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Active Time
30 min
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Total Time
1 1/2 hr
Tracy Jones Midland, Texas, writes: "I wanted to share a Christmas breakfast recipe given to my mother, Cherry Jones, by Ann Westerman, a lifelong friend. My family quickly adopted the tradition of preparing this dish on Christmas Eve, then baking it on Christmas morning while opening our presents."
The thick slices of garlicky bread in this dish are known as Texas toast.
Ingredients
Makes 12 servings (or 8 for cowboys)
Step 1
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter bottom and sides of a 13- by 9-inch baking dish.
Step 2
Cook sausage in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring frequently and breaking up any large lumps with a fork, until browned, about 10 minutes. Pour off fat from skillet, then cool sausage to room temperature.
Step 3
Cut half of loaf into 1-inch-thick slices and reserve remaining half for another use. Pulse butter and garlic in a food processor until smooth. Spread a thin layer of garlic butter on both sides of each bread slice, arranging bread in 1 layer in bottom of baking dish. Sprinkle sausage on top.
Step 4
Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until frothy, then whisk in scallions and half of cheese. Pour egg mixture over sausage (bread will float to the top), pushing down on bread with a spatula to help it absorb liquid. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Step 5
Bake, covered with a large sheet of buttered foil (buttered side down), 30 minutes, then carefully remove foil and bake until top is slightly puffed and eggs are cooked through in center, about 20 minutes more.
Step 6
Let stand 10 minutes, then cut into 12 squares.
Dish can be assembled (but not baked) 12 hours ahead and chilled, covered with buttered foil. Bake as directed above.
Leave a Review
Reviews (47)
Back to TopThis is a great recipe Cowboy Christmas Breakfast , had fun making it over the weekend. Recreated the meal that I get from https://www.flexpromeals.com/ delivered. Good quality and fresh.
Vadim
9/30/2023
I have made this recipe for Christmas mornings for years. Prep the day before, throw in the oven before presents and it is ready after presents to feed the crowd. Everyone raves about it. Pay attention to the salt...I messed up one year and it was too salty (maybe the sausage contributed?). Also, I sub in half of the eggs required with egg whites. Love this as a special holiday dish.
pastramisandwich
Baltimore, MD
12/16/2015
I made this recipe for xmas morning and although I thought it was good I am going back to my go-to. You got to try the hashbrown quiche by Paula Deen, just try it, It's equally easy and can all be made the night before and can also be frozen.
christiecali
San Diego
8/5/2013
Solid breakfast or brunch dish, and quite delicious. To make serving easier, I chopped the bread slices into large chunks after brushing them with the garlic butter. I also add some sauteed onion, which added great flavor. Otherwise, I followed the recipe and it was a very popular dish with my family on Christmas morning.
wtidmarsh
San Francisco
12/26/2012
exceptional. Made this for 50 people, and everyone had seconds. Added oregano, thyme, and espillet pepper. A new classic for our household.
nancynimmo
laguna niguel, ca
4/30/2012
Great basic recipe to tweak to what you have laying around. Used cheddar jalapeno bread, and added green chiles, jalapenos, and black olives. Sauteed a regular onion with the sausage instead of using the green onions. Omitted the salt, doesn't really need it with the amount of salt you get from the sausage. Cooked it uncovered because I like a more crunchy top. Cooked ten minutes faster.
peekan
CA
9/20/2011
Can't wait for Christmas already! This breakfast is my favorite part. Next year I'm going to try this meal again using spicy chorizo and some ripe, nutty, avocados sliced on top. Mexican avocados are in season in the winter too - perfect!
Ginny12
Texas
8/16/2011
Can't wait for Christmas already! This breakfast is my favorite part. Next year I'm going to try this meal again using spicy chorizo and some ripe, nutty, avocados sliced on top. Mexican avocados are in season in the winter too - perfect!
Ginny12
Texas
8/16/2011
New Christmas morning tradition. Abfab!
jessierose79
Salt Lake City, UT
3/28/2011
This is a great recipe! I make it with the thick frozen garlic bread (think Pepperidge Farms...) and it is a killer. We make it once a year at a big gathering of friends from school, and it goes over well.
denniswalls
Leo, IN
2/26/2011
Oh, and my family likes it best with the sage breakfast sausage.
Anonymous
Delaware
2/8/2011
How funny to find a breakfast casserole recipe on here. Been making this for years. I usually use stale bread (which I save, cubed, in the freezer for stuffing or whatever), pour the butter over the cubes instead of spreading it, and I usually add chopped onion and green pepper, which I saute with garlic. I was kind of shocked at the number of eggs. I only use 8 eggs, mixed with 1 3/4 cups of milk and I usually put about a tablespoon of mustard and one or two teaspoons of worcestershire sauce into the egg mixture. I put it together the night before and the morning of, just pop it into the oven. Too funny.
Anonymous
Delaware
2/8/2011
I found this to be rather bland and given the fact that there are 24 eggs in the recipe, the bread tends to take over and it doesn't taste very creamy - as you would expect from the egg and milk combination in the ingredients. If I make it again, I will use less bread, more garlic, more cheese, more spices to give it more of a kick.
Anonymous
Dallas
6/20/2010
Loved it...so easy to whip up......however,, was a bit dry looking when i pulled it out of fridge from overnight storage.i drizzeled cream ontop to re-wet it..... then added more cheese last 5 min of baking....... big hit on christmas day!!
Rosie03
toronto
1/3/2010
We cowboyed up this Christmas a.m. and really enjoyed this dish. We used 3 cloves of garlic (rather than the one it calls for), a bit more cheese and a bit more butter. We also put a slight amount of parmesan (shaved with a citrus rasp) on top. The casserole puffed up nicely. Really good and soooo filling.
farkusg
12/25/2009