Close-up of a square slice of savory Christmas breakfast casserole featuring bread, egg, cheese, and sausage chunks.
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Prepare this hearty, savory strata the night before Christmas for a stress-free holiday morning. This crowd-pleasing casserole features sourdough bread, rich Gruyère cheese, and savory sausage baked in a creamy egg custard.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound breakfast sausage, cooked and drained
  • 1 (10-ounce) loaf sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

  1. Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Drain off all grease and set aside.
  2. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Distribute half of the cubed sourdough bread evenly over the bottom of the dish.
  3. Sprinkle half of the cooked sausage and half of the Gruyère and Cheddar cheeses over the bread layer. Repeat with the remaining bread, sausage, and cheeses.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, dry mustard powder, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard until well combined. This is your custard base.
  5. Slowly pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and sausage layers in the baking dish. Gently press down on the bread to help it absorb the liquid.
  6. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight. This is the key to a stress-free Christmas morning.
  7. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the plastic wrap from the casserole.
  8. Bake uncovered for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the casserole is puffed, golden brown on top, and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
  9. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This easy Christmas brunch recipe is ready for your festive gathering.

Notes

  • If you need to bake this sooner, allow the assembled casserole to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before placing it in the preheated oven, though overnight soaking yields the best texture.
  • You can substitute the sausage with cooked bacon or diced ham for variation in this make ahead holiday casserole.
  • For extra richness, use only Gruyère cheese. For a sharper flavor, use only Cheddar.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/christmas-breakfast-casserole-recipe/