Description
This Crack Breakfast Casserole is a hearty and cheesy morning dish, perfect for a comforting start to your day. Featuring a flavorful combination of browned breakfast sausage, eggs, melted cheese, and crispy hash browns, it’s an easy-to-make, gluten-free casserole that can be prepared ahead and baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound breakfast sausage
Egg Mixture
- 6 large eggs
- 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cheeses
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Other
- 4 cups frozen hash browns (thawed)
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions (optional, for garnish)
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage until it’s browned and crumbled. Drain any excess grease to keep the casserole from getting too oily.
- Mix Egg Base: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs until blended. Whisk in the softened cream cheese, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Ingredients: Stir in the shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses, thawed hash browns, and cooked sausage into the egg mixture. Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute all ingredients.
- Assemble Casserole: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly to ensure consistent cooking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 40–45 minutes, or until the casserole is fully set and the top is golden brown, indicating it’s cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Let the casserole cool for 5–10 minutes before slicing to help it set. Garnish with chopped green onions if desired, then serve warm.
Notes
- You can prepare this casserole the night before, cover tightly, and refrigerate until ready to bake for a convenient make-ahead meal.
- For added flavor and texture, mix in chopped bell peppers or cooked bacon before baking.
- Substitute spicy breakfast sausage to give the casserole a nice kick.
