Chrissy Teigen's Everything Bagel Cream Cheese Breakfast Bake
Reprinted from Cravings: Hungry for More. Copyright 2018 by Chrissy Teigen. Photographs copyright 2018 by Aubrie Pick. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. I have felt for a long time that everything bagel spice is the bomb. But I ve never been that into eating an entire bagel it s just too much dough at one time. Cutting them up into pieces and baking them with sausage and eggs though That, folks, is everything.
Reprinted from Cravings: Hungry for More. Copyright 2018 by Chrissy Teigen. Photographs copyright 2018 by Aubrie Pick. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. I have felt for a long time that everything bagel spice is the bomb. But I ve never been that into eating an entire bagel it s just too much dough at one time. Cutting them up into pieces and baking them with sausage and eggs though That, folks, is everything.
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 cups milk
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup half-and-half
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons dijon mustard
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
- 1 pound breakfast sausage links* (optional)
- 2 tablespoons butter plus more for the baking dish
- 1 package frozen spinach thawed
- 3 big chunks
- 2 large tomatoes cut into chunks
- 1 cup finely grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
- 1 1/2 cups grated gruyã¨re or swiss cheese
- 1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, cold, cut into 14 cu
- Carbohydrate 187.501345083169 g
- Cholesterol 982.886250596588 mg
- Fat 311.516937690181 g
- Fiber 16.8349005072533 g
- Protein 164.360607558217 g
- Saturated Fat 192.308067616473 g
- Serving Size 1 1 recipe (4672g)
- Sodium 6303.00820151035 mg
- Sugar 170.666444575916 g
- Trans Fat 18.9183525108411 g
- Calories 4119 calories
Step-by-step
- If you want to keep this veggie, omit the sausage, increase the butter for sautéing the onions by 1 tablespoon, and add another half of a 10-ounce package of thawed frozen spinach.
- Melt the butter in the skillet over medium-low heat, then add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden and translucent, about 9 minutes. While the onion is cooking, pile the thawed spinach into the center of a big clean kitchen towel and roll up the towel.
- Over a bowl or the sink, twist the ends toward each other and keep twisting until you wring out as much liquid as humanly possible. (Or make someone else do this.)
- Transfer the spinach to the bowl with the sausage and add the onion, bagel chunks, tomatoes, basil, Parm, 1 cup each of the Gruyère and cheddar, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and ½ teaspoon of the pepper. Toss it all together with your hands or a spoon.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, half-and-half, mustard, cayenne, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
- Grease a 9 × 13-inch baking dish with butter and arrange the bagel mixture in the dish. Pour the egg mixture over the top, pressing down on the bagels so they soak up the liquid. Nestle the cream cheese chunks in all around the pan (they can be peeking out).
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1½ hours and up to 12 hours. (The longer you soak, the moister the inside will be.)
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Uncover the dish and sprinkle with the remaining ½ cup each Gruyère and cheddar. Bake for 15 minutes, reduce the temperature to 350°F, and bake until the top is golden and the center is set, 50 minutes to 1 hour.
My Unexpected Love Affair with Chrissy Teigen's Everything Bagel Bake
Let me preface this by saying I'm not usually a breakfast person. My mornings are a whirlwind of getting kids ready for school, juggling work emails, and trying to sneak in a quick workout before the day truly begins. Breakfast is often a rushed affair, a granola bar snatched on the run or a lukewarm cup of coffee gulped down standing up. But this recipe… this recipe changed everything.
I first stumbled upon Chrissy Teigen's Everything Bagel Cream Cheese Breakfast Bake while browsing through a food blog (I can't even remember which one now!). The photos alone were enough to pique my interest – a gorgeous, golden-brown casserole brimming with cheese, spinach, and what looked like the most amazing, perfectly cooked eggs. I'm a sucker for anything cheesy and comforting, and this bake promised both in spades. Plus, everything bagel seasoning is one of my absolute favorite flavor combinations; savory, slightly sweet, and intensely addictive.
What surprised me most, however, wasn’t just the incredible flavor. It was the convenience. The bake itself requires minimal active preparation time. Most of the work involves chopping vegetables and mixing ingredients, tasks that can easily be accomplished while listening to a podcast or catching up on a favorite TV show. The real magic happens in the refrigerator, where the flavors meld and the bagels soak up the creamy egg mixture, resulting in a moist, delicious breakfast that's ready to bake when I am.
I've made this bake countless times since I first discovered it, and each time, it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. My family devours it, and I’ve even brought it to potlucks and brunches, earning rave reviews every single time. It’s easily adaptable, too. I’ve experimented with different types of cheese, added sauteed mushrooms or bell peppers for extra veggies, and even swapped out the sausage for crumbled bacon (a game changer, I highly recommend!).
But beyond the versatility and the deliciousness, this recipe represents something more to me. It’s a reminder that even amidst the chaos of daily life, there's always time to create something beautiful and delicious. It’s a symbol of comfort and connection, a dish that brings my family together around the table, sharing laughter and stories over a hearty, satisfying meal. It's a testament to the power of simple ingredients transformed into something extraordinary, a perfect representation of the magic that can happen in the kitchen. And that, my friends, is something truly special.
Ingredients (a slight variation based on my own experiences):
The Bagel Base:
- 1 pound everything bagels, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 pound breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled (or bacon, or omitted entirely for a vegetarian option)
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced and sautéed
- 1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cups grated Gruyère cheese
- 1 ½ cups grated cheddar cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
The Creamy Egg Mixture:
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more, to taste)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
The Cream Cheese Surprise:
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, cut into chunks
Instructions (a simplified version):
- Prepare the bagel mixture by combining all the bagel base ingredients in a large bowl.
- Whisk together the egg mixture in a separate bowl.
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and add the bagel mixture.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bagels, ensuring they are well-soaked.
- Nestle the cream cheese chunks throughout the casserole.
- Refrigerate for at least 1.5 hours, or up to 12 hours.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Bake for approximately 50-60 minutes, or until golden brown and set.
This recipe is more than just a breakfast bake; it's a testament to the joy of cooking and sharing delicious food with loved ones. Give it a try; I promise you won't regret it!
