Christmas morning can be hectic; kids want to open presents, need to start the rest of the Christmas meal and have sleep deprivation from staying up the night before finishing all the last-minute things. On top of all that, everyone wants something to eat, and since you have been cooking and cleaning for the last few days, the last thing you want to do is go back to the kitchen and create a culinary masterpiece.
Be the Hero
How about, instead of making another mess and spending an hour in the kitchen making Belgian waffles with all the fancy fixings, make a breakfast casserole the night before and be the hero of Christmas morning?
Make Ahead Options
There are two types of breakfast casseroles you can make the night before: slow cooker casseroles and bake-in-the-morning casseroles. The slow cooker recipes are nice because they don’t take up precious oven space when you are trying to get the Christmas dinner in the oven, and cleanup can be a breeze if you use a slow cooker liner. Also, bake-in-the-morning casseroles need to be refrigerated overnight, and often during the holiday, fridge space is at a premium, especially if you have prepared many of the side dishes ahead of time. Most slow cooker casseroles cook for 6-8 hours on low heat, which may not work if you plan on sleeping in or have guests coming over for brunch at a later time.
Don’t Limit Yourself
Slow cooker casseroles usually involve eggs; however, you can make oatmeal, cinnamon rolls, yogurt, and even some quick breads.
Both types of casseroles below are delicious and give you a chance to sleep in, relax with a cup of coffee or tea, and just enjoy your family any time of the year, not just Christmas morning!
Written by Vicki Hayman, MS, University of Wyoming Extension Nutrition and Food Safety Educator
Sources: