Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole: the Ultimate Brunch Solution

Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole: The Only Way to Serve Brunch to a Crowd

The Ultimate make-ahead Brunch Solution

Seriously, stop stressing over brunch. I love Eggs Benedict, but if I have to poach even five eggs simultaneously, my kitchen turns into an anxiety fueled steam room. The frantic whisking, the vinegar ratio, the race against time it’s too much.

But that creamy, savory magic is non-negotiable for a holiday morning.

The solution? We ditch the fussy poached egg and the temperamental Hollandaise and bake everything into one glorious, shatteringly crispy, custard soaked Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole .

This recipe delivers all the classic flavors the buttery English muffins, the salty Canadian bacon, and the rich egg custard without requiring you to be awake before 9 AM.

This easy Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole takes just 20 minutes to prep tonight, so tomorrow morning, you just preheat the oven and wait for that incredible savory smell to fill the house.

Trust me, if you want high impact flavor with zero morning stress, this is the breakfast blueprint you need.

The Chemistry of Casserole: Why Prep Time Matters

You might look at the ingredients and think this is just a giant strata. But the specific science behind why this Eggs Benedict Casserole works is crucial, especially when transforming something that’s usually wet (poached eggs, fresh sauce) into something baked and structurally sound.

What is Eggs Benedict Casserole?

It's a breakfast strata where the traditional elements toasted English muffins, Canadian bacon, and a creamy egg base are layered and soaked overnight. The soaking allows the liquid to distribute evenly, turning the dry bread into a moist, yet firm, structure capable of holding its shape.

Why Choose the Overnight Method?

This isn’t just for convenience; it’s for texture. A quick 30 minute soak results in a dry center and mushy edges. A proper overnight soak (or at least 4 hours) allows the starches in the English muffins to fully absorb the dairy rich custard.

This prevents the casserole from collapsing during baking and ensures every bite of the Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole is uniformly tender and creamy.

Preventing Soggy Muffins: The Toasting Technique

If you just toss raw English muffins into the milk and egg mixture, you’ll get dense, soggy bread. We don’t want that. The Science: Toasting the muffins either lightly in the oven or in a toaster removes surface moisture and creates a structural lattice.

When the warm, liquid custard hits the toasted bread, it absorbs the liquid slowly, giving you a firm, golden brown crust and a pillowy interior.

The Role of the Custard Soak

Our custard uses a mix of whole milk and heavy cream. The Science: The heavy cream provides essential fat (which slows down moisture absorption) and richness (which mimics the flavor profile of hollandaise).

When the casserole bakes, the water content in the milk turns to steam, helping the structure lift, while the proteins in the egg and cream solidify, binding the bacon, cheese, and muffins together.

Achieving the Perfect Texture Balance

For a truly great Eggs Benedict Casserole , you need that sharp contrast: a crispy, golden brown top, a creamy, savory center, and salty chunks of ham/bacon throughout.

This requires high heat initially to set the crust, followed by moderate heat to fully cook the center ( 45 minutes total cook time is key for that ideal, cooked through center without drying it out).

Ingredients for Your Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole

This recipe is built around about 13 simple ingredients that pull their weight. We need flavor depth, binding agents, and structure. Remember, we are aiming for those satisfying, rich, brunch flavors.

Nutrition Information

Protein Substitutions: Beyond Canadian Bacon

While Canadian bacon (or pre-cooked ham) is traditional, feel free to use cooked crumbled breakfast sausage, or even shredded chicken for a twist. If you want to make a veggie version, try this as an Eggs Benedict Casserole With Spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, making sure to fully drain the vegetables so they don't introduce excess moisture. For another hearty, make-ahead dish, if you love this strata concept, you have to try my Breakfast Casserole: make-ahead Sausage Everything Bagel Strata next!

How to Assemble the Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole (step-by-step)

(Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 45 minutes | Total Time (incl. Soak): 5 hours 10 minutes)

Step 1: Prep the Components

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Cut the English muffins into 1 inch cubes. Spread them on a baking sheet and toast them for about 8- 10 minutes until lightly golden. This step is critical! While they cool, chop your Canadian bacon and shred your Gruyère or Swiss cheese.

Grease a 9x13 baking dish thoroughly.

Step 2: Layering the Casserole

Spread half of the toasted muffin cubes evenly across the bottom of the prepared dish. Scatter all the Canadian bacon and shredded cheese over the bread layer. Top with the remaining bread cubes.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, Dijon mustard (for that necessary tang), salt, pepper, and a pinch of paprika. Whisk until the mixture is uniform and slightly frothy.

Slowly pour the liquid custard mixture over the bread and meat layers. Press down gently with a spatula to ensure all the bread soaks up the liquid. You want the muffins to be fully submerged but not swimming.

Step 3: The Crucial Overnight Refrigeration

Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, but preferably overnight (up to 12 hours). This is where the magic happens, turning dry bread into a moist, custard filled base for your Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole .

Step 4: Baking and Finishing Touches

When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Remove the casserole from the fridge and let it sit on the counter while the oven heats (about 15 minutes).

Remove the plastic wrap. Bake for 40– 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown, puffy, and a knife inserted near the center comes out mostly clean. The internal temperature should be 160°F (71°C) to ensure the eggs are fully set.

Let it rest for 10 minutes after pulling it from the oven. Serve topped with your favorite easy, quick hollandaise (or a simple lemon butter sauce) and fresh chives.

Expert Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

The secret to a perfect Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole Recipe is avoiding moisture disasters. Soggy bread or watery filling ruins the experience. Here are the pitfalls I fell into so you don't have to:

make-ahead and Storage Solutions

This is a make-ahead recipe, but knowing how to handle the leftovers is key for continued success.

How Long Can I Refrigerate the Casserole Base?

The assembled, unbaked Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole base can be refrigerated safely for up to 24 hours. The texture actually improves the longer it sits (within that 24 hour window), becoming more like a velvety bread pudding.

Reheating Leftovers Safely

If you have leftovers (a rare occurrence with this recipe!), cover the cooled dish and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, cover the individual servings loosely with foil and bake at 325°F (160°C) for 15- 20 minutes, or until heated through.

Alternatively, microwave slices in 30 second bursts.

Can I Freeze the Casserole?

I don't recommend freezing this specific recipe. Dairy and eggs, especially in this custard rich ratio, tend to separate and become watery or rubbery when thawed and reheated. For freezing friendly options, I always turn to heartier, starch based meals like my Baked Spaghetti: The Best Cheesy Casserole with Ricotta Ragu .

Perfect Pairings and Presentation

Ensuring the Eggs Set Properly

For the yield of 9 servings (which aligns with our nutritional constraints), we need enough eggs to bind the custard without making it too stiff. The combination of 8 large eggs plus the fat from the cream ensures the finished product is fluffy and sliceable.

If your eggs look jiggly after 45 minutes, just give it 5 more minutes.

Salt Content Management

Canadian bacon is naturally salty. Resist the urge to aggressively salt your egg custard. Start with just 1/2 teaspoon of salt and adjust only after the bake, if needed, since the cheese and bacon will carry most of the savory load.

Adjusting Baking Time for Different Pans

If you use a deep 8x8 pan instead of a 9x13, the casserole will be much thicker, requiring an extra 10– 15 minutes of baking time to ensure the center is completely set. Always test the center!

If you are looking for an even quicker breakfast alternative that requires zero soaking, my sheet pan method is a game changer. Check out my guide on Sheet Pan Eggs: Ultimate Meal Prep Baked Frittata for meal prep friendly eggs! This incredible Overnight Eggs Benedict Casserole truly makes brunch effortless, decadent, and completely stress free. Enjoy!