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A freshly baked weekday breakfast casserole in a baking dish, ready to serve.

Hearty Sausage and Cheddar Breakfast Casserole

This hearty breakfast casserole features savory breakfast sausage, sharp cheddar cheese, and stale sourdough bread baked in a rich egg and milk mixture. Perfect for a crowd, it's a satisfying and flavorful dish that can be prepared ahead of time.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • large skillet
  • large bowl
  • whisk

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 1 lb cooked breakfast sausage, crumbled
  • 6 cups cubed stale sourdough bread
  • 1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1.5 cups whole milk
  • 0.5 cup diced yellow onion, sautéed
  • 0.5 cup diced red bell pepper, sautéed

Seasonings

  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  • 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
  • paprika Pinch of

For Greasing

  • Butter or oil

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and evenly spread the cubed sourdough bread at the bottom.
  • Cook and crumble the breakfast sausage in a skillet, then drain any excess grease. Sauté the diced yellow onion and red bell pepper in the same skillet until softened.
  • Evenly sprinkle the cooked sausage, onion, and bell pepper over the bread in the baking dish.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir in 1 cup of shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
  • Pour the egg mixture over the ingredients in the baking dish, lightly pressing down to saturate the bread. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese on top.

Baking

  • Cover and refrigerate the casserole for at least 4 hours or overnight (optional).
  • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). If baking from cold, let the casserole sit for 20-30 minutes. Remove the cover and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

For best results and flavor, prepare the casserole the night before and let it chill overnight. This allows the bread to fully absorb the egg mixture, resulting in a more cohesive and flavorful casserole. You can also add other vegetables like mushrooms or spinach to the filling for added nutrition and flavor. Adjust seasonings to your preference.