Wonderful Wakeup Casserole

Introducing the Wonderful Wakeup Casserole, a hearty and delicious dish that will kickstart your day with a burst of flavor! Packed with savory ham, golden hash browns and gooey cheddar cheese, this casserole is perfect for breakfast or brunch gatherings with family and friends.

To make this mouthwatering dish, you'll need a few simple ingredients. Start by coating the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray, ensuring that nothing sticks to the bottom. Then, layer the ingredients to create a tantalizing taste experience. Begin with a bed of shredded hash browns, using half of the package to create the first layer. Next, dice up a pound of hickory smoked ham steak, and spread half of it over the hash browns. Sprinkle one cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the ham, adding a rich and melty layer of goodness.

Repeat the layering process with the remaining hash browns, ham and cheese, building a tower of flavor in your slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together a dozen large eggs, one cup of 2% milk and a teaspoon each of salt and ground black pepper. This creamy and savory mixture will bind all the ingredients together, creating a luscious and satisfying casserole.

Pour the egg mixture over the layered ingredients in the slow cooker, ensuring that it's evenly distributed. Cover the slow cooker and let it cook on low for six hours, allowing the flavors to meld together and create a delectable dish that's bursting with taste. The slow cooker method ensures that the casserole is cooked to perfection, with the flavors melding together to create a harmonious and satisfying breakfast or brunch option.

After six hours of slow cooking, it's time to add the finishing touches to your wonderful wakeup casserole. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese and chopped green onions over the top of the casserole, adding a burst of color and freshness. Adjust the temperature to high and cook for an additional 30 minutes, covered, allowing the cheese to melt and the green onions to become fragrant.

The result? A warm and comforting casserole with layers of ham, hash browns and cheese, bound together with creamy eggs and seasoned to perfection. The wonderful wakeup casserole is a crowd-pleasing dish that's perfect for gatherings, brunches or lazy weekend mornings when you want something special to start your day.

Serve this delightful casserole straight from the slow cooker, allowing everyone to dig in and savor the flavors. The combination of the smoky ham, crispy hash browns, gooey cheese and fluffy eggs is simply irresistible. Your taste buds will thank you as you enjoy each delicious bite of this wonderful wakeup casserole.

Prep Time:  5 minutes   |    Cook Time:  6 hours, 30 minutes   |    Total Time:  6 hours, 35 minutes   |    Servings:  10-12

Ingredients:

• Carlini  Cooking Spray
• 30 oz.  Season's Choice  Shredded Hash Browns, divided
• 1 lb. Smithfield  Hickory Smoked Ham Steak, diced, divided
• 3 cups  Happy Farms  Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
• 1 dozen  Goldhen  Large Eggs
• 1 cup  Friendly Farms  2% Milk
• 1 tsp.  Stonemill  Iodized Salt
• 1 tsp.  Stonemill  Ground Black Pepper
• ¼  cup chopped green onions

Directions:

1. Heat slow cooker on low setting. Coat the inside with cooking spray.
2. Arrange 1/2  hash browns around bottom of slow cooker. Top with 6 oz.  of ham and 1 cup of cheese.
3. Repeat with remaining hash browns, ham and 1 cup cheese.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt and pepper.
5. Pour eggs on top of layered ingredients and cover. Cook for 6 hours.
6. Top with remaining  cheese and green onions, adjust temperature to high and cook for 30 minutes, covered.

Recipe courtesy of Chef Alyssa, ALDI Test Kitchen