5 Comments
My sentimental streak makes me prone to bouts of nostalgia, especially when it comes to Christmastime. It’s all too easy for me to look at past Christmas mornings through rose-colored glasses, especially the ones from back when all my kids were still little!
Every year without fail, they would be up at the crack of dawn to sneak into each other’s rooms and theorize about what presents Santa might have left for them. (Granted, they couldn’t really go anywhere else because of our strict “no one goes into in the living room until Mom and Dad say so” policy, but I thought it was very endearing all the same.) :-)
On the other hand, there’s a more pragmatic side of me that remembers all too well how exhausting those same Christmas mornings used to be! I never got enough sleep the night before, opening presents would invariably devolve into uncontrolled chaos, and afterward I would sleepily shuffle off to the kitchen to start making breakfast.
These days, Christmas mornings are a much more peaceful affair, and not just because my adult kids have gotten better at taking turns when opening presents. There’s one practice in particular that I’ve adopted in recent years that has made my Christmas mornings easier, and that’s assembling a make-ahead breakfast the night before!
I now have several Christmas-worthy make-ahead breakfast recipes in my collection, my only regret is that I didn’t start doing it sooner! If you’re on breakfast duty this year, I thought I’d share those breakfast recipes with you today so that we can all enjoy a delicious stress-free breakfast on Christmas morning! :-)
5 Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes That Make Christmas Morning Easy
1. Grandma Nystul’s Breakfast Casserole
Like most Norwegian American women in the Upper Midwest, my mother-in-law Dorothy has a vast number of casseroles and hot dishes in her recipe collection. Her “breakfast casserole” (the only name I’ve ever known it by!) has become a Christmas morning staple in our household, and it only takes me a few minutes to assemble the night before.
This casserole features diced bread, cubed ham, shredded cheese, and eggs, forming a complete breakfast that simply needs to be thrown in the oven and baked! My boys top it with ketchup while my daughter prefers hot sauce, but I like it just as is it is!
Get the recipe for Grandma Nystul’s Breakfast Casserole here.
2. Overnight French Toast Casserole
While the previous option is an ideal savory casserole, you might be looking for something a bit more indulgent. (After all, if there’s one occasion that justifies blurring the lines between breakfast and dessert, it’s Christmas!) :-)
For the sweet-toothed among us, look no further than this easy and delicious French toast casserole. Instead of cooking up individual slices the traditional way, you just layer it all together in a casserole dish the night before and bake it off in the morning. Easy!
Get the recipe for Overnight French Toast Casserole here.
3. Chili Relleno Casserole
Back on the savory side of things, this casserole is an easy win with anyone who appreciates the flavors of the Southwest. It is (somewhat loosely) inspired by chile relleno, a Mexican dish of cheese-stuffed peppers that are dipped in an egg batter and then pan fried.
Featuring layers of green chiles, eggs, and salsa, this casserole is easy to make ahead and then bake the next morning. Mexican flavors and breakfast always make a winning pair, even on Christmas morning! :-)
Get the recipe for Chili Relleno Casserole here.
More Ideas You'll Love
4. Cinnamon Rolls
We love a good cinnamon roll in the house, and Christmas morning is the perfect special occasion on which to enjoy them. And the good news is that pretty much any cinnamon roll recipe can be made as a make-ahead or overnight affair!
After filling, slicing, and arranging the rolls in your pan, just cover the pan with plastic wrap and store in your fridge overnight. The next morning, unwrap the pan and place it in your cold oven with a shallow pan of hot water. Let the rolls rise for about 30 minutes, then take them out, preheat, and bake. You’ll be feasting on warm, gooey cinnamon rolls in no time!
Get the recipe for my mom’s Perfect Cinnamon Rolls here.
5. Overnight Slow Cooker Oatmeal
Nothing warms you up and sticks to your ribs on a cold winter morning like a warm bowl of oatmeal. In addition to being nutritious, steel-cut oats are great as an overnight breakfast because they typically need to soak for a while to get nice and tender.
This recipe uses a bit of slow cooker magic to produce perfectly cooked oatmeal with pears, golden raisins, and warm baking spices throughout. Comforting and delicious, yet effortless to make? That’s the stuff of Christmas breakfast dreams!
Get the recipe for Overnight Slow Cooker Oatmeal here.
What’s your favorite make-ahead breakfast?
