Depending on your traditions, Christmas morning can either be an early morning flurry of wrapping paper and chaos, or a slow, leisurely affair with a big, elaborate breakfast. We tend to lean more towards the latter, enjoying stockings for a few hours while mama wraps up the sourdough cinnamon rolls and puts the finishing touches on this surprisingly easy, delicious Christmas morning breakfast.
This recipe comes from my own mom’s kitchen, and we’ve had it so many times, for so many things, I can hardly remember a time before “Breakfast Surprise,” as we so lovingly call it. There’s not much of a “surprise” about it, it’s almost always the same ingredients. Though I have messed with different flavor combinations the last few years.
We almost always had it Christmas morning, enjoyed a slice after a water ski at the lake and often ate it for dinner on a busy weeknight. It’s the meal I choose to bring to a family with a new baby, 9/10 times. It’s easy, comforting, wholesome, filling and delicious. My boys love it just as much as I do. And the best part!? You can use a few ready-made shortcuts to make the process even easier.
What do people usually eat Christmas morning?
Well, according to my research the “traditional” meal for Christmas breakfast is some version of steak and eggs. Swanky! French toast is often in the mix, omelettes, eggs Benedict, all topped off with a Christmas mimosa.
Well, that’s a bit too fancy (and boozy) for my taste. I’m all about the comfort food on Christmas morning. I don’t want to slave over the stove. I want to pull a few warm, nourishing, cozy meals out of the oven and stay in my pjs all day. That’s why this casserole recipe is perfection!
How to make it ahead for Christmas morning
The recipe below is written for making the casserole from start to finish, but it’s not difficult to make a few slight alterations and have this dish made ahead for Christmas morning.
- Follow the recipe below, assembling the casserole and preparing to bake.
- Bake for 3/4 of the allotted time (25-30 mins). Essentially you are “par-baking.” This means that the casserole will be mostly set. Let it cool completely, cover with plastic wrap and tuck into the fridge overnight.
- Then, morning of, pop it into a 375 degree F oven to finish baking and getting nice and brown and bubbly. It should take about 20 minutes.
What should I serve this with on Christmas morning?
Our traditional Christmas morning feast usually includes homemade cinnamon rolls, Breakfast Surprise, a festive fruit salad and homemade hot cocoa. Here are a few recipes you could serve alongside this easy casserole.
- Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls by Farmhouse on Boone. Cinnamon rolls, especially the sourdough kind, can be a lot of work so it’s not something I make too often. But there’s something about cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning that just can’t be beat. I’ve made an Einkorn variety of these as well that are to die for.
- Festive Fruit Salad. I can’t remember how I came up with the recipe for this fruit salad, I’ve been making it so long. It works in every season of the year, but especially shines with fresh citrus in the winter. With a honey lemon dressing, fresh mint leaves and black sesame seeds, it’s a healthy addition to any decadent holiday meal. Recipe coming soon to Potager Online!
- Sweet Potato Hash. If you are cooking for a crowd on Christmas morning, having another hearty (gluten-free!) dish might not be a bad idea. This hash would be easy to whip up while the casserole finishes baking in the oven.
- America’s Best English Cream Scones. No celebration would be complete without scones! Making this recipe with dried cranberries and dark chocolate sounds absolutely delicious for Christmas morning. You could even do peppermint chunks and dark chocolate, if you’re feeling extra sweet!
What tools do I need for the perfect breakfast casserole?
Breakfast casserole is easy, peasy. You probably already have everything you need to pull this off. But just in case you don’t, here are a few of my favorite tools to get it done.
- Staub Ceramic Casserole Set. There is just something about a ceramic baking dish. I’ve used glass, I’ve used metal, I’ve used the ones that come with their own lid. And while super practical, they just lack a certain something. This set is on the top of my list after breaking my tried and true 9″ x 13″.
- Sophie Allport Oven Mitts. When I first saw one of these two-in-one oven mitts a few years ago I thought, “That’s cute, but impractical.” And then I got one, and especially in my small kitchen with limited storage, it’s unbelievably practical! Sophie Allport makes my all-time favorite aprons and oven mitts. I have the Home Grown apron and obviously, need the matching mitt!
- Herbs de Provence. I tend to use an Italian seasoning mix from Azure Standard in most recipes, but I love the cute little pots these Herbs de Provence come in. Perfect to display on a window sill or spice rack!
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas my friends! I hope you have a wonderful holiday, filled with love, joy and quality time with family. Remembering the true celebration, Jesus is born!
Let me know in the comments below what you usually make Christmas morning, I’d love to know! Especially if you try one of my recipes.
Also, make sure and pin this recipe to use any time of the year! It’s the best dish for a new mama. Trust me. Happiest Holidays!
Breakfast Surprise Casserole
DifficultyEasy
Servings6-8
Prep time15 minutes
Cook time45 minutes
Total time1 hour
Breakfast surprise is pure childhood nostalgia. Watching my Mom prepare the ingredients on Christmas Eve. Shoving my face full of it as fast as possible on Christmas morning. Racing to get through our plates so we could get back to the presents. But always, always stopping to take a breath and enjoy this hearty dish. You want to make somebody feel loved? Breakfast Surprise is the ticket.
Ingredients
- 1 ea yellow onion, diced
- 1 lb breakfast sausage, Or any kind of sausage you like. Cooked bacon lardons work well too.
- 1 pkg organic crescent rolls, I buy mine at Trader Joe’s.
- 2 pkgs organic frozen hashbrowns, thawed, I use the cubed style.
- 12 ea eggs
- 1/2 cup milk kefir
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning blend, Herbs de provence works well too.
- 2 cups raw cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 Tbsp fresh herbs, chopped, for topping
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a skillet, cook sausage, add onion when it begins to brown. Saute until meat is cooked and onion is translucent.
- 2
Unroll the crescent rolls and separate into triangles. Line the bottom of a 9″ x 13″ pan, covering the entire base. This will be your crust. Top the crust with cooked sausage and onion mixture.
- 3
Add the thawed potatoes on top of the sausage mixture. Season with 1/2 the salt and pepper and Italian herb blend.
- 4
Beat the eggs and kefir until smooth. Pour over the assembled casserole.
- 5
Top with cheddar cheese and the rest of the salt, pepper and herb blend.
- 6
Bake for 30-40 minutes, then check the middle. If the cheese is golden brown and bubbly, and the center is set, it’s done! If not, let it go for a little longer. You can even turn the oven down to 350 so it doesn’t get too dark.
- 7
Let it cool for 10-20 minutes before eating. Top with homemade salsa (or any salsa) and enjoy!
Notes
This is a super easy dish to experiment with! Here’s a few ideas for great substitutions you can make:
- Fresh potatoes instead of frozen.
- Adding diced bell peppers
- Using a different cheese, such as pepperjack
- Using shredded hashbrowns instead of cubed
- Using bacon instead of sausage
- Adding broccoli or mushrooms
Keywords:Breakfast Casserole, Christmas Morning Breakfast, Breakfast, Easy Breakfast, Comfort Food, Holiday Breakfast
