Italian Breakfast Bread Pudding

A spicy and savory medley of some breakfast food favorites is baked into a bread pudding casserole perfect for serving a crowd. This filling dish even tastes great leftover.

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 20 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins
• Calories: 468 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3 cups whole milk
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 4 teaspoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 cup chopped white onions
• 1 pound Italian-flavored bulk pork sausage
• 8 cups cubed stale French bread (1-inch cubes)
• 2 ounces cooked crumbled bacon
• 1 cup fine seasoned dry bread crumbs, divided
• 1.5 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 0.5 cup half-and-half
• 0.5 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1.5 tablespoons dried parsley
• 0.5 cup chopped red bell peppers
• 0.5 cup chopped green bell peppers

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with 2 teaspoons butter and set aside.

Step 2

Melt 2 teaspoons butter in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, green and red bell peppers, 1 teaspoon black pepper, garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add parsley, stir, and remove from heat. Let vegetables cool.

Step 3

Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir sausage in the hot skillet until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain sausage on a plate lined with a paper towel.

Step 4

Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add milk, half-and-half, Italian seasoning, remaining 1 teaspoon pepper, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and whisk to combine. Add bread cubes and let sit for 5 minutes. Add cooked sausage, bacon, vegetables, Cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and stir to incorporate. Spoon mixture into prepared baking dish and cover with aluminum foil.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven until almost set, 50 to 55 minutes.

Step 6

Combine remaining 1/2 cup bread crumbs, remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons melted butter, and remaining 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Remove pudding from oven, leaving oven on. Uncover and sprinkle bread crumb mixture evenly over the top. Return to the oven and increase heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Continue baking until pudding is completely set in the center, puffed, and golden brown on top, about 20 minutes more.

Step 7

Remove from oven and allow to stand for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.