Here’s our holiday gift to you: Christmas brunch menu ideas, including make-ahead Christmas breakfast casseroles, gravy-topped biscuits, and more ways to round out your Christmas day menu. Every single one of these Christmas breakfast ideas is tried, true, tested, and loved.
Chilaquiles Breakfast Casserole
Blaine Moats
Just as appropriate before noon as it is at the dinner table, this Christmas breakfast casserole is like the polar opposite of a bowl of bran flakes. Piping hot, full of fiery ingredients, and packed with protein, this Mexican-inspired dish will keep everyone energized through a day full of new-toy action or sports-cheering. Set out platters of avocado, cotija cheese, cilantro, and tortilla chips so everyone can garnish their own serving as desired.
Ham-and-Cheese Slab Pies
Flaky, gooey, and a little zippy (thanks to the mustard), these savory breakfast pastries will be a hit at your holiday feast. If you’re a devotee of make-ahead Christmas morning breakfast recipes, take a close look. These store beautifully in your freezer for up to two months.
Jumbo Apple-Cinnamon Rolls
Brie Passano
This Christmas breakfast idea utilizes our Test Kitchen’s top trick for fluffy, light, and tender sweet rolls: Mashed potatoes. (Trust us!) From there, we transform it into an apple pie-inspired mashup by layering cinnamon-dusted sliced apples in between the flaky layers.
Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble the breakfast skillet recipe the night before, chill, then thaw for 30 minutes before baking.
Bacon-Asparagus Strata
Kritsada Panichgul
With its green asparagus and red sweet peppers, this make-ahead Christmas breakfast casserole matches the colors of Christmas. Bacon and Swiss cheese make it especially irresistible. If you prefer an even more substantial slice, try our variation featuring sausage, mushrooms, and cheddar.
Mascarpone-Stuffed French Toast with Salted Caramel-Banana Sauce
Andy Lyons
The rich filling of mascarpone, cream cheese, and sugared nuts in this Christmas breakfast recipe captures the true spirit of the holidays. It’s slightly over the top and will make the day feel oh, so special. Prepare it the night before for more time for the gift exchange (and relaxing).
Caramelized Onion Breakfast Casserole
Blaine Moats
Sweet ribbons of caramelized onions contrast with the salty bacon and creamy Muenster in this crowd-pleasing make-ahead Christmas breakfast casserole. (Tucking broccoli in with all the other diner-inspired goodies is a painless way to inspire picky eaters to eat a few vitamins, too.) PS: Don’t be surprised when the dish is requested again for New Year’s brunch.
Easy Huevos Rancheros Casserole
Marty Baldwin
This Mexican-inspired Christmas breakfast casserole is full of south-of-the-border flair that will warm up even the chilliest of Christmas mornings. Garnish this egg-and-potato bake with salsa and sour cream, and serve alongside freshly squeezed juice.
Bacon-Caramel Rolls
For many, a traditional holiday breakfast wouldn’t be complete without a pan of gooey caramel rolls. But who says you have to start from scratch? Frozen bread dough keeps this Christmas breakfast idea simple. And the bonus bacon keeps it savory enough for those who aren’t on Team Sweet.
Porcini Biscuits and Mushroom Gravy
Blaine Moats
A double dose of mushrooms gives this Christmas breakfast idea loads of earthy, delicious flavor. Level one: dried ground porcini in the biscuit dough. Level two: a full pound of your mushroom(s) of choice in the garlicky gravy. Pour that gravy on top of the aforementioned flaky biscuits, then all that’s left to do before you dig in is put an egg on it, naturally!
Quiche Lorraine
Jason Donnelly
When you’re on the hunt for crowd-pleasing Christmas breakfast ideas, you can’t go wrong with Quiche Lorraine. There’s nothing better than cheese and bacon inside a rich, savory custard, all cradled in a buttery crust. Just like Christmas and eggnog, this combo never fails to please.
Stuffed Waffles
Blaine Moats
The gift hiding inside this Christmas morning breakfast: cheese, bacon, basil, and tomatoes. Sandwich those savory fixings between just-slightly-sweet buttermilk batter and press into a waffle shape. Voila: A perfectly-acceptable-to-eat-before-noon panini. Prepare for some epic cheese pulls as everyone grabs their portion!
Cheesy Potato Bake with Eggs
Andy Lyons
Potatoes au gratin join forces with scrambled eggs in this one tasty, towering entree. This hearty Christmas breakfast recipe features smoky bacon, fresh tomatoes, broccoli, and potatoes for a holiday-worthy breakfast casserole. Slash prep time by using a food processor or mandoline to slice the potatoes.