Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Ham

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Additional Time 8 hours
Total Time 9 hours 15 minutes
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Looking for the best breakfast casserole recipe? This overnight breakfast casserole with ham is made with flaky croissants, warm cream cheese and a crispy, buttery cornflake topping for added crunch. It’s seriously addicting!

Why I Love this Breakfast Casserole with Ham

Guys, there is NOTHING better than having breakfast ready to go first thing in the morning! I’m a firm believer in planning ahead with most things – especially when it buys me an extra half hour of rest in the morning. Whether it’s a Saturday morning with the kids or Christmas morning with extended family, this ham breakfast casserole is always a huge hit. It’s savory, filling as can be, and takes the stress out of feeding a small army before 9 a.m. Check out why I love it so much:

  • Amazing Flavor: This ham breakfast casserole is packed with buttery croissants, warm cream cheese, lots of ham and cheddar cheese. Topped with buttery crushed cornflakes, it has amazing crunchy and buttery crust!
  • Super Easy: Whisk together the eggs and then layer everything together in a baking dish. Let the casserole rest overnight and then bake, couldn’t get any simpler.
  • Make Ahead: You do all of the prep the night before, then pop it into the oven the next morning for an amazing hot breakfast!
  • Customizable: Feel free to add in sautรฉed or raw onions, bell peppers, breakfast sausage, bacon, or use up your leftover crockpot ham!

Love simple brunch dishes with eggs? Be sure to try my easy breakfast enchiladas, easy tortilla Espaรฑola (potato omelette) or delicious overnight bacon and sausage breakfast casserole.

Ingredients for overnight breakfast casserole recipe arranged on a countertop. From top to bottom: croissants, pepper, salt, onion powder, cayenne pepper, cream cheese, butter, cheddar cheese, half and half, cornflakes, eggs and sliced ham.

Key Ingredients

Gather all your ingredients before getting started, once we get started, the assembly goes fast! Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make overnight breakfast casserole.ย Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!

  • Croissants: You’ll need 6 or 7 cut in half lengthwise. You can either buy a can of croissant dough and bake them or buy them already to go from the bakery – either option works well.
  • Ham: Choose 12 to 14 slices of deli ham or use up your leftover holiday ham. This is one of my favorite ways to use up all of that Christmas ham!
  • Cheese: I used shredded cheddar cheese and cream cheese, cut into 1″ cubes. When it comes to cheddar cheese, it always tastes best when shredded right off the block.
  • Half and Half: You can use heavy cream instead if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Cornflakes: You will need regular plain cornflakes, not the sweetened frosted cornflakes.
  • Parsley: Optional garnish, sliced green onions work well too!
Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole with a crisp and buttery cornflake topping.

How to Make Ham Breakfast Casserole

Assembling this ham breakfast casserole recipe will take you almost no time at all. Let it rest overnight and then all you have to do is bake it the next morning. Easy peasy! Below is a quick overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions.

  • First Set of Layers: Place one layer of croissants flat side down onto the bottom of the 9×13 baking dish. Place two layers of ham over the croissants, followed by 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Evenly place the cream cheese cubes on top.
  • Mix Together Sauce: Whisk together eggs, half and half, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Pour the egg mixture over other ingredients.
  • Second Set of Layers: Top with the additional croissants, flat side up. Sprinkle on remaining ยฝ cheese. Sprinkle on crushed cornflakes and pour butter evenly over cornflakes.
  • Soak Overnight: Cover casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  • Bake the Casserole: Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until golden brown and no longer jiggly in the middle. If the casserole is browning too quickly, cover with aluminum foil.
  • Serve and Enjoy: Serve warm with chopped parsley on top, if desired.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Ham in a casserole dish baked with a buttery and crispy cornflake topping.

Chef’s Tips & Variations

  • Other Types of Cheese: Use your favorite melting cheese, such as mozzarella, colby jack, Monterey Jack, smoked gouda or pepper jack will all work well.
  • Not A Ham Fan? You can use any sliced, cooked meat you would enjoy! Deli sliced turkey or chicken also work well.
  • Croissants: Stale older croissants work perfect in a breakfast casserole like this. Don’t use super soft, fresh croissants or canned crescent rolls. The texture will not work well.
  • In a Rush: Forgot to assemble your casserole the night before? You can let it soak in the fridge for 2 hours instead of overnight. Any less and the croissants might not soak up all the eggs and half and half in time.
  • Fridge to Oven: Be careful moving the casserole directly from the fridge to a hot oven if using a glass casserole dish as it can break. Instead, let the casserole warm on the counter for 30 minutes before baking.
A slice of Breakfast Casserole With Ham and cream cheese on a plate.

What to Serve with Breakfast Casserole with Ham

Though this breakfast casserole with ham is totally filling and needs no sides, brunch is often a time to enjoy many recipes!

A serving of Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Ham being lifted out of a casserole dish with a spatula.
4.5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 12 servings

Overnight Ham Breakfast Casserole

This Overnight Ham Breakfast Casserole is perfect for your Christmas morning breakfast or brunch. What could be better than a make-ahead casserole with croissants, smoky ham, and melted cheese?
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Additional Time8 hours
Total Time9 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6-7 croissants, cut in half lengthwise
  • 12-14 slices of deli ham, or leftover ham
  • 1 ยฝ cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, cut into 1โ€ cubes
  • 7 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 cups half and half
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ยผ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 ยฝ cups cornflakes, crushed
  • ยฝ cup salted butter, melted
  • Parsley, optional garnish

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Instructions 

  • Place one layer of croissants flat side down onto the bottom of the 9ร—13 casserole dish.
  • Place two layers of ham over the croissants, followed by 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Evenly place the cream cheese cubes over the cheddar cheese.
  • Whisk together eggs, half and half, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Pour over other ingredients.
  • Top with the additional croissants, flat side up. Sprinkle on the remaining cheese. Sprinkle on crushed cornflakes and pour butter evenly over cornflakes.
  • Leave overnight in the refrigerator or let soak 1 to 2 hours if you are in time crunch. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350ยฐF.
  • Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, until golden brown and no longer jiggly in the middle and the eggs are no longer runny. If the casserole is browning too quickly, cover with aluminum foil.
  • Serve warm with chopped parsley on top, if desired.

Notes

Store: After baking, cover and refrigerate the breakfast casserole with ham within 2 hours. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat: To reheat a small portion, heat in the microwave in 30 second intervals until warmed through. For a larger portion, reheat in a 350ยฐF oven covered with foil for about 15 minutes.
Freeze: I do not recommend freezing leftovers as the texture will not be the same once frozen and thawed.
Croissants: Stale older croissants work perfect in a breakfast casserole like this. Donโ€™t use super soft, fresh croissants or canned crescent rolls. The texture will not work well.
In a Rush: Forgot to assemble your casserole the night before? You can let it soak in the fridge for 2 hours instead of overnight. Any less and the croissants might not soak up all the eggs and half and half in time.
Fridge to Oven: Be careful moving the casserole directly from the fridge to a hot oven if using a glass casserole dish as it can break. Instead, let the casserole warm on the counter for 30 minutes before baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 484kcal, Carbohydrates: 20g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 37g, Saturated Fat: 20g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 213mg, Sodium: 940mg, Potassium: 257mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1225IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 194mg, Iron: 2mg

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Hi Jessica,
Thank you so much for sharing all your great delicious recipe. I love all the step by step very easy to follow instructions. Also the picture you have with recipe. I really appreciate it . I love to cook and share delicious food to my friends and family . So far I made the chocolate peanut butter bars and was so delicious and everyone loves them ! I looking forward to try all your recipe. You make everything delicious! Thank you

Thank You For Being Here!

Jessica
For the past 15 years, Jorge & Jessica have loved getting to share their families' favorite recipes with all of you. They live in Florida with their 3 kids.