First published December 7, 2022. Last updated April 16, 2025 for editorial improvements.
Table of Contents
- 🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
- 🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
- 📖 Recipe
- Marye's Tips
- 📖 Make it your own: yummy variations
- 👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
- 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
- 🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
- 🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
- 💬 Comments
Save this recipe by clicking on the ❤️ heart on the right-hand side of the screen or in the recipe card.
This overnight Crockpot breakfast casserole is your new holiday hero—no early-morning scrambling, no pans to scrub, just you waking up like the domestic goddess you are to a kitchen that smells like you tried. Layers of fluffy eggs, melty cheese, crispy hash browns, and sausage do their magic while you sleep. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd on Christmas morning, lazy weekends, or whenever the in-laws show up unannounced. Prep it the night before, toss it in the slow cooker, and wake up to hot, hearty comfort with zero effort. You deserve a gold star and a second helping.
🧾 Gather your ingredients: what you'll need
🔪 Step-by-step guide: instructions for success
Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl.
Place 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.
⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -
Grab diced onions and diced bell peppers in the produce section of your grocery store. You'll save 10 minutes of chopping time.
📖 Recipe
Crockpot Christmas Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Print Pin Recipe Rate 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.
- 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.
- You can assemble and refrigerate up to 12 hours ahead of time.
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.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up -
I will often switch Pepper Jack for the Monterey Jack cheese and stir in a handful of chopped cilantro to give it more of a Tex-Mex flavor.
zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive
Marye's Tips
- Beating the eggs with a whisk is the key to fluffy eggs. Try to incorporate in as much air as possible.
- No
slow cooker ? Here are some options for when your slow cooker is out of commission.
📖 Make it your own: yummy 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.
- 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.
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
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.
Yes, this freezes well. Let the casserole cool then cut into serving sized squares. Freeze in individual freezer bags for a quick and easy breakfast.
📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
🍽️ Perfect pairings: what to serve with
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.
🍽️ No waste: creative ways to repurpose
Here are five delicious ways to repurpose leftover crockpot breakfast casserole:
- Breakfast Burritos – Scoop portions of the casserole into tortillas, add some salsa, avocado, or extra cheese, and roll them up for quick breakfast burritos. Perfect for freezing and reheating, too!
- Hash Brown Bowl – Reheat a serving, then top with fresh ingredients like diced tomatoes, green onions, hot sauce, and a dollop of sour cream for a hearty breakfast bowl with extra flavor.
- Egg Muffins – Press spoonfuls of the casserole into a greased muffin tin, add a sprinkle of cheese on top, and bake until heated through. They’re easy to grab and go!
- Breakfast Quesadilla – Spread some casserole filling on a tortilla, add shredded cheese, then fold it in half and cook in a skillet until the tortilla is crispy and the cheese is melted. Great with a side of salsa!
- Loaded Breakfast Sandwich – Layer a slice of the casserole on a toasted English muffin or bagel, add some fresh spinach, and top with a slice of tomato or avocado for a filling breakfast sandwich.
These creative twists will help you enjoy every last bite!
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 away in the kitchen to get breakfast on the table!
This breakfast casserole might change your life. 🙂
Don't lose this recipe!
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Ketrena Graves says
I will have to try this on Christmas morning.
Judy Burrell says
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 says
Amazingly good, going to be trying to make a vegetarian version.
Mary McGill says
Sounds scrumptious! This is a great plan for Christmas morning! Cheesy and full of sausage!
Carol says
I think this is something everyone will love! Add some fresh fruit and Toast even the kids would try it! Thank you!
Michelle Gosser says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Looks Delicious love my CROCKPOT
Delores Nicely says
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 says
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 says
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 says
Going to try this. But there is only three of us, so I will halve it. Looks simple enough to do.
Julie says
So easy to throw together- whole group enjoyed these flavors- recipe is a keeper!
Nancy says
When doubling to 16 servings, will this all fit in crockpot and is it the same 8 hours cook time?
Marye says
It would depend on the size of the crockpot but I doubt it.
Julie Andrew says
Can I use bread cubes instead of potatoe
Marye says
I never have so I don't know how it would change the recipe.
Melanie says
It says low for 8 hours….. can you do in high for 4?? Or will something not cook right? Just curious. Thanks!
Marye says
You probably could. I've never done that so I am not sure.
Christine says
Sounds good! I'd like to try this but a big question is, are these hash browns frozen when you assemble the dish?
Marye says
yes.
Erika Britt Ninneman says
Are the hash browns cooked ahead of time? And, if I double it, do I need to use 2 crockpots?
Thanks.
Marye says
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 says
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 says
I get them in the frozen section. I've never used anything else
Joanie says
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 says
So glad you enjoyed it!