Make Ahead Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole is a hearty casserole that’s sure to make your mornings run smoother! You’ll need simple ingredients to make this casserole; frozen hash browns, diced ham (or any other breakfast meat), eggs, milk, and grated cheese! Assemble it the night before and all that’s left in the morning is popping it in the oven!
We’ve been told for years that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it’s also the most hectic meal of the day. I’m all over anything I can do the night before to make life easier in the morning. Just knowing breakfast is all assembled and hanging out in the fridge makes me sleep better!
Let’s talk about sleeping for a minute.
I’m one of the lucky ones that just can’t sleep past about 6:15 in the morning. There are so many nights when I climb under my covers and wish, and pray that I could sleep in just once. Just one time would be amazing! I turn my alarm off in hopes of waking up around 7:30 and feeling all sorts of rejuvenated.
Without fail, I roll over in the morning and peel my eyes open enough to see what time it is, and it’s always 6:15. Give or take 2 minutes! That’s right 6:17 makes you feel like a completely new woman!
Mornings are the busiest time of the day!
Maybe part of the reason I can’t sleep is because I feel like I’m the ONE and ONLY person in this house that’s responsible to make sure everyone gets up, gets a lunch out of the fridge and thrown into a lunch box. It’s my job to toss breakfast on the table. And for some crazy reason it’s also my job to make sure everyone has a jacket, hat, backpack, books, homework, pencil, helmet for football practice, on and on.
I swear if I didn’t get my rear out of bed in the mornings and wake everyone up, they’d still be nestled under their covers at 9:00, unless they wanted to do something fun like go hunting. They always manage to hear their alarm clocks and jump right out of bed for early morning hunting trips.
Anyway, in an effort to make life easier in the mornings I always try to either make breakfast the night before, or at least have a game plan for the next day.
Easy Make Ahead Breakfast Recipes
Here are a few other super simple make ahead breakfasts you might fall in love with. They’re all hearty enough to fill up my hungry boys, which is really saying something!
- Hot Breakfast Egg and Cheese Sliders
- Breakfast Burrito Bowls
- Freezer Breakfast Burritos
- Ham and Cheese Breakfast Quesadillas
How to make breakfast ahead of time.
Making Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole ahead of time is really simple.
First, follow the directions to completely assemble the casserole. Then you have three options.
- Bake immediately, then serve.
- Bake, cool. Refrigerate for later. Warm up single servings in the microwave as needed. This is a great option for those days when the whole family is running in different directions.
- Refrigerate. I usually refrigerate overnight. Bake an hour before you would like to serve the casserole.
Can I customize Make Ahead Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole?
Yes! Feel free to customize this casserole anyway you like!
My family loves it with browned and crumbled breakfast sausage. It’s also delicious with fried bacon, or a combination of any breakfast meats.
My mom adds green chilies to her breakfast casserole and my boys freak every single time! Add them if you’d like!
Of course you can top your casserole with your favorites. Sour cream, salsa, ketchup, parsley, or whatever you love.
Grab the Make Ahead Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole recipe!
Pin it for later, or print it out!
If you are the early bird at your house I sincerely hope you get to sleep in soon! No one can burn the candle at both ends forever without wearing down!
Make Ahead Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 20 oz Hash Browns Frozen
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup evaporated milk
- 2 cups ham diced
- 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup Swiss cheese grated
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
- 1/2 tsp pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, if you are baking casserole immediately.
- Spray 9 x 13 pan with nonstick baking spray.
- Spread hash browns evenly in baking dish.
- Season with salt and pepper. I usually start with 1/2 tsp each, then adjust to taste.
- Drizzle melted butter over hash browns.
- Spread diced ham, or other cooked breakfast meat, over hash browns. Sprinkle grated cheese over potatoes. Gently stir.
- Whisk eggs. Add milk and whisk together. Pour egg mixture over hash browns. Gently stir.
- Cover baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 5-10 more minutes or until its bubbly and cooked through.
Directions for making ahead of time.
- Assemble breakfast casserole. Cover with foil. Refrigerate. When you are ready to bake preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 55 minutes. Remove foil and bake 5-10 more minutes or until bubbly.
Pamela Ihle says
I put Dijon mustard in with egg mixture, about 1 Tablespoon. It took over an hour to bake, but I did not let it be jiggly in middle. It tasted great! I did use more hashbrowns and eggs. Increased the liquid.
Amy Engberson says
Adding dijon mustard is a great idea! I bet it amps up the flavor! Thanks for sharing!
Angela Ripperger says
Can you freeze this? I want make it ahead so I can pull it out and cook it from there.
Amy Engberson says
I haven’t ever tried freezing it. I think I would bake it first then freeze it. You’d need to thaw it before baking, then warm it up in the oven or microwave. Let me know how it goes.
Kristi says
Can this be prepared two days before serving?
Amy Engberson says
Yes! Cover it with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve it! I LOVE make ahead meals!
Linda says
Took an hour to bake. Is it supposed to be soupy?
Amy Engberson says
Hey, Linda! It’s a bit saucy, but shouldn’t be soupy. Did you use large eggs? Using smaller eggs would cause it to not quite set up. Other than that, without being there it’s hard to say why it didn’t quite set up.
Kim Reid says
I took this recipe to another step and gently browned the hash browns and onions to dry up any extra water from the potatoes and onions. Turned out absolutely delicious.
Amy Engberson says
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Shannon Picard says
This recipe is delicious and easy to make! I used turkey sausage crumbles instead of ham and I added more eggs. It was amazing!
Amy Engberson says
That’s a great idea! Make ahead breakfasts are such a lifesaver!
Suzanne M. says
Hi Amy,
I’m trying out the breakfast casserole but didn’t see when/how to add the cheese. I just mixed it in, but I almost forgot it because I was following the instructions and didn’t see the cheese anywhere.
I’m sure it will be great, looks yummy! Thanks!
Amy Engberson says
Good catch! I’ll go edit the directions right now. I mix the cheese in with the hashbrowns and meat. I hope you enjoyed the casserole!
Krista says
I love when you can make breakfast ahead of time!
Amy Engberson says
Isn’t it such a lifesaver! Mornings are busy enough without having to worry about breakfast!
Jamielyn says
So delicious! Perfect for weekend brunch when entertaining!
Amy Engberson says
Yes! It makes entertaining so much easier since it can be made ahead of time! My favorite kind of meals!
Jenn says
This hashbrown casserole is making me HUNGRY! It looks like easy cheesy comfort food and I need it!
Amy Engberson says
Cheesy comfort food is always a good idea! We love it for Christmas breakfast!
Katerina @ diethood .com says
YUMMY!! I wouldn’t mind waking up to this!! It looks ahhmaaazing!!
Amy Engberson says
Waking up is definitely easier when you know this casserole is happening!
Holly says
I made this for dinner. We love breakfast for dinner. I was delish and will definitely be added to my favorite recipes. I used ham because that’s what we like the best a little less greasy than other meats. I added a little hot sauce to eggs for extra pizzazz.
Amy Engberson says
Mmmm! I love the idea of adding a little hot sauce! That would give it the perfect kick!
Dan Zehr says
YUM! This looks so delicious! Is good food and this looks like one of the BEST!!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks! My kiddos are always hungry in the morning and this casserole is hearty enough to fill them up!
Dee says
I love making breakfast casseroles! Can’t wait to make this one!
Amy Engberson says
Aren’t they the best? Especially when they are this cheesy!
Demeter says
Make ahead breakfasts are such a life saver! Gives me one less thing to handle in the morning.
Amy Engberson says
Anything to take one more thing off the to do list in the morning is a win in my book! Especially of it tastes like this!