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This Everything Cheesy Potato and Egg Breakfast Casserole is the best make ahead holiday brunch recipe. Leftover mashed potatoes, mixed with two cheeses, baby spinach, and crispy bacon. Then topped off with eggs and baked until the eggs are just set. Finish the casserole off with a sprinkle of everything bagel spice and fresh herbs. This is the easiest, most delicious, feed-a-crowd breakfast. Simply prepare this night before and bake it off in the morning. Doesn’t get any easier or more delicious.
I hope you’re all having a lovely Christmas with your families, and enjoying a few days off to relax and take in the holiday season. This is my favorite time of year! No matter how busy things are with our lives, everything slows down for a few days. I’ve been cooking away and spending time with my family. We’ve had snowy weather, good food, and many laughs.
With our homes full of family members (my parents have over 18 people at their house this year). The food is flying off the shelves and out of the fridge. I truly cannot make it fast enough. We’ve had chili, gumbo, stuffed pasta shells, beef tenderloin, and countless other dishes in between. The one thing that’s been a huge life saver is having breakfast prepped in the morning.
Enter this easy breakfast bake that everyone has been loving…
Because really, what’s not to love about cheesy potatoes, baked eggs, and crispy bacon? It’s a combo that no one tires of. Add everything bagel spice?
Too good to be true, but then it’s not.
Here’s the quick run down.
Mix leftover mashed potatoes with cheddar cheese, Havarti cheese, and baby spinach. I’d recommend using mashed potatoes that have some herbs, and maybe even some garlic, in them too. My buttery herbed mashed potatoes are a wonderful option.
Spread the potatoes into a baking dish and make a “nest” for the eggs to sit inside. Now cook up some bacon and arrange it inside the nest. Before adding the eggs, bake the casserole for 10 minutes, to start warming up the mashed potatoes. Then add the eggs and finish baking.
The eggs slowly bake inside the mashed potatoes leaving you with a soft egg, baked cheesy potatoes, and crisp bacon. I like to top the casserole with everything bagel spice and fresh herbs for a pop of color.
Simple, but perfect in every way.
Best part? Well there are two things actually.
One, if you enjoyed a holiday roast alongside mashed potatoes, you can use the leftover potatoes to create this casserole. I made a double batch knowing I’d be making this breakfast casserole for the family.
Two, you can prepare the casserole the night before and pop it in the fridge. The next morning, let the casserole sit on the counter while the oven preheats, then just bake as directed. Great for feeding the family sometime this week or next week. Or serve as a New Year’s Day brunch item, along with some bubbly, to ring in the New Year right!
And speaking of New Years, tomorrow I’ll be share a new appetizer that’s truly one of my favorites. Until then, let’s all agree we should make this breakfast casserole.
I’ve heard it’s delicious, morning or night.
If you make this breakfast casserole, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Everything Cheesy Potato and Egg Casserole
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 1043 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3 cups leftover mashed potatoes
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Havarti cheese
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 8 slices thick cut bacon
- 8 large eggs
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill
- 3 tablespoons everything bagel spice
- crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter. 2. In a large bowl, mix together the potatoes, milk, cheeses, spinach, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Spread the potatoes in an even layer in the prepared baking dish. Using the back of a spoon, make 8 "nests" for the eggs to sit. 3. Cook the bacon until crisp in a large skillet. Arrange the bacon inside each nest. Transfer to the oven and bake 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and crack the eggs into the nest. Season with salt and pepper. Return to the oven and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the eggs are set to your liking. 4. Top the casserole with fresh basil, dill, and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
*To prepare ahead of time, assemble the casserole, but leave the eggs off. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, remove the casserole from the fridge and let sit on the counter while the oven preheats. Bake as directed, adding the eggs 10 minutes into baking.
I’d like to add some veggies to this casserole. What kinds do you recommend? Do I sauté them and add in the same step as bacon? TIA, love your recipes!
Hey Ellie,
I think onions and bell peppers would work nicely for you, I would add them in step 2 with the spinach! I hope you love this recipe! xT
Hi there can you make this scrambled eggs?
Hi Phil,
So sorry, I am not sure what you mean…can you please elaborate? Thanks! xT
Can this recipe be made ahead and frozen?
Hey Alexia,
I personally wouldn’t recommend that for this recipe:) Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xx
I would like to make this for a breakfast pot luck. Do. you think I can spread the bacon evenly over the casserole and then top with scrambled egg mixture?
Btw, I love all of your recipes and prob make about 2-3 a week.
Hi Renee! Yes, that should work well! Thanks so much! xT
I Love this idea for the morning after Thanksgiving! I am going to give it a try with leftovers from your cheesy scalloped potatoes with caramelized onions. When the family arrives, they can help themselves, and we are off for a walk to our Mountain Feed store to visit Santa and all the festivities and pick out a Christmas Tree.
Awe, I love this Kym!! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know how it turns out for you! xT
Would these work done in individual ramekins?
Hey Evelyn,
Sure, I think that would work nicely for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
This looks really yummy and I’m looking forward to trying it. Am I blind? I can’t see in the directions where are the 3 tablespoons of everything bagel spice gets added in. I’m guessing in the potatoes for foundation? Thanks for helping out.
Making this and the Vanilla Bean French Toast for brunch tomorrow!!
I hope you love the recipes Molly!! Happy Easter! xT
Can you elaborate on how to arrange the bacon? I feel like chopping up the bacon and spreading it around would make sense.
Hi Anna,
Please refer to the photos above, you can see how I arranged the bacon around each egg, but of course do it how you like:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
hi there! is there anything i can substitute for bacon, if i’m making this for a vegetarian group?
Hey Mandy,
I would just skip the bacon and add some veggies that you like:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
This really is a fantastic recipe. It’s delicious and beautiful. I’ve made it several times and I always get a lot of compliments! I use frozen diced potatoes as I don’t usually have mashed potatoes on hand. It turns out perfect!
Hey Karen,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear this was enjoyed! xT
Trying this for the 4th of July! If I use frozen diced potatoes, do I skip the milk?
Hi Annalise,
So sorry, I have never tested this recipe with frozen diced potatoes, I would stick with the mashed potatoes:) Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xx
I LOVED it, super good, I’m tired of basic egg casseroles, this isn’t that! Tons of flavor and easy to make.
Hey Kelly,
Happy Monday!❄️ I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xx
Morning ! Can I skip the mashed potatoes ?
Hey Elizabeth,
I wouldn’t recommend that, the potatoes are a huge part of this dish. You might like one of these options:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/breakfast-quesadilla/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/ham-and-cheese-croissant-bake/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/artichoke-shakshuka/
I hope this helps! xT
I’m looking forward to this! When do I use the “everything bagel spice”?
Hi Shannan,
You can mix that in step 2. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Has anyone tried this with mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes?
Hey Kris,
I’ve not tried this, but I bet it would work well for you! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan