Easy Breakfast Casserole With Eggs, Sausage and Cheese

Breakfast can get complicated when you’re trying to feed several people at once.

Someone wants eggs.

Someone wants sausage.

Someone wants toast.

And somehow you’re standing at the stove making three things at the same time.

A breakfast casserole fixes most of that.

You assemble everything in one baking dish, put it in the oven, and let it cook while you get the rest of the morning sorted.

Ingredients

• 10 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 pound breakfast sausage
• 6 large eggs? Wait, use 10 only
• 6 slices bread, cut into cubes
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 small onion, diced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Optional:

• Spinach
• Mushrooms
• Green onions
• Hot sauce

Cook the Sausage

Heat a skillet over medium heat.

Cook the breakfast sausage, breaking it into small pieces as it browns.

Once cooked, drain excess grease if necessary.

Set it aside.

Prepare the Egg Mixture

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk.

Add the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

Don’t overcomplicate the seasoning.

The sausage and cheese already bring plenty of flavor.

Build the Casserole

Grease a baking dish.

Spread the bread cubes across the bottom.

Add the cooked sausage, onion, and bell pepper.

Sprinkle most of the cheese over the top.

Pour the egg mixture evenly over everything.

Finish with the remaining cheese.

Bake

Bake until the eggs are fully set in the center and the top is lightly golden.

Because baking dishes and ovens vary, start checking toward the end of the expected cooking time.

Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before slicing.

Can You Make It the Night Before?

Yes.

That’s one of the best things about this recipe.

Assemble the casserole, cover it, and refrigerate it.

In the morning, let it sit out briefly while the oven preheats, following safe food-handling practices, then bake according to your recipe and dish instructions.

If it’s going straight from a cold refrigerator into the oven, it may need additional cooking time.

Easy Ingredient Swaps

Don’t have breakfast sausage?

Use cooked bacon or ham.

Want it vegetarian?

Leave out the meat and add mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, or extra peppers.

Want more cheese?

Go for it.

You can also use Monterey Jack, mozzarella, pepper Jack, or a mixture.

What Bread Works Best?

Almost any basic bread works.

White bread, whole wheat, sourdough, French bread, or leftover dinner rolls can all be used.

This is actually a handy way to use bread that’s getting a little stale.

Can You Freeze It?

Breakfast casserole can be frozen in portions.

Let it cool completely before freezing.

Wrap individual pieces well and store them in a freezer-safe container.

Reheat thoroughly before serving.

A Good Recipe for Busy Mornings

This is the kind of breakfast that earns its place during holidays, weekend gatherings, and ordinary mornings when you know everyone is going to be hungry.

Prepare it ahead.

Put it in the oven.

Make coffee.

That’s a pretty good start to the day.