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    • Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes -->This collection of easy chicken dinner recipes features some of our favorite family dishes, perfect for making a healthy, delicious home cooked meal on a busy night! Getting a healthy, home cooked meal on the table every night can be challenging. Particularly with the demands of work, school, activities and social obligations, well, it can be the last thing we want to do at the end of the day. So I’ve got tons of easy chicken recipes at my disposal that I turn to when I need to whip something up for us on one of those busy weeknights. (Or even busy weekends – dinners can be tough then, too!) And this collection of easy chicken dinner recipes has some that we make over and over again. It includes everything from skillet chicken dinners to slow cooker chicken recipes, one-pot chicken pastas, soups and salads with chicken, chicken burgers and meatballs, sheet pan chicken dinners and easy chicken casseroles. Are you looking for fast as well as easy? Me too. I’ve got collections of chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster still, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Or if you want to browse them all, my quick chicken recipes…
      • Easy Chicken Recipes with Few IngredientsThese easy chicken recipes with few ingredients include some great healthy lunch and dinner options, all made with 5 or fewer ingredients! I am all about the EASY when it comes to cooking. I don’t like to fuss much over my food and I certainly don’t like to spend a ton of time in the kitchen at the end of a long day. Easy chicken dinner recipes and healthy lunch recipes with chicken are much more my style. (As are chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, faster yet, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Cause life.) Speaking of life, a million trips to the grocery store also aren’t fun during a busy week. (Especially with little ones in tow!) So I’ve got these go-to easy chicken recipes with few ingredients that help me keep dinnertime simple. And my sanity intact. In fact, one of the first cookbooks I bought on my own, at a used bookstore in Washington, D.C., where I lived for a few years after college, was titled 3-ingredient recipes. I was pretty new to cooking and thought, I think I can handle that. My cooking skills have improved, but I still go for the simple chicken recipes…
      • Quick Chicken RecipesThis collection of quick chicken recipes features some of our favorite family dinners and go-to lunches, all ready in 30 minutes or less! From chicken skillet dinners to one-pot pastas, salads to burgers, you’re sure to find some new favorites! If you know me, you know I am ALL about the quick and easy recipes. I love making all of our homemade meals and home cooked dinners, but like you, I’ve also got a hundred other things to juggle and so keeping things simple in the kitchen is a must. And these quick chicken recipes include all of my chicken recipes in under 30 minutes and, even faster, chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. Sanity savers for sure. Busy weeknights have nothing on us! A few of our favorites from these quick chicken recipes: Healthy chicken Alfredo with broccoli Creamy chipotle chicken 20-minute chicken and tortellini soup with kale Skillet salsa chicken Easy creamy chicken This collection also has some healthy lunch recipes with chicken for mixing up your lunch routine. (It doesn’t include my slow cooker chicken recipes though, since those aren’t ready in 30 minutes. But they can be super quick to prep in the morning and then…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 15 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pot wonders to salads, chicken skillets to tacos, you’re sure to find some new fast favorites! You know those nights when you walk in the door and need dinner pronto?! Like, 5 minutes ago? That’s when I turn to these quick and easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes. I can make a healthy, home cooked meal for my family and be sitting down to enjoy it in no time. Cause plenty of evenings, 15 minutes is often all the time I have – or want to spend – on dinner. I’m not alone on that, right?! You can browse below but I thought I’d highlight a couple that I make over and over again. A few of our favorite easy chicken recipes in under 15 minutes: 15-minute honey garlic chicken (gets rave reviews!) Southwest chicken skillet dinner (pile on your favorite toppings!) Quick chicken curry (perfect with rice and peas) One-pot low-carb leftover chicken recipe with spinach (my dad’s go-to recipe) This collection also includes some healthy lunch options that are quick to put together — like the Asian chicken mason jar…
        • Chicken Recipes in Under 30 MinutesThese easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes are perfect for dinner on a busy weeknight! From one-pan meals to burgers, one-pot pastas to healthy salads, you’re sure to find some new favorites! Quick, easy and mostly healthy is pretty much the name of the game for dinner at my house. I love a home cooked meal and we eat a ton of chicken, which means I’ve come up with and found a lot of easy chicken recipes over the years. And this collection highlights some of my easy chicken recipes in under 30 minutes, when you want something delicious but need it on the table pretty quickly. Is that every single night for you too? We’ve got everything from skillet chicken dishes to chicken pasta and from soups and salads with chicken to chicken meatballs and burgers. All the chicken love! Many of these recipes use boneless, skinless chicken breasts (though you could substitute chicken thighs if you prefer) while others use ground chicken and some rely on pre-cooked chicken, such as a rotisserie chicken you pick up at the store or some leftover grilled or baked chicken. Lots of these 30 minute chicken dinners are complete meals but…
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Overnight French toast casserole (+ video)

December 16, 2019 By Kathryn Doherty

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy

Overnight French toast casserole is easy to prep ahead and comes out warm, sweet and seriously delicious every time. It’s a great option for the holidays or a group breakfast or brunch.Baked French toast casserole in the white casserole dish with powdered sugar on top

I am and always have been a huge breakfast and brunch lover.

Some of our favorites this time of year, when family and friends are coming over, are individual breakfast casseroles (great for personalizing for people with different dietary needs), cranberry apple salad (my mom and I’s favorite) and I love serving a light brunch salad to have some greens.

And of course every breakfast party needs a fun drink, like some champagne brunch punch or a pretty poinsettia cocktail, which is great for Christmas time.

Today’s recipe for overnight French toast casserole has been in my family for years. It was on the regular rotation for our Christmas breakfast growing up and has become a favorite with my kids as well.

Baked French toast casserole in the white casserole dish with powdered sugar on top

I’m so happy to finally be sharing it with you!

This big-batch style French toast is perfect for a weekend brunch with friends or family. It’s simple but it’s cozy and familiar and always a hit.

And of course it’s perfect for Christmas morning, when you want everything pretty much ready to go so you can enjoy stockings and presents with everyone else.

That’s my favorite part about this — that it’s make-ahead and so super easy. You pretty much throw it all into a casserole dish and it does its thing in the fridge overnight, allowing all the butter and sugar and bread to be married together.

Overnight French toast casserole soaking before being cooked French toast in a casserole dish fresh out of the oven

And then you just have to pop it in the oven in the morning. No fussing over it and it comes out perfect every time. I know cause we’ve made this for YEARS in my family!

A little sprinkle of powdered sugar over the top makes it extra festive and fancy. You’ll look like a professional. (It’s certainly not necessary though; it’s plenty sweet without it.)

Delicious breakfast coming right up!

A slice of French toast casserole being lifted out of the baking dish

Now, I have some notes and tips coming up on how to make overnight French toast casserole. Just tryin’ to be helpful.

I’ve made this a lot and want to share what works.

If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.

Notes on making French toast casserole:

  • You can prepare this casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Keep covered in the refrigerator until you are preheating your oven, then pull it out and let it start to come to room temperature.
  • Skim milk or 2% milk will work fine here. An alternative milk, such as soy milk or almond milk, would also be fine.
  • The cinnamon is optional but dusting the top of the casserole with it adds such warmth – and it looks great too!
  • The recipe calls for a 9×13 pan, which is traditional, and you’ll use about 8 large slices of the French bread.
  • However, you could also substitute a similar size round or oval dish (that’s about 3 quarts). Just try to get an even layer of bread over the bottom. (It’s fine to cut some irregular bread shapes to fill in the holes.)

So those are some of the basics, but let’s talk specifics.

A slice of overnight French toast served on a white plate with fresh berries and a fork alongside

What type of bread do I use for French toast casserole?

A regular loaf of French bread (not a baguette) works great in this casserole. It’s perfectly sturdy and takes on the flavor of the brown sugar and butter mixture, as well as the egg mixture, well. It’s also easy to find and very affordable.

You can also use sourdough, ciabatta or challah bread.

You should not use sandwich bread for this casserole; it’s too flimsy to sit in the liquid overnight.

Also, it’s best to slice your own bread. The pre-sliced bakery bread is often sliced too thin to use for this recipe.

How do I prepare the bread for overnight French toast?

You can simply slice your bread into 1-inch thick pieces and place those in your casserole dish. This method is super quick and easy to prep.

You can also cube your bread to have smaller pieces throughout the casserole. You’ll want about 1-inch cubes.

Now, let’s bring this baby home.

Baked French toast served on a white plate with fresh berries on top

You can absolutely serve it as is, perhaps with some powdered sugar, and it will be delightful. Everyone will want seconds and you’ll wish you had made a double batch.

BUT, you can also dress this up with some other fun toppings if you’d like.

Topping ideas for French toast casserole:

  • Powdered sugar
  • Maple syrup
  • Fresh berries (blueberries or strawberries are a favorite)
  • Sautéed cinnamon apples
  • Chopped nuts, such as pecans or walnuts
  • Dried fruit

Baked French toast served on a white plate with fresh berries on top and a bite taken out with a fork

I hope you give this a try and it becomes a fond memory of your holiday gatherings, as it has been for ours.

Enjoy!

XO,

Kathryn

P.S. Check out these other Christmas morning breakfast favorites:

– Make ahead healthy sausage breakfast casserole

– Orange cranberry bread

– Overnight cheesy grits casserole

– Vegetable frittata

– Tomato breakfast tart

Yield: 8-10 servings

Overnight French toast casserole

A slice of overnight French toast served on a white plate with fresh berries and a fork alongside

Overnight French toast casserole is easy to prep ahead and comes out warm, sweet and seriously delicious every time. It’s a great option for the holidays or a group breakfast or brunch.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Additional Time 8 hours
Total Time 9 hours

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 (16 oz.) loaf of French bread, cut in 1-inch thick slices
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups milk (such as skim or 2%)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix melted butter and brown sugar in a small bowl. Spread in the bottom of a 9x13 glass baking dish.
  2. Place bread slices on top of sugar mixture.
  3. In a small bowl, combine eggs, milk and vanilla and beat with a fork until well mixed. Pour the egg mixture over the bread in the casserole dish. Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired.
  4. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  5. In the morning, preheat the oven to 350.
  6. Remove the casserole from the refrigerate to let it start to come to room temperature. Uncover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.
  7. Let sit for at least 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
  8. Serve with powdered sugar or other desired toppings and enjoy!

Notes

You can prepare this casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Keep covered in the refrigerator until you are preheating your oven, then pull it out and let it start to come to room temperature.

Skim milk or 2% milk will work fine here. An alternative milk, such as soy milk or almond milk, should also be fine.

The cinnamon is optional but dusting the top of the casserole with it adds such warmth - and it looks great too!

The recipe calls for a 9x13 pan, which is traditional, and you’ll use about 8 large slices of the French bread.

However, you could also substitute a similar size round or oval dish (that’s about 3 quarts). Just try to get an even layer of bread over the bottom. (It’s fine to cut some irregular bread shapes to fill in the holes.)

For the bread, a French loaf works great and is sturdy enough to sit overnight. You could also use a sourdough, ciabatta or challah bread. A sandwich bread, however, won't work; it's not sturdy enough to soak overnight without turning to mush.

You can simply slice your bread into 1-inch thick pieces and place those in your casserole dish. This way is super quick and easy to prep. But you can also cube your bread to have smaller pieces throughout the casserole. You’ll want about 1-inch cubes.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 238Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 139mgSodium: 123mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 0gSugar: 18gProtein: 6g
© Kathryn Doherty
Cuisine: American / Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Overnight French toast casserole is easy to prep ahead and comes out warm, sweet and seriously delicious every time. It’s a great option for the holidays or a group breakfast or brunch. #Frenchtoast #breakfast #brunch #brunchfood

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Filed Under: Breakfast & Brunch

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Comments

  1. Teresa says

    July 22, 2020 at 3:52 PM

    How many servings does it make?

    Reply
    • Kathryn Doherty says

      July 27, 2020 at 12:30 PM

      Hi Teresa! The yield in the recipe card is 8-10 servings, depending on how large you cut the pieces. Hope that helps!

      Reply

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Hi there! I’m Kathryn Doherty, a health and nutrition editor, cookbook author, wife, mother of two kids, and devoted food and home cooking nut. I’ve got lots of easy recipes and resources to help you get delicious family food on your table! Learn more about me

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