Make this Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole recipe to feed a crowd. It's loaded with sausage, egg, and cheese for a hearty breakfast. Prepare this easy breakfast recipe the night before and impress your guests.
This Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole is a recipe for a crowd
Breakfast casserole season is fast approaching! Are you looking for easy and quick breakfast recipes to feed a crowd?
Here's a hearty and filling Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole that the entire family will love. This casserole can feed 8-12 people, depending on how you cut it.
It's a simple and comforting breakfast recipe that is perfect for the holidays, when friends and family might be visiting and staying as house guests. This casserole is so good that you'd be proud serving this breakfast on special days like Christmas morning or Thanksgiving morning too.
This Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole is so easy to make! Because it's a make ahead recipe, you can prepare this breakfast the night before and save your energy in the morning for waking up.
How to make Sausage Egg Cheese Breakfast Casserole
Equipment you'll need to make this breakfast casserole recipe:
- Large skillet
- Big mixing bowl
- Casserole dish (9x13)
In the large skillet, sauté the onions, peppers and sausage until everything is cooked through. In the large bowl, beat the eggs, milk and black pepper together.
Grease the large casserole dish. First, layer on some big croutons like these. Next, layer on the cooked sausage mixture. Last, layer on the shredded cheese. Pour on the egg mixture. Cover and allow the Egg Sausage Breakfast Casserole to sit in the refrigerator overnight.
The next morning, you'll just need to pop the casserole dish in the oven. How easy was that? And just like that, your guest will be raving about the best Sausage Egg Breakfast Casserole.
Quick tip on baking this Egg Sausage Breakfast Casserole
One tip on baking this breakfast casserole -- don't undercook it. When you think it's done, pull it out of the oven and insert a knife in it. The knife should come out clean, and the casserole should be set in the middle.
If the cheese is browning too quickly in your oven, you can cover it with a piece of foil for the last bit of baking. But crispy cheese is delicious on top too, so you'll want some of it brown!
The secret ingredient this sausage egg cheese breakfast casserole is big croutons! While many breakfast casseroles use bread, this recipe is made without bread. Why use croutons?
Use croutons instead of bread in this sausage breakfast casserole recipe
1) It saves time. How lazy am I that I don't even want to cube bread?! I'm almost embarrassed.
But then I think about having to slice and cube bread, wash up the cutting board and knife, and wipe down the worktop, I am not ashamed one bit that I use croutons in this casserole.
Open a pack of croutons and dump them in the casserole dish. My toddler can do a lot of damage in the time it takes me to cut a slice of bread.
2) Croutons can live in the pantry. I can always have a bag of croutons handy to make this recipe. I don't have to worry about bread going bad or stale.
2) Croutons give you the perfect texture. This is probably the most important reason. Croutons soak in the perfect amount of the egg custard.
Croutons help you make this breakfast recipe quickly, and taste amazing
The one regret to these photos is that I didn't get a clear picture of when I cut right through a crouton. You can get a glimpse of it in some of the photos, but sorry there is no close up to show you.
Look in the photo below though. Look in the pan. I know this is not a great photo, but you can see that smooth edge of the casserole in the bottom right corner. That's where I sliced right through a crouton. It becomes a custard pillow.
When I say that every single bite is loaded with sausage, egg and cheese, I mean it. Every single bite of this breakfast casserole is packed with flavor.
This big breakfast is loaded with sausage egg and cheese in every bite
- There's an entire pound of sausage meat in this casserole.
- You also need eight large eggs.
- Top that all with a cup and a half of shredded cheese. One cup might have been more reasonable. Two cups was decadent. Don't be shy if you want it decadent.
You make this breakfast casserole by first layering the croutons, sausage, and cheese. Then pour the egg mixture over it all, covering everything and letting it soak in the mixture overnight.
That way, all the ingredients are evenly dispersed in this sausage egg cheese casserole. No matter how you cut it, all your guests will get a large serving of sausage, egg and cheese.
You can use homemade sausage in this recipe
You can use store bought sausage in this recipe, but I love using my homemade breakfast sausage mix. If using my homemade breakfast sausage recipe, skip the step on shaping the sausage patties. Just add the sausage meat directly into the skillet after mixing, and sauté it.
You'll only need half the homemade sausage recipe, so you can cut the recipe in half. But better yet, make the other half of the recipe into sausage patties and freeze them for another breakfast.
Looking for a breakfast recipe to feed a large group?
Do you need a breakfast to bring in for a work potluck? Would you like to host brunch parties? Maybe you have family visiting for the holidays and need breakfast ideas for a large group?
This Sausage Breakfast Casserole Recipe is a crowd pleaser. But if you can't make this for whatever reason, here are other breakfast casserole recipes on The Worktop.
I really hope I'm able to help you find a breakfast big enough to feed your group. Happy cooking!
Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole
Print Recipe Save RecipeIngredients
- 1 pound sausage meat
- 1 medium onion - diced
- 1 medium green pepper - diced
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- ½ teaspoon sea salt salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups big croutons
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Sautee the onions and green peppers in a large skillet on medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, until they start to soften. Add in the sausage and cook until the sausage meat is cooked through, breaking the sausage into about blueberry-sized pieces.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, salt and ground black pepper together in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Lightly oil a 9x13 baking dish. Layer the croutons evenly on the bottom. Layer the sausage mix on top of the croutons. Evenly layer the grated cheese on top of the sausage mix. Gently pour the egg mixture on top. Cover and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight, at least 8 hours.
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 325°/160°C. Remove the cover and place the casserole in the middle of the oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Turn the heat up to 350°C/176°C. Bake for an additional 20-30 minutes, until the egg is set. To check, insert a knife in the middle of the casserole and it should come out clean. If the casserole is browning too quickly, cover with a foil for the last bit of baking time.
- Let the casserole sit for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Tina says
You pour the just cooked sausage on top with raw eggs? I don't need to let the sausage cool?
Tina Jui says
Hi Tina - If you are worried about the hot sausage cooking the eggs, it shouldn't be an issue. After you cook the sausage, and by the time you whisk the egg mixture, oil the pan, layer everything into the 9x13 casserole dish, including grated cheese, the sausage should be cool enough for the egg to be poured over.
Jennifer says
I love breakfast casseroles. I made this recipe last night and my family had it this morning. This is the best one we’ve ever had. Absolutely delicious. This is it, I’ll only make this recipe from here out!
Tina Jui says
Thank you for sharing, Jennifer! It makes me really happy to receive comments like yours.
Chelsea says
My friend and I are hosting a brunch this weekend. If we cook the casserole before the guests arrive, what's the best way to keep it warm / reheat it once guests start rolling in? Thanks!
Sherri says
This sounds so good! Can this be made in a crockpot? If so, how long and what temp?
Tina Jui says
Hi Sherri, I haven't tried it in a crockpot before. I'll have to work on a recipe for that!
Wendy Taylor says
What temperature in oven & how long doing it tonight for 15 tomorrow at 10:30am
Does it matter if croutons are flavored
Tina Jui says
Hi Wendy - Flavored croutons are fine, but if they are extra salty you might want to leave out some of the salt from the recipe. The recipe specifies the temperature and baking time for the oven. Enjoy!
Laure says
Can I let it sit/soak for 24 hours or is that too long.... Wanna make it the morning before I head to a family bbq?
Thanks!
Tina Jui says
Hi Laure, the earliest I've started soaking is around late afternoon. I would imagine soaking it for 24 hours would be ok, but haven't tried it personally. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Phyllis says
This sounds perfect but we now must leave town the day before guests are arriving ( for a funeral ) , so this will not be served for 2 1/2days . Can this be frozen ? At what stage - before or after baking ?
Thank you !
Tina Jui says
Hi Phyllis - First of all, condolences to you and your family. I haven't tried to freeze this before, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. I would suggest freezing it after baking, and then warming it up in the oven again before serving. Like always, use your best judgment and enjoy the recipe.
Carla W. says
I have frozen it after baking. I thawed it in the fridge. Put it on reheat in the microwave and it was great. Don’t over heat
Marie Fauvel says
Trying it this wkd. Want to make it just in the morning so how long in oven then.
Jess says
Just curious. I'm fairly new to cooking/baking. Why do you say "let sit in fridge for 8 hours" when it can be served as soon as it's out of the oven? (after it has cooled)
Other similar recipes also say "ready in 9 hours" or something and i'm just confused. Does this mean it only lasts for 8-9 hours in the fridge before it goes bad?
Thanks in advanced
Tina Jui says
Hi Jess, I can see how this is confusing! So, you let the casserole sit in the fridge after you prepare it, but before you put it in the oven. That way, you can prepare it the night before so it's ready to bake in the morning. It lets all the flavors come together, as well as allow the croutons to soak and soften. Once it's baked, it can store in the refrigerator for a couple days.
Connie Sue Lorraine says
Hi Tina! This breakfast recipe sounds like a dream come true! Thanks ever so much for posting it! Can you freeze any leftovers from it? Thanks.
Tina Jui says
Hi Connie, I've never tried to freeze the leftovers so I'm not sure how it would turn out. Definitely worth a try though!
James H. says
Awesome post, thanks you so much for sharing
Shannon says
Do you have to let it sit 8 hrs or can you put in oven right after preparation? Thanks!
Tina Jui says
Hi Shannon. To allow the croutons to soak in the egg mixture, it's best to let it sit before putting in the oven. 8 hours is what I normally do and it works great! If you are really short on time, you can replace the croutons with croissant pieces though. And bake the casserole after letting it sit for a much shorter time. It's different, but if you don't have time to let it sit, I just wanted to give you another alternative. Hope you enjoy the recipe!