9 Breakfast Casseroles for Easier School Mornings

A little advance work leads to big AM rewards for busy school mornings! Lighten the load with sweet and savory breakfast casseroles. Bake or assemble in advance, then warm up when you get up.

By
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara Bir
Sara is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio and The Fruit Forager's Companion. The latter won a 2019 IACP Cookbook Award.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published September 08, 2021
Sara Bir
Breakfast Casseroles for Breezy School Day Mornings
Breakfast Casseroles for Breezy School Day Mornings

Have you ever had someone make coffee at home for you and bring you a steaming mug fixed up just how you like it? If you want to win my favor forever, that’s how. It’s the best feeling, a small gesture that makes me feel so loved.

Having a hot and melty breakfast casserole ready for your crew before they head off to a long day of school makes them feel special in the very same way. Breakfast casseroles are so easy and so beloved it’s a no-brainer to do the work up front and enjoy the rewards all week long.

Here are a few ways to pull it off for hectic school mornings:

  • Assemble the casserole the night before, wrap in foil, and refrigerate. Then bake in the morning (you might need to be an early riser to pull this one off). Pull the casserole from the fridge as the oven preheats so it doesn’t go in cold.
  • Bake the casserole the night before, cool, refrigerate, and heat up portions as needed.
  • Send your kid packing with a slice for a lunch to look forward to (my daughter, who’s not a morning person, much prefers this over having it for breakfast).

And can I just say the phrase “sending the kids off to school” this year makes me want to do backflips of joy? If you’re in the same spirit, celebrate with one of these tried-and-true crowd pleasers!

  • Biscuits and Gravy Casserole

    Biscuits and Gravy Bake
    Irvin Lin

    Need an egg-free casserole? You got it. Unlike some other selections here, this recipe is best baked the morning you serve it. But you can shave off prep time by having components made in advance (see the post for specific directions). Another shortcut? Use two regular-sized cans of refrigerated biscuits instead of making them from scratch. 

    Get Recipe

  • Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole

    Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole Recipe - slice french toast casserole on plate with syrup and fork
    Jessica Gavin

    Slow cookers are an MVP in many family kitchens. The drawback? They’re slow. The cooking time for this recipe runs hours, so we suggest making this the day before, cooling and storing in the fridge, and then warming up portions the morning you serve it. 

    Get Recipe

  • Blueberry Maple Breakfast Bake

    Blueberry Maple Breakfast Bake
    Elise Bauer

    There’s something about the combination of blueberries and maple syrup that’s so appealing and wholesome. Maple syrup goes in the casserole itself; it’s optional as a topping. A little cream cheese makes this one a tad decadent. 

    Get Recipe

  • Cheesy Hash Brown Egg Bites

    Top view of easy hash brown egg bites on a white plate.
    Kalisa Marie Martin

    These guys are adorable mini casseroles all ready to grab and go! You can even freeze them. See detailed tips for storing and reheating in the post.

    Get Recipe
    Continue to 5 of 9 below.

  • Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

    Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
    Aaron Hutcherson

    This one has a very “breakfast for dinner” vibe. To streamline prep, it’s baked in the skillet you cook the sausage in. Use bacon instead, if you like, and ask the kids if they’d like to arrange the tater tots in that oh-so-appealing pattern on top. 

    Get Recipe

  • Apple-Cinnamon French Toast Muffins

    Apple Cinnamon French Toast Muffins
    Sally Vargas

    Another diminutive muffin tin casserole for the win! Use cupcake liners for a morning treat that’s truly made for eating on the run. A doable half hour baking time makes these a good candidate for baking these fresh for morning.

    Get Recipe

  • Easy Breakfast Casserole

    Breakfast Casserole
    Elise Bauer

    Here is a super flexible breakfast casserole recipe that you can use as a template for riffs based on what they have in the fridge. It’s got ideas for add-ins galore, but you can even make it with just cheese, eggs, milk, and bread if your kiddos aren’t into the colorful bits.

    Get Recipe

  • Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

    Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
    Sheryl Julian

    With bread that’s sliced rather than cubed, this casserole almost resembles ham and cheese sandwiches nestled in an eggy custard. Skip the tomatoes if you’re not partial to them, or sub some cooked, chopped spinach that’s been squeezed of excess moisture.

    Get Recipe
    Continue to 9 of 9 below.

  • Bagel Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Egg, and Cheese

    Bagel Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Egg, and Cheese
    Marta Rivera

    Your favorite breakfast sandwich gets remixed in casserole form for easy serving. Use whatever kind of bagels, cheese, and breakfast meat you please. 

    Get Recipe