Overnight Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

Overnight Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

This easy Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole is filled with hash brown potatoes, ham, eggs, green chilis, spices and cheese. The perfect meal that will make you look forward to getting out of bed in the morning.



This idea for Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole was brought to me after our Airbnb cancelled our lodging due to flooding. This left our family of 12 without a place to stay during high summer season. We not only had to find space to accommodate all of us, we had to find a way to use our food we had purchased and planned for our meals.

The only place available was a hotel, so we no longer had a kitchen to cook in. My sister-in-law suggested we both bring slow cookers and make Overnight Breakfast Casseroles. This was my first time making a savory breakfast in my slow cooker and let me tell you, it was delicious and absolute genius! It was a special way to serve breakfast and everyone enjoyed it!

One of the reasons I love making Slow Cooker Breakfast Casseroles is there are so many variations. If you like lots of meat, load it up with ham, bacon, and sausage for the ultimate meat lovers breakfast. You can add different cheese blends, spices, and whatever kinds of veggies you love. And the toppings are endless! Add fresh tomatoes, onions, cilantro, sour cream and salsa; it’s versatile and so yummy!

I also love the ease of throwing everything in one big pot and forgetting about it for a few hours. This is great if you have company staying over, and even busy weekdays are a good enough reason for me to have breakfast already done in the morning. Waking up to a house filled with the aroma of breakfast is a wonderful thing.



Ingredients For Overnight Breakfast Casserole:

For this recipe I use-

  • Frozen hash brown potatoes- Cubed or shredded work great. If you don’t have frozen hash browns on hand, peel and dice potatoes (about 5 cups) then boil for 5 minutes. This helps remove some of the starch before placing them in the slow cooker.
  • Deli ham- Any cubed ham will work. I like using thinly sliced deli ham.
  • Eggs- I use 12 large eggs for this recipe.
  • Cottage cheese- In place of milk I use cottage cheese to bump up the protein. It also adds moisture so the casserole doesn’t dry out.
  • Green chilis- This adds a mild chili flavor without the heat.
  • Cheddar Cheese- I love the flavor of cheddar and eggs but typically I use what I have on hand.
  • Spices- Season salt and black pepper

Additional ingredients To substitute or add-in:

  • Cooked bacon
  • Cooked breakfast sausage
  • Bell peppers
  • Onions
  • Sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, & Pepper Jack cheese
  • Dried herbs & seasonings- Italian seasoning, oregano, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper
  • Broccoli, spinach, zucchini and mushrooms

Toppings:

  • Fresh tomatoes
  • Avocado
  • Green onions
  • Cilantro
  • Sour cream
  • Salsa
  • Hot sauce

Tips:

  1. Use a 6qt or larger slow cooker– This casserole makes 8 or more servings so you definitely want a larger size crockpot.
  2. Use non-stick cooking spray– It’s important to spray the inside of your slow cooker really well with non-stick cooking spray. When you think you’ve sprayed too much, spray some more. 😉 Baked on egg is no fun to clean off.
  3. Use a crock pot liner. This is great especially if you’re traveling with your slow cooker and don’t have means to clean out the pot, or you just don’t WANT to clean out the pot. Make sure to spray the liner really well with non-stick cooking spray.
  4. Drain excess grease- If using cooked bacon or sausage, make sure to drain off excess grease before adding it to the slow cooker.

How To Assemble Breakfast Casserole:

  1. Start by whisking eggs, cottage cheese, green chilis, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl until well combined.
  2. Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray and add hash brown potatoes, spreading out in an even layer.
  3. Place meat of choice on top of the potatoes in a single layer. Don’t stir together.
  4. Sprinkle with a little cheese.
  5. Pour over egg mixture and top with more cheese. Don’t stir together.
  6. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 3-4. Casserole is done when eggs are set in the middle and the sides begin to pull away from the pot.


Does Breakfast Casserole Re-Heat Well?

We always have leftovers with my little family of 3 and we love it! I place individual servings in the microwave and top with additional cheese. The extra cheese gives it a little moisture. Add your favorite toppings like fresh tomatoes, sliced avocado, and enjoy a second time around!



Other Breakfast Ideas You Might Enjoy:

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Let’s eat!🤍

Overnight Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

This easy Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole is filled with hash brown potatoes, ham, eggs, green chilis, spices and cheese. The perfect meal that will make you look forward to getting out of bed in the morning.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 20 minutes
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 366 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 6qt or larger slow cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 5 cups hash browns, cubed or shredded see recipe notes if using fresh potatoes
  • 1 1/2 cups cubed deli ham see notes if using bacon or sausage
  • 12 large eggs
  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese can substitute for milk
  • 1 4.5 oz can mild diced green chilis
  • 1 1/2 tsp season salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • non-stick cooking spray

Toppings:

  • fresh tomatoes
  • sliced avocado
  • green onions
  • cilantro
  • sour cream
  • salsa

Instructions
 

If using bacon or sausage, cook first then proceed with instructions

  • Spray slow cooker generously with non-stick cooking spray. If using liner, make sure to also coat well with non-stick spray.
  • In a medium size mixing bowl whisk eggs, cottage cheese, green chilis and spices until well combined. Set aside.

Layer the following in slow cooker

  • Place potatoes in prepared slow cooker and spread out in an even layer. Top with diced ham (or meat of choice) 1/2 cup cheese, egg mixture, and the remaining 1 cup cheese. Do not mix together. NOTE: If using additional ingredients, add those on top of the hash browns.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook for 7-8 hours on low, or 3-4 hours on high. Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

Notes

Tips:
  • Use a crock pot liner. This is great especially if you’re traveling with your slow cooker and don’t have means to clean out the pot. Just make sure to spray the liner really well with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Drain excess grease- If using cooked bacon or sausage, make sure to drain off excess grease before adding it to the slow cooker.
  • Fresh potatoes vs. frozen- If I don’t have frozen hash browns on hand, I peel and dice potatoes into small cubes, then boil for 5 minutes before adding to the crock pot; about 5 cups worth.
  • Re-heating- Place individual servings in the microwave and top with additional cheese. The extra cheese gives it a little moisture. Add your favorite toppings like fresh tomatoes, sliced avocado, and enjoy a second time around!
 
Breakfast casserole makes about 10 cups. 
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Keyword Cheddar cheese, Cottage cheese, Eggs, Green chilis, Ham, Hash browns, potatoes, Spices
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving 
Calories 366
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 22.8g29%
Saturated Fat 10.1g50%
Cholesterol 318mg106%
Sodium 699mg30%
Total Carbohydrate 16.6g6%
Dietary Fiber 1.3g5%
Total Sugars 1.6g 
Protein 24.3g 
Vitamin D 29mcg144%
Calcium 227mg17%
Iron 3mg14%
Potassium 434mg9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Recipe analyzed by 

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