Easy Brunch Egg Casserole Southwestern Style

A friend shared this recipe for an Easy Brunch Egg Casserole Southwestern Style with me probably 25 years ago.

It is a staple at our house when we have overnight guests. It’s also a great dish to take to a friends house for a dinner party, like New Year’s Eve when everyone might be up late.

Then they have an easy breakfast for the next morning.

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They can put it in the refrigerator overnight and then all you have to do the next morning is pop it in the oven and bake for about 40-50 minutes.

It’s also a wonderful casserole to make for a friend that is ill, or having a surgery, a baby, etc.

Since it can be frozen, they can take it out and bake anytime they need a quick breakfast meal. But, actually it’s great for dinner too.

If I am making to take to someone to put in the freezer, I like to use small disposable freezer safe pans.

And I also make up in a smaller casserole dish if I am serving a small crowd and I just make 2. Serve one for breakfast to my guests, and put the other in the freezer for another time. 

Since it makes so much, you can make several small dishes instead of one large dish.

Ingredients for Brunch Casserole

6 slices bread, crust removed (recipe calls for white bread but I use wheat)
1 pound ground breakfast sausage
1 diced onion
4 ounce can chopped green chiles
4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 eggs
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 rounded teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 cups half and half

Directions for Brunch Casserole

1. Remove crust from bread and lightly butter each side.
2. Place bread in an even layer in bottom of greased 9×13 baking dish, covering bottom of dish.
3. Brown sausage with chopped onion and drain.
4. Spread sausage over bread, then sprinkle the green chilies over sausage.
5. Sprinkle Monterey Jack cheese over sausage mixture.
6. In a large bowl, beat eggs, and add 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, 1 rounded teaspoon of ground cumin and 1 teaspoon dry mustard.
7. Add half and half and mix well (I have also used 1/2 heavy cream and 1/2 milk if I happen to have those on hand instead of half and half).
8. Pour egg mixture over sausage mixture in baking dish.
9. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. At this point, it may also be frozen until ready to bake. If you are freezing, just remove from freezer and thaw overnight in refrigerator.
10. Heat oven to 350 degrees, remove foil and bake for 45 minutes or until casserole is bubbly and golden brown on top. You can also take out of the fridge and let sit at room temperature and baking time will be a little less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you make a casserole with raw egg and leave it uncooked overnight in the fridge?
Yes, you can cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake uncovered the next day for 45 minutes or until the eggs are set. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover with foil.

Why do you need to refrigerate breakfast casserole overnight?
The casserole is covered and refrigerated overnight to allow time for the liquid to absorb into the bread.

What sides go well with breakfast casserole?
yogurt or yogurt parfaits
fresh fruit
something sweet, like a pastry, muffin or cinnamon roll
healthy options for southwestern brunch egg casserole might be cottage cheese, fresh fruit or turkey bacon or a green salad and black beans if you are serving as a late brunch or even lunch/dinner.

this is one of those easy recipes you want to have on hand so print the recipe to save for later…

variations for southwest breakfast casserole

I like to serve this casserole with a small bowl of salsa on the side. And it’s also yummy with a side of sour cream.

If you prefer a spicy casserole, you can use a hot or zesty sausage, substitute pepper jack cheese for the Monterrey jack cheese and serve with a side of hot sauce.

If you prefer a more traditional brunch casserole, instead of southwest version, you can omit the green chilies, ground cumin and substitute cheddar cheese for the Monterrey Jack.

Another idea is to substitute hash browns for the bread on the bottom.

This recipe is not only a great breakfast/brunch recipe, it’s great for dinner, as well. Serve with a side salad, and you have an easy and delicious meal. This salad is one of my go to’s.

This is such a great make-ahead recipe that is sure to be a family favorite. It is perfect for Saturday or Sunday mornings.

I hope you enjoy this recipe for easy brunch egg casserole southwestern style, and give it a try. I would love to hear if you do.

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