Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Article by Layla Khoury-Hanold

Sausage breakfast casserole is a fan-favorite dish for the holidays, particularly Christmas morning, and makes a crowd-pleasing weekend brunch too. Breakfast casseroles are also a one-pan wonder that benefit from being made ahead of time and are an easy way to feed a crowd—plus, they can be customized to dietary needs and flavor preferences. We love Trisha Yearwood’s Southern sausage breakfast casserole recipe for its classic combination of sharp cheddar and sage pork sausage. With her easy recipe, you’ll learn how to prep and layer ingredients for maximum flavor, techniques for achieving the best texture and how long to bake breakfast sausage casserole.

How to Make Breakfast Sausage Casserole Like a Pro

Reach for white sandwich bread. White sandwich bread is ideal for soaking up the egg custard mixture. Opt for a hearty white loaf, as the super soft variety won’t hold its shape when baked.

Opt for bulk sausage. Bulk sausage is sold without casing, making it easy to break up and cook in the pan. It is often pre-seasoned, as with the sage pork sausage called for here.

Brown the sausage. Cooking the sausage before adding it to the casserole ensures a deep savory flavor and allows you to drain off the fat, preventing the casserole from becoming too greasy.

Lightly beat the eggs for the best texture. Lightly beating the eggs combines the yolks and whites without introducing too much air and creating a foamy texture, ensuring that the eggs bake up in a uniform, custard-like texture.

Incorporate flavorful add-ins for a balanced profile. Sharp cheddar brings a tangy, bold and complex flavor boost and half-and-half lends the right amount of richness, creaminess and moisture. Dry mustard lends a zesty punch to help cut the richness without adding extra moisture.

Build the casserole in layers. Even layers of bread, sausage and cheese provide a uniform foundation for the custard to be poured over, ensuring balanced flavor with every bite.

Allow plenty of time for chilling and setting. Letting the casserole layers meld for at least 8 hours ensures that the bread cubes absorb the custard and that the flavors thoroughly integrate.

Don’t overcook the casserole. To achieve a tender, moist texture, bake the casserole until just set and slightly golden, then allow it to set for 15 minutes out of the oven before serving.

Serving Suggestions for Breakfast Sausage Casserole

Breakfast sausage casserole makes for a hearty main breakfast or lunch dish, but you can serve it with easy breakfast or brunch sides such as fruit salad, yogurt, parfaits, muffins, pastries, a simple green salad or roasted veggies.

How to Store and Reheat Breakfast Sausage Casserole

Allow breakfast sausage casserole to cool, then transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat refrigerated breakfast sausage casserole in the microwave or oven until warmed through.

To freeze breakfast sausage casserole, cut the cooled casserole into individual portions and freeze in resealable, freezer-safe bags for up to 3 months. Alternately, you can wrap the cooled, cooked casserole in its dish with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator to avoid soggy leftovers, then reheat the uncovered casserole or individual portions in the microwave or oven until warmed through.

Breakfast Casserole Recipes with Sausage

The beauty of breakfast casseroles is that they are endlessly customizable and benefit from recipe improvisation. For more inspiration, here are some of our best breakfast casserole recipes using sausage or ones that would benefit from a sausage upgrade.

For a breakfast of champions, try our sweet-and-savory Sausage-and-Cheese Pancake Breakfast Casserole or transform your favorite sausage breakfast sandwich into a creamy Bagel Breakfast Casserole. Try adding crumbled sausage to this hearty Spinach, Mushroom and Cheese Breakfast Casserole or fold it into this comforting Copycat Hash Brown Casserole. Sub in sausage anywhere breakfast casserole recipes call for ham, like this Southern-leaning Breakfast Cornbread Casserole with Ham and Kale or this extra cheesy Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole. Slow cooker breakfast casserole recipes make ideal hands-off, feeds-a-crowd meals, like this Slow-Cooker Breakfast Sausage Casserole, complete with hashbrowns and eggs, or sub in cooked sausage for the bacon in this Slow-Cooker Overnight Breakfast Casserole.