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Easy Overnight Breakfast Casserole – the prep is quick and even better it’s all put together the night before. Cheese, bread, and sausage (or your breakfast meat of choice) are all combined in a fluffy egg mixture. Let the magic happen while you sleep! Then just bake it up fresh, delicious, and bubbling hot in the morning.
Breakfast Casseroles are perfect meals for weekends, holidays, or to serve when you have guests over. With all the yum inside it really is a meal in itself, but on special occasions why not create an at-home breakfast buffet with fruit salad, blueberry or banana nut muffins, and some sausage gravy!
Doesn’t that sound like a delicious plan?
Why you’ll love this recipe!
- Make Ahead: All the prep is done ahead of time. All you have to do the morning of is bake and enjoy.
- Easy to Adapt: The casserole shining stars are the cheese and breakfast meat and they are easy to adapt to your family’s tastes.
Whether you need a breakfast casserole for a potluck, brunch, or family holiday meal, this sausage casserole is the perfect make-ahead meal.
Holidays and gatherings are usually full of excitement and a little bit of chaos! Lots of busyness hurrying around to prepare for the day. Are you picturing it in your head like I am?
So make ahead items for brunch or breakfast make for an easy and more enjoyable day for all. I know I want to soak up every moment I can with my family and friends when we are all together.
On these precious days like this anything that allows me to spend more time with them is just right up my alley!
You make this ahead and while you are sleeping the bread in the casserole soaks up all those flavors and combines for perfection to be baked in the next day! Don’t you just love that!
Here’s what you’ll need for this easy recipe!
Ingredients
- Breakfast Sausage: Use any brand you love. You can even buy this when it is on sale and freeze it until ready to use.
- Bread: I usually use plain white bread. Egg bread or wheat bread work too! This is perfect to use up what you have in your pantry.
- Eggs: Whip the eggs up nice and fluffy for a nice texture and airy bite.
- Milk: I use whole milk for a creamy texture, but what you have on hand works.
- Cheese: A sharp cheddar is a good choice or a blend of your favorite cheeses.
- Ground Mustard, Salt, & Pepper:Spices to add extra flavor. Just keep in mind that depending on which breakfast meat you use you may not need to add salt or you can adjust to your taste.
How to make Overnight Breakfast Casserole
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Cook Breakfast Sausage, Bacon or Ham
- In a skillet cook sausage and break into crumbles while cooking. Cook until no longer pink and has some browning on it. (You can also use bite-sized bacon pieces or diced ham)
- Drain on paper towels and let cool while preparing the remaining ingredients.
Step 2 | Prepare Egg Mixture
- Cut or tear bread into cubes, set aside.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and ground mustard together. Then add in meat, cheese, and bread cubes.
Step 3 | Prepare Baking Dish, Fill and Refrigerate Overnight
- Butter or spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Pour breakfast casserole mixture into dish.
- In a large bowl whisk eggs and add in milk, salt, pepper, and ground mustard and whisk until fluffy. Add in bread, cheese, and sausage (or meat of choice) and stir together until combined.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Step 4 | Remove Dish & Bake
- Pull the dish out of the fridge a half hourbefore baking.
- Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes or until done.
- Let rest for 5 minutes and enjoy while hot!
Tips
- Make sure to drain the sausage so the casserole isn’t too greasy.
- Grease your casserole dish before adding the egg mixture, so it is easy to remove. If you are are baking in a cast iron or oven safe skillet, you can cook the meat in the skillet and pour out onto paper towels to drain. The grease left behind is typically plenty to keep the casserole from sticking, but you can also take the paper towel you drained the meat on and coat the pan or baking dish.
- Make sure to take the make ahead casserole out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking. This will ensure even cooking and prevents a glass or porcelain dish from breaking in the oven (going from extreme cold to hot).
- The casserole is done when the edges are set and there is just a slight jiggle in the center.
Variations and Substitutions:
The great thing about this overnight breakfast casserole is how versatile it is. You can make this over and over and change up the flavor combinations. The combinations are endless!
- Change up the meat: This really is good with any kind of breakfast meat. Breakfast sausage, bacon, ham, chorizo, leftover steak, or even diced smoked sausage work well.
- Add in veggies: You can add bell peppers, spinach, kale or even green chilies or jalapenos for some spice.
- Meat replacement: Mushrooms are perfect for a meat replacement or a plant-based meat replacement will work too.
- Change up the cheese: I love a blend of cheddar and gouda, but any cheese you love works. Mozzarella, swiss, provolone, or Colby Jack. I have it on my list to try a steak, gouda, and blue cheese version. YUM!
- For a Mexican flavored casserole use taco meat or chorizo and a taco blend cheese or cotija cheese. So delicious!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this casserole without sausage?
Absolutely! To make this meat-free you can omit the sausage or use a plant-based sausage replacement. You can also add any other meat you love. Bacon, ground beef, or even shredded chicken can be used.
Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes, you can! Substitute the bread with gluten-free bread or even hashbrowns, diced potatoes or sweet potatoes will work too.
Storage and Reheating
Storage:
Cover with foil or plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Freeze:
This sausage casserole freezes really well. I recommend baking it completely first. Completely cool and then wrap it tightly with freezer-safe wrap and foil. It will keep well for up to 2 months.
If you plan to make ahead and freeze, using a disposable tin pan works really well.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheat:
To reheat individual servings, place desired amount on a microwave-safe dish and reheat. Microwave in 30-second intervals until heated to your liking.
To reheat a whole casserole in the oven, cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through.
What to serve with Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Like I mentioned before this sausage breakfast casserole is a meal in itself however there are many amazing options to pair with this dish.
It really goes well with fruit and toast, biscuits, or bagels. We love grits on the side or even some sweetbreads or cinnamon rolls.
On Christmas morning my family wants this creamy chipped beef gravy!
This casserole isn’t just for breakfast. Serve it for brunch or even for dinner. Add a nice green salad and you have a meal
Any way you serve it – This easy breakfast casserole is delish!
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes
- Sausage Gravy and Biscuits
- Skillet Apple Pie Biscuit Bites
- Apple and Pecan Monkey Bread
- Best Ever Banana Bread
- Cranberry Orange Streusel Muffins from Norine’s Nest
Recipe
4.82 from 16 votes
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Overnight Breakfast Casserole
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour
Servings: 12
Author: Nikki Lee
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Easy Overnight Breakfast Casserole– the prep is quick and even better it's all put together the night before. Cheese, bread, and sausage (or your breakfast meat of choice) all combined in a fluffy egg mixture.Let the magic happens while you sleep! Then just bake it up fresh, delicious, and bubbling hot in the morning.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound sausage, bacon, or ham, cooked and drained
- 6 slices bread, cut into cubes or torn into bite sized pieces
- 12 eggs, beaten
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt, optional or to taste
- ½ pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard, (optional)
- 4 cups cheese, cheddar, gouda, or mozzarella
Instructions
In a skillet cook sausage and break into crumbles while cooking. Cook until no longer pink and has some browning on it. Drain on paper towels and let cool while preparing the remaining ingredients. (You can also use bite-sized bacon pieces or diced ham)
Cut or tear bread into cubes, set aside.
In a large bowl whisk eggs and add in milk, salt, pepper, and ground mustard and whisk until fluffy. Add in bread, cheese, and sausage (or meat of choice) and stir together until combined.
See AlsoAmish Breakfast CasseroleButter or sprayed with cooking spray a 3-quart or 9 x 13 casserole dish. You can also use an oven-safe dutch oven or cast iron skillet. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Remove from the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes or until eggs are cooked through (the center will be just slightly jiggly) and casserole is bubbly.
Let set for 5 minutes and enjoy while hot.
Notes
- Make sure to drain the sausage so the casserole isn’t too greasy.
- Grease your casserole dish before adding the egg mixture, so it is easy to remove. If you are are baking in a cast iron or oven safe skillet, you can cook the meat in the skillet and pour out onto paper towels to drain. The grease left behind is typically plenty to keep the casserole from sticking, but you can also take the paper towel you drained the meat on and coat the pan or baking dish.
- Make sure to take the make ahead casserole out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking. This will ensure even cooking and prevents a glass or porcelain dish from breaking in the oven (going from extreme cold to hot).
- The casserole is done when the edges are set and there is just a slight jiggle in the center.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 11 serving Calories: 392kcal (20%) Carbohydrates: 10g (3%) Protein: 23g (46%) Fat: 29g (45%) Saturated Fat: 14g (88%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g Monounsaturated Fat: 10g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 235mg (78%) Sodium: 821mg (36%) Potassium: 271mg (8%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 3g (3%) Vitamin A: 710IU (14%) Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) Calcium: 365mg (37%) Iron: 2mg (11%)
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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Update 2/19/2022
Nikki Lee
Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer
Hi, I’m Nikki Lee. Here at Soulfully Made you will find delicious, home-cooked, easy recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.
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Enjoyed this for breakfast this morning and started my day off right! Was easy, hearty and delicious; definitely, a new favorite recipe!Reply
Thank you, Sara! It’s a family favorite at our house!
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This is perfect for holiday mornings or sleepovers – I’m looking forward to making it!
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I agree! It is the perfect make-ahead breakfast for an easy morning meal.
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I love a good breakfast casserole. On Easter, my family spends the night and they look forward to them in the morning!Reply
That is a wonderful tradition! I love it!
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I love a good breakfast casserole, and this one looks phenomenal. I’m going to give it a try next week and hopefully add it to my menu for the holidays!Reply
Thank you, Nathan! I hope you enjoy this during the holidays! It’s always on our menu Christmas morning.
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I am always looking for ways to save time in the morning and this was perfect. Really tasty too.Reply
Thank you, Dannii! It’s a perfect make ahead breakfast too!
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This would be perfect the next time the kids come to visit!!
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I love to make this when I have a house full! It’s you can switch out the ingredients with your favs also!
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I’m all for an overnight casserole so I don’t have to rush around in the mroning and this one sounds so good!
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Love how fluffy this looks! Gimme gimme!
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It is so delicious! I will save you a slice!
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Happy Easter!!! I make a similar casserole—always a hit!!!!
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Happy Easter Liz! It is always a crowd pleaser. I like change up the flavors each time I make it!
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This looks delicious! I bet these flavors really intensify over night!
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Fast and easy casseroles are on my keeper list!
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