Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole Recipe
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This Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole Recipe is the ultimate make-ahead breakfast casserole—flaky buttery croissants, tender ham, melty cheese, and a savory egg custard all baked in one dish. Ready to assemble in 10 minutes the night before, it’s perfect for Christmas morning, holiday brunch, Easter, Mother’s Day, or any special breakfast or brunch, so you can enjoy zero stress.
With a golden, crispy top and a creamy, custardy center, this croissant breakfast casserole is an instant family favorite! This easy, crowd-pleasing recipe turns leftover croissants (or store-bought) into a mouthwatering, cheesy, ham-filled bake that everyone raves over. Whether you’re serving Christmas brunch, Easter morning, or just want a delicious weekend breakfast, this make-ahead casserole is always a decadent, dependable hit.
Why You’ll Love This Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole
- Make-Ahead Perfection: Assemble the night before—bake straight from the fridge in the morning.
- Uses Leftover Croissants: A great way to use leftover or bakery croissants.
- Straightforward Ease: Mix, chill, and bake. Perfect for beginner and busy home cooks.
- Rich & Flavorful: Buttery croissants, tasty ham, melty cheese, and rich egg custard are irresistible.
- Holiday & Brunch Fave: Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Mother’s Day mornings, as well as bridal and baby showers, or overnight guests.
Ingredients for Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full listing of ingredients, instructions, notes, and estimated nutritional information.
- Diced Ham: Cooked ham (leftover baked ham works great). Deli ham can be used too.
- Shredded Cheeses: Sharp cheddar and Parmesan; Gruyère or Swiss works too.
- Croissants: Large ones cut into cubes or torn into pieces.
- Whole Milk and Heavy cream: Add richness and a creamy texture.
- Eggs: Large eggs add to the custard, bringing the casserole together beautifully.
- Optional Add-Ins: Sliced green onions or 1 cup baby spinach for added flavor and color.
How to Make Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole
This overnight casserole is super simple to make – mix, assemble, chill, and bake.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep the Baking Dish: Spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray, or you can lightly coat it with butter.
- Arrange the Base: Combine the torn/cubed croissant pieces, diced ham, shredded Parmesan cheese, and onions (if using) in a medium mixing bowl. Arrange into the prepared baking dish.
- Make the Custard: Whisk together milk, cream, and eggs.
- Assemble Casserole: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the croissant mixture.
- Chill: Cover, chill 4 -24 hours (overnight is best). Allows croissants to absorb custard.
- Bake: Preheat oven. Uncover casserole, top with the Cheddar and bake as directed until golden and set in the center (internal temp 165°F).
- Rest and Serve: Let stand for 5 minutes or so before serving. Slice and serve warm.
Recipe Variations
- Spinach & Ham Croissant Casserole: Add 2 cups baby spinach to the mix.
- Bacon Croissant Casserole: Swap ham for 1 lb cooked, crumbled bacon.
- Mini Croissant Bakes: Portion and bake in muffin tins for individual servings (reduce time to 20–25 minutes).
Recipe Success Tips
- Day-old croissants are optimal: Slightly stale bread soaks up custard perfectly.
- Don’t skip chilling: The overnight soak gives the ultimate creamy texture.
- Check for doneness: Should be set in the center and reach 165°F.
- Reheat leftovers: 325°F, covered for 15–20 minutes.
Storage Tips
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Bake at 325°F covered 15–25 minutes or microwave individual portions.
- Make Ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours ahead; bake as directed when ready.
Note: I do not recommend freezing this breakfast casserole. Cream- and dairy-based recipes often do not freeze well; the cream’s texture can “break” during freezing.
What to Serve with Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole
We love serving this Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole for a simple make-ahead breakfast or as part of a larger breakfast buffet. Here are a few of our favorite things to serve with it.
- Honey Lime Fruit Salad
- Fresh Fruit or Easy Fruit Salad
- Ambrosia
Large Breakfast Buffet Options:
Why This Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole is the Ultimate Brunch Recipe
Buttery croissants with tender ham and gooey cheese soaked in a tasty egg custard, then baked to golden perfection for a make-ahead croissant casserole that’s perfect for a dream breakfast (or brunch). Easy prep the night before, lovely on the table, and adored by everyone (even the kids), it’s perfect for Christmas morning, Easter brunch, holiday get-together, or relaxing weekend breakfasts.
Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups chopped cooked ham
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 5 green onions (optional), sliced
- 6 large croissants, cubed
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 5 large eggs
- 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Prep. Spray 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or lightly coat with butter.
- Make and chill. Combine ham, cheese, onions (if using), and croissants in a medium mixing bowl. Arrange in prepared baking dish. Whisk together milk, cream, and eggs and pour over the croissant mixture. Cover and chill overnight.
- Bake and serve. Preheat oven to 350º F. Uncover the casserole and sprinkle with the Cheddar cheese. Bake until golden brown and cooked throughout, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Bake at 325°F covered 15–25 minutes or microwave individual portions.
- Make Ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours ahead; bake as directed when ready.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Enjoy!
Robyn xo
I’ve made this casserole multiple times over the last month using leftover Christmas ham in the freezer. It’s effortless to make and SO very tasty. I cut the recipe by a third (four croissants instead of six) for my hubby & me.
This is an excellent way to use leftover ham, isn’t it, Molly? Love that you can adjust this recipe to make it for just two.
This casserole is seriously tasty! I made as written, except I mixed all of the cheese in with the ingredients instead of sprinkling the cheddar on top. The only note is that this took way longer than 45 minutes to set. At the 45 min mark the casserole was still mostly liquid, so I upped the temp to 375F and added an extra 30 minutes of cook time.
could you freeze after assembling?
Is there a substitution for ham for a vegetarian version? I guess you can omit the ham but what would be a nice substitute to keep it elegant? Thank you.
Yes you can use vegebacon.