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A freshly baked Quick Prep Breakfast Casserole, steaming hot and ready to serve.

Classic Quick Prep Breakfast Casserole

This classic breakfast casserole is perfect for a crowd and can be assembled the night before. It features stale bread, eggs, milk, sausage, and cheese, baked until golden and bubbly.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 6-8 slices stale bread
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1.5 cups milk
  • 1 cup cooked and crumbled sausage
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 0.25 cup finely diced onion optional
  • 0.25 cup finely diced bell pepper optional
Seasoning & Fat
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
  • garlic powder optional
  • 1 tablespoon butter softened

Equipment

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

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Tear stale bread into 1-inch pieces and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with softened butter, then spread the bread evenly.
  2. Sprinkle cooked breakfast meat, optional diced onion, and bell pepper over the bread pieces.
  3. Distribute half of the shredded cheese over the meat and vegetable layer.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and optional garlic powder or dried mustard until well combined.
  5. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread, meat, and cheese, ensuring all bread is moistened.
  6. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the casserole.
  7. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight (8-12 hours) for best texture.
Baking
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and let the casserole sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes while the oven heats.
  2. Uncover and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until golden brown, puffed, and set in the center.
  3. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving to allow it to set.

Notes

For dairy-free, use unsweetened almond milk and a dairy-free cheese alternative. You can also customize the fillings with other cooked meats or vegetables. Ensure the bread soaks thoroughly for the best result.