Description
Hearty sausage breakfast casserole delights morning appetites with layers of savory comfort. Cheesy eggs, crisp bread, and seasoned sausage combine for a satisfying meal you’ll crave repeatedly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 2 cups (200 g) cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (50 g) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (optional)
- 6 slices white or whole wheat bread, cubed
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ cup (30 g) green onions, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preparation: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with oil or butter, ensuring complete coverage. Position the oven rack in the middle and preheat to 375°F (190°C).
- Sausage Cooking: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, crumble and cook sausage until golden-brown and completely done. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
- Base Layer Assembly: Spread bread cubes evenly across the baking dish, then distribute cooked sausage crumbles uniformly over the bread.
- Egg Mixture: Whisk eggs and milk together until smooth, blending in salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to create a well-seasoned liquid.
- Layering: Pour the egg mixture over the bread and sausage, ensuring complete coverage by gently pushing the liquid into all bread crevices using a spatula.
- Cheese Topping: Liberally scatter cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses across the entire surface, creating a comprehensive cheese layer.
- Baking: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until eggs are set and cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Finishing: Let the casserole rest for 5-7 minutes to stabilize. Optionally garnish with chopped green onions before serving hot.
Notes
- Prevent Soggy Bottom: Pat bread cubes dry before layering to eliminate excess moisture, ensuring a crisp, golden base that maintains its texture throughout baking.
- Cheese Melting Technique: Grate cheese fresh for optimal melting and better flavor distribution, avoiding pre-shredded cheese which contains anti-caking agents that can impact texture.
- Sausage Selection Matters: Choose high-quality, well-seasoned breakfast sausage for maximum flavor depth; leaner varieties work best to prevent excessive greasiness in the final dish.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Assemble casserole night before, cover tightly, refrigerate overnight, and bake directly from cold state – adding 10-15 minutes to cooking time for perfect preparation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg