This is the easiest Green Chile Egg Casserole recipe ever! It's high in protein and made with simple ingredients like eggs, cottage cheese, cheese, green chiles, and green bell pepper then baked in the oven. You're going to love it!
This great recipe is inspired by a breakfast casserole that we had at a Bed and Breakfast in the Finger Lakes. Their version called for a few ingredients that I found weren't necessary (like a whole stick of melted butter. 🙃
I can appreciate sticking to original recipes, but I think if you can make a few changes to make a dish more heart-healthy and still taste good, then go for it. Hey, I'm a dietitian - can't help it. 😉
And good news - the green bell pepper blends right in with the green chiles and this recipe is made with plenty of cheese! I've been making this recipe for years and it turns out great every time!
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Dietitian Tip
Adding veggies to dishes like this egg casserole with green chiles, sloppy joes, and tacos where the veggies blend right in is a great way to increase vegetable intake for kids and adults.
Personally, I don't see it as a substitute for serving vegetables, but more so as a way to increase our intake of fiber and various nutrients that vegetables provide. Simple as that 🙂
Also, as a parent, I usually choose not to announce the fact that I've added veggies to dishes like this. Telling my kids that we are having an "egg casserole" or "green chili egg casserole" sounds so much more appealing than "egg casserole with bell peppers" lol!
Recipe Highlights
- Easy Breakfast Casserole Just mix all of the ingredients and bake it in a large baking dish. The most work will be shredding cheese and chopping and sautéing a bell pepper (if you don't have frozen), but that's it!
- Family Favorite I serve this egg casserole dish on special occasions and for dinner on a busy weeknight. It's a perfect egg bake for Mother's Day brunch and on Christmas morning. We all love it!
- Kid-Approved Not only do all three of my kids like this egg casserole but so do others! I've made this for another family who invited us to their lake house and for our extended family when we spent a week at the beach. The best part is that this is a hit every time!
- Simple Recipe Not only is this an egg casserole without bread recipe. It's also made without sausage, red onion, or green onions (strong flavors that not all kids like).
- Meal Prep The cheese can be shredded, and the green bell pepper chopped and sauteed ahead of time and stored in the fridge. This way everything just gets mixed together when you're ready to make it!
Ingredient Notes
- Eggs I've used large and extra-large eggs to make this recipe. Eggs contain a variety of nutrients including protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.
- Cottage Cheese Good source of protein, calcium, vitamin B12, and more.
- Cheese I've used Monterey Jack cheese, Colby Jack, Cheddar, and Sharp Cheddar cheese (including extra sharp) to make this egg casserole. For more of a kick, try using pepper jack cheese instead.
- Bell Pepper Chopped green bell pepper, softened, has a nice texture so it blends right in with the green chiles.
- Diced Green Chiles I've been using the fire-roasted diced green chiles that Trader Joe's sells which have more of a kick. Not everyone in my family likes spicy food, so I only use one can of green chilies. My husband and son like spicier food so they add hot sauce to their slices.
How to Make the Best Egg Casserole
Here is a very brief summary of the steps to make this green chili breakfast casserole. For the full recipe, including the complete list of ingredients and instructions, please scroll down to the recipe card below.
- Chop and sauté one green bell pepper using a very small amount of oil in a small or large skillet.
- Whisk all ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Pour egg mixture into a large baking dish, like a 9x13. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the edges and top are slightly browned.
- Let cool for about 5 minutes to set, then serve!
Helpful Tips
- If you use red bell pepper instead of green bell pepper, it will be noticeable in the casserole.
- All-purpose flour can be used in place of white whole wheat flour.
- Cheese that you shred yourself will melt easier and give the casserole a nicer texture than if you use pre-packaged shredded cheese.
- If you have frozen chopped green bell pepper, you should be able to skip the step that asks you to chop and sauté whole bell pepper and just add the frozen bell pepper pieces directly to the egg mixture. This is because the bell pepper pieces will soften as they defrost.
- If you forget to mix in the cheese, just sprinkle it on top and put it back in the oven for a few minutes so the cheese can melt. This happened to me and, while it tasted better when the cheese was mixed in, it still tasted good with the cheese melted on top.
Questions You May Have
Once cooled, place individual slices in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to about 3 days. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave or air fryer.
While this isn't an overnight breakfast casserole, it can be considered a make-ahead breakfast casserole, I would think you could mix it all together the night before then cover a baking dish with plastic wrap. Just be sure to remove the plastic wrap before baking it in the oven.
Also, if your baking dish is not made to go right from the fridge to the oven, let it come to room temperature before baking.
If you increase the baking temperature in an attempt to reduce the baking time, the middle of the egg casserole may not be done when the top and sides look done or overdone.
It's important to cook an egg casserole to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
When you are baking it, no. When storing it, yes. This recipe calls for the casserole to be uncovered when baking it. Keeping it uncovered allows moisture to escape and the top to brown.
Related Recipes
- Baked Eggs
- Sourdough French Toast
- Easy Deviled Eggs Without Mustard
- How to Make Steamed Hard-Boiled Eggs
More Breakfast Recipes
Did you make this easy Egg Casserole with Green Chiles and love it? Please let me know by leaving a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review or comment below. A 5-star rating is the best compliment!
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📖 Recipe
Green Chile Egg Casserole
Equipment
- 1 skillet to sauté bell pepper
- 1 chefs knife for cutting bell pepper
- 1 Box Grater for grating cheese
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Large baking dish 9x13
Ingredients
- 10 Eggs Large or extra large
- ½ cup White whole wheat flour Can use All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 8 oz Monterey Jack Cheese Shredded. Can use Colby Jack or cheddar cheese.
- 1 pint Low Fat Cottage Cheese Can use regular, full-fat cottage cheese. Preferably small curd.
- 1 Green Bell Pepper Chopped.
- 1 teaspoon Olive oil Extra virgin. To sauté the chopped bell peppers.
- 4 oz Diced green chiles 1 4oz can Chopped or Diced green chiles. Use 2-4 cans for more spice.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉
- Use a skillet to sauté chopped green pepper in about one teaspoon of olive oil for 2-3 minutes, until softened.
- Beat together eggs and all other ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Stir cooked bell pepper pieces in with the egg mixture.
- Pour egg mixture into a prepared 9x13 baking pan.
- Bake in the oven for 40 minutes, or until the edges and top is light brown.
- Slice into squares, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Green peppers are an 'extra'. I have found that chopped green peppers blend right in with the green chilis, so kids rarely notice they are in the casserole :). If you don't have a green bell pepper, the recipe will still turn out.
- If you have frozen chopped green bell peppers, you can just mix them in. There should be no reason to sauté them first as they will naturally soften as they defrost.
- I've been using one can of Fire Roasted Diced Green Chiles from Trader Joe's, and it has plenty of spice for me. My husband likes a lot of spice, so he adds hot sauce on his pieces.
- If you choose to substitute red bell peppers or other vegetables for the green bell peppers, it will be noticeable.
- Buy a block of cheese and shred it. Pre-shredded cheese has anti-caking agents added to it which changes the texture of the cheese when it melts.
- I've made this casserole with all-purpose flour and white whole wheat flour with success. White whole wheat flour will add some fiber to the recipe.
- Leftovers can easily be reheated in a microwave or air fryer.
- If you forget to mix in the cheese, just sprinkle it on top and put it back in the oven for a few minutes so the cheese can melt. This happened to me and, while it tasted better when the cheese was mixed in, it still tasted good with the cheese melted on top.
- Although I haven't tried it, I'm sure you can add other sauteed veggies and/or sausage crumbles to this recipe with success.
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