High Protein Breakfast Casserole

4.65 from 14 votes

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Start your day with my incredibly satisfying high-protein breakfast casserole. If you’re looking for a savory breakfast that can be prepped in advance and will keep you full until lunch, I’ve got the perfect recipe for you. This egg bake is similar to a crustless quiche 🥧or a frittata.

A plate of square-shaped sausage and cheese breakfast casserole pieces, garnished with chopped parsley. A small glass bowl with chopped herbs and a beige napkin are in the background.

Why You’ll Love High Protein Breakfast Casserole

This high-protein breakfast casserole is all about convenience as well as flavor, offering a satisfying, high-protein meal to energize your morning. It’s a hearty, satisfying meal that keeps you full for hours, hence making it perfect for busy mornings. With lean ground turkey, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese 🧀, and customizable herbs, it’s both nutritious and delicious. You can prep it in advance for a quick breakfast or enjoy it fresh out of the oven. No matter how you eat it, this casserole is a practical and tasty way to start your day right.

How to Prepare

🌡️ Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
Next, heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the avocado oil while getting ready to cook your high-protein breakfast casserole.

🥩 Add the ground meat and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the water has evaporated and the meat begins to brown, about 10 minutes.
🧅Use a sharp knife to finely dice an onion and add them to the pan.

🧂 Then season with salt and cook it until the meat and onions have some color. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the meat mixture cool.

🥚 In a large bowl, crack the eggs.

🧀 Add the cottage cheese, pinch of salt, and mix well.

🌿 Add in the cooled meat mixture, chives, grated cheese, flour, and baking powder. Mix well.
🥣 Line a baking dish with parchment paper and pour in the egg mixture for your high protein casserole.

⏲️ Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until set (the eggs should not jiggle). A skewer/toothpick should come out clean once inserted.

😋 Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes, slice, and enjoy!

Nonna’s Tip 🥚

This casserole is perfect for meal prep. You can prepare it the night before, refrigerate it, and then bake it in the morning.

Three slices of savory breakfast casserole stacked vertically, filled with sausage, eggs, and green herbs. The soft, fluffy texture is visible, and there are sprinkles of parsley on top. The background is a light stone surface.

High Protein Breakfast Casserole Substitutions and Variations

Give your breakfast casserole a personal touch by trying out these variations and substitutions. Whether you want to switch up the protein and cheese or add some veggies, these options for your high protein casserole will help you create a breakfast that’s uniquely yours.

  1. If you want to reduce cholesterol, you can also use a combination of whole eggs and egg whites.
  2. For extra nutrition, add a handful of fresh spinach, kale, or arugula to the egg mixture before baking.
  3. If you’re lactose intolerant or following a dairy-free diet, you could replace Parmesan cheese with a dairy-free alternative. Nutritional yeast can also provide a cheesy flavor without dairy.
  4. You can easily switch it up with other protein sources like cooked and crumbled turkey bacon, sausage, diced ham, or even vegetarian alternatives like tofu or tempeh for a meatless version.
  5. Use gluten-free flour or oat flour if you have a gluten intolerance. 

Best Served With

  • Greek yogurt with berries and a touch of honey is a creamy and slightly tangy side option, which complements the high protein breakfast casserole.
  • A fruit 🍊salad with berries, melon, and citrus would complement the casserole nicely.
  • If you are eating the casserole for lunch or dinner, a simple salad featuring a blend of fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and a light vinaigrette dressing provides a crisp and nutritious side.

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Common Questions

What herbs would be best for this recipe?

Chives or scallions are in the recipe, but any herbs will work well in this recipe.

How do I make this recipe gluten-free?

You can use a 1-1 gluten-free flour or an oat flour instead of all-purpose flour.

Could I use a different kind of meat in this recipe?

You can add any cooked ground meat of your choice; you can even use sausage (removed from the casing) for more flavor.

What other vegetables can I add to the casserole?

You can add diced bell peppers, spinach, mushrooms, or even sun-dried tomatoes.

Can I freeze this casserole?

Yes, you can freeze it. After baking and cooling, cut it into individual portions, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil, and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

Can I make this breakfast casserole ahead of time?

Absolutely! This casserole is perfect for meal prep. You can prepare it the night before, refrigerate it, and then bake it in the morning.

How do I reheat the casserole?

You can reheat it in the microwave the following day or in a pan on the stove. 

A plate of square-shaped sausage and cheese breakfast casserole pieces, garnished with chopped parsley. A small glass bowl with chopped herbs and a beige napkin are in the background.

High Protein Breakfast Casserole

If you’re looking for a delicious, savory breakfast that can be prepped in advance and will keep you full until lunch, I’ve got the perfect recipe for you. This egg bake is similar to a crustless quiche or a frittata.
4.65 from 14 votes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Makes: 4 portions
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons avocado oil , or any oil
  • 400 grams lean ground turkey , any ground meat (1 pound)
  • 1 onion, finely diced
  • salt, to taste
  • 8 eggs , large
  • ½ cup cottage cheese
  • cup chives, finely diced
  • cup Parmesan cheese, or any grated cheese
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 20 grams
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder, 3 grams

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
  • Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and add the avocado oil. Add the ground meat and cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the water has evaporated and the meat begins to brown, about 10 minutes.
  • Add in the finely diced onions and season with salt. Cook it until the meat and onions have some color. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the meat mixture cool.
  • In a large bowl, crack the eggs. Add the cottage cheese, pinch of salt, and mix well.
  • Add in the cooled meat mixture, chives, grated cheese, flour, and baking powder. Mix well.
  • Line a baking dish with parchment paper and pour in the egg mixture. Spread the mixture out evenly with a spatula or the back of a spoon and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until set (the eggs should not jiggle). A skewer/fork/toothpick should come out clean once inserted.
  • Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes, slice, and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 portion, Calories: 353kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 392mg, Sodium: 499mg, Potassium: 506mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 748IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 241mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
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Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

Keep up to date with me on social media! Follow @themodernnonna

4.65 from 14 votes (12 ratings without comment)

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5 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This review is long overdue – my husband and I have been making this casserole every Sunday for about a year now. It’s so easy and we absolutely love it! We eat it throughout the week for a quick on-the-go breakfast. It’s super easy and we can switch up the protein and cheese, and add different veggies to keep it interesting!

    A few small changes we make – we cook it for a little less time since we’re reheating it throughout the week. That helps it from becoming too dry. We also put way less meat in (probably closer to 4 oz usually), this is just personal preference!

    1. I have not experimented with almond flour, but a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour or oat flour will work.