I would serve:

-bacon OR sausage
-quiche
-fruit or fruit salad
-veggie of some kind
-carb of some kind, you could make batches of mini waffles the day before for example, or serve a variety of bagels/breads/english muffins
-a sweet like mini muffins or pastries, chocolates

This type of menu allows people to pick and choose w/o mixing the carbs and proteins into a casserole, for example. It also allows you to prep everything the day before.

Never do a brunch without a salad or some offering of a veggie. Even something as simple as a green salad is a nice touch to lighten the menu up

Anonymous wrote:Bacon, for sure. Bake it in the oven on parchment-lined sheet pans. A vegetable tray or a salad would be welcome.

There's bacon in the microwave between paper towels, there bacon in the oven on parchment and then there's what the true ocd does-- bacon in batches in the air fryer. I drain the grease into a glass jar and put all the parts in the dishwasher. I hate lingering smells!

Bacon, for sure. Bake it in the oven on parchment-lined sheet pans. A vegetable tray or a salad would be welcome.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody likes breakfast casseroles. They always sound great, but they are not good IRL. A frittata is a much better savory option. They can be made the day before (and are very tasty this way, after flavors come together).

We had this at Christmas and it was a huge hit. https://www.skinnytaste.com/bacon-spinach-breakfast-casserole/

I love this casserole and it would be a great complement/alternative to a french toast casserole.

Your menu sounds great, OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody likes breakfast casseroles. They always sound great, but they are not good IRL. A frittata is a much better savory option. They can be made the day before (and are very tasty this way, after flavors come together).

We had this at Christmas and it was a huge hit. https://www.skinnytaste.com/bacon-spinach-breakfast-casserole/

I'm one of the people who have said that they don't think you need casserole with French toast. But every casserole I have seen has had a lot of potatoes in it. I think this casserole is more like a quiche or a frittata and would be fine with French toast.

Anonymous wrote:Nobody likes breakfast casseroles. They always sound great, but they are not good IRL. A frittata is a much better savory option. They can be made the day before (and are very tasty this way, after flavors come together).

We had this at Christmas and it was a huge hit. https://www.skinnytaste.com/bacon-spinach-breakfast-casserole/

I would not do bagels and French toast, unless I was preparing a large spread. I like bagels, but if there is French toast, I would not feel a need for bagels, an French toast feels much more luxurious and suitable for entertaining than bagels.

Since you like Smitten Kitchen and want easy, what about this instead of the casserole:

https://smittenkitchen.com/2023/12/rolled-spinach-omelet/

and bacon or sausage?