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Easy Loaded Breakfast Casserole: Best Sausage & Cheese Bake

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This easy loaded breakfast casserole with sausage and cheese is a hearty, comforting dish perfect for holidays, brunches, or lazy weekends. Made with simple ingredients like eggs, sausage, cheese, and bread, it’s a crowd-pleaser that can be assembled the night before.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound breakfast sausage
  • 12 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
  • 6 cups cubed bread (day-old French bread or sourdough)
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup diced bell peppers (optional)
  • 1/2 cup diced onion (optional)
  • 1 cup fresh spinach (optional)
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the breakfast sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned (6-8 minutes). Drain off excess fat, leaving about a tablespoon in the pan. Let cool slightly.
  3. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes. If using fresh bread, spread on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5-7 minutes while it preheats (optional but recommended).
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until uniform and slightly frothy.
  5. Layer half of the bread cubes in the prepared dish. Top with half of the cooked sausage, then half of the cheddar and mozzarella. Repeat layers with remaining bread, sausage, and cheeses. Pour egg mixture evenly over everything, pressing down gently with a spatula.
  6. Let the assembled casserole rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes (or cover and refrigerate for up to 12 hours).
  7. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 20-25 minutes, until golden brown and center is set (internal temperature reaches 160°F).
  8. Let casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not skip the rest time; it allows the bread to absorb the egg mixture for a custard-like texture. Use a thermometer to check for doneness (160°F). For a lighter version, use 8 whole eggs and 4 egg whites. To make gluten-free, use gluten-free bread or hash browns.

Nutrition

Keywords: breakfast casserole, sausage casserole, loaded breakfast casserole, easy breakfast casserole, sausage and cheese casserole

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