Holiday magic that works any time of the year! Put all the ingredients in before you go to bed and wake up to a delicious, hot breakfast.
The combination of hash browns and cheddar cheese makes a delicious breakfast for special occasions.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
- Start it at night and it's ready for you the next morning.
- Great for overnight guests and picky eaters because everyone loves it!
- You can assemble it 12 hours ahead of time and refrigerate until you're ready to start the slow cooker.
Crockpot recipes are great on busy mornings, but they're even better for Christmas morning breakfast.
This overnight crockpot breakfast casserole handles all the cooking time for you, so you won't miss a festive minute of the whole family gathering joyfully around the tree.
No time for the slow cooker? Try this cheesy breakfast burrito casserole that's done right in the oven!
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
Slow cooker breakfast recipes are easy to adapt, so you can make something your entire family will love! Here are some ideas:
- I prefer to use regular sausage, but for a hearty breakfast that's just a touch lighter on the calories, swap in some turkey sausage.
- Ground sausage gives the best texture in my opinion, but you could thinly slice some breakfast sausage links and use those for faster prep.
- Stir in bacon bits—it takes a great breakfast to a perfect breakfast!
- Some people like to use frozen tater tots instead of shredded potatoes.
- No Pepper Jack? Monterey Jack is good in this breakfast Christmas casserole, too.
- Add a can of diced green chiles to the green peppers mixture for spice!
- Garnish with green onions or parsley for a delicious herbal flavor.
- Don't forget your favorite toppings. Serve with hot sauce, pico de Gallo, a scoop of sour cream, ketchup, or even some maple syrup for a sweet touch.
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl.
- Lay ⅓ of the potatoes on the bottom of the crockpot.
- Spoon ⅓ of the sausage, red and green bell peppers, and diced yellow onions on top of the potatoes.
- Top with cheese, repeat layers twice, and pour egg mixture over top.
You'll also want to try this super easy leftover pizza breakfast casserole! You can assemble it the night before and bake in the morning.
🥫 How to store crockpot breakfast casserole leftovers
This crockpot breakfast casserole recipe usually doesn't yield any leftovers. The delicious smells wafting out of the kitchen by 7 AM means everyone is ready to scarf down breakfast!
However, if you do have leftovers, spoon them into an airtight container. Like most egg bake recipes, the leftovers will last for about three days in the refrigerator.
Microwave individual servings until just warm for an easy breakfast, days after the festivities have ended.
I don't suggest freezing. The eggs can become watery and tough.
💭 Things to know
Expert Tip: Spray the crockpot well with nonstick cooking spray, because the cheese and potatoes tend to get all crispy around the edges. It's yummy but can stick if not greased well.
- Use a slow cooker liner if you prefer no clean-up at all. Just be careful not to cut the liner and accidentally serve it stuck to the bottom of your breakfast casserole!
- Drain off the excess fat if you're browning the sausage yourself. Breakfast meat tends to have a lot of extra grease, and you don't need that in the casserole.
- Beating the eggs with a whisk is the key to fluffy eggs. Try to incorporate as much air as possible into the eggs.
- Want breakfast now? Prepare as directed, layering the ingredients into a large skillet. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 30 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked all the way through.
👩🍳 FAQs
Oh, you are in for a treat! Classic breakfast casserole is made of layers of potatoes, sausage, and cheese, then it's all covered with an egg and milk mixture, which bakes up to savory perfection. The best thing about crockpot breakfast recipes is that they taste just like eating all of the wonderful breakfast foods, without a ton of stressful prep work!
You can! Thankfully, there's a little bit of lee-way when it comes to eggs out of their shells. After prep, cover the crockpot dish with plastic wrap or the lid and put it in the fridge until later that night.
I don't love how this Crockpot Christmas casserole comes out when the crockpot cook time and temperature have been altered. However, see the Things to Know section to cook this recipe in a cast iron skillet, instead.
📚 Related recipes
- Ready in less than an hour, Monte Cristo Casserole is ideal for holiday brunch or whenever you're craving a spicy, sweet, smoky, hot breakfast.
- Though it's often a potluck dish, we love Hashbrown Casserole for brunch! There's nothing better—except when it's topped with an over-easy egg and served alongside some crispy bacon! Yum.
- Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal is a delicious breakfast casserole that's great for feeding a crowd or freezing and saving for when the sweet brunch cravings hit!
- You're going to need some toast with this and the best toast ever is made with this simple English muffin bread.
🍽️ Serve with...
Both of these dishes can be made ahead!
Southern Fried Apples are a delicious side dish for just about any brunch! Cinnamony, buttery, and sweet.
Easy Christmas Danish are so pretty on the table! They're festive plus they're baked in the shape of a pull-apart Christmas tree! Or, try these fluffy sour cream cinnamon rolls.
🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
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📞 The last word
I love sitting around on Christmas morning, drinking a creamy coffee, and watching the kids & grandkids open presents. It's so much more fun than listening to all the commotion and laughter while I'm working to get breakfast on the table!
This breakfast casserole might change your life. 🙂
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Crockpot Christmas Breakfast Casserole
Print Pin Recipe Save RecipeIngredients
- 12 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 pounds hash brown potatoes
- 1 pound bulk breakfast sausage, cooked
- ½ cup onions, diced
- ½ cup bell peppers red & green , diced
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese , shredded from a block
- 1 ½ cups pepper jack cheese, shredded from a block
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, if you use regular table salt use half as much
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Spray the inside of the crock with no-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Mix the two shredded cheeses together and set aside.
- Mix the cooked sausage, onions, and peppers and set aside.
- Beat the eggs until well blended.
- Whisk in milk, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Layer ⅓ of the potatoes in the bottom of the crock.
- Next sprinkle with ⅓ of the sausage mixture.
- Top with 1 cup of mixed cheese.
- Repeat 2 more times to have a total of 3 layers.
- End with cheese mixture.
- Pour the egg mixture over the top.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
Notes
- Spray the crockpot well with nonstick cooking spray, because the cheese and potatoes tend to get all crispy around the edges. It's yummy but can stick if not greased well.
- Or, use a slow cooker liner if you prefer no clean-up at all. Just be careful not to cut the liner and accidentally serve it stuck to the bottom of your breakfast casserole!
- Drain off the excess fat if you're browning the sausage yourself. Breakfast meat tends to have a lot of extra grease, and you don't need that in the casserole.
- Beating the eggs with a whisk is the key to fluffy eggs. Try to incorporate as much air as possible into the eggs.
- Want breakfast now? Prepare as directed, layering the ingredients into a large skillet. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 30 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked all the way through.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
First published December 7, 2022. Last updated October 31, 2023, for editorial improvements.
Ketrena Graves
I will have to try this on Christmas morning.
Judy Burrell
Crock pot cooking while everyone is sleeping sounds great. Well be trying this recipe this year. Thanks for sharing it with us. Merry Christmas.
Shelly Carter
Amazingly good, going to be trying to make a vegetarian version.
Mary McGill
Sounds scrumptious! This is a great plan for Christmas morning! Cheesy and full of sausage!
Carol
I think this is something everyone will love! Add some fresh fruit and Toast even the kids would try it! Thank you!
Michelle Gosser
This is exactly what I'm making for our Christmas breakfast! I marked it as something I wanted to try when you started sharing this recipe. Can't wait to see how it turns out!
JEANETTE WHETZEL
I'm going to make this when my brother comes to visit me. I MOVE TO TEXAS 4 YRS AGO AFTER MY HUSBAND DIED. mY FAMILY ALL LIVE IN va. i HAVE NO FAMILY HERE. hE IS COMING TO VISIT ME FOR 2 WEEKS AFTER THEFIRST OF THE YEAR AND WILL LOVE THIS. hE WILL EAT IT OFF AND ON ALL DAY SO THE AMOUNT IS FINE LOL!
Tammie
This is a must for Christmas morning! It is so delicious! It takes the fuss out of cooking breakfast and leaves more time for making holiday memories!
Don
Looks Delicious love my CROCKPOT
Delores Nicely
This slow cooker casserole is easy enough for this busy grandma to make for my even busier daughter and her precious family. It’s what’s for brunch at Grandma’s house ❤️
Dixie Lindsey
This will be perfect for breakfast with the grandkids!! My husband makes his own breakfast sausage from wild hog so I can’t wait to make it!!
Maureen
This sound scrumptious. I wouldn't mind making this for Christmas morning but there is only my husband and myself. Alone this Christmas but will see if I can cut it down for 2 people. I wouldn't just make it for Christmas. When my daughter visits I could whip this recipe up. The other two recipes I will happily make.
Teresa Cook
Going to try this. But there is only three of us, so I will halve it. Looks simple enough to do.
Julie
So easy to throw together- whole group enjoyed these flavors- recipe is a keeper!
Nancy
When doubling to 16 servings, will this all fit in crockpot and is it the same 8 hours cook time?
Marye
It would depend on the size of the crockpot but I doubt it.
Julie Andrew
Can I use bread cubes instead of potatoe
Marye
I never have so I don't know how it would change the recipe.
Melanie
It says low for 8 hours….. can you do in high for 4?? Or will something not cook right? Just curious. Thanks!
Marye
You probably could. I've never done that so I am not sure.
Christine
Sounds good! I'd like to try this but a big question is, are these hash browns frozen when you assemble the dish?
Marye
yes.
Erika Britt Ninneman
Are the hash browns cooked ahead of time? And, if I double it, do I need to use 2 crockpots?
Thanks.
Marye
If you double it you'll need 2 crockpots. And no, the potatoes aren't cooked but I'd thaw them if they're frozen.
Candice
So are these freshly shredded potatoes (so raw)? I don't think I've seen frozen shredded hash browns around here. Would the small cubed ones work in a pinch? TIA!
Marye
I get them in the frozen section. I've never used anything else
Joanie
This recipe is excellent! I put everything in my cdockpot the night before our annual breakfast event at work. Everyone raved about how delicious this was. I doubled the recipe and there was not one drop left! It's easy to make and forget about and it tastes even better!
Marye
So glad you enjoyed it!