Crockpot Breakfast Casserole with Ham and Gruyere

By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 3/21/24Updated: 3/29/23

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Friends and family will oooh and ahhhh over this gourmet Crockpot Breakfast Casserole that includes ham (or bacon), cheddar and Gruyere cheeses, and a host of colorful veggies. Our well-tested method yields a perfectly cooked, mouthwatering casserole for Christmas breakfast, Easter lunch, or dinner for a group!

Breakfast Casserole in a Crockpot ready to be eaten.

Table of Contents

6 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

I cannot impress this upon you enough: MAKE.THIS.CASSEROLE. Our team and families here at Thriving Home couldn’t get enough of it! Here’s why…

Flavor and Color: With layers of hash browns, ham, Gruyere cheese, cheddar, roasted red peppers, kale, and more, it’s a sight to behold, smell, and devour!
Easy to Make Ahead: Similar to our Spinach and Bacon Quiche, prep this ahead for your next holiday gathering or when you host guests. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer (using our instructions below) for up to 3 months.
BIG Batch: Easily serves 10-12 people and is great for feeding a crowd, like these other meals for large groups.
Accurate Cook Time: Most recipes online have you overcook your casserole (overnight is waaay too long!). The correct cook time is actually only 4 hours on low according to multiple tests in our kitchens and according to America’s Test Kitchen’s cookbooks. So, this is perfect for a brunch, Easter lunch, or a breakfast-for-dinner option.
Reheats Well: It’s delicious as leftovers! Our family ate on this casserole for days, and I was able to take some to our neighbors, too. Like I mentioned, it feeds an army!
Gluten-free: If you’re trying to avoid gluten, this casserole does so by using hash browns instead of bread.
High in Protein: We explain how important protein is in our Round up of High Protein Slow Cooker recipes. This breakfast casserole fits the bill with 25 grams per serving.

Tip: If you like the idea of this casserole but want one that bakes in the oven, try our 5-ingredient Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole.

Easter lunch or brunch spread on a table.

Ingredients Notes

You can find everything you need at your local grocery store. Here are a few notes about some of the ingredients:

Cubed Ham – I found cubed/pre-diced ham at the store. Or you can use a ham steak and chop into small pieces.
Gruyere Cheese – I bought one 6-ounce block and shredded it by hand. It just took a minute or so. Monterey Jack or Cheddar would work instead. P.S. Did you know you can freeze cheese?
Shredded Parmesan cheese – Provides another layer of flavor.
Roasted red peppers – Adds color and savoriness. Find a jar in the pickle aisle.
Kale – Adds amazing color and nutrition. You can’t really taste it, though. You can substitute baby spinach instead.
Fresh or frozen hash browns – Make sure they are thawed and that you squeeze any extra liquid out of them first! Do this by placing them in a dish towel and twisting it over the sink.

Pro Tips

After making this many times over the years, here are a few secrets to success:

Spray the crock pot insert well with cooking spray to avoid sticking and help with clean-up.
Definitely squeeze excess water out of the potatoes before adding to the crock pot.
This was tested in a 6 quart slow cooker. Every slow cooker runs a little differently, so yours may be done a little sooner if it runs hot.
The casserole is done when the center is completely set. I usually poke a butter knife in the middle to make sure it’s cooked through.
Water will accumulate on top because of the moist cooking environment. Just dab it off with a paper towel before serving.
To make the casserole look even more appetizing, sprinkle freshly chopped herbs like parsley or chives over the top.

Breakfast Casserole slice on a plate with fruit

How Long Should I Cook a Breakfast Casserole in the Crockpot?

We know you want a slow cooker breakfast casserole that takes all night to cook and is waiting for you in the morning. But, I want to let you in on a not-so-fun secret: you’ll end up with an overcooked, burned breakfast casserole if you do.

Here’s the good news. We learned while testing recipe after recipe for From Freezer to Cooker that the perfect cook time for a crockpot breakfast casserole is exactly 4 hours on LOW. That means you can have it done just in time for a brunch or make it as a breakfast-for-dinner option.

This crockpot breakfast casserole also reheats well in the microwave in small portions, so don’t be afraid to cook it ahead of time and eat it later.

How to Prep It Ahead of Time

Reduce stress and free up yourself to enjoy your next gathering by preparing this big batch recipe ahead of time.

Refrigerator Method (up to 3 days ahead): Simply build the casserole in the slow cooker insert (do NOT cook), cover it with plastic wrap or foil, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezer Method (up to 3 months ahead): Believe it or not, this recipe will work as a freezer meal.

Freeze For Later: Follow Step 1 and let the veggie mixture cool. Prep the egg mixture (step 3) and add into a gallon-sized freezer bag or container. Add in the veggies, ham, hash browns, 1 cup of Gruyere cheese, and 3/4 cup of cheddar cheese. Seal tightly, toss lightly to combine, and freeze. Add the remaining 1 cup of Gruyere and 3/4 cup of cheddar to a small freezer bag or container and freeze along with the egg mixture.

Prepare From Frozen: Thaw in the refrigerator. (Tip: Place the freezer bag in a dish to prevent leaks.) Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray. Transfer the egg mixture to the slow cooker and stir to make sure ingredients are combined and evenly distributed. Top with the remaining Gruyere and cheddar. Follow Steps 4-5.

Side Dish Ideas

Here are side dish ideas that would go well with our Crockpot Breakfast Casserole.

Fruit salad in a white serving bowl with a wooden spoon.

Classic Fruit Salad

Baked cinnamon rolls with icing drizzled and a spatula lifting the first one out of the dish.

Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

Blueberry Banana Bread

Banana Breakfast Cake

FAQs

How do I store leftovers of breakfast casserole?

Leftover crockpot breakfast casserole can be stored in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for 3 to 5 days.

How can I tell when a crockpot breakfast casserole is done?

The casserole is done when the center is completely set or 160°F internally. I usually poke a butter knife in the middle to make sure it’s cooked through.

How long should I cook a breakfast casserole in a crockpot?

After testing recipes for our crockpot cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, we learned that a hash brown breakfast casserole only takes 4 hours on LOW in the slow cooker. America’s Test Kitchen confirms this timing in their cookbooks, too.

Note: We learned from hundreds of tests, that every crock pot cooks a little differently. Just aware that it make take a little less or more time depending on your slow cooker.

More Casseroles to Serve at Breakfast

vanilla glaze being drizzled on top of a blueberry baked french toast casserole

Blueberry French Toast Casserole with Vanilla Glaze

Overnight Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole

A slice of breakfast casserole with hash browns being served with a spatula.

Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!