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Easy Cheesy Sausage Breakfast Casserole: Best Make-Ahead Recipe

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A hearty, make-ahead breakfast casserole loaded with sausage, cheese, and eggs. Perfect for feeding a crowd or enjoying as a comforting weekend breakfast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) breakfast sausage
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups (480ml) whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon (5g) fine sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon (2.5g) black pepper, freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon (1g) onion powder
  • 2 cups (200g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup (100g) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
  • 6 cups (about 300g) cubed day-old bread (French, sourdough, or challah)
  • ½ cup (75g) diced bell peppers (optional)
  • ¼ cup (25g) sliced green onions (optional)
  • 1 cup (100g) chopped mushrooms, sautéed (optional)
  • ½ cup (60g) crumbled cooked bacon (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through (8-10 minutes). Leave about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan. Let cool slightly.
  3. Cut day-old bread into 1-inch cubes (about 6 cups). Spread evenly in the greased baking dish. If using fresh bread, toast cubes in the oven at 350°F for 5 minutes to dry out.
  4. Spread cooked sausage over bread cubes. Sprinkle half of the cheddar and half of the mozzarella over the sausage. Add any optional add-ins (bell peppers, mushrooms, bacon) now.
  5. In a large bowl, whisk eggs until light and frothy (about 1 minute). Add milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder; whisk until well combined.
  6. Slowly pour egg mixture over the bread, sausage, and cheese layers. Gently press down on bread cubes with a spatula to help absorption. Let sit for 5 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan on top.
  7. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes. Remove foil for the last 10 minutes to brown the top. Bake until center is set (internal temperature 160°F/71°C) and a knife inserted comes out clean.
  8. Let casserole rest on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm, garnished with green onions or parsley if desired.

Notes

For make-ahead: assemble through step 6, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Let sit at room temperature 30 minutes before baking; add 10-15 minutes to baking time. Use day-old bread for best texture. Let casserole rest 10 minutes before slicing to allow custard to set.

Nutrition

Keywords: breakfast casserole, sausage casserole, make-ahead breakfast, cheesy casserole, easy breakfast recipe

Find it online: https://ovenmila.com/easy-cheesy-sausage-breakfast-casserole-best-make-ahead-recipe/