Easy Breakfast Casserole with Sausage, Egg, and Cheese

This easy breakfast casserole is made with eggs, crumbled breakfast sausage, and cheese for the most epic breakfast-lover's feast! It's the perfect breakfast or brunch recipe and thrown together in minutes. You can make this ahead of time for the perfect Christmas Morning Brunch, breakfast for company, or as part of your weekly meal prep.

Breakfast is definitely the most overlooked meal when it comes to planning family gatherings. Whether it’s a weekend at the lake, Easter brunch, Christmas breakfast, or weekend guests, this easy breakfast casserole will feed an army of family and friends with just a few minutes of prep time and simple ingredients.

About this Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole

The great thing about this Breakfast Casserole is that it can feed a crowd! The one casserole dish may have you thinking that you should’ve doubled the recipe, but one pan typically serves about 8-10 people.

Since this recipe does require sitting in your refrigerator overnight, make sure you plan ahead to make it the night before. But, it really does take the stress out of preparing breakfast first thing in the morning.

What to serve with an overnight breakfast casserole

My mother has made this recipe for several years - mostly during Christmas. 

It pairs perfectly with Ambrosia Salad, which are the makings of a beautiful Christmas Brunch. Aside from that, you really don’t need much more to complete this meal as this casserole is quite hearty!

If you do need a little more to fill out your brunch menu, make a pan of bacon in the oven, or serve something sweet like chocolate chip banana bread muffins.

How to Make the Best Breakfast Casserole

The main ingredients to this casserole are bread, eggs, cheese, and sausage. These are layered in a pan together and baked until the center no longer jiggles.

1. First, you start off with a greased 9x13 baking dish. Layer the bread slices in the bottom of the pan. I usually use about 8 slices to cover the bottoms and sides of the casserole dish.
2. Then, brown your sausage, drain and crumble over the bread. Sprinkle with cheese.
3. Next, in a bowl, whisk eggs and milk together and pour over the bread and sausage. Top with remaining cheese. Bake and serve!

Variations and Substitutions

• Bread: You can use wheat, white, or whatever your taste preferences are. French bread from last night’s dinner works, too. Make sure the bread has had time to dry out so it can absorb the egg and milk mixture well. 

If your bread is fresh, spread out on a baking sheet to dry out for a few hours before assembling the casserole.

• Sausage: Breakfast sausage, mild, hot, sweet, or Italian sausage can be used. It’s a matter of preference. Try Chorizo for an extra kick.
• Cheese: Any kind of shredded cheese will work. Pepper jack, cheddar, taco mix, etc.

You can also add in mushrooms, peppers, onions, bacon, ham in one-cup increments if desired.

How to reheat breakfast casserole

Overnight breakfast casserole can easily be reheated for leftovers.

Cover the casserole dish with foil and place in a preheated 350F degree oven for about 20 minutes, or until warm.

Tips: Freezing, Storing, and Reheating Breakfast Casserole

• Make this way ahead of time and freeze the uncooked casserole in a 9x13 inch casserole dish. Defrost in the refrigerator or on the counter until completely thawed. Bake according to the directions.
• Divide the cooked casserole into single portions and freeze leftovers by wrapping the cooked casserole in Glad Press’n Seal. Place in a gallon freezer bag in the freezer. Defrost and reheat the unwrapped casserole in an oven-safe dish at 350F degrees for about 20 minutes, or until warm.
• Breakfast casserole can be made up to three days ahead of time and refrigerated.

FAQ for Best Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Best Breakfast Casserole

This best breakfast casserole is made with cheese, eggs and mild sausage, and soaked overnight for easy baking in the morning. This recipe is perfect for hosting company or meal prepping breakfast for the week.

5 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Additional Time: 8 hours

Total Time: 9 hours 20 minutes

Servings: 12

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Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray
• 1 pound ground, mild italian sausage*
• 6-8 slices soft hearty bread*
• One 8-ounce package cheddar cheese*
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• Salt & pepper

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13- by 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large skillet, brown the sausage over medium heat until browned and crumbly.
• Arrange bread slices in a single layer in the prepared baking dish, to cover the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with the sausage and cheese.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper; carefully pour the mixture over the cheese. Top with additional cheese if desired.
• Bake casserole until set and golden - about 60 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

*Sausage: Feel free to substitute with any breakfast sausage, italian sausage or even chorizo.

*Bread: Can use wheat or white.

*Cheese: Can use any kind of shredded cheese to complement the ingredients you use.

*Additional note: This casserole is versatile and can easily be switched up with other veggies and toppings like peppers, onions, ham, bacon, mushrooms, etc.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 168mg | Sodium: 595mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g