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Buttery croissants, smokey ham, and gooey cheese are all baked together for the ultimate breakfast casserole. Inspired by the French classic, Croque Monsieur, this is an easy-to-make recipe that’s heavenly served with powdered sugar, jam and perfect for breakfast, brunch, and a must for the holidays.
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Ham, cheese, eggs, and light, fluffy bread. That’s the stuff dreams are made of. Well, at least that’s true for my family. When all those things come together in one place like a make-ahead casserole, then let’s say life is grand!
One of my favorite brunch dishes is a French bistro classic, Croque Monsieur. The name means “Mister Crunch” and is a toasted sandwich made with ham and cheese. I’ve taken a few (well, maybe more) liberties with the original recipe method, put them all together, and turned everything into a casserole.
This recipe is effortless and comes together in just minutes. Like Sausage and Cheese Croissant Breakfast Bake, it’s the perfect make-ahead dish for a lazy weekend brunch. It makes a lovely light supper served with a fresh salad. And, I promise, this Ham and Cheese Croissant Breakfast Casserole will be everyone’s favorite when served on a holiday morning or family celebration, especially when it’s served with Easy Fruit Party Punch.
In This Post You’ll Find:
Ingredients For This Recipe:
Scroll Down For The Full Recipe
- Croissants – large or small
- Ham – I use sliced ham from the deli section
- Swiss or Gruyere Cheese
- Eggs – large eggs are the best for this recipe
- Half and Half or Whole Milk
- Dijon Mustard
- Salt
- Powdered Sugar
What Makes Ham And Cheese Croissant Breakfast Casserole So Good?
Two things make this breakfast casserole so good. These simple tips will make your recipe turn out great every time.
Select croissants from the bakery section of your local grocery store or favorite bakery. Choose a nice, slightly smokey ham, and shred the cheese yourself.
Before baking, it’s essential to let the bread soak up the yummy, rich egg mixture. That’s done by covering the casserole and letting it chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. This recipe is ideal for making it ahead of time, so letting it sit overnight is recommended.
How To Store A Baked Casserole
This dish makes a marvelous leftover meal! Once baked, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheating in the oven is best, but you can also pop it into the microwave if you can’t wait.
Is This Recipe Freezer Friendly?
Yep, it sure is! After baking, wrap the casserole tight in plastic or foil and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve, thaw in the fridge, then reheat.
How To Serve This Croissant Breakfast Casserole
As if this casserole was not good enough, I like adding a few more touches to take it over.
I give the top a dusting of powdered sugar. Here’s how:
- put a couple of tablespoons of confectioners sugar into a small strainer and tap it against the palm of your hand while moving over the baked casserole. Add as much or little as you like.
What To Serve With This Yummy Goodness:
- Air Fryer Bacon
- Hashbrown Cassereole
- 3-Ingredient Fruit Dip
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Apple Cider Mimosas
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes
- Sausage And Cheese Breakfast Casserole
- Easy Cinnamon Rolls
- Sour Cream Blueberry Muffins With Lemon Glaze
- Ham and Cheese Strata
- Waldorf Salad
- Cheesy Sausage Cornbread Quiche
Ingredients
- 6-8 medium-sized croissants
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup half and half or whole milk
- 1 ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- pinch of salt
- 8 ounces deli or leftover ham (about 6 thin slices)
- 6 ounces shredded swiss or gruyere cheese
- powdered sugar
Instructions
- Lightly coat a 9×6 deep baking dish with cooking spray. **A 9×11 baking dish can also be used.**
- Tear croissants in half and place in prepared pan. Cut ham into thirds and nestle around the croissants. Sprinkle on shredded cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, Dijon mustard, and salt. Pour over croissants. Cover with foil and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or overnight.
- Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place covered breakfast casserole in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until hot and bubbly with a golden top.
- Remove casserole from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve.
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Made this for dinner a couple of nights ago and had halved the recipe since it’s just the two of us…after the first bite, I wished that I had made the entire recipe. We had it with powdered sugar and pure maple syrup and think maple syrup is the way to go! This is a keeper!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! We never have leftovers of this one in my house! Thanks for your review!
My family loved it! Made exactly as recipe. Then I remembered I had some leftover prosciutto, I chopped some sweet onions with the prosciutto in the frying pan cooked just until onions were transparent, spread over cheese rested in fridge 30 minutes baked as directed.
That sounds heavenly, I’m glad you added your own twist! I’ll remember that nice addition! ~Donya
I love making this for meal trains, especially new moms. I bring it ready to bake along with a dinner and they can pop it into the oven in the morning for a delicious breakfast the whole family will enjoy. Thank for such a simple prep-ahead recipe that is so decadent!
I am thrilled you use my recipe for something so amazing! Thank you so much, these are the stories and reviews that I absolutely love to hear. ~Donya
I have made this several times for a mom’s group. Everyone loves it! I make as written but add some raspberry spreadable fruit on top of ham before cheese.
So every bite has a little sweet. Also bring the fruit spread on side if they want more.
Oh my gosh- that sounds like a great idea! Wow! Thank you for making my recipe, I’m so glad you’re here! ~Donya
My family lives this! I’ve made it 3 times already! It’s so easy and perfect for a special brunch. We drizzle with warm preserves and sprinkle with powdered sugar…yum!
Preserves are a great addition to this dish. So glad you’re here! Thanks for the review! ~Donya
Super good!!! Made exactly as written. Thank you!
So glad to hear that. Enjoy! ~Donya