Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Sausage
Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Sausage is a great, easy make ahead breakfast recipe! With basic ingredients like bread, sausage, cheese, and eggs, it's a hearty meal and the best idea for an easy Christmas morning breakfast.
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Introduction
Have I got a treat for you today! This Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Sausage recipe is one of those staple recipes in my arsenal that I think you're going to absolutely love. With the rich flavors of sausage, sharp cheddar cheese, mustard (yes, mustard), and eggs, the ingredients work together for a crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch recipe that makes the morning prep work so easy. Let's jump right into it!
Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Sausage Recipe – Introduction
Way back in 2011 (well before Pinterest was even a big thing), I published the original version of our family's Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Sausage on this blog. That post didn't even have a picture on it! But it continues to be a favorite recipe in our home, even after all these years. It's gotten a couple of revamps over time, and with the new school year coming up, I thought everyone could use an easy make ahead breakfast like this.
If you need a go-to, quick, easy breakfast casserole, this is it. It's main ingredients are sausage, bread, eggs, and cheese – and there's really not much more to it. But, when combined in a certain way, every ingredient shines and really brings out the best flavors of breakfast. No real bells and whistles, just your basic staple recipe that I assure you you'll go back to time and time again.
A Family Tradition
I can't take credit for this recipe – as a matter of fact, my father-in-law is famous for this one. I've tried for years to make it as well as he does…and I can't. Nobody can. In our family, we're all convinced he has some kind of voodoo magic over the overnight breakfast casserole recipe that makes it so much better than everyone else's attempt. Or, he's holding back a couple of secret ingredients from the rest of us. 🙂 Nevertheless, I continue to try. I'm able to *almost* make it as well as he does.
This makes for an easy make ahead breakfast or even a breakfast for dinner (that's what we did last week). It's hearty enough to be a full meal on it's own. I usually pair it with some fruit or a light toast/bagel. It doesn't need a lot of extra bells and whistles at all!
And you guys know I'm a sucker for a make ahead recipe. This one is easy to whip up the night before (hello, easy Christmas morning breakfast). If you happen to have guests over for brunch, keep this recipe around. You won't be stuck in the kitchen cooking. It's as simple as prepping overnight and popping in the oven the next morning!
Variations for this Recipe
The flavors in Overnight Breakfast Casserole work so well together. With a bread base, you're going to top with sausage (bacon or ham could easily be subbed) and cheese. Then, there's a simple egg mixture that is poured over that and allowed to sit overnight. Allowing this to mellow out overnight really lets that mixture soak into the bread. This gives it a rich, almost creamy base with a crunchy topping and tons of rich flavors. There are lots of possible variations too. You could use shredded hash browns, diced potatoes, or biscuits instead of bread. You can also add an addition of onions, green chiles, or bell peppers, even topping with avocado or salsa. It would be great jazzed up but it's also wonderful all on its own.
Can I make this overnight breakfast casserole in a Crock Pot?
I also think this would be great if made in the Crock Pot or slow cooker. Simply layer in the bottom of a Crock Pot like you would in a regular baking dish, allow to sit in the fridge overnight, and bake on low for 4-6 hours. As much as I love my Instant Pot, i wouldn't recommend making this recipe via pressure cooking – simply not enough liquid is in the recipe to make that work. Of course, you could use the Instant Pot on the slow cooker function (regular, 4-6 hours) if needed. Now, I absolutely love the crunch you get on top from baking this breakfast casserole, but this might be an easier option if you need a really hands-off approach to making this recipe.
Can you freeze breakfast casserole?
Absolutely! I would prepare everything as directed in the recipe below, preparing the recipe in an aluminum pan. Then, cover tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze. When you need to serve this, thaw and bake covered with aluminum foil for 30-40 minutes, until warmed through. It's atually incredibly easy to make a ton of these overnight breakfast casserole recipes at once and freeze.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Sausage is a go-to for any meal in our family. I hope it becomes one for your family too. Let's take a look at the recipe!
Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Sausage
Ingredients
- 16 oz hot sausage can sub equal parts of bacon or ham
- 10 slices white bread crusts removed
- 2 cups whole milk
- 10 eggs
- 1/2 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp pepper
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard can use 2 tsp dry mustard, but yellow mustard is more accessible
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Cook and crumble the sausage in a large skillet. Drain.
- Remove crusts from white bread and tear into 1" chunks. Layer in the bottom of a 9×13" baking dish greased with cooking spray or butter. Layer cheese over bread; add drained sausage over cheese.
- In a large bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, salt, pepper, and mustard until blended. After you stir, pour this egg mixture over the top of the casserole, ensuring all of the bread is soaked.
- Allow casserole to rest in the fridge for 8-10 hours.
- When ready to serve, bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes, until entire casserole is set and top starts to brown.
Nutrition Facts
Video: Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Sausage
I hope you enjoy this one as much as we have over the years! You can check out a few other great breakfast recipes from the blog…
- Overnight Monkey French Toast Casserole
- Bisquick Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
- Overnight Krispy Kreme Donut Bread Pudding
If you'd like to see my other recipes, you can click here.
