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A freshly baked family-style breakfast casserole bake with eggs, cheese, and sausage.

Classic Family-Style Breakfast Casserole Bake

This hearty breakfast casserole is perfect for feeding a crowd, featuring layers of bread, sausage, cheese, and a rich egg mixture. Prep it the night before for an easy morning meal.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 8 slices sourdough or brioche bread cubed (approximately 6-7 cups)
  • 1 pound breakfast sausage cooked and crumbled
  • 12 large eggs
  • 2 cups milk whole or 2%
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream optional
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Colby Jack cheese
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika optional
  • Fresh chives or parsley for garnish (optional)

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • large bowl
  • whisk
  • plastic wrap

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and arrange half of the cubed bread evenly over the bottom.
  2. Sprinkle the cooked and crumbled breakfast sausage over the bread.
  3. Distribute 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese and all of the Monterey Jack evenly over the sausage layer.
Assemble Casserole
  1. Place the remaining cubed bread over the cheese layer.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream (if using), Dijon mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika (if using) until well combined.
  3. Carefully pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and sausage layers, ensuring all the bread is moistened.
Chill and Bake
  1. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, allowing the bread to absorb the egg mixture.
  2. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and let the casserole sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
  3. Uncover the casserole and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the top.
  4. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until puffed, golden brown, and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  5. Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving, garnishing with fresh chives or parsley if desired.

Notes

For an extra flavorful casserole, brown the sausage with some diced onion and bell pepper before adding it to the dish. If you're short on time, you can reduce the chilling period to 2 hours, but overnight chilling is recommended for the best texture and flavor absorption.