Wake Up Breakfast Casserole

Wake up breakfast casserole is a tasty casserole made with eggs, hash brown patties, ham, and cheese. Prep the night before & bake your casserole in the oven OR make this fuss-free breakfast overnight in the slow cooker. This easy breakfast casserole is perfect for holiday brunch or anytime of the year! 

What Is Wake Up Casserole

A wake up casserole is a casserole that is made beforehand & sits in the refrigerator overnight until morning when you wake up to bake it. Hence the name ‘wake up casserole’.  The base for this classic breakfast casserole is frozen hash brown patties, eggs, cooked ham, and cheese. In addition to these ingredients, I like to add vegetables like sautéed onion and bell pepper. 

Ingredients For Wake Up Casserole

The ingredients in the potato, egg, and cheese breakfast casserole are simple. 

• Frozen Hash Brown Patties
• Cooked Ham
• Cheddar Cheese
• Veggies
• Eggs
• Milk 
• Seasonings

before

How To Make Wake Up Casserole

This breakfast dish comes together quickly and can be made ahead of time. You can bake or make this in the slow cooker. Instructions for both are included. 

OVEN

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Spray a large 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
3. Add the frozen hash brown patties (or another frozen potato) to the bottom of the casserole dish.
4. Add the ham, bell pepper onion, and cheese.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture on top of the food in the casserole dish.
6. Cover with foil & bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Slow Cooker

1. Spray the slow cooker generously with cooking spray.
2. Add the frozen hash brown patties (or another frozen potato) to the bottom of the slow cooker.
3. Add the ham, bell pepper onion, and cheese.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture on top of the food in the slow cooker.
5. Cook LOW 4-6 hours.

after

What Type Of Frozen Potatoes 

My version of wake up casserole uses hash brown patties.  Of course you can substitute a different frozen potatoes. Shredded hash browns, tater tots, O’Brien potatoes, all work well with this recipe. 

Using A Different Meat

I like to use 2 cups of cooked ham for this breakfast casserole. This is good recipe to utilize leftover ham from the holidays! Of course you do not have to use ham. Cooked breakfast sausage or bacon are good substitutes. Or make this a vegetarian breakfast casserole and omit the meat all together. If you go this route, I encourage you to load up on the veggies. 

Storing Leftover Casserole

Leftover wake up casserole will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Can you freeze leftover casserole? Yes! Another bonus about this recipe is that it can be frozen for later use. This is the case whether you cook the casserole in the oven or slow cooker. 

Tips & FAQs

• Generously grease the casserole dish or slow cooker. I sprayed mine heavily with cooking spray and the casserole slid right out with no sticking.
• Let the casserole cool before removing it. This too will help it from not sticking.
• Every oven or slow cooker heats slightly different. Insert a knife into the center; when it comes out clean you’ll know your breakfast casserole is done. 

Slow Cooker Breakfast Casseroles 

• Overnight Breakfast Casserole

• California Burrito

• Bacon Avocado

• Denver Omelette 

Wake Up Breakfast Casserole

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• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 10-12 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 8 frozen hash brown patties or 16 ounces frozen hash browns or tater tots
• 2 cups cooked ham, diced
• 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 12 large eggs
• 1 cup milk of your choice
• 1 teaspoon salt (or more)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

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Instructions

OVEN

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Spray a large 9×13 casserole dish with cooking spray.
3. Add the frozen hash brown patties (or another frozen potato) to the bottom of the casserole dish.
4. Add the ham, bell pepper onion, and cheese.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture on top of the food in the casserole dish.
6. Cover with foil & bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Slow Cooker

1. Spray the slow cooker generously with cooking spray.
2. Add the frozen hash brown patties (or another frozen potato) to the bottom of the slow cooker.
3. Add the ham, bell pepper onion, and cheese.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture on top of the food in the slow cooker.
5. Cook LOW 4-6 hours.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 60 minute

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