Sausage Breakfast Casserole layered with bread pieces, sizzling sausage, yellow mustard, Mexican cheese, and beaten eggs all baked in one dish to feed the family fast! It’s delicious served hot or make-ahead and put in the fridge overnight to bake up in the morning. This is such an easy breakfast casserole recipe perfect for every day or the Holidays!
Need easy breakfast ideas for Christmas morning? Try this breakfast casserole with hashbrowns that you can also make overnight, these breakfast potatoes, or classic biscuits and gravy! We have a collection of breakfast casserole recipes that will be a hit, like this recipe for Breakfast Casserole with cottage cheese and Cheesy Breakfast Casserole.
What is Sausage Breakfast Casserole?
Sausage breakfast casserole is a super simple breakfast dish made with leftover Whole Wheat bread, breakfast sausage meat, cheese, and eggs. The eggs work as the binder and the bread soaks up the extra liquid as it bakes. Whisking the eggs well makes the eggs fluff up and the liquids from the sausage release into the casserole while it cooks for optimal flavor! Adding the creamy cheese sauce and yellow mustard to the sausage will make your house smell so incredibly good! I was asked what I was making after I prepped it the night before, it got the crowd wondering what I had made!
It’s everything a breakfast casserole with sausage should be! Set it at night in the crock pot, Make-Ahead and put it overnight in the fridge, or assemble it and bake it in the oven right away! Drizzle with maple syrup for a sweet breakfast casserole dish that tastes like a Mcdonald’s mcGriddle only without the pancakes! This Sausage and egg casserole bakes up tender and fluffy, you will not taste the bread! Serving it in one pan makes it so easy for breakfast mornings at our farm! Another favorite country breakfast at our house is this Amish breakfast casserole with bacon!
What Kind of Bread Should I Use:
Soft sandwich bread is the choice of bread to use for a breakfast casserole recipe. It is soft and will bake up fluffy when cooked. Another type of bread to use is a soft hamburger bun, French bread baguette, or fluffy Italian bread. You can even use bread croutons if you were soaking the casserole overnight. Overnight breakfast casserole is ideal with day-old stale bread, if you would be baking it the same day go for a fresh loaf of bread and break it up into bite-sized pieces. This is also a great casserole to use up leftover toast and old (stale) bread, so, after dinner prep and set it in the fridge for a frugal meal.
Ingredients Needed For This Recipe:
This sausage breakfast casserole has simple ingredients that you likely have in your home! Substitute croutons, leftover sandwich bread, or rip-apart hamburger buns that are going stale!
- Sausage- breakfast sausage, pork sausage, or Country sausage is what you’d want to use for the type of meat. It’s flavored with black pepper and sage which is key to a good-tasting breakfast meal! Jimmy Dean or the Aldi brand is what I usually use, for healthy breakfast ideas use a turkey breakfast sausage roll.
- Bread- use 4-5 slices of your favorite soft sandwich bread. Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes or break them up into bite-sized pieces. You want chunks so the egg mixture can leak through and coat the bread pieces more evenly.
- Cheese- (Shredded Cheese) or grated sharp cheddar cheese, swiss cheese, or Mexican cheese are all great choices for cheese in this breakfast casserole with bread. I do add additional cheddar cheese sauce to the fried sausage for creaminess and flavor.
- Eggs- crack 6 eggs into a bowl and beat well with a whisk to make a fluffy breakfast sausage casserole.
- Milk- use whole milk for a rich casserole.
- Seasonings- salt and pepper are the basic seasonings to flavor any type of breakfast (foods!) Add a pinch of sage to bring out the savory flavors.
- Yellow Mustard- combined with breakfast sausage this prepared mustard will make any house smell good! The aroma is amazing!
Variations:
Make the best breakfast casserole to suit your taste! Here are different varieties to please your crowd!
- Meat- ham, sausage, and bacon can be used interchangeably!
- Potatoes- add 15 oz (1 3/4 cups) of tater tots or shredded hash browns to the mix.
- Heavy Cream- substitute 1 cup of milk with half and half, or heavy cream.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup– or leftover Country gravy can be used to make a creamy egg breakfast casserole. Use 1 1/4 cups or a 10 oz can of either sauce.
- Veggies- mix in 1/2 cup of your favorite vegetables, like canned mushrooms, bell pepper, diced onion, broccoli, and spinach.
- Cheese- use 1 cup of Velveeta cheese shreds or homemade cheese sauce for a creamier casserole. Other shredded cheese that can be used is a Monterey and Colby Jack cheese, Pepper Jack, and Mozzarella.
How To Make Breakfast Casserole:
This is one of the easiest breakfast casseroles to make with quick prep! It’s all layered into one pan and the oven does the cooking! Cook this breakfast egg casserole the day of making, or store it in the fridge hours ahead of time for later. Baking it is so simple!
- Brown the sausage in a skillet until browned. Breakfast sausage is done when the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Cook it over medium-low heat and crumble the meat using this meat chopper. Stir in the cheddar cheese sauce and set aside.
- Meanwhile, cut bread slices into 1/2-inch cubes. Spread over a 10×6 baking dish.
- Top bread with cooked sausage and shredded cheese.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined. Pour in the milk and whisk well.
- Pour the egg mixture over the sausage and cheese.
- Cover the pan and bake in a 400°F oven for 1 hour. Then bake uncovered for 10-20 minutes, until sausage egg breakfast casserole rises and becomes golden.
How Long To Cook Breakfast Casserole? This Sausage Breakfast Casserole is done when the center fluffs up and the casserole doesn’t look wet. Another good way to see if it’s ready is to look at the edges, if they are golden brown it’s likely finished. If the center is too jiggly or watery it needs more baking time. Do you cover breakfast casserole when baking? I do the first hour of baking then I bake uncovered for the last 15-20 minutes so, the eggs are set.
Can You Freeze Breakfast Casserole?
I love this easy breakfast casserole recipe for its make-ahead capability and long storage time in the fridge! You do not have to have this breakfast casserole sit overnight in the fridge before baking and it can go straight into the freezer for later use. To make ahead the night before and bake in the morning, simply cover the casserole dish with foil and place it into the fridge. In the morning pop it straight into the oven and crank the heat to 400°F, it’ll preheat with the oven and give it that jump start in cooking.
How To Freeze Breakfast Casserole: double wrap the top of the assembled casserole with aluminum foil. Wrap the dish around with a plastic bag to secure it and prevent any frost. Place it into the freezer and keep frozen for up to 3 months. To bake; thaw the night before and bake as directed. You do not need to bake this casserole first before freezing. To reheat: leftovers, microwave them in 30 seconds intervals until hot.
What To Serve With a Breakfast Casserole:
Are you making the Christmas breakfast casserole this year or maybe wondering what goes with this? Casseroles for breakfast are very hearty on their own but here are some ways to eat a breakfast casserole and other ideas;
- With a side of fruit or homemade Crescents (Pillsbury Copycat)
- Drizzled with maple syrup like french toast
- With a side of Cinnamon Rolls or Muffins
- Sandwiched between Biscuits or English muffins like a patty.
- Re-fried in a skillet like Texas hash with peppers. Served with salsa
More Casserole Recipes:
- Amish Breakfast Casserole– one of the best breakfast casseroles!
- Creamy Spinach Chicken Casserole
- Breakfast Casserole with Cheese Sauce
- Chicken Pot Pie Casserole with Biscuits
- Breakfast Casserole with Eggs and Cottage Cheese
Q&A
How Long is Breakfast Casserole Good For?
How Long Can a Breakfast Casserole be Refrigerated before Baking? This breakfast casserole with sausage is best in the fridge for up to 3 days, unbaked. If you are not using it within this time it’s best to freeze it for up to 3 months. Once baked, it can keep up to a week in the fridge.
How Can I Make This a Crockpot Breakfast Casserole?
This overnight breakfast casserole can be prepped the night before and set over low heat, right in your slow cooker! When you wake up you’ll smell all the great flavors of breakfast right in your kitchen! I typically don’t drain off the grease when cooking the sausage for this recipe, it keeps the casserole moist and doesn’t dry out. If you drain the fat you’ll need to spray or grease your slow cooker (or use a slow cooker liner.) Here’s how to make it in the slow cooker;
- Layer bread into your slow cooker.
- Brown the sausage in a pan. Transfer to slow cooker.
- Layer the remaining ingredients.
- Cook slowly over low (to not overcook the eggs) for 7-8 hours or cook on High for 4-5 hours.
- Slice and serve with salsa or maple syrup.
BEST Casserole Tips:
- Do not freeze breakfast casseroles using an egg substitute as it doesn’t freeze well.
- Wrap casseroles tightly with plastic bags to prevent freezer burns. I like to double-wrap each casserole dish with two grocery bags and tie them tightly. When freezing casserole should always be covered with foil.
- Use disposable foil pans if you may need to bring this breakfast meal to a friend or family member.
- Crank up the heat to 400°F and bake mostly covered then partly uncovered for a fluffy casserole.
- Try this recipe if you are searching for Holiday casseroles for breakfast! It’s perfect for hosting Easter, Christmas, or Thanksgiving for its ease and good taste!
- Double the ingredients up and make two breakfast casseroles, one for the freezer and one for the family!
- Add a can of cream of mushroom soup for extra creaminess.
- Eat this with maple syrup for a sweet breakfast casserole! (It tastes like a McGriddle with syrup!)
- Mix in peppers, or veggies for a complete dinner meal.
- This sausage breakfast casserole recipe can be baked right away or stored in the fridge overnight.
How To Make Sausage Breakfast Casserole:
Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Equipment
- 1 10-inch skillet or medium saucepan (to fry the sausage)
- 1 10x6 baking dish
- 1 meat chopper (or metal spatula to break up the sausage)
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 lb breakfast sausage (pork sausage)
- 1 cup Mexican cheese (shredded Fiesta blend)
- 6 eggs
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups whole milk
Instructions
Directions:
Fry the sausage until browned. Stir in the cheddar cheese sauce and set aside.- Meanwhile, spread the bread cubes in a 10x6 baking dish. Top with the sausage and shredded Mexican cheese.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined. Pour in the milk and whisk well.
- Pour the egg mixture over the assembled casserole. Cover and bake or store overnight in the fridge.
- Bake at 400°F for 1 hour. Then uncover and bake for 15-20 minutes until the casserole fluffs up and is no longer wet in the center.
