Description

This Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Bagel Breakfast Casserole is the perfect hearty breakfast dish to start your day. It features chewy cubed bagels baked with crispy bacon, rich cheese, and a seasoned egg custard mixture, resulting in a comforting and satisfying casserole loaded with flavor and gooey cheese, perfect for family breakfasts or brunch gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Egg Custard Mixture

8 large eggs
1 ¼ cups whole milk or half-and-half/heavy cream
½ teaspoon ground mustard
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt plus more if necessary
½ teaspoon pepper

Bagel & Bacon

6 cups cubed staled plain bagels
8 oz cooked bacon, chopped

Cheese

1 (8 oz) package shredded cheese of choice, divided
4 oz full-fat brick cream cheese, cut into bite-size pieces

Seasoning & Toppings

Everything Bagel Seasoning, if desired
Hot Sauce (optional)
Maple Syrup (optional)
Hot Honey (optional)
Smashed Avocado (optional)
Pickled Onions or Green Onions (optional)

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease an 8×8 inch nonstick baking dish with cooking spray. Set the dish aside to ready it for the casserole.
Make Egg Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk (or cream), half of the shredded cheese, ground mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until well combined and smooth.
Combine Bagels and Bacon: Stir the cubed stale bagels and chopped cooked bacon into the egg mixture, ensuring the bagels are well coated and everything is evenly mixed.
Assemble Casserole: Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly dollop bite-sized cream cheese pieces over the top, then sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese and everything bagel seasoning across the casserole surface.
Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the center is set and the edges turn golden brown. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with preferred toppings such as hot sauce, maple syrup, hot honey, smashed avocado, or pickled/green onions.

Notes

Use stale bagels for better texture absorption; fresh bagels may become too soggy.
If desired, substitute cheese varieties such as cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper jack based on preference.
Adjust seasonings to taste, especially salt, depending on the saltiness of the bacon and cheese.
Store leftovers refrigerated for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat from frozen, thaw overnight, then warm in the oven or microwave until heated through.
Cover with aluminum foil during baking if the top begins to brown too quickly to avoid burning.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 to 45 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: bacon egg and cheese, bacon egg and cheese bagel, bagel bake, bagel casserole, bagel sandwich, breakfast bake, breakfast casserole, egg bake, egg casserole, everything bagels