Description
A hearty and comforting Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole featuring shredded hash browns, savory sausage, fresh bell peppers, and a cheesy egg custard, perfect for a make-ahead breakfast or brunch that serves eight.
Ingredients
Scale
Hashbrown Mixture
- 20 ounces shredded hash browns (thawed)
- 1 pound sausage of your choice (cooked, crumbled, and drained)
- ¼ cup finely diced onion
- ½ red bell pepper (diced)
- ½ green bell pepper (diced)
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
Egg Mixture
- 8 eggs
- 12 ounces evaporated milk (1 can, or 1â…“ cups milk)
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare the Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish or spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks, until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat and set the cooked sausage aside.
- Assemble the Casserole: In the prepared casserole dish, combine the thawed hash browns, cooked sausage, diced onions, diced red and green bell peppers, and 1 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Gently mix these ingredients together and spread evenly in the dish.
- Prepare the Egg Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, evaporated milk, kosher salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning (if using) until well combined.
- Combine and Top: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the hashbrown mixture in the casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Refrigerate or Bake: You may cover and refrigerate the casserole overnight to bake later, or bake immediately. If refrigerated, remove the casserole from the fridge about 30 minutes before baking to take the chill off.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 55-65 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is golden brown.
Notes
- This casserole can be prepared the night before and baked fresh in the morning, making it ideal for busy days or special occasions.
- Feel free to substitute the sausage with cooked bacon or a vegetarian alternative if desired.
- Using freshly shredded cheese will melt better and improve texture, but pre-shredded cheese works well too.
- Check for doneness by inserting a knife into the center; it should come out clean when the eggs are fully set.
- If you want a crispier top, you can broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
