Cheesy Sausage Egg and Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Whether you’re preparing breakfast for Christmas morning or for your average busy morning, this cheesy sausage, egg, and hash brown breakfast casserole is the perfect recipe. It’s hearty, filling, and so yummy.
This sausage hash brown breakfast casserole is packed with protein and delicious veggies to start your day off the right way. PLUS it’s an easy recipe that takes little work to prepare. AND the leftovers are amazing!
Table of Contents
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you buy from my link I might make a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay. See the full affiliate disclosure here.
Ingredients for Sausage, Egg, and Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
This is one of my favorite recipes for breakfast casseroles. The ingredients are simple and easy to throw together. You can even prepare the ingredients in advance in anticipation of a busy morning.
Here’s what you’ll need for this breakfast casserole:
- 26-32 ounces (one large bag) frozen hash browns
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds ground pork sausage
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- ½ medium yellow onion
- 4 ounces fresh spinach
- 8 large eggs
- ½ cup half and half
- 2 cups (8 ounces) cheddar cheese (divided in half)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Optional garnishes and toppings:
- Chopped green onions
- Diced tomatoes
- Sour cream
- Salsa
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Diced peppers
- Hot sauce
Sausage and Hash Brown Casserole Additions and Substitutions
Like most other casseroles, you can substitute and add many ingredients with this sausage hashbrown breakfast casserole. Let’s take a look at some simple changes you can make to this recipe.
Sausage
Since this is a sausage casserole, I would keep the ground sausage in your recipe. You can use any type of ground sausage including breakfast sausage, Italian sausage, and hot or spicy sausage.
Feel free to switch from pork and use turkey sausage or chicken sausage as well. In a pinch, you could substitute ground beef for a similar outcome.
You can also add in other meats, such as crispy bacon, for additional flavor and heartiness.
Hash Browns
Since this is a hashbrown breakfast casserole recipe, the hash browns are another staple ingredient. However, if you don’t have any on hand or would like to switch up the recipe, you could use tater tots or other breakfast potatoes instead.
Vegetables
You can switch out any of the vegetables in this breakfast bake. Add in other veggies that go with eggs and sausage like broccoli, tomatoes, chili peppers, asparagus, etc.
Cheese
This recipe is extra delicious due to the cheesy goodness brought about by the cheddar cheese! However, it can be omitted or substituted based on your preference.
Other cheeses that would work well in this recipe are:
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Monterey jack cheese
- Pepper Jack cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Queso
Half and Half
I love using half and half with my eggs. However, you can substitute it with a number of other dairy products. You can use whole milk, regular milk, or heavy cream depending on what you have on hand.
Herbs and Spices
You can dress this recipe up by using different herbs and spices.
Some good additions to this easy hashbrown breakfast casserole would be:
- Garlic powder
- Red pepper flakes
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Chili powder
- Oregano
How to Make This Easy Breakfast Casserole
This is an easy recipe that you can throw together the night before and pop in the oven the next morning. Or you can make it in less than an hour the day of. Here are the step-by-step instructions for this breakfast casserole.
The directions are for already prepped vegetables. Make sure your onion and bell peppers are chopped before starting.
Step One
Mix the olive oil and hash browns thoroughly and then brown the hash browns. You can do this in the oven set at 425? in your casserole dish while you move on to browning the sausage. Or you can do this in the skillet you’ll use for the sausage later.
I like to brown potatoes in the oven while I’m working on the rest of the recipe. Browning the hash browns helps keep them from getting soggy and adds some texture and flavor.
It takes about 30 minutes to brown in the preheated oven and about 15 minutes in a hot skillet.
You’ll turn the oven down to 375? to bake the rest of casserole.
Step Two
While the hash browns are baking, cook the sausage, pepper, and onion in a skillet until the sausage is brown and cooked through and the vegetables are soft. This will take about 15 minutes.
Step Three
While the sausage is cooking, whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Then mix in the half and half, spinach, and 1 cup (half) of the shredded cheese.
Step Four
Once the potatoes, sausage, and egg mixture are ready, you can start layering them in the baking dish. Add the sausage mixture over the top of the browned hash browns. Then pour egg mixture over the top of the sausage and hash browns.
Step Five
Place the casserole in the 375? oven. Bake the dish for about 30 minutes or until eggs are set and cooked through.
Add the remaining cup of shredded cheese to the top of the dish and bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Top with any additional toppings before serving.
How to Store Sausage Hashbrown Casserole
You can serve this casserole once it has cooled from the oven. Any leftovers can be stored wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container.
Leftovers are best when eaten within three days. You can reheat this casserole in the oven or microwave.
You can also freeze portions of this breakfast casserole and thaw them as needed. Simply thaw and bake until heated thoroughly.
Cheesy Sausage Egg and Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 26-32 ounces (one large bag) frozen hash browns
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds ground pork sausage
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1/2 medium yellow onion
- 4 ounces fresh spinach
- 8 large eggs
- 1/2 cup half and half
- 2 cups (8 ounces) cheddar cheese divided in half
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Garnishes
- Chopped green onions, diced tomatoes, sour cream, salsa, cilantro, parsley, diced peppers, hot sauce
Instructions
- Mix the olive oil and hash browns thoroughly and then brown the hash browns. You can do this in the oven set at 425? in your casserole dish while you move on to browning the sausage. Or you can do this in the skillet you’ll use for the sausage later. I like to brown potatoes in the oven while I’m working on the rest of the recipe. Browning the hash browns helps keep them from getting soggy and adds some texture and flavor. It takes about 30 minutes to brown in the preheated oven and about 15 minutes in a hot skillet. You’ll turn the oven down to 375? to bake the rest of casserole.
- While the hash browns are baking, cook the sausage, pepper, and onion in a skillet until the sausage is brown and cooked through and the vegetables are soft. This will take about 15 minutes.
- While the sausage is cooking, whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Then mix in the half and half, spinach, and 1 cup (half) of the shredded cheese.
- Once the potatoes, sausage, and egg mixture are ready, you can start layering them in the baking dish. Add the sausage mixture over the top of the browned hash browns. Then pour egg mixture over the top of the sausage and hash browns.
- Place the casserole in the 375? oven. Bake the dish for about 30 minutes or until eggs are set and cooked through. Add the remaining cup of shredded cheese to the top of the dish and bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Top with any additional toppings before serving.
