Amish Breakfast Casserole

Amish breakfast casserole is a trusty recipe to follow when you need to feed a crowd. If make-ahead breakfast recipes are what get you through the week, this one will appease nearly everyone at the table. Prep it the night before and pop it in the oven to cook while you brew your pot of coffee.

The 12-serving dish has all the breakfast and brunch favorites like bacon, eggs, hash browns and three cheeses. Use your favorite bacon type, or try a new one if you’re feeling adventurous. We also recommend buying blocks of cheddar and Swiss cheeses because they’re easier to melt without the stabilizers in preshredded cheese. Unlike egg-based frittata recipes, a breakfast casserole like this one features a starchy base of potato hash browns.

Amish Breakfast Casserole Ingredients

• Bacon: Sliced and diced bacon adds a ton of salty savory flavor to this Amish breakfast casserole recipe. If bacon isn’t your thing, try cooked and crumbled pork breakfast sausage or chopped breakfast links instead.
• Onion: Sweet onions are the best type of onion to use in this recipe. Look for Vidalias, Walla Wallas and Mauis.
• Eggs: Whole eggs are ideal but if you prefer, you can use a liquid egg substitute instead. Follow the package instructions, but typically 1/4 cup is equivalent to one egg, so this recipe would use 1 cup of egg substitute.
• Hash brown potatoes: Thaw the frozen hash brown potatoes before adding. Frozen diced hash browns or potatoes O’Brien are wonderful substitutes.
• Cheeses: This cheesy Amish breakfast casserole recipe calls for shredded Swiss and cheddar cheeses. But the real secret is cottage cheese, which gives the casserole a creamy texture and slightly tangy flavor compared to the sweet and sharp flavors of Swiss and cheddar.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the bacon and onion

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large skillet, cook the bacon and onion over medium heat until the bacon is crisp, then drain.

Step 2: Assemble the casserole

In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Stir in the bacon mixture. Transfer to a greased 13×9-inch baking dish.

Step 3: Bake

Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Letting the casserole rest for a few minutes allows it to firm up.

Recipe Variations

• Switch it up with sausage: Replace half or all of the bacon with chopped or crumbled plain, breakfast or Italian sausage.
• Heap on some herbs: Create a pretty burst of color and fresh flavor by adding a pinch of minced herbs to the egg mixture. Thyme and parsley are perfect candidates; try 1 teaspoon fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried.
• Pack in the veggies: If you like it spicy, add in a can of drained green chile peppers. Use 1/2 to 1 cup of sauteed chopped bell pepper for sweet flavor. Chopped broccoli, asparagus or spinach also work well. Saute them in advance to remove some of the moisture (this prevents soggy casserole!).

How to Store Amish Breakfast Casserole

This cheesy Amish breakfast casserole is so delicious you might not have any leftovers! But if you do, either cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.

How long does Amish breakfast casserole last?

Amish breakfast casserole can be stored in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Can you freeze Amish breakfast casserole?

You can definitely freeze Amish breakfast casserole. If you’re planning to cook it as a make-ahead meal, bake the casserole in a foil baking dish. Allow it to cool completely, then wrap in a single layer of plastic wrap followed by a double-layer of foil. Label and freeze for up to three months. You can also place single-servings of casserole in individual freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to three months.

Another option is to prepare the casserole, then freeze before baking. Use a freezer-safe baking dish or foil container and wrap tightly with a layer of plastic wrap and double layer of foil before freezing for up to three months. When you’re ready to bake, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then proceed with Step 3.

How do you reheat Amish breakfast casserole?

To reheat refrigerated cheesy Amish breakfast casserole, bake in a 350° oven until heated through. Or you can microwave individual slices until warm.

To reheat frozen breakfast casserole, thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Then bake in a 350° oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until heated through.

Can you make Amish breakfast casserole ahead of time?

Yes! To make serving a breakfast crowd a breeze, prep the casserole up to one day in advance. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake.

Amish Breakfast Casserole Tips

How do you prevent a soggy breakfast casserole?

Make sure to drain off the grease from the bacon before adding to the casserole dish. If you add any veggies, be sure to saute them first to remove extra moisture. After baking the casserole, don’t skip the resting time. This allows the ingredients to set and prevents the release of liquid when serving the casserole.

Can you use fresh potatoes in Amish breakfast casserole?

Frozen hash browns make easy prep work for an Amish breakfast casserole recipe, but you can use fresh potatoes to make hash browns. The grater attachment on your food processor will make quick work of it. However, in order to prevent a soggy casserole, be sure to remove moisture by making crispy hash brown potatoes.

What can you serve with Amish breakfast casserole?

Amish breakfast casserole is hearty enough to satisfy any breakfast appetite. However, to make it part of a full brunch spread, serve alongside one of our fresh fruit salad recipes. Or to satisfy sweet tooths, bake up one of our warm cinnamon roll recipes to serve on the side. For brunching, don’t forget the mimosas!