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A hot and delicious cheesy breakfast casserole, freshly baked and golden brown.

Classic Cheesy Breakfast Casserole

This classic cheesy breakfast casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish, perfect for feeding a crowd. It features savory breakfast sausage, tender vegetables, cubed bread, and a rich egg and cheese mixture, all baked together until golden and bubbly.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Breakfast Casserole
  • 1 lb breakfast sausage (or bacon, ham, or vegetarian crumbles)
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 1 bell pepper (any color), chopped
  • 12 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk (whole milk or half-and-half for richness)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • 4 cups cubed day-old bread (or torn biscuits, hash browns, tater tots)
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or Monterey Jack, Gruyère, a blend)
  • green onions Optional toppings
  • diced tomatoes Optional toppings
  • hot sauce Optional toppings

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • 9x13 inch baking dish

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large skillet, cook breakfast sausage until no pink remains, then drain excess grease.
  2. Add chopped onion and bell pepper to the skillet and cook until softened, then remove from heat.
Assembly
  1. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and spread cubed bread evenly across the bottom.
  2. Sprinkle the cooked sausage and vegetable mixture over the bread, then top with 1 cup of shredded cheese.
Egg Mixture
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder until well combined and slightly frothy.
  2. Carefully pour the egg mixture evenly over the layers in the baking dish; cover and refrigerate if preparing ahead.
Baking
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C); if chilled, let the casserole sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
  2. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove foil and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
  3. Continue baking for another 20-30 minutes until set, golden brown, and bubbly.
Serving
  1. Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving to allow it to set properly.

Notes

For an extra kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sausage while cooking. You can also customize the cheese blend to your preference, using Swiss or mozzarella for different flavors. If preparing ahead, ensure the casserole is thoroughly chilled before baking to prevent uneven cooking. Enjoy with your favorite breakfast sides!