This Christmas Morning Casserole is one of my all-time favorite holiday traditions! Often called Christmas Morning Wife Saver, it's a comforting, savory, make-ahead breakfast casserole that lets you enjoy the magic of Christmas morning without spending hours in the kitchen. Simply prep it the night before, pop it in the oven in the morning and serve up a warm, crowd-pleasing breakfast that everyone will love!
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Looking for a savory way to start your day? We've got plenty of breakfast recipes! These fully loaded chorizo breakfast bowls are filling and flavorful, this sausage quiche stuffed baguette is a crowd favorite. These smashed egg breakfast tacos are great for a delicious and easy breakfast, and these make-ahead egg bites keep mornings delicious and stress-free! 🍳
Why You'll Love This Christmas Morning Casserole
- It's a true classic brunch recipe, nostalgic and just plain delicious!
- Christmas morning casserole can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance for a hassle-free and stress-free Christmas morning.
- Wife Saver Casserole is a great recipe for using up leftover ham from Christmas Eve dinner!
- It feeds a crowd and is a comforting, savory recipe that's perfect for brunch or even breakfast-for-dinner!
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Ingredients You'll Need
- Ham - Any kind of cooked meat can be used to make this breakfast casserole, even deli meat or crumbled sausage!
- Dijon Mustard - Any style of mustard can be used, even plain yellow mustard if that is all you have.
- Bread - This recipe for homemade no knead bread works perfectly for this recipe. Other options include white bread, sourdough, or whole wheat.
- Cream & Whole Milk - The cream and whole milk in this recipe can be substituted using this homemade cashew milk recipe!
A full list of ingredients with exact quantities can be found on the free printable recipe card below.
Recipe Modifications and Variations
- Make It Spicy - Add some chili pepper flakes, siraricha, or hot sauce into the egg mixture before pouring it over the bread for an added kick of spice!
- Make It Enchiladas - Try this recipe for breakfast enchilada wife savers. The only difference is that this recipe uses tortilla wraps instead of bread!
- Other Protein - Instead of ham, use sausage, bacon, back bacon, or deli meat for this classic wife saver recipe!
- Make It Sweet & Savory - Add a generous drizzle of maple syrup or honey to the top of the casserole before adding the cornflake layer for a slightly sweet and savory breakfast casserole!
What To Serve With Christmas Morning Wife Saver
Serve this breakfast casserole with fresh fruit and fruit dip, homemade cinnamon buns and homemade hot chocolate for an extra special Christmas morning breakfast!
How To Make Christmas Morning Casserole
Step 1 - Prepping the Wife Saver
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the eggs, milk, cream, dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper and whisk to fully combine and set aside.
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Step 2
Grease a large 9x13 casserole dish with butter and place one single layer of bread to cover the entire bottom, ripping or cutting bread to fill in all the spaces. Spread out all of the ham and top with half of the shredded cheese.
Step 3
Place the remaining slices of bread on top and top with the remaining cup of shredded cheese. Pour the egg mixture over the casserole evenly, covering the entire dish.
Wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake (this step is only necessary if you are preparing the casserole ahead of time).
Step 4 - Baking the Casserole
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Prepare the corn flake topping by combining the corn flakes and melted butter in a mixing bowl. Tossing to fully coat the cornflakes with butter.
Spread the cornflakes in an even layer over the top of the bread.
Step 4
Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until it is fully set in the center.
After the casserole is fully cooked, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.
Top with diced scallions (optional) before serving.
Expert Tips
- If the bread you use is on the thicker side and surpasses the top of the casserole dish, use a deeper dish or squish it down a bit so the cornflakes stay in place while baking.
- Grate your own cheese! Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting.
- Add the cornflake topping fresh, right before baking, for the best results!
- It is not necessary to prepare this breakfast casserole in advance. It is 100% optional, but an especially good option if you have company staying over or you know you won't have time the next morning to prepare a full casserole from scratch.
How To Store Leftovers
Store leftover wife saver casserole wrapped tightly with plastic wrap or store pieces in airtight containers. Keep refrigerated and enjoy within 3 days.
To reheat leftovers in the oven, heat the oven to 350°F and bake for 5-10 minutes, or microwave for 2-3 minutes until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an old-time recipe and named because it is traditionally prepared in advance, the day before, keeping the wife (saving her) from being in the kitchen on Christmas morning.
Any bread can be used to make wife saver casserole! I like to use sturdy bread such as my homemade no-knead bread or sourdough.
Yes, Christmas morning casserole can be frozen before or after baking.
To freeze it before baking, fully prepare the casserole up to the refrigeration part. Wrap the casserole dish tightly with several layers of plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Allow the casserole to fully defrost in the refrigerator before adding the cornflakes and baking it fully.
Freezing this casserole after it has been baked is possible, but not recommended because it can change the texture of the eggs, and it will make the cornflakes soggy.
Yes, this casserole (breakfast strata) can be made up to 48 hours in advance! Be sure to add the cornflakes fresh, just before baking, so they do not go soggy!
Absolutely! You can leave the meat out entirely or use a meat alternative, such as smoked tofu slices or crumbled vegan sausage!
More Breakfast Recipes
Looking for more breakfast ideas like this? Try these:
If you made this Christmas Morning Wife Saver or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating, a 💬 comment and share it on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook!
📖 Recipe
Christmas Morning Casserole
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Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 9 Large Eggs
- 1 ½ cups Whole Milk
- ¾ cup Cream
- 2 tablespoons Grainy Dijon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 ½ tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 12 slices Bread divided
- 10-12 slices Ham (or shredded leftover ham)
- 2 cups Cheese shredded and divided
- 4 Green Onions diced (optional, for serving)
Corn Flake Topping
- 4 cups Corn Flakes
- ¼ cup Butter melted
Instructions
Make-Ahead Instructions
- Grease a 9"x13" casserole dish and set aside. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add the eggs, milk, cream, dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Whisk to fully combine and set aside.
- Into the prepared casserole dish, add 6 slices of bread to the bottom in a single layer, completely covering the entire bottom of the dish. (Cut or rip the pieces of bread so they fit entirely covering the bottom of the dish). On top of the bread, spread out all of the ham and 1 cup of the shredded cheese. Place the remaining 6 slices of bread on top, arranging them to fully cover the top and sprinkle the top with the remaining cup of cheese. Pour the egg mixture over the casserole, making sure to evenly cover the entire thing.
- Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake. (Up to 48 hours)
Baking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and remove the casserole from the refrigerator 20-30 minutes before baking.
- Prepare the corn flake topping in a medium-sized bowl. Combine the cornflakes and melted butter, tossing to fully coat the cornflakes with butter. Remove the plastic wrap from the top of the casserole and spread the prepared corn flake topping evenly over top of the casserole.
- Bake the casserole for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until it is fully set in the center. After the casserole is fully cooked, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving. Top with diced green onions (optional) before serving.
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Notes
- It is not necessary to prepare this breakfast casserole in advance. It is 100% optional and can be made and baked on the same day.
- This Christmas Morning Wife Saver casserole can be made up to 48 hours in advance.
- Any type of ham or meat, such as crumbled sausage, deli meat, or even bacon, can be used to make this breakfast casserole. To make this casserole without meat, simply leave it out altogether, or use smoked tofu or crumbled vegan sausage for a vegetarian option.
- If your bread is thick and surpasses the top of the casserole dish, use a deeper dish or squish it down a bit so the cornflakes stay in place while baking.
- Grate your own cheese! Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting.
- Add the cornflake topping fresh, right before baking, for the best results!
- Store leftovers tightly wrapped with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Christmas morning casserole can be frozen, see these instructions for freezing before or after baking.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator and it will vary based on the ingredients that you use.
Jessica says
Christmas morning wife saver has always been my favourite meal to have on Christmas morning! It is so easy to make in advance and is truly the best comfort food out there!