Amish Breakfast Casserole Recipe

This Amish Breakfast Casserole is loaded with cheese, bacon, eggs, and hash browns. It’s hearty, savory, and guaranteed to please.

Make it the day before, then pop it in the oven the next morning. You’ll have a hearty, satisfying breakfast on the table in no time! It’s perfect for holiday get-togethers or a weekend brunch.

Cheesy Amish Breakfast Casserole 

When most people think of the Amish, they picture the simple things in life. Horses and buggies, fresh produce, simple clothing, and lots of honest work. 

The words “indulgent” or “decadent” don’t usually come up, except with this casserole, that is. 

It’s both indulgent and decadent, not to mention delicious. It’s a filling combination of eggs, hash browns, bacon, and three types of cheese.

It’s everything you love most about breakfast rolled into one delicious casserole. Luckily, it’s also super simple to make.  

Ingredients 

Here are the ingredients you need for this breakfast masterpiece:

• Bacon – Use whatever brand/flavor of bacon you like best. I think thick-cut bacon works best for this recipe, but stick to your favorite. 

• Sweet onion – Saute the onion with bacon for more flavor. There’s no need to add extra oil. The grease from the bacon will cook and caramelize the onions just fine. 

• Eggs – This casserole is a bit egg-heavy, and that’s what makes it delicious. 

• Frozen hash browns – Thaw them before adding them to the casserole mix. 

• Shredded cheddar and Swiss cheeses – This recipe uses a mix of Cheddar and Swiss cheeses. I prefer buying fresh cheeses and shredding them myself. 

• Cottage cheese – Cottage cheese will make the casserole thick and creamy. 

• Salt and pepper – Season it with salt and pepper to suit your tastes. 

How to Make Amish Breakfast Casserole 

How you make this casserole depends on whether you plan to bake it immediately or use it as a make-ahead dish. To bake it right away, start by preheating the oven to 350 degrees.

You can skip that step if you’re preparing it to bake the next day. Then, follow these easy steps:

1. Cook the bacon and onions. Cook them in a large skillet until the bacon is crisp. Then, drain them and set them aside. 

2. Mix the casserole. Combine all of the other ingredients in a large bowl. Then, stir in the bacon mixture. 

3. Transfer it to a baking dish. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Then, transfer the casserole mixture into it. Spread it evenly with a spatula if necessary. 

Bake it for 35 to 40 minutes in a preheated oven. Then, let the casserole cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Tips and Variations 

Before you start the recipe, check out these few final tips and a couple of flavor variations: 

• Cottage cheese is a must! Don’t remove or substitute the cottage cheese. You won’t notice its taste. However, it adds moisture to the casserole and makes it exceptionally creamy. 

• Let the hash browns chill in the fridge. You can’t add the hash browns to the casserole frozen. They need to thaw. The best way to do that is by transferring them to the fridge the night before. 

• Make it single-serve friendly. Want to make serving this casserole to a crowd easier? Scoop the casserole mixture into muffin tins instead of a baking dish. Bake it for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

• Mix up the breakfast meats. Bacon is my favorite breakfast meat, so that’s what I use. However, you could also make the casserole with ham, sausage, etc. Or leave the meat out entirely for a veggie-friendly version. 

• Add extra veggies. Speaking of veggie-friendly! Don’t just stop at onions. Add peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and more to this casserole. 

• Make your life easier. Want to save time on cleanup? Planning to take this casserole to a family get-together? Disposable pans make everything simpler. 

• Add some Mexican flair. Swap the bacon for spicy chorizo and add jalapenos or chiles. You can even pour some fresh salsa over the top when serving. 

• Go wild with toppings. Salsa isn’t the only topping that tastes great on this casserole. Try hot sauce, sour cream, diced green onions, and more. 

Serving Suggestions 

This yummy, hearty casserole is a complete meal all on its own. That doesn’t mean you can’t pair it with some things for breakfast or dinner!

Try these pairings for breakfast: 

• Something sweet like waffles, pancakes, or morning pastries
• Stand-alone breakfast meats like sausage, bacon, or country-fried ham
• Warm morning drinks like coffee or tea – or Irish coffee if it’s a weekend

If you’re making the casserole for lunch or dinner, try pairing it with lighter sides, such as: 

• Roasted veggies
• Steamed asparagus
• A light salad
• Roasted cherry tomatoes

How to Store

Here’s how to store leftover breakfast casserole so you can enjoy it again.

To Store: Transfer leftovers to an air-tight container. Then, place them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

To Freeze: Freezer storage works best if you wrap individual slices. Follow these steps to freeze your leftovers: 

1. Let the casserole cool completely.
2. Cut it into individual portions. 
3. Wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap. 
4. Place the individually wrapped slices in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. 
5. Freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months. 

To Reheat: Use the microwave or the oven. Microwave individual slices on high power in the microwave, using 30- to 45-second intervals. 

Or return the casserole (or individual slices) to a baking dish. Then, reheat at 350 degrees. It takes about 10 minutes for chilled casseroles or 12-13 minutes for frozen ones. 

To Make Ahead: Skip preheating the oven. Prepare the casserole as directed, but stop short of baking it. 

Instead, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil and place it in the fridge overnight. You may need to add a couple of minutes of baking time to it when you bake it the following day.