Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Bacon

A Breakfast Casserole Known By Many Names

I have eaten this casserole on Christmas morning for as long as I can remember. My mom always made it when I was young and I looked forward to this casserole every year at Christmas Breakfast!

We have always called it wife saver but it’s also known as a strata which is basically bread and eggs with yummy add ins.

It’s great because it’s really easy to make and it’s made the night before (or at least 3-4 hours ahead of time). In the morning just put it in the oven to cook while your family is doing other fun activities (like opening stockings or egg hunting!) or even if you have a house full of guests to feed!

Cutting or Leaving the Crust

I find a lot of breakfast items are on the sweeter side like pancakes and waffles but I’m a savory girl so this is my favorite. Since we have a large family, I usually make this and a sweeter Overnight Apple Pie French Toast for my kids (or sometimes Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast).

I think every family seems to have a slightly different version of this meal.

My mother in law adds a crunchy topping to hers (and uses brown bread) while my sister cuts off the crusts and leaves her slices whole. I always leave the crusts and cube my bread since I really can’t tell the difference and let’s face it, less work is better.

Casserole Preparation & Add-ins

You can certainly add in whatever you like, ham or sausage are great in this as well! We’ve added everything from ham and asparagus to artichokes and mushrooms (pre-cook the mushrooms so they don’t get watery). Of all the versions I’ve had, this one is definitely my favorite.

It’s so easy to put together and a great way to feed breakfast to a crowd so I often make it when we have guests over! If you’re the kind of person that likes to eat breakfast for dinner, this is a super simple prep ahead meal and if you are lucky enough to have any leftovers, this is great reheated too!

Note: It’s best to take the casserole out of the fridge first thing and let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. If you are cooking two pans, baking time will increase by about 20-30 minutes.

More Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love

Denver Egg Casserole – Low Carb!
Corned Beef Hash (video)
Banana Muffins – Make ahead (these freeze well).
Easy Banana Bread Recipe
Biscuits and Gravy – Comfort food!
Easy Quiche Recipe – Reader favorite!
Cranberry Breakfast Bread Pudding
Sausage Cheddar Breakfast Strata – hearty bread pudding

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