1 hour ago
1
Here’s another one of our favorite “breakfast for dinner” recipes! Everyone in my family loves this French Toast Casserole. The crunchy cinnamon topping takes it up a notch! We eat it plain or with syrup, but other yummy toppings would be whipped cream and berries.
This French Toast Casserole does needs to be refrigerated overnight (or at least for 8-10 hours), but it’s so simple to throw together (it literally takes 15 minutes to prep!). I love making this with discounted bread from the clearance cart at the back of Walmart!
I like serving it with Baked Scrambled Eggs to balance out the sweetness — and also because I’m already using the oven for the bake. Plus, it’s nice not to have to stand and stir the eggs over the stovetop. You stir it one time and that’s it! I also served blueberries tonight, because I got a great deal on them this past week and we are trying to eat as many of them as possible before freezing the rest.
This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! In this series, she shares easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals.
The series will break for the summer but check out this page for more $10 Family Dinners!
Ingredients:
French Toast Casserole:
- 1-lb loaf French or Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (Walmart) — $0.99
- 8 large eggs (Publix – $1.50/dozen) — $1
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream (Aldi – $4.85 for 4 cups) — $1.22
- 2 cups milk (Aldi – $3.33 for 1 gallon) — $0.42
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (Aldi – $1.95 for 2lbs) — $0.11
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon (Aldi – $1.09 for 4.6 tablespoons) — $0.16
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla (Aldi – $3.85 for 2 fluid ounces) — $0.96
Streusel Topping:
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar (Aldi – $1.95 for 2lbs) — $0.08
- 3 Tablespoons sugar (Aldi – $3.09 for 4lbs) — $0.09
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (Aldi – $1.09 for 4.6 tablespoons) — $0.08
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 Tablespoons cold butter (Aldi – $0.85 per stick) — $0.22
Total for French Toast Bake: $5.33 (serves 6+)
Baked Scrambled Eggs:
- 12 large eggs (Publix – $1.50/dozen) — $1.50
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk (Aldi – $3.33 for 1 gallon) — $0.26
- 4 Tablespoons butter, melted and cooled (Aldi – $0.85 per stick) — $0.43
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- Pepper, for serving
- Fresh herbs for garnish, if desired
Total for Baked Scrambled Eggs: $2.19 (serves 6)
Blueberries on the Side:
- Blueberries (Sawyer’s Produce – $1.25 for 18 ounces) — $1.25
Grand Total for Dinner: $8.77
How to Make French Toast Casserole and Baked Scrambled Eggs:
- The night before, follow the directions here (or on the recipe card below) to prep the casserole and streusel topping. Cover both tightly with cling wrap and store in the refrigerator.
2. About an hour before you plan to eat, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the French Toast Casserole for 40-50 minutes or until golden and set.
3. While the casserole is in the oven, prep the Baked Scrambled Eggs using the directions here.
Both the french toast and the eggs can be cooked in the oven simultaneously (they cook at the same temp) so that dinner can be ready all at once!
4. Serve with blueberries (or other fruit of your choice) and whipped cream or syrup.
Easy French Toast Casserole and Baked Scrambled Eggs
Ingredients
Ingredients for French Toast Casserole Base:
- 1- lb loaf French or Italian bread cut into 1-inch cubes (Walmart) — $0.99
- 8 large eggs Publix – $1.50/dozen — $1
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream Aldi – $4.85 for 4 cups — $1.22
- 2 cups milk Aldi – $3.33 for 1 gallon — $0.42
- 1/4 cup brown sugar Aldi – $1.95 for 2lbs — $0.11
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon Aldi – $1.09 for 4.6 tablespoons — $0.16
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla Aldi – $3.85 for 2 fluid ounces — $0.96
Streusel Topping Ingredients:
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar Aldi – $1.95 for 2lbs — $0.08
- 3 Tablespoons sugar Aldi – $3.09 for 4lbs — $0.09
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon Aldi – $1.09 for 4.6 tablespoons — $0.08
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 Tablespoons cold butter Aldi – $0.85 per stick — $0.22
Ingredients for Baked Scrambled Eggs:
- 12 large eggs Publix – $1.50/dozen — $1.50
- 1 1/4 cups whole milk Aldi – $3.33 for 1 gallon — $0.26
- 4 Tablespoons butter melted and cooled (Aldi – $0.85 per stick) — $0.43
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- Pepper for serving
- Fresh herbs for garnish if desired
Blueberries on the Side:
- 18 ounces Blueberries Sawyer’s Produce – $1.25 for 18 ounces — $1.25
Instructions
How to Make French Toast Casserole:
- Grease a 9×13″ baking dish. Cut bread into 1-inch chunks and place them in the pan.
- Whisk eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add cream, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla and mix well. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Spread the cubes and liquid into an even layer in the pan. Refrigerate overnight.
- To make the streusel topping, combine the sugars, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Add cold butter and use a pastry blender or your hands to combine until crumbly. Cover and refrigerate the topping separately until ready to use.
- After the casserole has sat overnight (or for at least 8 hours), preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Uncover the French Toast Casserole pan and sprinkle the topping evenly over top. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until top is golden and casserole is set.
How to Make the Baked Scrambled Eggs:
- Coat another 9×13 glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, aggressively whisk all of the ingredients together until the mixture is well incorporated, light, airy, and pale in color. Pour into the prepared glass baking dish.
- Transfer to the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes. (This can bake at the same time as the French Toast Casserole because they bake at the same temperature!)
- After 15 minutes, stir the eggs, pushing the outside edges in since the edges cook faster. Bake for 10 more minutes or until set (time may vary depending on your oven. Eggs will set quickly toward the end, so keep an eye on them so they don’t overcook and become dry.)
- Remove from the heat when the eggs still appear slightly moist, since they will continue to cook out of the oven.
- Serve eggs with some freshly cracked pepper and chopped fresh chives.
- Allow the French Toast Casserole to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve French Toast Casserole, Baked Scrambled Eggs, and a side of blueberries and enjoy!
Nutrition
FAQs about French Toast Casserole:
Yes! Freeze it in an airtight zip-top bag or a tightly covered casserole dish for up to 3 months. Once thawed, add streusel topping before baking.
Loosely cover it with foil and reheat French Toast Casserole in a 350 degree oven for about 5-10 minutes or until warm throughout.
I love serving French Toast Casserole with this baked scrambled egg recipe to balance the sweetness (and because they cook at the same temperature!).
This French Toast Casserole recipe tastes best when refrigerated for more than 8 hours before baking. You also can freeze it as described above.
More Ideas for Family Dinners Under $10:
- Easy Baked Chicken
- Biscuits and Gravy
- Quick & Easy Mini Calzones
- Mexican Lasagna
- Easy Cheesy Kielbasa Pasta Skillet
- Chicken Alfredo Pizza
- Chicken Burgers and Baked Fries
- Spaghetti Pizza
- Cheesy Potato Soup and Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
- Homemade Chipotle Chicken Bowls
- Crustless Spinach Quiche and Whole Wheat Bread
- Easy Chicken Pot Pie
And, be sure to check out all our easy dinner recipes here!
If you make this easy French Toast Casserole and Baked Scrambled Eggs family dinner, we’d love for you to leave a review and let us know how it turned out!
FREE One Week Menu Plan!
Done-For-You Dinner Recipes With Simple Ingredients and a Grocery Shopping List!
Send me my FREE Menu Plan!
