Looking for the perfect make-ahead breakfast casserole? This healthy vegetarian egg casserole recipe may just be the ticket! Prepared Mediterranean-style with vegetables, shallots, fresh herbs and other favorites like feta, olives, and artichoke hearts. It is loaded with flavor and texture!
Super versatile, you can make this egg casserole your own by changing up the veggies or even adding a meat of your choice. Be sure to grab my tips, freezing instructions, and what to sides and salads to serve along for your next brunch.
Reading: vegetarian egg brunch dish
Do you love hosting brunch, but don’t care for all the early morning fuss? I can totally relate!
I love having overnight company, particularly over the holidays. There is just something about a big family slumber party in cozy holiday pajamas. But it can be challenging to feed a crowd, particularly for breakfast or brunch. Who wants to wake up early, tiptoe around, slice and dice all the things, then clean up a big mess before guests are ready for breakfast?! Not me!
Even if I’m just having a few girlfriends over for brunch, things are much less stressful in the morning when I have some make-ahead items that can be ready without too much work.
I’ve found a few great prepare-ahead brunch ideas, from olive oil banana bread and breakfast egg muffins, to my big Mediterranean brunch board, and today’s awesome vegetarian egg casserole.
You’ll love this healthy, protein-packed egg casserole. It’s delicious and satisfying to serve for brunch or a light dinner, and I have a list of tasty salads and sides to serve along!
Table of Contents
Vegetarian Egg Casserole with a Mediterranean Twist
So much texture and flavor in one beautiful vegetarian egg casserole. What’s in it? We can break this egg casserole recipe into two simple components, really:
1. Fluffy Flavor-Packed Egg Mixture
As with most egg casseroles, we start with a mixture of eggs and milk. I like to hit the egg mixture up with flavor right from the start. Dry oregano, sweet paprika, and a tiny pinch of nutmeg work to add depth and flavor without at all overwhelming the egg casserole. To augment the eggs, adding some heft to the egg casserole, I use only three slices of toast that are cut up into small squares. (Use whole wheat or whole grain bread for a Mediterranean diet-friendly casserole.)
Read more: Sausage Egg Casserole with Veggies
Important Tip: I mentioned the egg mixture is “fluffy.” How? This is a tip I learned from my mom, who taught me how to make the fluffiest omelets. The key to fluffy eggs is adding a tiny bit of baking soda or baking powder to the egg mixture, this creates air pockets. Baking powder is easier to use; you can add a bit more and it doesn’t rely on eggs acidity. Also, and this is a personal preference, I believe baking powder tames the heavy “eggy” taste and makes for a more tasty egg casserole.
2. A Combination of Fresh Veggies, Herbs, and Mediterranean Favorites
I see things like this egg casserole as an opportunity to use up what fresh ingredients I have on hand. I love a combination of mushrooms, tomatoes, shallots and green peppers.
Fresh herbs are a staple in Mediterranean cooking. This time I used parsley, but fresh mint, basil, or dill will work also.
From there, I add a few more Mediterranean favorites: creamy feta, kalamata olives and artichoke hearts. The combination of fresh flavores, with the salty feta and marinated olives and artichokes hits all the beautiful Mediterranean notes for me.
Tip: Raid your fridge for what veggies, herbs or other items to use up. If you have a handful of baby spinach, add them. And If you do need to add some cooked meat of your choice, that will work too. (Just be sure the meat is already cooked before adding to this casserole.)
How to Make this Egg Casserole Recipe:
Can you prepare this egg casserole ahead of time?
I mentioned earlier that one of the things I really like about this vegetarian egg casserole is that you can prepare it ahead of time for a large brunch party. Here are a couple of ways to prep ahead:
1. You can prepare and even assemble the egg casserole in your baking dish, but do NOT bake. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 night. In the morning, set it at room temperature for a few minutes so it’s not super cold when you’re ready to bake it. Bake as instructed.
2. If you’d rather, you can just do the busy work of prepping the veggies, herbs etc. Save them each in separate containers and then assemble and bake the egg casserole (this is my personal preference.)
Can you freeze egg casserole?
If you’re wondering about freezing this easy breakfast casserole, you absolutely can. You can freeze it before baking or after it’s been cooked. Here’s how:
1. To freeze egg casserole before baking: You can prepare this egg casserole and assemble in a casserole dish (up to step #4). Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil and freeze until later use. Thaw in fridge overnight and continue with baking (step #5). It does help to bring it closer to room temperature before baking, if you have the time.
2. To freeze cooked breakfast casserole: My personal preference is to cut the cooked casserole into squares or pieces, then tightly wrap each piece with freezer-safe plastic wrap and another layer of foil. This way, you can store individual portions and thaw what you need in the fridge overnight. Reheat in a low-heated oven or for a brief few seconds in the microwave (partially covered.)
Leftovers?
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Store leftover cooked egg casserole in the fridge in airtight containers for 3 to 4 nights. Or like I mentioned just above, you can freeze individual portions of cooked egg casserole and thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in a low-heated oven or for a brief few seconds in the microwave (partially covered.)
What to Serve with this Vegetarian Egg Casserole?
This simple vegetarian egg casserole has been the centerpiece to many brunch parties at my house. Next to it I usually serve a couple of bright and festive salads and a simple side or two, depending on how large the party is. Here are some ideas you can consider, depending on the season or occasion:
Salads: Mediterranean Orange Pomegranate Salad; Tabouli; Balela Salad; Or Cucumber Salad.
Sides: Batata Harra (spicy skillet potatoes); Italian Roasted Vegetables; or Greek-Style Green Bean Salad
Breads? Because this breakfast casserole already has a little bit of bread, it’s hefty enough without a side of bread. That said, if you like adding a fresh bread option to your brunch table, make this challah bread the evening before and serve it along (it’s great with a drizzle of honey to finish the meal!)
Watch the video for this breakfast casserole recipe:
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*This post originally appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in the fall of 2014 and has recently been updated with new information and media for readers’ benefit. Enjoy!
Read more: good vegetarian main dish for thanksgiving
Read more: good vegetarian main dish for thanksgiving
Read more: good vegetarian main dish for thanksgiving
Read more: good vegetarian main dish for thanksgiving
