This New Year's Breakfast Casserole is full of superstitious New Year's foods so you can eat them first thing after you get out of bed on January 1st. Make ahead of time to save you trouble on New Years Day.
About New Year's Breakfast Casserole
There are all different special and superstitious foods to eat for New Year's Day. Allegedly, these foods help start your new year off right.
What if you could eat all those foods first thing after you get out of bed?
That's where this new year's breakfast casserole comes in. You get bagels for "coming full circle," pork (bacon) for prosperity, wealth, and progress, plus greens for money.
Because no one wants to wake up early to make breakfast after staying up all night ringing in the new year, you'll love that this is made ahead of time.
Prepare the casserole up to 24 hours in advance; simply leave a note for the first person to wake up in the house with instructions to pop it in the oven.
The smell of this delicious casserole will be enough to get everyone out of bed on new year's day.
Ingredients
Bacon: The preferred bacon for this recipe is regular cut or center-cut pork bacon. Thick-cut bacon is too chewy and doesn't give the casserole that crispy topping.
Greens: Kale, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, or any other type of greens you like will be great for this new year's breakfast. A combo can also be used, and they can be fresh or frozen. You'll need about 10 ounces of fresh greens or 6 ounces frozen.
Lemon juice: The lemon juice brightens the flavor of the greens, but it can be omitted if needed. Fresh or bottled lemon juice will work. Another option is to add apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or red wine vinegar.
Onion: Yellow, white, red, sweet, or Vidalia onion are all great options for the onion. You just need about 1 cup, so you can also use frozen diced onion.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds flavor, but ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder can be used in its place.
Spices: Salt and red pepper flakes are the spices in the recipe. Feel free to add ½ teaspoon of salt-free Italian seasoning or dried oregano along with the red pepper flakes and salt.
Bagel thins: The amount of milk and eggs is for thin bagels. Regular bagels can be used; you'll need about 12 ounces. Any savory flavor will be great. The recipe was tested using everything bagels and whole-grain bagels.
Cheese: Use any kind of cheese you like. Cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, Monterey jack, and pepper jack are all great options, and you can use a combo.
Eggs: Six large eggs, 5 extra-large eggs, or 1 ½ cups of egg substitute all work.
Milk: Whole or 2% milk is best for the breakfast casserole. I don't recommend fat-free milk. If needed, substitute the regular dairy milk for dairy-free milk.
Cost of Recipe
- Bacon 6 slices: $2.25
- Greens 8 cups: $1.29
- Lemon juice 1 tablespoon: $0.25
- Onion 1 medium: $0.50
- Garlic 1 clove: $0.06
- Salt ½ teaspoon: $0.01
- Red pepper flakes ¼ teaspoon: $0.05
- Bagel thins 12 ounces: $2.28
- Cheese 6 ounces: $2.99
- Milk 12 ounces: $0.96
TOTAL COST: $ or $/serving (Based on San Diego Walmart 2021)
Note that this is not the recipe; it's simply to show the cost breakdown of ingredients. Be sure to scroll down to the full recipe to see the specific ingredients and directions.
How to Make New Year's Breakfast Casserole
Time needed: 1 hour and 5 minutes.
If you need new year's day breakfast ideas, here's a simple, delicious recipe. Here's how to make this new year's day breakfast casserole:
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet.
Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain and cook the onion in the bacon grease.
- Add the greens and cook until wilted.
Season and add lemon juice.
- Layer half of the bagels in a baking dish.
- Top with the vegetable mixture.
Sprinkle with half of the cheese. Top with remaining bagels.
- Whisk together eggs and milk.
Pour over bagels.
- Top with bacon and remaining cheese.
- Cover and refrigerate.
When ready to bake, remove from oven. Preheat the oven and bake covered.
- Remove the cover and bake until the cheese is bubbly.
Let sit for a minute, then enjoy!
Recipe Tips
*When adding the bagels to the baking dish, keep 12 halves whole and tear the other 4 halves to fill in the spaces.
*While the layering order is not important, here's how the casserole was assembled for testing in case you want to see:
- Add the bagels.
- Top with sauteed veggies.
- Sprinkle with some cheese.
- Cover with remaining bagels.
- Pour egg-milk mixture on top.
- Sprinkle with bacon.
- Top with remaining cheese.
- Cover with foil, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Bake, covered. Then remove cover.
- Enjoy!
Variations
Ingredient Options
Bagels: The recipe calls for 12 to 14 ounces of bagel thins. So if you can't find the thin bagels, use 12 to 14 ounces of regular-sized bagels.
Bacon: If you want this to be vegetarian or don't want to use bacon, skip the bacon and sauté the onions and greens in a little oil.
Spices: Use garlic salt in place of the salt or cayenne pepper in place of the red pepper flakes.
Onions: If you don't like onions, you can skip them or replace them with bell pepper.
Lemon: Skip the lemon if needed.
How to Make Allergy Friendly
This new year's day breakfast recipe can be made dairy-free by using dairy-free cheese and dairy-free milk like unsweetened, plain almond milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
If you need it to be gluten-free, use gluten-free bagels.
And for a soy-free recipe, simply make sure the ingredients you are using do not have soy in them (some bread will have soy-based ingredients).
For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon and use oil to sauté the veggies.
How to Fix a Mistake
Breakfast casseroles are pretty forgiving, but in case you forgot something, here are some ideas on what to do.
Forget to add the veggies: You can top the bagels with the veggies then cover with cheese.
Forgot to layer the ingredients: The order you layer the ingredients doesn't matter at all. Simply add ingredients in whatever order.
Make Ahead Ideas
This new year's breakfast casserole must be made ahead so the bread has a chance to absorb the egg and milk mixture.
It's best if it has at least 8 hours to sit in the fridge, but you can bake it anywhere between 4 and 24 hours after assembling.
Leave a note for the person who will wake up first in the morning for how to cook it.
- Take the casserole out of the refrigerator. (You want it to warm up a little to room temperature before going into a hot oven to prevent the casserole dish from breaking in the oven)
- Preheat the oven to 400*F.
- Leave the casserole covered with foil or a lid and bake for 35 minutes.
- Remove the cover, and bake for another 5-10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly.
- Let sit for a few minutes to cool, and enjoy!
Storage Suggestions
Store leftover breakfast casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 weeks.
I like to slice the casserole and then store it to make it easier to reheat single portions. Reheat in the microwave in 60-second intervals, flipping each time until heated through. If needed, use a paper towel to wipe up any excess liquid it might release when reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nutrition Benefits
This breakfast casserole has all you need in one: Protein from the bacon, eggs, cheese, and milk, carbohydrates from the bagels, and veggies from the onions and greens.
Additionally, you get 25 grams of protein to keep you full as well as over 30% of the recommended daily amount (RDA) of calcium, 25% RDA of Vitamin A, 24% RDA of Vitamin C, and 10% RDA of iron.
What to Serve with New Year's Breakfast Casserole
You really don't need to add anything with this new year's breakfast casserole because it has everything you need for a balanced meal.
However, if you want a little extra something, add a fresh, delicious, juicy pear and you've got a great meal for the first day of the year. Apparently, pears represent immortality and prosperity - since the pear tree lives a long time.
Also, I highly recommend adding a sauce with the casserole. Some good ideas to try are avocado cilantro dressing, salsa, cranberry honey mustard sauce, or cranberry sauce.
Or make your own sriracha mayo by stirring together about 2 teaspoons sriracha to 3 tablespoons mayo. Adjust as needed.
Final thoughts:
If you like to eat specific foods on new year's day to increase the odds that your year will be full of health, wealth, and prosperity, this casserole fills that need.
MORE RECIPES YOU'LL LOVE:
New Year's Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon chopped
- 1 medium onion diced
- 8 cups greens
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon salt divided
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 8 bagel thins split
- 6 ounces cheese shredded, 1 ½ cups
- 6 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk 2% or whole
Instructions
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium low heat until crispy. Transfer to paper towels to drain and set aside.
- Turn the heat to medium. Add diced onion to skillet and cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and softened. Push onions to the outside.
- Add garlic and about half of the greens. Cook for a minute or two until they wilt slightly. Add remaining greens. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon salt and red pepper flakes. Cook until wilted. Stir in lemon juice. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Grease a 13x9-inch baking dish with oil, or use a non-stick baking dish. Layer half of the split bagel thins into the dish. Top with the onion-greens mixture. Sprinkle with half of the cheese (about ¾ cup). Top with the remaining bagels.
- Whisk together eggs, milk, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt. Pour the mixture over bagels.
- Sprinkle with bacon and top with remaining cheese. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.
- When ready to bake, remove the baking dish from the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Transfer casserole dish to oven and bake, covered, for 35 minutes.
- Remove cover and bake for 5-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
What to Use in This Recipe
Meme
Post originally published on December 21, 2013. Text, recipe, and photos have been updated.
New Year's Breakfast Casserole Nutrition Facts
Doesn't this recipe look good?! You should probably share it:
Deanna Segrave-Daly says
Oh yum - this is my kind of breakfast casserole!
Meme says
It is delish 🙂
Serena says
My kids aren't big greens eaters...why have I never thought to put in a breakfast casserole? So wise...and lucky! I'm totally going to make!
Meme says
It is a great way to get greens in; I'm not a huge fan and I really enjoyed this casserole!
Glenda @ Healthy Stories says
That looks lovely Meme. I have seen lots of breakfast casserole recipes, but your recipe is the first one that makes me want to cook one.
Meme says
Thank you so much, Glenda! I hope you try it 🙂
Your Cherry, Coconut, and Chocolate Ice Cream looks delish!
Diane Boyd says
I like the fact you're not wasting any time getting your good luck foods! This casserole would also be a nice breakfast for dinner! It sounds kid friendly too! Thanks for sharing.
Meme says
Thanks! Trying to get it all in right when the day starts 🙂 Your black eyed peas look yummy!
Hope you have a great 2014!
Christina @ It's a Keeper says
This casserole looks so good! I'm always looking for new breakfast recipe. I'm pinning this now! Stopping by from the SITS Tribe Challenge.
Meme says
Thanks Christina! It's an easy way to get some veggies right when you start your day. Thanks for pinning and stopping by 🙂
Melissa says
This looks great! I am curious about why the recipe says to chill it for at least 4 hours. If able, is there a reason you shouldn't bake it immediately?
Meme says
Thanks, Melissa! The reason is so the bagels can absorb the egg mixture. Otherwise, it's more like bagels with an eggy layer. However, if you have really dry bread, it probably won't take as long. And in all honesty, it might be fine without the wait at all. I just like to make sure (because that's how I've always done it haha).
Happy new year!!
carrie says
made this for Christmas morning and the family loved it. it definitely needs a sauce. we used green salsa mixed with ranch dressing and it was good