I’m in love with this Overnight Easy Sausage Breakfast Casserole! It is everything you love about breakfast wrapped up in one dish: cheesy eggs, sausage, hash browns, peppers and onions! You can make ahead or last minute. It’s a great overnight option for Christmas Eve! Originally published December 10, 2020.
This morning I set a deadline to get my work done by a certain time, and sat down at the computer. Eric said encouragingly, “Karen, you can do it!” and I immediately responded, “Nicorette can help!”
Who else remembers that old commercial? You know a marketing campaign was successful when you’re still chanting the line 20 years later.
After I said it though, Eric was acting all pleased that I had picked up that line from him. And I was like, OH HECK NO, you got that from ME! I’ve been saying Nicorette can help since I was a kid!!
He’s not convinced. He still thinks I got it from him. “It’s been so long that now you think YOU came up with it! I incepted you!”
Welcome to being married a long time, my friends. Where you spend your day arguing about commercials from 20 years ago and who-said-what-when. I suppose if this is the worst thing we have to argue about we can’t complain too much!
Well, how is Christmas coming along at your house?? Are there as many Christmas cookies exploding out of your kitchen as there are in mine? Is all the shopping done? There is always so much to do, time flies so quickly in December.
This is the Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe!
Have you planned your Christmas menu yet? Christmas breakfast is a big deal around here. It’s my favorite meal of the day, for sure! We ALWAYS make an egg casserole, and this year I’ll be making this Easy Sausage Breakfast Casserole. It’s a new favorite! It’s based on this Cheesy Overnight Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole, which is one of the top recipes on my blog. This is the sausage version.
It’s super easy to throw together, can be made ahead, and has all your favorite breakfast flavors: cheesy eggs, tender hashbrowns, and breakfast sausage! I also added in some peppers and onions, but those are optional. Nobody wants to fight with their kids on Christmas morning about eating vegetables, so just leave them out if that’s not a hill you want to die on. Here’s how to make it!
Sausage Breakfast Casserole ingredients
Here are the ingredients you’ll need. See below for the full recipe!
- Butter
- Hash brown potatoes (shredded is my fav!)
- Salt and pepper
- Breakfast sausage
- Veggies (green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and onion)
- Cheese (Monterey jack cheese and sharp cheddar cheese)
- Eggs
- Half and Half (you could also use cream, evaporated milk, or whole milk)
- Seasonings (seasoned salt, kosher salt, black pepper, and dry mustard)
How to make Breakfast Casserole with Sausage
- Melt the butter in the casserole dish you’re using while the oven preheats.
2. Add in some frozen hash browns! No need to thaw first. You can use diced hash browns or shredded hash browns, totally up to you. I wanted to try out the diced hash browns because I usually use shredded. And it turns out I actually prefer shredded, so I’ll be using them next time. Either one is great!
3. Sprinkle some salt and pepper over the hash browns and stir it all together to make sure the butter is distributed. Pop it in the oven and bake until the potatoes are almost tender and just starting to brown, about 30 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in a skillet brown up some sausage, pepper, and onions. Chop up your onions and peppers nice and small. This is breakfast, not taco night. Be kind to your guests.
Like I mentioned before, you can leave out all the veggies if you want. Won’t change a thing.
5. Add the sausage and peppers and onions on top of the baked hash browns. You can either spread it out as a layer on top, or you can stir it in with the hashbrowns. I like to stir it in.
6. Top with a bunch of shredded cheese! The sky’s the limit here basically. I used Monterey Jack and Cheddar. You could try pepper jack for a spicy twist, mozzarella, gouda, Colby jack, any sort of blended shredded cheese mix you find at the store. (Although parmesan will not melt as well).
7. Pour your egg mixture on top and make sure you pour it along the edges so that everything gets moistened.
8. At this point, you can cover and refrigerate overnight! Or pop it straight into the oven. Either way will work totally great. This is a wonderful recipe to make on Christmas Eve for the next morning! All you have to do is preheat the oven in the morning and stick it in the oven. It will probably take closer to 45-50 minutes to bake.
And that’s it! I hope you have fun putting together all your Christmas menus and treats for the holidays! If you need inspiration, check out all my Christmas recipes! You will find everything from treats to main dishes for the big day. I know Christmas is a lot of work. You can do it, Nicorette can help! 😉
Overnight Breakfast Casserole tips
- Cook the hash browns first. I know it can be tempting to save a little bit of time and skip pre-cooking the hash browns. But trust me. This is the key to crispy potatoes!
- Chop the veggies small. do YOU want a giant piece of bell pepper in your breakfast casserole? Didn’t think so.
- You’ll know the casserole is done when the edges are browned and the center doesn’t jiggle too much when you give the pan a little shake.
- Add more veggies. Chop up and saute an equal amount of whatever veggies you like in place of the peppers and onions. Sliced mushrooms or chopped broccoli florets would be delicious.
- Make it vegetarian. Swap the sausage out for a meatless variety, or just leave it out entirely. Add more veggies to compensate (remember to saute first!)
How to serve Breakfast Sausage Casserole
Warm, in slices, with forks. It really is such an easy breakfast!! If you want you can put ketchup or salsa on the table, or hot sauce if your guests like it spicy.
What to eat with breakfast casserole?
Breakfast casserole is a complete meal all by itself. Pour the orange juice and you’re ready to go! But if you want to serve a whole spread, here are some great options to serve alongside it.
One Hour Almond Rolls << like cinnamon rolls, but with an incredible honey-caramel sauce…plus sliced almonds. I love these!!
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins << I hoard canned pumpkin year round so I can make goodies like these whenever I want.
Best Cinnamon Roll Recipe << the classic breakfast showstopper, perfected.
Sour Cream Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake << get out another 13×9 and make breakfast dessert (you do that, right??).
Breakfast Sausage Casserole storage
Can breakfast casserole be frozen?
Absolutely! This breakfast casserole with sausage freezes beautifully. You can freeze the whole thing or divide it into individual portions so you can easily reheat what you need. To freeze it, let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil. You can also use ziploc bags (divide into 2 and use 2 gallon bags if you want to freeze the whole thing, or smaller ziplocs for individual portions). Store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to serve, warm individual portions in the microwave or heat up the whole dish in the oven.
How long is sausage and egg casserole good for in the fridge?
Leftover baked breakfast casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Warm individual portions in the microwave or bake a larger amount in the oven at 350 to reheat.
Is it better to freeze a breakfast casserole cooked or uncooked?
Either is totally fine. If you freeze an uncooked breakfast casserole, it shouldn’t have raw meat in it (but I don’t know why you’d do that anyway). This casserole, with cooked sausage, is fine to freeze before it’s been baked. My personal preference is to freeze individual portions of the cooked casserole so they’re easy to heat up later when you want a quick breakfast.
Best Breakfast Casserole FAQs
The primary suspects are not pre-cooking the veggies and and not draining the sausage grease. Here are my best tips to make sure you end up with a perfect breakfast sausage casserole.
1. Pre-cook the veggies. Veggies are naturally watery. As they cook, they release that moisture. If they only cook in the casserole, all that extra moisture will also be IN your casserole. Sauté first!
2. Pre-cook the hash browns. Cooking the potatoes on their own before you assemble your casserole is the best way to make sure they’re nice and crispy.
3. Drain the grease. After you cook the sausage, you will likely see extra grease in the pan. I recommend draining it to avoid a soggy and/or greasy casserole
You can! If you have pre-cooked sausage on hand, you can use it to save time. No need to saute, you can just add it right into the casserole. (Use a little oil for the pan if you are sauteing veggies without sausage.)
Breakfast casseroles and frittatas are both egg-based dishes. Breakfast casseroles usually include a beaten egg mixture poured over meat, cheese, and/or vegetables in a baking pan, which is then baked in the oven. Frittatas are an egg mixture (sometimes including meat, cheese, and/or vegetables) cooked in a skillet on the stovetop and sometimes finished in the oven. They often include similar ingredients, but the cooking method is different.
Breakfast casserole needs to be tightly covered to keep it from getting dry. If your 13×9 inch pan lid doesn’t actually create an airtight seal for you, then I recommend using plastic wrap, even a double layer, to make sure it’s not drying out. This is essential if you’re freezing the casserole, because a freezer is even more drying than a refrigerator.
More breakfast casserole recipes you are going to love!
- Cheesy Overnight Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole << today’s recipe is based on this one! It’s my favorite!
- Cheesy Overnight Bacon and Egg Breakfast Casserole << this one is super easy and a huge crowd pleaser.
- Creamy Make Ahead Scrambled Eggs For a Crowd << this is a great option for slow mornings! Just leave them in the crock and people can serve themselves.
- Overnight Biscuits and Gravy Casserole << biscuits and gravy is a classic. This is the casserole version! SO good.
- Eggs Benedict Casserole (Overnight) << this one always goes crazy at Christmas time!
- Overnight Bacon and Asparagus Breakfast Casserole << If you think you don’t want asparagus for breakfast, think again.
- Easy Sausage Quiche from Creations by Kara
- Skinny Southwestern Crustless Quiche from Cookin’ Canuck
- Spinach Artichoke Portabella Quiche from All Day I Dream About Food
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Breakfast Sausage Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, (1 stick)
- 1 (30-oz) package shredded hash brown potatoes, diced is ok, not my fav
- salt and pepper
- 1 pound breakfast sausage, bulk
- 1/2 green pepper, chopped
- 1/2 red pepper, chopped
- 1/2 small onion, diced
- 1 & 1/2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, packed
- 1 & 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, packed
- 8 large eggs
- 1 & 1/3 cups half and half, cream, evaporated milk, or whole milk*
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon if using table salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Make the potato layer.Add a 30 ounce package of frozen (shredded is best, diced is ok) hash browns to a 9×13 inch dish. You don't have to thaw them first. Spread them out evenly.
- Melt 1/2 cup butter in a small bowl in the microwave and pour the butter over the hash browns. Mix it together so the potatoes get coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake at 400 for 30-35 minutes, until the potatoes are mostly cooked and some are starting to lightly brown. Remove from the oven. Lower the oven temperature to 350.
- Prepare the sausage layer. Meanwhile, chop up 1/2 a green pepper and 1/2 a red pepper. Chop half of a small onion (no more than 3/4 cup or less). Make sure all the veggies are chopped small. (If you want, you can skip all the vegetables entirely! No need to make any adjustments.)
- Add 1 pound breakfast sausage (I used Jimmy Dean Regular, the bulk kind) and all the veggies to a skillet set over medium high heat. Break up the sausage and saute for 5-7 minutes, until the sausage is browned and the onion is getting soft. Drain the grease if there is any.
- Add the cooked sausage mixture on top of the baked hash browns. You can spread it out so that it is a layer on top of the potatoes, or you can stir it in so everything is evenly distributed. (I like to stir.)
- Add cheese. Sprinkle 1 and 1/2 cups Monterey Jack and 1 and 1/2 cups cheddar cheese over the top.
- Make the egg mixture. In a large bowl or stand mixer (or you can use a blender!), use a whisk to stir together 8 eggs, 1 and 1/3 cups half and half,* 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard.
- Pour the egg mixture over the casserole, making sure to distribute evenly. (See notes for overnight instructions!)
- Bake at 350 (remember to lower the oven temperature) for about 35-45 minutes, until the edges are browned and bubbly, and the center doesn’t jiggle a lot when you shake the pan.
- Take out of the oven and let set for 5 minutes before serving.
- Store leftovers in the fridge. They will keep for about 5 days.
- This recipe is great for freezing! I like to freeze individual portions of the baked casserole so that I can pop them out one at a time and microwave for a lovely mid morning breakfast of casserole champions.
Delicious! I love the veggies. Baking the potatoes first is a great idea. It really helped them blend into the casserole. The egg/cream mixture was perfect for the egg custard. I always like to tweak things (couldn’t resist). I added about 4 green onions with the sausage, some fennel seed and 2 full peppers for some more veg. I used the Monterey Jack, tilamook cheddar and some smoked Gouda for the cheese mixture. Also threw in a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sausage mix. I’m sure it would be fine without any of the extras, but I plan on eating on this for a few days and sharing with the family.
Love your amazing additions Dave! Thanks so much for the review and sharing your tips. We love to hear from you!
Cooking recommendations if throwing it into a crockpot?
Hi Bridgitte, I’ve never made this in a slow cooker! Let me know what you end up trying out!
Hi Sarah, when freezing this casserole UNcooked, what is your recommendation for baking it? Do you defrost in the fridge overnight and follow the same instructions as the recipe? Do you bake it from frozen? How long and at what Temp?
Hi Jess! If you freeze the unbaked casserole, I recommend defrosting it in the fridge overnight before baking it using the same instructions in the recipe. Enjoy!
Made this for a couple in our class at Church. The wife had surgery and we were pitching in to help. She sent a text to me the next morning saying how good it was and asked to get the recipe.
How to reheat the whole caserole from frozen?
Hi Janna! I recommend covering the frozen breakfast casserole with foil and reheating at 350 for 1 hour, then removing the foil and reheating for up to an additional 30 minutes. Enjoy!
Do you partially cook the hash browns and then refrigerate overnight? Or just prep and cook completely the next day?
Excellent breakfast casserole. However, melting butter in a 400 degree oven is the most ridiculous thing ever. The minute you open the oven door, you will get splattered head to toe with scalding butter. A horrible instruction for a novice cook. This is the problem with some online recipes.
Hi Michele, I agree, putting butter into a fully preheated 400 degree oven is a recipe for disaster! However, the recipe actually suggests putting the butter in the oven while it’s heating up, not afterward. The butter will melt nicely when the oven is at 180-250 degrees without splattering.
How many days in advance can I make this?
Hi Katie! It’s best to make this casserole just one day in advance. That way the ingredients don’t make the hashbrowns soggy. Enjoy!
I love the prep ahead idea! When you take it out of the fridge the next morning do you bake it covered with tinfoil?
Hi Jessica! Making ahead is the best right?? And no, this casserole doesn’t need to be covered with tinfoil when you bake it. Enjoy!
Hi there!
Was wondering if you’ve ever substituted cooked chopped bacon for the sausage? That should be fine, right?
Hi Julie, yep, totally fine! Enjoy :-)
Hi! Can I use this same recipe without the hash brown layer?
Hi Jessica! The hash browns make up a significant part of this recipe, so I recommend trying an egg-based recipe like Cheesy Overnight Egg Casserole with Bacon, Chile Rellenos Casserole, or Spinach and Bacon Frittata. Or check out more of my breakfast recipes!
Do you notice a difference in texture when made overnight? I’m worried about the hashbrowns getting too soggy?
Hi Katelyn, nope, no texture differences! This type of casserole is perfect for making ahead and storing in the fridge overnight. Enjoy!
If I half the recipe and bake it in an 8×8 dish, will the baking time change? Planning to make it the night before Christmas morning. Thanks!
Hi Emma! The baking time will be slightly shorter. I would start checking the potato layer at 25 minutes and then the completed casserole at 30 minutes. It’s possible that you may need up to the full time, so check based on other signs of doneness and not just the minutes. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!
This looks delicious! Have you ever made it in individual muffin tins? I’m wondering how it would impact cooking time?
Hi Karen, love this idea! I haven’t but sounds fun. I would start with a 20-30 min bake time??
Hi Karen.. I am making other dishes on Christmas morning that include sausage, so I wondered if I could substitute ham for the sausage, and if so, do you think 16oz of ham would work? Thanks :)
Hi Lark! Yes, you can substitute ham for the sausage, and you’ll want to use about 1 1/2 cups. You can also take a look at this Cheesy Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole with Ham – it’s basically the ham version of the sausage casserole. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!