Broccoli Breakfast Bake

So funny story about how this casserole came about.  

Last weekend I was so excited to try an English Muffin Egg Casserole recipe that I found that I actually got up early and went to the grocery store... in the snow... alone with the baby and got all of the ingredients that I needed to make the recipe that I had found.

I came home and put everything together and let it sit in the fridge like the recipe said for over and hour.  Then I put it in the oven and baked it exaclty how the directions said and ... well, mine didn't turn out that good. 

The idea was good, eggs, cheese, canadian bacon but we didn't like the kind of soggy muffins in it.

We didn't give up.  Everyone put in their suggestions on how they thought it could be better and here's what we came up with as a family:

• My husband wanted the eggs cooked before putting them into the casserole.  He just didn't like the texture of the eggs poured directly over everything
• Our breakfast guest said he'd remove the English Muffins and replace them with tator tots
• My daughter thought green onions would be a nice addition
• And I wanted a veggie in it and thought broccoli would compliment the Canadian Bacon 

So that's how our Broccoli Breakfast Casserole was created.  We changed just about everything from the original recipe and ended up coming up with something new and yummy!

Isn't it fun creating in the kitchen!


Broccoli Breakfast Bake Ingredients
2 cups frozen tator tots
2 cups (approximately) frozen broccoli
6 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey / Colby Jack cheese
6 oz canadian bacon, chopped
6 strips of regualr bacon (we used the Kirkland pre-cooked bacon from Costco to make it faster)
4 green onions, chopped
1/8 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 tablespoon butter + 1 teaspoon for buttering your casserole dish

Directions
Preheat your oven to 375°.

Place your frozen tator tots in the bottom of a buttered 11x7 casserole dish so they won't stick.  Sprinkle the tots with the seasoned salt and cook in the oven for 20 minutes while you are preparing, chopping and shredding the other ingredients.

Meanwhile, cook your broccoli in a microwave dish with 2 tablespoons water and covered with plastic wrap.  Cook for 6 minutes, or until broccoli is tender.  When done cooking, remove from microwave, drain liquid and chop broccoli into pieces.  

Scramble your eggs with the garlic and onion powder using a whisk or hand mixer.  Cook in a large skillet until eggs are done.  Don't overcook because they still have to cook in the oven for a bit too!

Remove your casserole dish from the oven and layer in the following manner:

1. Tator Tots
2. Eggs
3. Broccoli
4. Canadian Bacon
5. Cheese
6. Green Onions 

After you assemble the casserole you'll want to put it back in the oven to allow the cheese to melt.  Keep an eye on it because you don't want the cheese to burn.  It should take just about 15 minutes until it starts to bubble and then you'll know it's done.  

While your casserole is cooking and the cheese is melting you can add your bacon to a cookie sheet and place on the bottom rack of the oven and cook until crisp, about 4-5 minutes.  Remove from oven, pat the grease off with a napkin and chop the bacon for the last topping that you'll add when your casserole comes out. 

Shauna's Tips
I added salsa to the top of my Broccoli Breakfast Bake when I dished it up this morning and it was SO GOOD!

Hope you enjoy it!

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