The No Fuss Weekend Warrior Cheesy Sausage Crispy Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

Cheesy Sausage Hashbrown Bake

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Preparation time:20 Mins

Cooking time:55 Mins

Servings:8 servings

Ingredients:

• oz bag frozen shredded hashbrowns (thawed and squeezed dry)
• lb ground breakfast sausage
• medium yellow onion, finely diced
• Tbsp unsalted butter (divided)
• tsp salt (for filling)
• /2 tsp black pepper (for filling)
• large eggs
• cups whole milk or 2% milk
• tsp dry mustard powder
• /2 tsp garlic powder
• tsp salt (for custard)
• /2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (for custard)
• cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese (divided)

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a bowl, toss the thawed, squeezed hashbrowns with 1 tablespoon of melted butter and a pinch of salt/pepper. Press firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared dish. Bake hashbrowns for 15 minutes until lightly set.
• While hashbrowns bake, cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until browned through. Drain off excess grease thoroughly.
• Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the diced onion to the skillet with the sausage. Sauté until the onion is soft and translucent (about 5 minutes). Season lightly.
• Remove the partially baked hashbrowns from the oven. Sprinkle half (1.5 cups) of the grated cheddar evenly over the hashbrown base. Top this with the cooked sausage and onion mixture.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 12 eggs, 2 cups of milk, mustard powder, garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper until fully combined and slightly frothy.
• Slowly pour the egg/milk mixture evenly over the sausage layer, ensuring it seeps into all the gaps. Sprinkle the remaining 1.5 cups of cheddar cheese over the top.
• Return the casserole to the oven. Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until the centre is set (no wobble when gently shaken) and the top is golden brown. If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent with foil.
• Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving to allow it to firm up properly.

Nutrition Facts

Calories:833 kcal

Protein:17.4 g

Fat:25.4 g

Carbs:50.2 g

Fiber:12.6 g

Sugar:0.0 g

Sodium:327 mg

Recipe Info

Category:Breakfast, Brunch, Casserole

Cuisine:American

The Definitive Guide to Comfort-First Morning Bakes

There are few culinary experiences more satisfying than pulling a bubbling, golden-brown casserole out of the oven when the morning is still young. It signals relaxation, good company, and the promise of substantial energy for the day ahead. While sweet options certainly have their place, sometimes you need something deeply savoury, rich, and utterly dependable. Enter the Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole , a dish that manages to be simultaneously rustic and elegant, perfect for feeding a hungry crew without demanding your undivided attention. This bake isn't just food; it’s an event—a cornerstone of any great weekend morning.

Why This Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole Steals the Show

This particular style of baked morning meal has gained legendary status among home cooks for a reason. It transcends simple scrambled eggs by incorporating layers of texture and deep, complementary flavours that marry beautifully under a blanket of melted cheese. It’s the ultimate expression of accessible, delicious home cooking.

Solving the Weekend Breakfast Dilemma Effortlessly

When faced with a house full of eager eaters on a Saturday or Sunday morning, the last thing you want is to stand over a stove flipping individual pancakes or frying bacon in batches. This Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole Recipe streamlines the process into a single baking dish. The prep time is remarkably short—about 20 minutes—allowing you to focus on coffee brewing or catching up on the morning news while the oven takes over. It’s the answer to those "I want a big breakfast but I don't want to work" mornings.

The Perfect Marriage of Crispy Potatoes and Savory Meat

What truly defines this Sausage Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns is the textural interplay. We rely on frozen shredded hashbrowns, which, when pre-baked correctly, offer a satisfyingly crisp perimeter and a tender centre. This starchy anchor is grounded by the robust, seasoned flavour of browned breakfast sausage. The meat doesn’t just add protein; it infuses the entire egg custard with its rendered, savoury goodness, ensuring every bite is packed with flavour.

Meet Your New Go-To Crowd-Pleasing Morning Dish

Whether you are hosting a holiday gathering, feeding a house full of post-game athletes, or simply planning for a week of easy grab-and-go meals, this Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Bake delivers consistently. It yields 8 generous portions, meaning leftovers are generally minimal. If you ever wondered how to elevate your standard brunch fare, assembling a spectacular Sausage Hashbrown Casserole Cream Cheese (though we’ll be using a classic custard here, cream cheese variations are certainly popular!) structure like this one proves that simple ingredients, when layered thoughtfully, create magic.

Assembling Your Breakfast Bake Components

Before we dive into the step-by-step assembly, understanding the roles of the key components is helpful. A truly great Easy Sausage Hashbrown Casserole requires three distinct elements: a crisp potato base, a savoury meat layer, and a rich egg custard to bind everything together. We are aiming for a bake that holds its shape beautifully when sliced, thanks to a precise ratio of eggs to milk and the power of sharp cheddar cheese.

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The Essential Grocery List for Rich Flavor

To create this magnificent bake, we need to gather a few essentials. Everything we select is designed to maximize flavour payoff with minimal effort, cementing this as a prime Weekend Brunch Casserole Ideas contender.

Pantry Staples: Hashbrowns, Dairy, and Eggs Foundation

The backbone of this dish rests on quality staples. You’ll need a substantial 30 oz bag of frozen shredded hashbrowns—the key here is allowing them to thaw slightly so you can effectively squeeze out excess moisture later. For the liquid element, 12 large eggs are necessary to create a firm custard capable of holding up all those delicious fillings. We combine these with 2 cups of whole milk for optimal richness. Don't overlook the seasonings: 1 teaspoon of dry mustard powder is non-negotiable; it adds depth without tasting like mustard, and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder complements the savory sausage perfectly.

Selecting the Best Breakfast Sausage Varieties

For a traditional, comforting flavour, ground pork breakfast sausage works wonders. Aim for about 1 lb (450g). If you prefer a leaner option, turkey sausage is a fine substitute, though you may need to add a touch more butter when sautéing the onions, as turkey renders less fat. Ensure your sausage is fully cooked and drained before it ever sees the casserole dish; we want flavour, not grease, mingling with our eggs.

Crucial Equipment for Flawless Casserole Assembly

While this isn't a complicated technique, the right tools ensure success. A standard 9x13 inch baking dish is required for proper layering. You will also need a large non-stick skillet for browning the meat and softening your aromatics. Finally, a large mixing bowl and a sturdy whisk are essential for creating a perfectly smooth, homogenous egg custard—no streaks allowed!

The Blueprint: Crafting Your Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole Layer by Layer

The process of building this Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Bake is satisfyingly straightforward. We begin by setting the stage for crispness before adding the wet ingredients that bind everything together.

Prepping the Hashbrown Base for Maximum Crispiness

First things first: Preheat your oven to 375° F ( 190° C) and lightly grease your 9x13 inch baking dish. Take your slightly thawed hashbrowns and press them firmly into the bottom of the dish. Now, here’s the crucial step for texture: toss them with one tablespoon of melted butter and a small pinch of salt and pepper. Press them down tight! We then slide this base into the hot oven for a preliminary 15-minute bake. This head start is vital for preventing a soggy bottom.

Integrating the Sausage and Egg Custard Mix

While your potatoes are getting cozy in the oven, move to the stove. In your skillet, brown the 1 lb of breakfast sausage until perfectly cooked. Drain away any residual grease thoroughly. Next, add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet (or slightly more if using very lean sausage) along with one finely diced medium yellow onion. Sauté these until the onion is soft and translucent, about five minutes, adding a light seasoning of salt and pepper.

In your large mixing bowl, whisk together the 12 eggs and 2 cups of milk until well combined. Incorporate the 1 tsp of dry mustard powder, 1/2 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of salt, and 1/2 tsp of black pepper. Whisk until the mixture is slightly frothy—a sign that air is being incorporated for a fluffier final texture.

The Art of Layering Cheese for Maximum Melt

When the hashbrowns emerge from their initial bake, it’s time to layer. Sprinkle half (about 1.5 cups) of your freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese directly over the warm potato base. This acts as a barrier between the crust and the wet ingredients while guaranteeing a lovely, stringy melt right at the bottom layer. Next, evenly distribute the cooked sausage and onion mixture over the cheese. Finally, pour that beautiful egg custard mixture slowly and evenly over the sausage, taking care to let it seep into all the crevices. Top everything with the remaining 1.5 cups of cheddar.

Achieving Golden Perfection: Baking and Resting Times

Return the assembled dish to the 375° F ( 190° C) oven. The total baking time required is typically 35 to 40 minutes.

Checking for Doneness: Ensuring a Fully Set Interior

You’ll know your Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole is ready when the top is beautifully golden brown and the edges are bubbling vigorously. Crucially, test the centre: gently nudge the corner of the dish. If the centre barely wobbles, or jiggles like firm gelatin rather than liquid, it’s set. If it still looks liquid, give it another 5 to 10 minutes. If the cheese starts browning too quickly before the inside is done, you can loosely tent the dish with aluminium foil. After removing it from the oven, allow it to rest on a wire rack for at least 10 minutes; this resting period is essential for the custard to fully firm up, ensuring clean, beautiful slices.

Elevating Your Casserole: Advanced Tips and Customizations

While the base recipe is a triumph of comfort food, true culinary exploration comes from tweaking and tailoring. Thinking about how to turn this into a Gluten Free Sausage Hashbrown Casserole is simple (hashbrowns are naturally GF, just verify sausage seasonings), but we can also inject fresh flavour profiles.

Make-Ahead Magic: Preparing This Dish the Night Before

One of the greatest benefits of this style of recipe is its suitability for preparation ahead of time. This is a fantastic Freezer Friendly Breakfast Casserole option too! To prepare the night before, assemble the entire casserole exactly as directed, but stop before the final bake. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, pull it out and let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to take the chill off, then proceed with the baking instructions. You may need to add 5– 10 minutes to the bake time if it’s still quite cold inside.

Flavor Twists: Spice, Veggie, and Cheese Variations

If you want to move beyond the classic pork flavour, consider using Italian sausage instead and stirring in a tablespoon of dried sage into the egg mixture for a more autumnal feel. For a Southwestern flair, swap the cheddar for Pepper Jack and fold in a can of drained mild green chilies during the layering stage. You can also create a Crock Pot Sausage Hashbrown Casserole —though the hashbrowns won't get quite as crisp, layer everything similarly in a slow cooker, cooking on low for 4– 5 hours until set.

Freezing and Reheating Instructions for Later Enjoyment

To freeze this bake, cook it completely, let it cool, slice it into individual portions, and freeze the portions in airtight containers. Reheat frozen portions in a microwave for 2– 3 minutes, or reheat in a 350° F oven, covered with foil, for about 25 minutes until piping hot throughout.

Storage Secrets for Leftover Morning Goodness

Any casserole this delicious is rarely left uneaten, but if you do have slices remaining, storage is simple. Keep leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to four days. The structure holds up remarkably well, making cold slices a perfectly acceptable midnight snack straight from the fridge!