10 Best Ways To Substitute For Milk In Egg Casserole

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Are you about to make an egg casserole recipe and you just noticed you have no milk? Or maybe you’re just looking for a dairy-free way to make egg casserole that tastes great? If you answered yes to any of those questions then you’ll be glad you clicked here.

Today, you will learn about 10 foods that can be used to substitute for milk in egg casserole. Keep reading to find out what they are.

An egg casserole also sometimes called a breakfast casserole, quiche, or egg pie is literally one of the easiest breakfast foods anyone can make. Egg casseroles use ingredients like eggs, sausage, milk, ground black pepper, salt, vegetables like bell pepper, potatoes, tomatoes and onions, and cheese.

It is super easy, you literally just combine all these ingredients to make a super quick egg quiche that tastes so so good!

But, if for any reason you cannot or do not want to use milk in your egg casserole, are there any other good options? The answer to this is…heck yeah! There are many ways to make egg casserole without eggs and you will get the full scoop right here.

Also, feel free to check out the milk substitutes for scrambled eggs here.

Why is milk important in an egg casserole?

Most delicious egg casserole recipes use milk, but many people may want to know why this is so. The answer is milk is important as it helps baked goods like egg bakes or egg casseroles stay moist. After all, nobody wants to eat a dry casserole for breakfast!

Best substitutes for egg casseroles

Before we begin, it is important to note that I have seen, made, and tried (from friends) egg casseroles that were made with no milk. They taste great!

In cases like these, the eggs are all that are used to add moisture to the casserole. This means that if you wanted to, you could also make an egg casserole without milk or any other milk alternatives. See an example of this milk-less egg casserole recipe here.

However, if you want to know of other ways to substitute for milk in an egg bake recipe, keep reading for some great ideas, plus substitute ratios:

Water + butter

If you’re out of milk, but you don’t mind dairy, then a combination of water and butter will work just fine. In this case, the butter will help the egg bake remain moist and it even adds a little extra flavor.

The best part is that butter is a staple in most refrigerators so you are very likely to have this substitute on hand.

For every cup of milk used to make the egg casserole, replace it with 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of butter.

Heavy cream

Without milk, you can also use heavy cream in its place in an egg casserole recipe. Heavy cream adds both a nice creamy richness and moistness to this kind of recipe.

Obviously, this will add a lot more calories and fat to your egg bake. Therefore, you can consider diluting the heavy cream with equal parts water and milk if you want to cut down on the richness of this ingredient.

In this case, dilute the heavy cream and use it in place of milk by using ½ cup of water and ½ cup of heavy cream for every cup of milk a quiche recipe calls for.

Also, if you do not mind the richness, then go ahead and substitute this way; For every 1 cup of milk, an egg casserole recipe asks for, replace it with 1 cup of heavy cream.

You can also check out this recipe where I show you how to make a fluffy egg casserole recipe with heavy cream.

Sour cream

Many people also use sour cream in their egg casserole dishes. Sour cream adds some moisture, richness, and a nice tang to any breakfast bake.

If you have decided to use sour cream instead of milk to make an egg casserole, note that you will need to add some water to help all the ingredients combine and reach the right consistency.

For every 1 cup of whole milk, substitute with 1 cup of sour cream plus ¼ cup of water.

Also, if you need an example, check, I’ve shared a simple sour cream egg casserole recipe here.

Cream cheese

Have cream cheese in your refrigerator? If you do, then you can add cream cheese to your egg casserole instead of milk! Cream cheese is used in a lot of keto-friendly egg bakes as whole milk is not really recommended for this lifestyle. It is also used in regular egg casserole dishes in combination with whole milk.

Nonetheless, if no whole milk is available, cream cheese and plant-based milk will work just fine.

Feel free to use light, fat-free or regular cream cheese as they all will work in this case.

4oz of cream cheese and ½ cup of plant-based milk can be used as a stand-in for 1 cup of whole milk.

Ricotta cheese

Ricotta cheese is another suitable alternative for milk in breakfast casseroles. Ricotta cheese makes for a very fluffy egg pie that is quite easy to make. The ricotta cheese is a great alternative because it helps to make a moist, fluffy, and tender egg casserole without any noticeable change in taste.

About ¾ cup of ricotta cheese is a solid substitute for 1 cup of whole milk.

Cottage cheese

If you want a lower-calorie option to ricotta cheese with a very similar flavor, then cottage cheese is your best bet. Like ricotta cheese, it helps to add that fluffiness and moisture to any egg pie recipe.

Use about ¾ cup of cottage cheese to replace 1 cup of whole milk.

Almond milk

If you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative to whole milk in an egg pie, then look no further than almond milk. This ingredient provides you with a light and healthy way to enjoy your favorite breakfast casserole.

Use 1 cup of almond milk in place of 1 cup of whole milk.

Coconut milk

Another suitable alternative for milk in egg bake is coconut milk. This ingredient gives you another good option for dairy-free milk to make a yummy and fluffy egg casserole.

One thing that should be noted is that unsweetened coconut milk is the best option to use for this dish.

Use 1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk to substitute for 1 cup of whole milk.

Oat milk

When it comes to making truly delicious egg pies, oat milk can also be used as the liquid that provides the moisture the baked dish needs.

Oat milk makes it possible to enjoy a dairy-free breakfast casserole that tastes just as good as any other recipe! This is so because oat milk is dairy-free, but, it is very creamy and the closest in consistency to whole milk compared to other plant-based milk.

Use 1 cup of oat milk as a replacement for 1 cup of whole milk.

Evaporated milk (+ water)

While this ingredient is not as popular, evaporated milk is also a good option when it comes to substitutes for milk in egg casserole dishes.

Evaporated milk is creamy and more flavorful, so thinning this more concentrated milk out is important if you want to have an egg bake that more closely mimics the results from a recipe that calls for whole milk.

Therefore, use ½ cup of water and ½ cup of evaporated milk to replace 1 cup of whole milk.

Final thoughts

Milk is a popular ingredient in a lot of baked egg breakfast casseroles. However, if you have no milk or you’re now vegan or dairy free, there are quite a few ways to replace milk with ingredients you likely have in your kitchen.

All of the substitutes above make it possible for you to make a tasty egg casserole without milk. The best part is that there are dairy-free alternatives, rich and creamy alternatives, and lighter, lower calorie alternatives so there is a milk replacement for every type of eater on this list.

While this post is written to make it easy for you to find effective ways to replace milk in egg casserole dishes. It should be noted, however, that every single ingredient on the list is different from whole milk. This means the flavor and texture of your casserole may change slightly, depending on the specific ingredient that you use in place of whole milk.

Having said this, all the foods listed above are solid milk substitute options for egg pie and each gives you an opportunity to make a delicious, yet unique egg casserole recipe. Happy cooking!

10 Best Ways To Substitute For Milk In Egg Casserole

Why is milk important in an egg casserole?