Monte Cristo Casserole

Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole – Overnight Ham & Cheese French Toast Casserole – super easy to make and tastes amazing!! Sliced french bread slathered with honey mustard, stuffed with Canadian bacon and Swiss cheese and baked in an egg custard of eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Great for overnight guests, brunch, and holiday mornings. Can assemble the casserole and freeze too!

Plain Chicken participates in affiliate advertising programs. We may earn a commission when you make purchases through links on our site.

Overnight Ham & Cheese French Toast Casserole

This Monte Cristo casserole is a taste explosion that’ll leave you craving more. This dish takes all the goodness of a classic Monte Cristo sandwich and transforms it into a mouthwatering casserole. Sliced French bread slathered with honey mustard, stuffed with Canadian bacon and Swiss cheese, and baked in an egg custard of eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Each bite is a harmonious blend of sweet and savory. This casserole is nothing short of extraordinary.

How to Make Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole

This casserole is very easy to make. Start with slicing a loaf of French bread into slices. Spread the front and back of each slice with some honey mustard. Place the bread in a baking dish. Sandwich Canadian bacon and Swiss cheese between each slice. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Season with salt and black pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the bread. Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Remove the dish from the refrigerator and bake in a preheated oven until the eggs are set. Top the casserole with a dusting of powdered sugar and raspberry preserves.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• Can use any bread you prefer – French, Italian, or Brioche all work well.
• I use thinly sliced Sargento’s Swiss cheese.
  • Can substitute gruyere cheese.
• Variations/Additions:
  • turkey instead of Canadian bacon
  • If you can’t find Canadian bacon, you can substitute sliced deli ham.
  • dijon mustard instead of honey mustard
  • nutmeg
• Can Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole be frozen? Yes! You can freeze the casserole baked or unbaked.
  • To freeze the baked casserole, cool the dish completely. Cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze. To reheat, thaw completely, and bake covered in the oven at 350ºF until warm.
  • To freeze the unbaked casserole, pour the egg custard over the bread. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and press down on the bread. Add another layer of plastic wrap and then cover the dish with foil and freeze. Write the baking directions on the foil. To bake after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • Reheat in the microwave.

What to Serve with Monte Cristo Casserole

This casserole is a family favorite! We love this for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. It is one of our favorites to make on Christmas morning. I love not having to mess with breakfast before we open presents and make a batch of Jolly Juice Mimosas. 

When it comes to what to serve alongside this dish, the possibilities are endless!  A side of fresh fruit, such as a colorful fruit salad or a medley of sliced berries, is a perfect choice to balance the casserole’s richness with a burst of natural sweetness and a refreshing touch. For a touch of indulgence, consider serving it with a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of maple syrup. If you’re looking for a more substantial pairing, cheesy grits or roasted potatoes make for a hearty addition, adding a delightful contrast in texture. No matter what you serve with this dish, it is sure to be a hit!

Looking for more side dish ideas? Here are some popular recipes from the website:

Casserole

Pimento Cheese Grits Casserole

Pimento Cheese Grits Casserole – baked grits loaded with pimento cheese and bacon. Comfort food at its best! Great side…

Breakfast

Quick Orange Rolls

Quick Orange Rolls recipe – AMAZING!!!! We eat these almost every weekend. They are so good! Ready from start to…

Breakfast

Ritz Carlton Sticky Buns

Ritz Carlton Sticky Buns – got the recipe directly from the pastry chef who created the recipe in Amelia Island,…

Thanksgiving

Frozen Cranberry Salad

Frozen Cranberry Fruit Salad – delicious twist to traditional Thanksgiving cranberry sauce. An easy and delicious side dish or dessert!…

Recipe Print Recipe

Monte Cristo Casserole

Author: Plain Chicken

Yield: 10 people

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole – Overnight Ham & Cheese French Toast Casserole – super easy to make and tastes amazing!! Sliced french bread slathered with honey mustard, stuffed with Canadian bacon and Swiss cheese and baked in an egg custard of eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Great for overnight guests and hectic holiday mornings. Can assemble the casserole and freeze too!

Equipment:

• 9×13-inch Baking Dish
• Hand Mixer
• Mixing Bowls
• Chef Knives
• Cutting Board

Ingredients:

• 1 (16-oz) loaf French bread
• ⅓ cup honey mustard dressing
• 20 slices Canadian bacon
• 20 slices very thin Swiss cheese slices (Sargento's)
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• powdered sugar
• raspberry jam

Instructions:

• Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each.
• Brush both sides of bread slices with honey mustard and arrange the slices in the baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices.
• Place one slice of cheese and one slice of Canadian bacon between each slice of bread.
• Whisk together eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, and vanilla. Pour over bread slices.
• Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Remove casserole dish from refrigerator and uncover.
• Bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes, until slightly puffed and eggs are set.
• Sprinkle casserole with powdered sugar and top with raspberry jam, if desired.

Notes:

• • Can use any bread you prefer – French, Italian, or Brioche all work well.
  • I use thinly sliced Sargento’s Swiss cheese.
    • Can substitute gruyere cheese.
  • Variations/Additions:
    • turkey instead of Canadian bacon
    • If you can’t find Canadian bacon, you can substitute sliced deli ham.
    • dijon mustard instead of honey mustard
    • nutmeg
  • Can Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole be frozen? Yes! You can freeze the casserole baked or unbaked.
    • To freeze the baked casserole, cool the dish completely. Cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze. To reheat, thaw completely, and bake covered in the oven at 350ºF until warm.
    • To freeze the unbaked casserole, pour the egg custard over the bread. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and press down on the bread. Add another layer of plastic wrap and then cover the dish with foil and freeze. Write the baking directions on the foil. To bake after freezing, thaw completely and bake as directed.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
    • Reheat in the microwave.

Plain Chicken

https://www.plainchicken.com/monte-cristo-breakfast-casserole/

All images and text © Plain Chicken, Inc.

Did you make this recipe?Mention @plainchicken or tag #plainchicken!

Steph