~ Loaded with bountiful veggies, this hearty egg bake is deliciously satisfying, without weighing you down! Unlike many recipes, this egg casserole is made without bread. And since you can make it the night before, it’s perfect for holiday brunches or make-ahead family breakfasts! ~

This Recipe Is:   •  Freezable  •  Make Ahead  •  Gluten Free  •

I have a little backstory about our blog and this recipe … and the friendship that inspired them both. But, first things first, right? Before I dive into all that, I know you’re truly here for the recipe … and you might want to take a peek at our little video tutorial that showcases this egg casserole recipe (and how easy it is to make). No worries! I get it … go ahead and check it out!

Video Tutorial

Generally while also shaking her head with that expression of wide-eyed disbelief that says “I think you might actually be certifiably nuts, but you’re pretty fun to hang out with, so I’m just gonna humor your latest insane idea/crazy suggestion/I-seriously-don’t-know-where-you-come-up-with-this-stuff comment.”

Although, to be fair, I guess I probably spend just as much time giggling and shaking my head right back at her.

In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s how we ended up with a blog. We have no idea anymore whose you’ve-got-to-be-kidding idea this originally was, but apparently the other one decided to go along with it.

So here we are.

And isn’t that just one of the very best things about good friends?

They give you an entirely different perspective on the world, without ever judging your own views and ways of doing things (even if they do think you’re a little bit crazy!). And sometimes you actually learn a lot along the way.

I especially notice this with Gretchen since we spend so much time working together in the very personal spaces of each other’s kitchens (rooting through each other’s cupboards and refrigerators), discussing what flavor combinations taste terrific, and chatting about our families’ food preferences and traditions.

• While it seems completely clear to me that the fastest way to deal with a clove of garlic is with a chef’s knife, it has always been absolutely obvious to her that the best way to tackle garlic is with a garlic press. Huh. Go figure. (Side note: I absolutely swear by my 8″ Victorinox chef’s knife – unbeatable price and a top Cook’s Illustrated rating convinced me to buy it, and I’ve never looked back.)

• Oh – and that amazing little contraption she calls a can opener still remains a mystery to me no matter how many times she shows me how to use it. Never seen a can opener like that before! But I have to admit that it works like a charm (and I kinda covet it). Who knew?

• Yeah, and she fastidiously pre-rinses every dish before it goes in the dishwasher. I pretty much figure that’s why I bought a dishwasher in the first place, and only worry about any food particle bigger than an entire hamburger. We’re just different that way, ya know?

And really, our differences make us – and this blog – so much better. We’re constantly questioning and pushing each other to retest and perfect recipes, or to clarify techniques that might not be clear to anyone else, even though they seem crystal-clear to one of us.

This all leads us to the story of this breakfast casserole.

Because … holiday food traditions? Well, we’ve learned a few things from each other there, too!

I mean, in my family, holidays like Easter and Christmas involve gaggles of family members and generally require multiple parties. At least one gathering’s always a brunch (gotta start early if you’re gonna cram in that much partying!). And it’s always just been a no-brainer for all of us that this meant make-ahead breakfast casseroles.

As much as we love cooking, we sure don’t want to get up at the crack of dawn to do it! (We may start our parties early, but we’re for sure not crack-of-dawn people!)

And, seriously – who wants to be stuck in the kitchen when there are Easter eggs to hunt and raucous laughter emanating from the next room?

Gretchen’s side of the family doesn’t live quite so near, so morning festivities and massive brunch parties aren’t really their thing.

And she was a little surprised when I passionately explained how (obviously!?!?!) everyone absolutely needs make-ahead breakfast casseroles for holidays. I mean … it just seemed so clear to me that everyone did!

But, of course, she loves any recipe that’s an easy make-ahead. So, it wasn’t actually all that hard to convince her that if she ever begins hosting brunch bashes, overnight casseroles are the only way to go!

And she was totally on board when I said that we’d clearly, therefore, need to do a round-up of make-ahead breakfast ideas for last Christmas! As we were compiling those recipes, I was sure I’d find a recipe Just.Like.This.One. It seemed perfectly obvious – the typical hearty egg casserole made fresher, lighter, healthier, yummier by tons of great veggies. It was the recipe I really wanted to find – surely everyone had a recipe Just.Like.This.One. Right?

Apparently not.

If you check out our THK round-up of make-ahead breakfasts, you won’t see this recipe, or even one just like it.

So, since I didn’t find it, I created my own.

And I love it. We all love it!

It’s got all the hearty, fuel-you-up-to-finish-hunting-down-that-last-impossible-egg ingredients you’d expect from an egg casserole, but with leaner sausage and cheese, plus tons of delicious and nutrition-packed veggies.

It’s like a farmers’ market in your baking pan (you know … hence, the name …).

Make It Ahead … the Night Before!

Best part of all? You can prep the entire casserole the night before (and much of the work can be done even further ahead than that!), so you don’t miss one second of the action on the morning of your brunch! Perfect!

Your oven does all the work while you discover the last, impossible-to-find egg (what was the Easter Bunny thinking on that one????).

Meal Prep and Freezing Options!

Also perfect?

Leftovers reheat beautifully for easy breakfasts all week long! It’s a great little recipe for those of you who like to meal prep to simplify busy weeks.

In fact, I often make this just for my family of four on the weekend, and then enjoy quick, ready-to-reheat breakfasts for days! Honestly, I was truly surprised how well this reheats – it’s just as good warmed up three or four days later!

It also freezes beautifully. Just portion out individual servings, wrap them in plastic, and freeze them in a zipper bag. A quick tango with your microwave, and they’ll be scrumptious all over again!

It’s Even Portable!

And for all those on-the-go mornings, just rewarm some of this breakfast casserole and wrap it inside a whole-grain tortilla. You’re out the door in a flash, with a fantastic, portable breakfast to power you through your busy day.

When it comes to easy, delicious, healthy make-ahead breakfasts (and particularly this fantastic overnight  egg casserole), Gretchen and I definitely agree … fabulous, all around!

But it for sure won’t be long before she finds some other reason to giggle and shake her head at me.

Or until I stare in wide-eyed wonder at her as she organizes something that doesn’t actually need organized, or elaborates on the next crazy scheme that she will somehow eventually talk me into!

That’s just how friends are.