California Seafood Make Ahead Brunch Bake
Indulge your guests with the luxurious, flavor-packed California Seafood Make Ahead Brunch Bake, the perfect centerpiece for your next brunch gathering. This crowd-pleasing casserole boasts tender chunks of French bread soaked in a rich custard made with eggs, whole milk, and heavy cream. Loaded with succulent shrimp, delicate crab meat, and vibrant additions like red bell pepper, green onions, and fresh parsley, every bite bursts with coastal-inspired flavors. Sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheeses add a creamy, savory touch, while a sprinkle of Old Bay seasoning and garlic powder provide just the right amount of spice. The best part? This dish can be prepared the night before, ensuring irresistible flavors meld together beautifully. Perfect for holidays, celebrations, or a lazy Sunday morning, this seafood brunch bake will have everyone coming back for seconds!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 6 cups (cubed) French bread
- 6 pieces Large eggs
- 2 cups Whole milk
- 1 cup Heavy cream
- 2 cups Grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup Cooked shrimp (peeled, deveined, and chopped)
- 1 cup Cooked crab meat
- 4 pieces Green onions (chopped)
- 1 medium Red bell pepper (diced)
- 2 tablespoons Fresh parsley (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Butter (for greasing)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with butter and set aside.
Place the cubed French bread in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, and heavy cream until well combined.
Pour the egg mixture over the cubed bread. Stir gently to ensure all bread pieces are soaked. Let this sit for 10 minutes to absorb the liquid.
Add the cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, shrimp, crab meat, green onions, red bell pepper, parsley, garlic powder, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and black pepper to the bread mixture. Mix lightly to evenly distribute ingredients.
Transfer the mixture into the prepared casserole dish, spreading it out evenly.
Cover the casserole tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight for flavors to meld.
When ready to bake, take the casserole out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes while the oven preheats to 350°F (175°C).
Bake the covered casserole for 35 minutes. Then, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for 5–10 minutes before slicing and serving. Garnish with additional parsley, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
4625 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 251.5 g | 322% | |
| Saturated Fat | 141.3 g | 706% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.4 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 2374 mg | 791% | |
| Sodium | 11998 mg | 522% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 286.7 g | 104% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 15.3 g | 55% | |
| Total Sugars | 52.1 g | ||
| Protein | 305.3 g | 611% | |
| Vitamin D | 23.3 mcg | 116% | |
| Calcium | 3910 mg | 301% | |
| Iron | 30.4 mg | 169% | |
| Potassium | 3758 mg | 80% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
