Jalapeño Cheddar Egg Bake
Every year we host a New Year’s Day brunch with friends and family. Whoever is around and available and wants to come by is welcome. I usually make a few quiches, some roasted potatoes, salad, and snacks so people can pick and enjoy a little of this or that.. always accompanied by a bloody mary bar and mimosas for anyone looking to imbibe. It has become a fun tradition that we look forward to welcoming the new year surrounded by loved ones and good food.
This year will obviously (and sadly) be different but Raf and I are still planning a small brunch for ourselves and this jalapeño cheddar egg bake is a perfect New Year’s brunch recipe. It is easy to make and needs to be refrigerated overnight. So all the prep work is done the day before and in the morning just turn the oven on, bake it up and enjoy a delicious brunch at home.
With onions, garlic, fresh jalapeños and a can of green chillies, there is no shortage of flavor in this dish. The texture is a bit more like a savory bread pudding or french toast. I call it an egg bake but the bread absorbs all the egg-milk mixture and is really the star of the show. I used Trader Joe’s Artisan Sourdough loaf for this recipe which works perfectly to really soak up all the flavor and create a satisfying, delicious texture in the end. The cheddar cheese makes this dish even more decadent adding another layer of flavor and texture. I have tried this recipe with two of my favorite Trader Joe’s cheeses, unexpected cheddar and the cheddar gruyere, and both worked perfectly and had super delicious results... SO whatever your favorite cheddar is will work out just fine.
The overnight in the fridge is really necessary to allow the bread to soak up the egg mixture. It does require a bit of planning ahead but you will be so happy in the morning (especially if you enjoyed some bubbly on New Year’s Eve) when all you have to do is turn on the oven. And one day, hopefully in the near future, when we can all celebrate together again, this is a perfect and easy recipe for entertaining with your own brunch at home.
Jalapeño Cheddar Egg Bake
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of bread (I used Trader Joe's Artisan Sourdough loaf) cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 jalapeños, seeds removed and small diced
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1-4oz can green chillies
- 1 cup cheddar, shredded plus 1/4 cup for topping
- 5 eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- salt and pepper
- Optional: chives for garnish
Instructions
- COOK: Heat a pan over medium heat. Add about a tablespoon of oil, onion and jalapeño. Cook until they start to soften and become translucent. Add the garlic and can of green chilies, continue to cook for about 3 more minutes, stirring frequently. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and allow to cool.
- WHISK: In a large bowl whisk together eggs and milk, season with salt and pepper.
- COMBINE: Add the onion jalapeño mixture to the egg mixture. Then add the bread and 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Mix until all the bread is fully coated in the egg mixture and cheese is dispersed throughout.
- ASSEMBLE: Use softened butter to grease your baking dish. Pour the bread egg mixture into the dish. Top with extra 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese. Cover with foil and place in refrigerator.
- WAIT: Let it hang out in the fridge overnight so the bread can soak up all the flavor and goodness in the egg mixture.
- BAKE: The following morning, turn the oven on to 350. Bake the dish covered for 35 minutes. Uncover and continue cooking for about 10-12 minutes. If the top isn't as golden as you would like, broil for a few minutes but keep your eye on it so it doesn't burn.
- ENJOY: Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly, garnish with chives and serve!