This super easy Egg Casserole Recipe without Bread (with Bacon or Sausage) is a scrumptious, healthy and hearty breakfast your whole family will love. Featuring a savory protein packed egg and cheese filling, this recipe makes the perfect make-ahead breakfast for those hectic weekday mornings.
Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Breakfast casserole recipes are always a great idea when you need to feed a crowd or when you’re needing a make-ahead breakfast. Unlike a lot of egg casserole recipes, that use bread cubes, we are keeping this one low carb by omitting them. But trust me, this casserole is loaded with so much flavor and is so incredibly filling, you’ll never miss them.
This easy recipe includes light and fluffy eggs, gooey cheese, crispy bacon and fresh broccoli for a bright pop of color. If you prefer sausage, you can easily just swap it out for the bacon.
This dish can be served as a complete meal or you can add one of your favorite side dishes, like a cup of fresh fruit or some of these Breakfast Potatoes or some hash browns for your heartier eaters.
One of the things you’ll love the most about this recipe is just how filling and satisfying it is. Eggs are a great way to add protein to the start of your day and the great thing is you can prepare them so many different ways, you’ll never get tired of them.
Another tasty recipe with eggs I enjoy serving for breakfast and lunch is this Healthy Vegetable Frittata. It also makes a fantastic brunch casserole to serve at baby or wedding showers or other social gatherings.
Why We Love this Recipe
- Wonderful keto breakfast casserole for those on a low carb or keto diet.
- Great way to meal prep breakfast for several days.
- Super easy breakfast recipe made with simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
- Perfect breakfast casserole for Christmas morning, Sunday morning or just a healthy weekend breakfast.
Recommended Tools:
- 8-inch square pan
- Large skillet
- Spatula
- Large bowl
- Whisk
Egg and Cheese Casserole Variations and Add-ins
This is the best breakfast casserole recipe because it’s highly customizable so suit your taste buds. You can change out cheese, meats, veggies and add in any additional seasonings you prefer. Here are some great options to consider:
- Veggies: This breakfast egg casserole includes broccoli for a super healthy addition. But you can load it up with other wonderful veggies like green pepper, sliced mushrooms, green onion or sauteed red onion. Red, orange and yellow bell peppers are also a great option and add gorgeous color. Another great way to add color and a little tangy flavor is to garnish the top of the casserole with fresh diced tomatoes.
- Sausage: If you love a tasty sausage casserole all you have to do is leave out the bacon and add in some Italian sausage or ground breakfast sausage. But if you’re on a keto diet make sure you read the label on any ground sausage to avoid added sugars or maltodextrin.
- Cheese: One addition that I really love is to place little chunks of cream cheese all throughout the entire casserole. As it bakes there will be little pockets of melted cream cheese that really tastes amazing. Another great cheese you can add is cottage cheese. Just make sure to drain it really real before adding it to the casserole.
- Seasonings: The sky is the limit on seasonings. You can use Italian herbs and seasonings or if you like a little bit of heat, you can add some red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Heavy cream alternatives: If you don’t want to buy a whole container of heavy cream you can use half and half if you have some on hand. For a tangy twist, you can use sour cream or Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream. You can also go for dairy free options like almond milk, but keep in mind the casserole will not be quit as fluffy as using heavy cream.
- Lower fat option: Substitute turkey sausage or turkey bacon, or leave out the meat entirely!
What’s Needed to Make this Low Carb Breakfast Casserole
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Broccoli florets
- Sharp cheddar cheese or Colby Jack cheese, shredded
- Thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Large eggs
- Heavy cream
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Dried thyme
- Dried oregano
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
- Water
How to Make this Healthy Breakfast Casserole
Spray the sides and the bottom of an 8” x 8” casserole baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside. Pre-heat your oven to 350°F.
Step One: Sauté the Broccoli
- Rinse the broccoli and cut it into bite size florets.
- Over medium heat, add the olive oil to a large nonstick sauté pan.
- Once the oil has heated, add in the broccoli and water. Cook the broccoli for 2-3 minutes, or just until the it begins to soften and brightens in color.
- Remove from heat and transfer broccoli to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it into an even thin layer.
Step Two: Add the Bacon and Cheese
- Add a layer of cheese over the broccoli (you can really add as much as you like) and then add the crumbled bacon spread evenly over the cheese.
Step Three: Whisk Eggs with Seasonings:
- Whisk the eggs and heavy cream together in a large mixing bowl with onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and oregano. Season with salt and ground black pepper, to taste.
Step Four: Add Eggs to Other Ingredients and Bake
- Gently pour the egg mixture over the broccoli, cheddar, and bacon.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until it’s set, and the cheese looks lightly golden brown on top.
- Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Storing Leftovers
Allow leftovers to cool to room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container int he fridge for up to 4-5 days.
FAQs
Is this Breakfast Casserole Keto-friendly?
This is the ultimate keto friendly breakfast. Even if you are not following Keto, it’s still a very healthy breakfast you can enjoy quilt-free.
Are Eggs Good for You?
They certainly are! Eggs could easily be considered one of the most complete superfoods you can eat, especially omega-3 enriched or pastured eggs. They contain the highest-quality protein you can eat, which acts as building blocks for essential muscle and tissue repair as well as building endurance and strength.
Eggs also contain large amounts of two antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which have reported benefits to aid against eye related disorders. On top of containing all 9 essential amino acids, they’re a great source of numerous vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. This makes eggs an excellent option for low carb or high protein diets!
If you’d like to read more about the health benefits of eating eggs, check out this article on Healthline.
Can I Make this an Overnight Breakfast Casserole?
Yes and no. It is not recommended that you pour raw eggs into the casserole then let it sit overnight. Most overnight casseroles have eggs that are scrambled before adding them to the rest of the ingredients. But I have a couple other options for you. You can prepare all the ingredients, minus the eggs, and store them in the dish overnight. Then right before you bake it, you can just add in the eggs and seasonings.
The other option is really the best way, since the flavors taste even better the next day. Just go ahead and bake the casserole the night before then reheat the next morning for a quick breakfast. I know you think leftovers aren’t as good, but in this case, they really are!
Can I Use a 9×13 Baking Dish
This is a great recipe that you can adapt into a larger one if you have a crowd to feed. For a 9×13 dish, you’ll want to use a dozen eggs, about 8 slices of bacon and plenty of cheese. You’ll also want to slightly increase the amount of broccoli and seasonings you use.
Can I Freeze Leftover Bacon and Cheese Breakfast Casserole?
Yes, you can freeze this cooked breakfast casserole. In fact, it typically freezes beautifully, retaining its original texture and without altering the flavors as long as its wrapped well with plastic wrap.
For best results, you should divide it up into individual servings instead of freezing the whole casserole. It should stay fresh for up to 2-3 months in the freezer.
To reheat, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, just stick it in the microwave until nice and hot.
Want More Breakfast Recipes?
- Chocolate Chunk Banana Muffins
- Easy Crepe Recipe
- Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
- Sugar Free Banana Muffins
- Superfood Smoothies
Egg Casserole Recipe without Bread
Ingredients
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 2 T Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 c broccoli florets
- 3 T water
- 1 c sharp cheddar or Colby Jack cheese, shredded
- 6 slices bacon thick cut, cooked and crumbled
- 4 lg eggs
- ½ c heavy cream
- ½ t onion powder
- ½ t garlic powder
- ¼ t dried thyme
- ½ t dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Spray the sides and the bottom of an 8” x 8” casserole baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set it aside.
- Rinse the broccoli and cut it into bite size florets. Over medium heat, add the olive oil to a large nonstick sauté pan. Once the oil has heated, add in the broccoli and water.
- Cook the broccoli for 2-3 minutes, or just until the it begins to soften and brightens in color.Remove from heat and transfer broccoli to the prepared casserole dish, spreading it into an even thin layer.
- Add a layer of cheese over the broccoli (you can really add as much as you like) and then add the crumbled bacon spread evenly over the cheese.
- Whisk the eggs and heavy cream together in a large mixing bowl with onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and oregano. Season with salt and ground black pepper, to taste.
- Gently pour the egg mixture over the broccoli, cheddar, and bacon.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until it's set, and the cheese looks lightly golden brown on top.Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.