I love all-in-one breakfast casseroles and this one has cubed Italian bread in it so like I said everything is in there for breakfast, meat, bread, eggs, and fabulous!
The casserole can even be made ahead and taste great reheated so it's perfect for any holiday but we always seem to have all the ingredients we need around Easter leftovers.
We called it Easter Italian Breakfast in our home because we really made this with all the leftover Easter Bread from the holiday and it was perfect for repurposing all the meats from appetizers and dinner on Easter Sunday.
Mom always had leftover Homemade Easter Bread, baked sausage, and even home-fried or leftover potatoes that can go into this casserole, and if you don't happen to have escarole use spinach.
Just check out our suggestions and tips below to substitute whatever your family likes because this baked breakfast casserole can be plain and simple or loaded with everything in it.
The golden brown melted cheeses on top like mozzarella or provolone make this over-the-top delicious.
If you love easy recipes you may also like to try our Homemade Sausage and Cheddar Biscuits, they're so yummy.
Scroll down to make this absolutely perfect breakfast everyone will rave about!
Holiday and Weekend Casseroles
Ours loaded with meat casserole is perfect for the weekends, holidays,s and weeknight meals especially if you have guests to entertain.
This whole meal in one pan will feed at least 6 people and is certainly a game-changer when it comes to standing over a hot stove and making everything separately!
The whole casserole takes around an hour to bake and frees up time to spend with the family during those busy seasons and weekdays.
I have several suggestions below, for different combinations of ingredients so don't worry if you're allergic or not fond of one of the ingredients our family loves, build your own.
Tips
- Use pre-cooked sausage and bacon for faster cooking or leftover meats that are cooked like sausage and spiral ham from the holiday
- Always oil spray the casserole dish with oil spray or butter it first
- Use Italian bread or Easter Bread (we used Panettone at Christmas) not American soft bread cubes
- Fresh herbs are the best to use in our recipe for the best flavor
- This casserole can be made a day before and taste great reheated to save time
- If you like a little heat add a dash of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the egg mixture
- For a super cheesy casserole add a blend of cheeses on top instead of using one kind
- If using all Italian sausage hot marinara poured on top is a great addition to this breakfast for dinner
- Add cooked leftover cubed potatoes
- Any meat can be used from a previous meal during the week to repurpose just make sure it's boneless
- slice or cube all meats into small pieces you're using
Cooked Meat Toppings
- Italian sausage patties
- Canadian bacon
- Boneless pork chops
- Ham or ham steak chopped
- Boneless deli meat of your choice(ham works the best) mortadella, salami, pepperoni
- Bacon, prosciutto, pancetta
Vegetable Suggestions
- artichoke hearts canned
- chopped asparagus
- escarole, spinach, swiss chard
- roasted peppers
- hot peppers
- chopped plum tomatoes
- diced eggplant
- diced zucchini
- finely minced garlic
- chopped onions
- sliced portabello mushrooms
- potatoes
- chopped fresh parsley, dill, basil, mint oregano can be used
Creations
- use a combination of ham, salami, sausage, prosciutto
- mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, Swiss and Cheddar cheeses
- add red pepper flakes or hot sauce for a spicy casserole
- mix and match assorted vegetables and omit meats for vegetarian
- add fish in place of the meats
- leftover leg of lamb is also a nice addition with spinach or escarole
- get creative and make a combination of leftovers you have to repurpose
Pin For Later
More Breakfast Recipe Ideas
Homemade Breakfast Sausages
Easy Bacon and Egg Biscuits
Buttermilk Pancakes
All-In-One Pan Easy Breakfast Casseroles
These breakfast-style casseroles are the easiest way to get everything all served at once without all the fuss.
Precooked meats, leftovers from another meal, and vegetables or whatever you have can be transformed into the easiest of all breakfasts to feed a large family, or guests, on a busy day.
One other tip, for those who have picky eaters, make this casserole super plain and set up a breakfast bar, just serve the cooked meats and a tray of sliced fruits, and let them add whatever they like.
Enjoy, hope you love this recipe as much as we do.
Easter Italian Breakfast Casserole
Yield: 8
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 15 M
This is a delicious Italian breakfast casserole great anytime loaded with meats, cheese, vegetables, and the perfect way to repurpose leftovers.
Ingredients
- Egg mixture:
- 4 large egg whites
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon chopped parsley, oregano, basil, and dill (use fresh when available)
- Optional: red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or a dash of hot sauce
- Bread and filling:
- 4 cups (4-6 slices) of Italian bread or Easter Bread (we used Panettone at Christmas) not American soft bread cubes
- cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 cups chopped boiled escarole or chopped spinach, (drained and pat dry if using frozen)
- 1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers
- 1/2 cup diced ham, I usually use leftover spiral ham or a Ham steak
- 1/2 cup cooked Italian sausage cut into small pieces
- see notes below for other additions and combinations to substitute
- cooking spray oil
- Topping:
- 3/4 cup shredded Mozzarella, Provolone or Gruyere cheese (only use a brick style and grate it not slices.)
- 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano grated cheese
- olive oil or melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350-degree oven.
- Coat a glass baking dish or a 2-quart casserole with melted butter and lightly sprayed with cooking oil.
- To prepare the eggs, whisk egg whites, eggs, and milk in a medium bowl.
- Add the mustard, pepper, and herbs and whisk to combine.
- Toss in cubed bread, escarole or spinach, roasted red peppers, sausage, and ham in a large bowl.
- Add the egg mixture and toss to coat.
- Transfer to the prepared baking dish and push down to compact.
- Cover with foil.
- Bake until the bread mixture is set, 50 minutes to an hour in the center.
- Uncover, sprinkle with cheeses, drizzle with olive oil or melted butter around a tablespoon.
- Sprinkle with a little more parsley and continue baking until the middle is puffed and golden on top, 15-20 minutes more or how crispy you prefer you cheese on top.
Notes
Vegetable Suggestions
- artichoke hearts canned
- chopped asparagus
- escarole, spinach, swiss chard
- roasted peppers
- hot peppers
- chopped plum tomatoes
- diced eggplant
- diced zucchini
- finely minced garlic
- chopped onions
- sliced portabello mushrooms
- cooked cubed potatoes
- chopped fresh parsley, dill, basil, mint oregano can be used
Cooked Meat Toppings
- Bacon, pancetta,proscuitto
- Italian sausage patties
- Canadian bacon
- Boneless pork chops
- Ham or ham steak chopped
- Boneless deli meat of your choice(ham works the best) mortadella, salami, pepperoni
Tips
- Use pre-cooked sausage and bacon for faster cooking or leftover meats that are cooked like sausage and spiral ham from the holiday
- Always oil spray the casserole dish with oil spray or butter it first
- Use Italian bread or Easter Bread (we used Panettone at Christmas) not American soft bread cubes
- Fresh herbs are the best to use in our recipe for the best flavor
- This casserole can be made a day before and taste great reheated to save time
- If you like a little heat add a dash of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the egg mixture
- For a super cheesy casserole add a blend of cheeses on top instead of using one kind
- If using all Italian sausage hot marinara poured on top is a great addition to this breakfast for dinner
- Add cooked leftover cubed potatoes
- Any meats can be used from a previous meal during the week to repurpose just make sure it's boneless
- slice or cube all meats into small pieces you're using
Pin for Later
More Breakfast Recipe Ideas
Egg Breakfast Casserole
Sausage and Cheddar Biscuits
