Hosting family and friends on Christmas morning? Then you’re going to need a few good breakfast or brunch recipes, espeically ones that can be made ahead. Quick breads and pastries are a good addition to any merry morning spread but we always make a point to prepare at least one breakfast casserole, too. They’re a great way to add something savory to the menu — and they go a long way. Plus, most can be prepared the night before, leaving you less to do on Christmas morning. Need a few good ideas to get you started? These are some of our favorite recipes.

We can’t think of a more delicious way to start off a wintery morning (or any kind of morning to be honest) than with a plate of this warm croissant French toast casserole. Day-old, store-bought croissants work perfectly for this, as their slight staleness helps them soak up all the creamy, almondy custard poured over top. Dollops of blueberry jam and a sprinkling of sliced almonds and fresh blueberries take it to another level, making it a decadent choice for breakfast, brunch or even dessert.

The combination of ham and kale is traditional for a reason: It's so unbelievably good. But this satisfying casserole is easy to adapt to other greens and meat pairings, depending on what you have on hand: Try cooked sausage with frozen spinach or andouille with frozen mustard greens.

This casserole makes breakfast pancakes extra special by baking them in a rich, creamy custard. You can cook and freeze the pancakes ahead of time (defrost them before using). An easy timesaver: Buy ready-made frozen pancakes.

This breakfast bake is an amazing addition to any brunch — especially a holiday brunch! — menu. Assemble everything the night before, then pop the cheesy dish into the oven when you get up. Your future self will thank you!

Start your day with this satisfying baked casserole that’s packed with the delicious, zesty seasoning of an everything bagel. The high-protein and diabetes-friendly dish is made with wholesome ingredients like eggs, lean protein like turkey sausage and whole wheat bagels. An overnight soak in the fridge makes it the perfect make-ahead dish for feeding a crowd.

There's no need to get up early to make breakfast for a crowd. With this rich, custardy French toast casserole, nearly all the prep is done in advance. Simply assemble and refrigerate overnight. About an hour before brunch time, just pop it into the oven. Whip up a fast and easy banana-caramel topping and bask in the praise of your well-fed guests.

If you love an all-American breakfast with hash browns, eggs, sausage and peppers, then this is the recipe for you! Besides being downright delicious, the cheesy casserole can cook overnight. Assemble all the ingredients in your slow cooker, set it on low and wake up to a hearty meal that's ready first thing in the morning for hungry houseguests.

This decadent and beautiful casserole is perfect for a brunch or holiday breakfast. English muffins are soaked in a custard and baked along with Canadian bacon, then topped with poached eggs and lemony hollandaise before serving.  

This overnight croissant casserole makes for the perfect holiday breakfast. Toasted croissants are layered with a creamy filling of caramelized onions, bacon and herbs, then soaked in a mustardy custard for 24 hours before baking. The tops of the croissants get nice and browned in the oven, while the filling stays gooey and cheesy, making for the perfect bite.

This dish has everything you love about a traditional bagel breakfast sandwich, but it's all baked into a creamy, cheesy casserole that can be made the night before.

Finally, a delicious use for the ubiquitous holiday cake that everyone loves to give but no one seems to eat. Panettone's raisins, citron and pine nuts make this rich, custardy breakfast just right for special occasions.

No need to choose between sweet or savory for breakfast. This easy bake is a blend of French toast and that hearty, egg-topped grilled ham sandwich, the croque madame.

Breakfast casseroles are the way to go when you're in charge of feeding a crowd on Christmas morning. You can make it months(!) in advance and bake from frozen while everyone is trying to sneak a peek under the tree.

It wouldn’t be the holidays without a cup of eggnog! If breakfast is too early for that kind of Christmas cheer, try baking it into French toast instead. The best part? You can make these this breakfast casserole the night before and pop in the oven for an easy breakfast the next day.

This vegetarian breakfast casserole is easy to assemble up to a day ahead and bake off in the morning, making it the perfect addition to your brunch menu. Meaty mushrooms stand in for the typical breakfast proteins and dish is rounded out with a generous amount of creamy Gruyère, plus fresh thyme and tangy Dijon mustard. We use buttery, flaky croissants as the perfect vessel to sandwich the cheesy mushroom filling and soak up all the custardy eggs.

This hearty meatless breakfast casserole is a great way to use up stale bread. The cubes on top bake into a delicious crunchy crust that just might be the best part! The whole thing can be assembled the night before and popped into the oven in the morning.

Here's a casserole you can make the night before the big holiday-morning spread, leaving you free to tie up other details. It's kind of like a fat western omelet supercharged with crispy potato tots: hearty enough to be the main dish, fun for the kids and even gluten-free, so no one's left out!