Description
Hearty sausage breakfast casserole delights morning appetites with layers of savory ingredients. Melted cheese, eggs, and crisp bread create a satisfying meal for weekend gatherings you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground breakfast sausage
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole or 2% milk
- 2 cups (200 g) shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup (25 g) shredded Parmesan cheese
- 6 slices bread, cubed (white, whole wheat, or French bread)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Thermal Preparation: Ignite the oven to 375°F (190°C) and generously coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent adhesion.
- Meat Transformation: Sizzle ground sausage in a skillet over medium heat until crisp and golden, methodically draining excess fat, then set the meat aside for layering.
- Liquid Foundation: Whisk eggs and milk together, incorporating garlic and onion powders, salt, and pepper to create a robust, seasoned binding liquid.
- Structural Assembly: Layer bread cubes as the casserole’s base, evenly distributing sautéed sausage crumbles and blanketing with shredded cheddar cheese for depth of flavor.
- Moisture Integration: Pour egg mixture across the layered ingredients, ensuring complete bread saturation through gentle pressing, which promotes optimal liquid absorption.
- Flavor Enhancement: Dust the surface with Parmesan cheese to introduce a delicate, nutty complexity to the dish.
- Culinary Alchemy: Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes until the top achieves a rich, amber-brown surface and the center sets completely.
- Resting Phase: Allow the casserole to stabilize for 5 minutes post-baking, enabling structural cohesion and temperature equilibration.
- Final Flourish: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately to capture peak flavor and textural integrity.
Notes
- Optimize Sausage Absorption: Pat sausage dry before cooking to achieve maximum crispiness and prevent excess moisture in the casserole.
- Bread Selection Matters: Use day-old or slightly stale bread cubes to help absorb egg mixture more effectively without becoming soggy.
- Customize Cheese Blend: Experiment with cheese combinations like sharp cheddar, Swiss, or pepper jack to elevate flavor profile and add personal touch.
- Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare casserole night before, refrigerate overnight, and bake directly from cold state – perfect for stress-free morning preparations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg