Tender broccoli and rich cheddar are a dream pairing in this easy cheddar broccoli egg bake that’s perfect for serving brunch for a crowd!
Cheddar and broccoli. The dream soup pairing and as it turns out, also a dream wrapped up in the easiest savory breakfast ever.
Egg bakes are one of our favorite ways to make eggs when serving a crew of people and this broccoli cheddar version literally never disappoints.
We’re packing in the veggies, the cheese, and even a little bit of bacon action so it ticks all the breakfast boxes and yes, I’d highly recommend throwing a second piece on your plate.
The real beauty of this egg bake is the fact that it’s pretty hands-off and you can throw it together in only a few moments. Forget about babysitting that pan of eggs on the stovetop, THIS is what you want to be making!
Have I mentioned that it’s loaded to capacity with cheese??
This Egg Bake features…
- Tender sautéed broccoli and bacon bits
- Gooey cheddar cheese baked in the eggs with more on top
- Easy to double or triple for a crowd and comes together with only 7 ingredients
Making the Egg Bake
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Bacon
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Eggs
- Cottage cheese
- 2% or skim milk
- Cheddar cheese
Choosing Your Pan
We found that a 9×13 baking dish works best for this egg bake. It bakes up fairly quick in a pan this size and we think the thickness of the egg bake slices are perfect.
Grease your pan well before pouring eggs in or line with parchment paper for easy removal.
Tips for Perfect Egg Bake
- Finely chop broccoli – you want the broccoli in very small pieces so it’s easy to slice in the egg bake.
- Par-cook broccoli – saute the broccoli on the stovetop until crisp-tender to get a head start on the cooking.
- Use a blender to mix eggs – we find that a blender or immersion blender work great for breaking down the eggs and cottage cheese. You can also use a food processor, however, you may need to do it in batches to prevent overflow.
- Bake egg bake 20 minutes before adding cheese – after 20 minutes, top the egg bake with cheese and return to oven for 10-15 minutes until center of eggs is firm and cheese is melted. Adding the cheese at this point will prevent it from over-browning and will make it nice and gooey.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on this recipe.
- Try different vegetables – try sweet pepper, mushrooms, asparagus, or a combination of several!
- Use a different meat – try cubed ham or crumbled breakfast sausage.
- Skip the meat – skip the bacon and sauté the broccoli in butter instead of the bacon drippings.
- Use a different cheese – try mozzarella, Monterey jack, Parmesan, or asiago. Feel free to use several kinds!
Freezing Egg Bake
This egg bake freezes very well if you want to meal prep it for easy breakfasts! Allow the eggs to cool completely, cut into slices, place in a freezer-safe container or sealable bag, and freeze up to 2 months.
Reheat egg bake slices straight from the freezer in microwave 2-3 minutes on high until they reach an internal temp of 165F.
Everyone you serve this easy egg bake to will be obsessed and undoubtedly go back for a second piece! The gooey layer of cheddar on top is absolutely magical with the fluffy egg base and all that tender sautéed broccoli.
Brunch is served in the easiest way possible.
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
Watch this egg bake made step-by-step on Google web stories.
More savory breakfast recipes to try next!
- Poblano Sweet Potato Black Bean Breakfast Enchiladas
- Sausage Breakfast Hash
- Asparagus Smoked Salmon Quiche
Cheddar Broccoli Egg Bake
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Ingredients
- 4 strips bacon, diced into 1/4-inch cubes
- 2 cups finely-chopped fresh broccoli
- 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 12 large eggs
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup 2% or skim milk
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Set aside for a moment.
- Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until bacon is crispy. Drain bacon on paper towels.
- Add broccoli to bacon drippings and sauté over medium-high heat 3-5 minutes until crisp-tender. Add garlic and cook 1 additional minute until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place eggs, cottage cheese, milk, salt, and pepper in a blender (or use an immersion blender) Blend on high speed until smooth.
- Pour blended egg mixture into a large bowl and fold in sautéed broccoli, bacon bits, and 1/2 cup cheddar.
- Pour egg mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 350F 20 minutes, then evenly sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese over top and continue baking an additional 10-15 minutes until egg bake is set when gently touched.
- Cool egg bake slightly then cut into slices and serve warm. Enjoy!
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