Skip to main content

Savory Bacon and Cheese Bread Pudding

A meal in itself, this is a great dish for a crowd. It can be made ahead, baked, and reheated, or it can be held unbaked until a couple of hours before you plan to serve it.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

One 1-pound loaf crusty white bread
12 ounces slab bacon, cut into 1/2-inch dice
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 large garlic clove, chopped
1 cup coarsely diced onions
6 extra-large eggs
3 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 cups grated sharp white Cheddar cheese (12 ounces)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F.

    Step 2

    Cut the bread into cubes and place the cubes in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Bake for 5 minutes, until just barely toasted. Remove the bread cubes from the oven and set aside.

    Step 3

    Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until very crisp. Remove the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate and set aside.

    Step 4

    Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat and discard the rest. Add the butter to the bacon fat in the skillet and sauté the garlic and onions for 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.

    Step 5

    Whisk the eggs and cream in a large mixing bowl. Add the bread cubes, bacon, garlic and onions, and 2 cups of the Cheddar cheese. Whisk in the salt, pepper, and parsley.

    Step 6

    Butter a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan. Pour the mixture into the pan and sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Bake for 45 minutes, or until firm and brown.

Bubby's Brunch Cookbook cover.
Bubby’s Brunch Cookbook by Ron Silver and Rosemary Black. Copyright © 2009 by Ron Silver and Rosemary Black. Published by Ballantine Books. All Rights Reserved.
Read More
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Like fattoush salad and strawberry shortcake roll.
Add a bag of potato chips and you've got yourself a party.
This is the type of soup that, at first glance, might seem a little…unexciting. But you’re underestimating the power of mushrooms, which do the heavy lifting.
The most efficient method takes less than an hour, but you might not even need it.
Using two entire lemons—pith, skin, and all—cranks up the citrus flavor in this classic dessert.
Think a Hugo spritz, a gin basil smash, and plenty more patio-ready pours.