The Best High-Protein Breakfast Casserole for Busy Mornings
This nutrient-rich, high-protein breakfast casserole is delicious, easy to make, and can be made ahead so that your mornings are smoother and simpler! I also love that you can customize it to your tastes with different vegetables, cheeses, and more. It is a crowd-pleaser for sure!
Breakfast is one of those meals that can make or break your day. Run out the door with black coffee and a banana, and you won’t be feeling too great! But walk out the door with a nourishing collagen latte and this high-protein breakfast casserole, and you will feel satisfied and nourished.
One of the easiest ways to boost your daily nutrition is with a good breakfast. High protein, nutrient-dense, and delicious food is the goal, and this easy to make casserole checks all of those boxes! We like to whip up this casserole on Sunday afternoon so that we can easily pop a slice in the toaster oven on busy mornings.
What Is a High-Protein Breakfast Casserole?
A high-protein breakfast casserole is a hearty, nutrient-dense dish that combines eggs, meat, cheese, and vegetables into a satisfying morning meal. Think of it as a complete breakfast in every slice—you get the protein from eggs and meat, healthy fats from cheese and cream, and nutrients from fresh vegetables, all baked together into a delicious, filling casserole. What makes this version special is its adaptability and make-ahead-friendly nature, perfect for both busy weekday mornings and lazy weekend brunches.
Why Make This High-Protein Breakfast Casserole?
This breakfast casserole is a game-changer for anyone looking to start their day with a nutritious, satisfying meal. It’s incredibly versatile, allowing you to use whatever ingredients you have on hand, and it reheats beautifully throughout the week. The high protein content helps keep you full and focused until lunch, while the combination of ingredients provides sustained energy for busy mornings.
- Perfect for meal prep: Make it once on Sunday and enjoy stress-free breakfasts all week long.
- Protein powerhouse: Packs 30+ grams of protein per serving to keep you satisfied.
- Family-friendly flexibility: Easily customized with different meats, vegetables, and cheeses.
- Budget-conscious: Use ingredients you already have on hand.
- Time-saving solution: Reheat individual portions in minutes.
High-Protein Breakfast Casserole Ingredients
- Ground beef, chicken, turkey, or ground sausage of choice: We typically use grass-fed beef or a ground chicken or pork sausage, but you can really use any ground meat you prefer! You can also sprinkle some bacon on the top to give it a little extra crunch! I typically use turkey bacon, but do what you like!
- Eggs: We have chickens, so our eggs are from happy, though sometimes mischievous, hens. Large eggs are ideal, but you can use whatever you have on hand!
- Milk & heavy cream: I like to mix the two of these to get a slightly thicker consistency for the casserole. These ingredients also add some healthy fat. If you don’t have cream, you can also just use milk. If you don’t do dairy, substitute a non-dairy milk for both the milk and cream.
- Shredded cheese: We like shredded cheddar in ours. Use what you like or have on hand!
- Cream cheese or cottage cheese: These ingredients are optional but add extra healthy fat and protein, respectively. We buy the Nancy’s Organic products from Azure Standard and love them!
- Vegetables of choice: I like adding caramelized onions, lightly sautéed kale, or spinach to ours. Diced, roasted potatoes are another option. You can truly use anything here, so think seasonally! We do onions, tomatoes, and zucchini in the summer and often don’t add vegetables at all in the winter.
- Salt, pepper, garlic (optional): We season ours generously with salt, pepper, and usually a little bit of garlic. Basil and oregano are yummy as well!
High-Protein Breakfast Casserole Variations
- Mediterranean style: Use ground turkey, feta cheese, spinach, and roasted red peppers.
- Southwest flair: Add chorizo, pepper jack cheese, bell peppers, and top with avocado.
- Veggie-loaded: Double the vegetables and use mushrooms, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.
I hope you love this recipe!
High Protein Breakfast Casserole
This high proten breakfast casserole is delicous, packed with nutrients, and so easy to make ahead for a simple morning routine! Customize it with veggies and cheeses you like to switch things up a bit!
Ingredients
- 10-12 pastured eggs
- 1/2 to 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 4-6 oz cream cheese, softened
- Optional: 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 lb cooked ground beef/turkey/chicken or sausage of choice
- Salt and pepper to taste - about 3/4 tsp
- Optional: 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- Optional: seasonal roasted vegetables, spinach, tomatoes, sautéed onions
Instructions
- If desired, caramlize some onions or roast some diced potatoes before making the casseroe.
- On the stove, over medium heat, cook your ground beef or chicken or sausage until completley cooked through. Set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 375. Lightly coat a 9x13 baking dish with butter or oil of choice.
- In a medium size bowl, crack the eggs and gently scramble them. Then add in the grated cheddar cheese, cottage cheese (if using), milk, and heavy cream and stir well.
- Next, whisk in the softened cream cheese. The mixture will be slighly lumpy, and the cream cheese will not fully incorporate.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also add in othe seasonings -- 1/2 tsp garlic, 1/2 tsp oregano, etc.
- If adding any vegetables, pour them into the egg mixture and stir until combined.
- Pour your cooked ground beef or sausage into the oiled baking dish, then pour the egg mixture over the top.
- Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes, or until the eggs are set and lightly golden brown. Oven times may vary.
- Serve with some fresh herbs, seasonal fruit or sourdough toast, and a collagen latte! Enjoy!
Notes
- We typically make this ahead and refridgerate it, then reheat it in the toaster oven the next morning! Simply cut a small slice, place it in an oven-safe dish and heat for about 5 minutes.
- To make this recipe dairy-free or Whole 30 compliant, use 1 &1/2 cups of non-dairy milk and omit the cottage cheese and cream cheese.
- One simple way to switch this recipe up is to add vegetables. We love spinach, tomatoes and feta or diced roasted potatoes and caramelized onions or roasted zucchini and tomatoes. You can also easily make it without any added vegetables!
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