Mornings, right? They can be rushed, chaotic, and sometimes you just need something that’s ready to go without you standing over the stove whisking eggs! That’s why I guard my recipe for the Easy Breakfast Casserole like gold. Seriously, this dish changed my entire weekend routine. I remember the first time I made it; I just threw everything together the night before, thinking it would be *okay* for brunch.
Wow, was I wrong! It wasn’t just okay; it was golden brown perfection with melty cheese and savory sausage. It’s warm, it’s filling, and the best part is you barely have to lift a finger when everyone is demanding food at 8 AM. This Easy Breakfast Casserole is the definition of stress-free hosting and simple weekday wins. Trust me, once you try this baked egg magic, it’s going straight into your regular rotation.
Why This Easy Breakfast Casserole is Your New Morning Staple
If your mornings usually involve a lot of frantic reaching for pots and pans, this is your answer. We aren’t sacrificing flavor for speed here, not at all. When you see those simple ingredients come together, you realize this recipe is foolproof because it’s designed for *real* life. I love being able to grab whatever sourdough I baked last week for this; if you need good bread inspiration, check out my recipe for quick oat bread!
- It’s totally adaptable—you can swap the sausage out for ham or bacon if you like!
- The spices—especially that dry mustard powder—wake up the eggs perfectly.
- It serves a crowd easily, which is a huge win for weekend brunch guests.
This truly is the best Easy Breakfast Casserole because it does the heavy lifting for you.
Quick Prep Time for Your Easy Breakfast Casserole
Honestly, the active time is nothing! You can look up from the sink and see that you’re already done prepping in about 15 minutes. That’s faster than queuing up for drive-thru coffee, I promise. It’s all simple mixing and layering for our amazing Easy Breakfast Casserole.
Make-Ahead Magic for the Easiest Breakfast Casserole
This is the part that truly makes my week easier. You assemble the entire Easy Breakfast Casserole, cover it up, and pop it in the fridge. When you wake up, it’s just waiting for you to slide it into the oven. That way, you get to enjoy a leisurely morning without feeling rushed by the clock!
Ingredients for Your Perfect Easy Breakfast Casserole
Okay, gathering your supplies is super quick, and having everything ready makes that 15-minute prep time actually happen! Don’t skimp on the quality here; good cheese and good bread make all the difference in this Easy Breakfast Casserole. If you are ever wondering how to make things like heavy cream at home for other recipes, I’ve got you covered over here!
Here is exactly what you need to pull together this phenomenal bake:
- Six large eggs—don’t try replacing these with less!
- One cup of milk for that fluffy texture.
- One teaspoon of dry mustard powder—this is the secret flavor punch!
- Salt and pepper, just half a teaspoon of each.
- One pound of breakfast sausage, make sure it’s cooked and crumbled up nice.
- Two cups of cheddar cheese, make sure it’s shredded.
- Two cups of bread cubes; stale bread is actually totally okay here.
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Easy Breakfast Casserole
Putting this together is so straightforward, even if you just pulled it out of the fridge first thing in the morning. You’ll want to preheat your oven right away to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and make sure you’ve greased that 9×13 dish really well. Seriously, take a moment to grease it; nobody wants a stuck Easy Breakfast Casserole!
My little trick, which you’ll see in the ingredient list, is using slightly stale bread. If your bread is super fresh, just let the cubes sit out on the counter for an hour or two before you start. This helps them soak up that lovely eggy mixture beautifully, kind of like how I prep bread for stuffing balls. Now, let’s get layering!
Preparing the Layers of the Easy Breakfast Casserole
We’re building flavor from the bottom up here! Start by spreading half of your cubed bread into the bottom of that greased dish. Then sprinkle down half of your cooked, crumbled sausage and half of that shredded cheddar right on top. You repeat that whole sequence once more so the layers are even. Pouring the whisked egg mixture—the one with the mustard powder—evenly over the top is the grand finale before baking your Easy Breakfast Casserole.
Baking Times and Setting the Easy Breakfast Casserole
This is where the magic sets! Cover the whole dish tightly with foil and pop it into the preheated oven for 30 minutes. This traps the steam and ensures the middle cooks through nicely. After that time, pull off the foil—careful of the steam!—and bake uncovered for another 10 to 15 minutes until it looks nicely set and has a light golden brown top. The absolute last, very important step for this Easy Breakfast Casserole is letting it rest for 5 minutes before cutting!
Tips for Success with Your Sausage Casserole
You can absolutely tweak this sausage casserole to be whatever you need for the day. If Dave has a sudden craving for ham, go for it! The recipe notes are very clear that you can substitute ham or bacon for the breakfast sausage. It changes the flavor profile a little, but it works beautifully since the eggs and cheese are so forgiving.
Now, let’s talk texture again because that’s crucial. The bread choice really matters here. If you’ve got some sturdy sourdough or maybe a slightly crusty French bread lying around, use that instead of plain white sandwich bread. Those heartier loaves hold up way better to all that liquid so you don’t end up with mush.
If you’re making something like ham salad for a potluck later, check out my recipe for sensational ham salad—but keep this casserole savory! For this bake, just remember: bread structure is your friend when you’re pre-making breakfast!
Variations for Your Easy Breakfast Casserole
While the foundational sausage and cheddar recipe for this Easy Breakfast Casserole is perfect, I also love playing around with what goes inside before it hits the oven. If you’re looking to sneak in some veggies, this dish welcomes them! Pepper is amazing mixed in with the sausage, or shredded zucchini (make sure you squeeze out all that water first!) is a great addition.
Cheese swaps are super fun too. Try Monterey Jack for a cleaner melt, or mix in some Gruyère for a sharper, nuttier flavor profile that pairs wonderfully with the savory meat. I’ve even made it with smoked Gouda once, and wow, that elevated the whole thing!
If you’re interested in how sausage works with other veggies, I just posted this killer Italian sausage pasta where I load it up with spinach, so you see how versatile sausage can be. But honestly, for this Easy Breakfast Casserole, even adding some chopped green onions can brighten it up considerably!
Serving Suggestions for Your Easy Breakfast Casserole
Okay, once that Easy Breakfast Casserole comes out of the oven, smelling heavenly, what do you serve it with? Keep it simple; you’ve already done the hard work! A big bowl of fresh, sweet fruit—cantaloupe or berries—is the perfect bright contrast to the rich sausage and cheese.
If you like a little kick, have a bottle of your favorite hot sauce on the side; a few dashes really wakes up the eggs. And of course, you need good coffee! If you want to level up your morning brew, you need to check out my recipe for easy homemade coffee creamer. It makes that first cup even better when you’re enjoying this hearty Easy Breakfast Casserole slice.
Storage and Reheating the Easy Breakfast Casserole
Now, what do we do if we don’t manage to eat the whole pan of the Easy Breakfast Casserole in one go? Good news: leftovers are fantastic! You just need to cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil once it’s completely cooled down. Store it in the fridge for up to three or four days. It keeps so well!
When you go to reheat it, try to use the oven if you can. Slices reheat beautifully at about 350 degrees Fahrenheit for maybe 15 minutes until they are warmed through. If you’re in a major rush, the microwave works, but I find it makes the eggs a little spongy, so the oven keeps that perfect texture for your Easy Breakfast Casserole slice.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Easy Breakfast Casserole
I get so many questions about making this dish work for different schedules and pantries, which is great! Look, this Easy Breakfast Casserole is amazing because it’s so flexible, even though the basic recipe is spot on. I’ve answered the most common things people ask me when they are planning their next brunch!
Can I use different bread in the Easy Breakfast Casserole?
Oh, absolutely! I highly recommend using something sturdy like sourdough or good French bread if you have any slightly old loaves lying around. The key is that the bread needs to be a little bit stale. Stale cubes soak up the egg mixture much better than soft, fresh bread, keeping your Easy Breakfast Casserole from getting soggy underneath.
What is the best way to reheat the Easy Breakfast Casserole?
For the very best texture, when reheating individual slices of your Easy Breakfast Casserole, use the oven. Pop servings on a baking sheet at about 350 degrees for about fifteen minutes until it’s lovely and warm all the way through. It keeps that baked quality much better than the microwave does!
And just quickly touching on the vegetarian thing—since this specific recipe uses sausage, it’s not vegetarian, but swapping that meat for black beans or extra sautéed peppers and mushrooms makes for an incredible veggie version for your Easy Breakfast Casserole! If you’re looking for other great morning options, check out my breakfast cookies for when you need something truly portable.
Estimated Nutritional Data for This Recipe
I always tell people that cooking with real ingredients means the nutrition facts are just an estimate, but it’s good to have a ballpark idea, right? This data is based on using the standard amounts listed in the main recipe, so keep in mind what type of sausage you use can shift things around a bit.
For one slice of this satisfying bake, you’re looking at roughly 350 calories, 18 grams of protein to keep you full, and about 25 grams of fat. It also packs in 15 grams of carbohydrates. It’s hearty fuel for the morning! Speaking of health, if you ever need a reminder to stay hydrated, I’ve put together some tips on how much water you should be drinking.
Share Your Easy Breakfast Casserole Creations
I truly hope this Easy Breakfast Casserole simplifies your mornings as much as it has mine! Once you bake it, please come back and tell me how it went. Seriously, leave a star rating right below the recipe card!
I absolutely love seeing your pictures on social media, so tag me when you serve up a pan of this goodness. Knowing that my family favorite is making someone else’s brunch stress-free makes all the hard work worth it!
Print
Easy Breakfast Casserole
- Total Time: 60 min
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A simple baked casserole perfect for breakfast or brunch.
Ingredients
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 pound breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 cups cubed bread (stale bread works well)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, dry mustard powder, salt, and pepper.
- Layer half of the cubed bread in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle half of the cooked sausage and half of the cheese over the bread layer.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining bread, sausage, and cheese.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the layers in the dish.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the casserole is set and lightly browned.
- Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ham or bacon for the sausage.
- Use sourdough or French bread for the best texture.
- Prepare the night before and refrigerate, covered, before baking in the morning.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Unsaturated Fat: 13
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 18
- Cholesterol: 150
Keywords: Easy Breakfast Casserole, baked eggs, sausage casserole, brunch recipe, make ahead breakfast