This Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole is an easy, make-ahead dish layered with sourdough bread, diced ham, roasted red peppers, Gouda cheese, and a rich egg-and-cream custard. It chills overnight and bakes up perfectly in the morning, making it ideal for Christmas or any busy breakfast.

Easy overnight Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole with sourdough, ham, peppers, and Gouda—perfect make ahead recipe for Christmas morning.

Recipe Highlights

Prep it the night before — the casserole rests in the fridge overnight, so breakfast is ready to bake while everyone opens gifts or gets ready for the day.
Perfect holiday colors — the roasted red peppers and parsley create a festive red-and-green look without extra work.
Feeds a crowd easily — a 9×13 pan makes generous servings, ideal for family gatherings or brunch with guests.
Simple ingredients with great flavor — sourdough gives amazing texture, and Gouda melts beautifully for a creamy, savory finish.
Customizable — easy to swap vegetables, cheeses, and bread based on what you have on hand.

What is Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole?

It’s an easy breakfast casserole recipe that everyone can enjoy. Whether you choose to make it for the holidays, special occasions, or for a filling weekday breakfast – it’s always a big hit! Making this overnight ham and egg breakfast casserole is a great way to reduce time in the kitchen in the morning, which is even better on those busy days. The casserole is made with diced ham, roasted red peppers, sourdough bread, gouda cheese, whipping cream and a few other flavorful ingredients.

Ingredients in Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole.

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole Ingredients

Ham: About 1 cup of diced ham, either from a pre-diced package or leftover baked ham.
Roasted Red Peppers: One cup of diced roasted red peppers adds flavor and beautiful color; jarred or homemade both work.
Parsley: Use 1 tablespoon fresh or dried parsley for herbal brightness.
Onion: ½ cup minced onion (or frozen chopped onion to save time).
Sourdough Bread: One loaf, crust removed, cut into 1-inch cubes; the texture holds up well overnight.
Gouda Cheese: 3 cups shredded Gouda, which melts smoothly and adds rich flavor; swap with Gruyere, provolone, Muenster, or cheddar if desired.
Eggs: A full dozen — essential for the custardy structure of the casserole.
Milk: 1 cup of any milk to thin the custard mixture.
Heavy Cream: 1 cup for added richness and creaminess.
Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, nutmeg, and a pinch of cayenne for subtle warmth and depth.

Recipe Tips & Variations

Full instructions can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips.

Make it festive: Use fresh parsley or even a handful of chopped spinach for bright holiday color.
Use day-old bread: Slightly stale sourdough absorbs the custard better and gives the casserole a perfect texture.
Prep completely the night before: Assemble the casserole, cover tightly, and refrigerate so the bread can soak up the egg mixture for maximum flavor.
Let it warm slightly before baking: Remove the casserole from the fridge while the oven preheats to help it bake evenly.
Swap the cheese: Gouda adds amazing flavor, but Gruyere, Muenster, Havarti, cheddar, or a cheese blend all work beautifully.
Change up the veggies: Substitute sun-dried tomatoes, add fresh spinach, or use frozen onions or peppers for a faster prep.
Try different breads: Sourdough is delicious, but French bread, wheat bread, brioche, or Italian bread make great alternatives.
Add more protein: Mix in cooked bacon or breakfast sausage for an extra hearty version.

Storage Suggestions

Leftovers store wonderfully and reheat well, making this casserole a great option for meal prep.

Refrigerator: Store covered or in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days.
Reheating: Warm slices in the microwave or bake at 325°F until heated through.
Freezing: Bake first, cool completely, then freeze tightly wrapped for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

HAM AND CHEESE BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Our delicious Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole is filling and easy to make. It is the perfect breakfast choice for Christmas morning – it can be made the night before!

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 1

Servings: servings

Calories: 466kcal

Author: Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

1 cup diced ham
1 cup roasted red peppers diced
1 Tbsp minced fresh parsley I used about 1 Tbsp dried parsley
½ cup diced onions
1 loaf sourdough bread crust removed and cut into 1-inch cubes
3 cups Gouda Cheese shredded
12 eggs
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp ground pepper
⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
⅛ tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the ham, peppers, parsley and onions.
Place half of the bread cubes in a greased 9 X13 pan.
Layer half of the ham mixture on top of the bread and then sprinkle half of the cheese on top of that. Repeat the layers one more time.
In a large bowl, mix the eggs, milk, cream, salt, pepper, nutmeg and cayenne.
Pour over the top and then cover and refrigerate overnight.
Remove from the refrigerator before preheating the oven to 350.
Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Enjoy!

Video

Notes

**I combined several recipes from several different cookbooks to come up with this casserole. One of the recipes called for sun-dried tomatoes which I thought would be very festive and color-appropriate for Christmas, but when I went to make the casserole I realized that I only had roasted red peppers but I used those instead and I love the results! I used dried parsley so the green isn’t very obvious, but if you use chopped fresh parsley, you’ll have a lovely red/green combination for Christmas! I think spinach would work great too! The best part about this recipe is that it is very versatile – you can use any combination of veggies and/or breakfast meats (sausage, ham, bacon, etc) and it will still be delicious!

Nutrition

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FAQs

Do I have to use Gouda?
No — Gruyere, Muenster, Havarti, cheddar, provolone, or a blend all work well and melt beautifully.

Can I assemble it the same day?
Yes, just let it rest for at least 30 minutes so the bread can soak up the custard.

Can I add more vegetables?
Definitely! Spinach, mushrooms, sautéed peppers, or green onions all work great.

Can I use gluten-free bread?
Yes — just choose a sturdier GF loaf so it doesn’t become too soft overnight.

Ham and Cheese casserole recipe with roasted red peppers and parsley.

More delicious breakfast casserole recipes to try:

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with Sausage brings together tater tots, sausage, cheese, eggs, peppers, and bacon in one easy, crowd-pleasing breakfast dish.
Loaded with hash browns, sausage, eggs, and cheese, Crockpot Breakfast Casserole is a warm, protein-packed make-ahead breakfast that cooks itself.
Baked with brioche, molasses, and classic holiday spices, Gingerbread French Toast Casserole makes a cozy, festive brunch everyone looks forward to.
Biscuits and Gravy Casserole transforms fluffy biscuits, savory sausage, creamy gravy, and melted cheddar into the ultimate comfort breakfast.
Made with refrigerated cinnamon rolls for effortless prep, Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole is a sweet, easy brunch favorite for weekends and holidays.

This Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole is a breakfast that can be assembled the night before for easy baking in the morning. Delicious breakfast casserole that is perfect for Christmas morning!