Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Anna · This post may contain affiliate links, which means we make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

This easy Overnight Breakfast Casserole is a family recipe (made WITHOUT bread) that is prepped the night before and baked in the morning - perfect for Christmas morning or any brunch!

This easy Overnight Breakfast Casserole recipe has been in our family for decades, courtesy of my mother-in-law, Cathy. It's a staple at every holiday brunch.

This decadent egg bake is RICH but super tasty. Filled with savory breakfast sausage, eggs, extra sharp cheddar cheese, loads of mushrooms, savory onion, crunchy green pepper and a hint of garlic, you're guaranteed to leave the table with full bellies and satisfied smiles.

Jump to:
  • Why this recipe works
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • FAQs
  • Serving suggestions
  • More breakfast casserole recipes
  • Recipe

Why this recipe works

  • It came from one of those community, crowd-sourced cookbooks that were sold as fundraisers for decades. Some of the best, time-tested recipes come from those gems.
  • It's prepped the night before and can be immediately baked in the morning so you can enjoy that extra cup of coffee in peace.
  • Many egg bakes are made with bread, but not this one! This recipe is a great option for your gluten-free friends and family (use a gluten-free breakfast sausage and skip the cream of mushroom soup).

Ingredients

This egg bake contains many of the typical breakfast ingredients, including:

  • sausage - My go-to is Jimmy Dean bulk breakfast sausage. It's reliable and easy to find.
  • eggs - I've always used large eggs for this recipe.
  • cheese - We're big fans of extra sharp cheddar cheese but feel free to swap in sharp or mild cheddar or even a mix of all of them.

Note: There is also an easy, creamy mushroom sauce that can be drizzled on top of the casserole. The instructions are in the recipe card. It's totally optional but highly recommended!!

Instructions

This dish comes together quickly and can be completely assembled the night before.

Crack all of the eggs into the casserole dish being careful to keep the yolks intact. Drizzle with cream.

Brown sausage and saute onions, peppers and mushrooms. Layer with cheese on top of eggs in casserole dish.

Once morning rolls around, all you need to do is pop the casserole in the oven an hour before guests arrive. If you made the sauce the night before, simply reheat it gently on the stove or microwave.

FAQs

Can I make this breakfast casserole gluten-free?


Because there is no bread in this breakfast casserole recipe, it's a great option to serve guests who have gluten sensitivities. Just be sure to use a gluten-free breakfast sausage and a gluten-free cream of mushroom soup if serving the mushroom sauce with the casserole.

Do I have to make this the night before or can I make it in the morning?


Either way works great!

Serving suggestions

This Overnight Breakfast Casserole is the centerpiece of any brunch, but here are a few (mostly) make-ahead ideas to round out your menu:

Baked Goods:

  • These Caramel Apple Rolls can be prepped the night before and simply baked into warm gooey goodness in the morning.
  • Short on time and can't do any morning baking? Make these Blueberry & Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins the day before your brunch. Keep them loosely covered until you're ready to serve them.
  • No brunch is complete at our house without my Grandma's Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe. (The cinnamon streusel swirl is the best part!)

Side Dishes:

  • Don't forget your veggies! This gorgeous Arugula Salad - with feta cheese and roasted grapes - makes eating your greens taste delicious.
  • Love savory? You'll definitely want to add this Antipasto Salad to your brunch menu.
  • Add a little wow factor to your typical fruit plate with our quick and easy Fruit Salad with an irresistible lime-mint syrup.

Dessert Recipes:

  • Who can refuse this dessert mashup of carrot cake and cheesecake? You get the best of both worlds with our Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars.
  • Feeling fancy? This Panna Cotta recipe is made with real vanilla bean and never fail to impress guests. (But they are soooo easy and are made in advance.)
  • It's hard to turn down a lemon bar, but ours include tropical coconut to give these Lemon Bars an edge over all the rest.

Drinks:

  • Brunch was made for bubbles! Some of our best bubbly recipes are these Prosecco co*cktails made with grapefruit juice and ginger liqueur and these Breakfast Mimosas made with tequila.
  • Better yet, let guests serve themselves. Set up a DIY Bloody Mary Bar for guests to create their own perfect co*cktail.

More breakfast casserole recipes

Don't miss any of our delicious breakfast and brunch recipes!

Recipe

Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (7)

Fireman's Overnight Breakfast Casserole

Garnish With Lemon

This easy Overnight Breakfast Casserole is loaded with sausage, eggs, cheese and veggies and is refrigerated overnight. Perfect for Christmas morning or any brunch menu!

4.66 from 85 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 8 hours hrs

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 9 hours hrs

Course Breakfast & Brunch

Cuisine American

Servings 12 servings

Calories 460 kcal

Ingredients

Casserole:

  • 1 pound ground pork sausage I used Jimmy Dean
  • 8 ounces fresh sliced mushrooms
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 green pepper chopped
  • salt and pepper
  • 12 eggs
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 1 pound shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese

Optional Mushroom Sauce:

  • 1 10.5-oz can condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • ½ cup milk
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Casserole:

  • Lightly grease a 9 x 13 baking dish. Set aside.

  • Brown sausage in a skillet over medium heat. Drain meat. Add mushrooms, onion and green pepper to the same skillet. Stir and cook over medium heat for 6-7 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat.

  • Break eggs into baking dish keeping the yolks intact. Do your best to evenly distribute the egg yolks around the pan. Poke a hole in each of the yolks with a toothpick. Pour cream over eggs and top with ½ of cheese.

  • Using a slotted spoon, add sausage mixture to the baking dish. Top with remaining cheese, cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

  • When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook covered for 30 minutes and uncovered for another 30 minutes.

Mushroom sauce:

  • Combine soup, milk and garlic powder in a small saucepan and cook until heated through. Add additional milk to reach desired consistency. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with breakfast casserole.

VIDEO

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 460kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 25gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 17gPolyunsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 280mgSodium: 903mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3g

Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

Did you make this recipe?Tag us on Instagram or leave a comment!

No brunch is complete without this easy Overnight Breakfast Casserole recipe. Made with sausage, eggs, cheese and veggies (and no bread), this egg casserole is refrigerated overnight and baked in the morning. Perfect for Christmas or any holiday!

« Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Cubes

Slow Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Soup »

Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (8)

About Anna

Hi, I’m Anna, a former corporate communications nerd turned food fanatic. Turns out I like cooking for others A LOT more than explaining HR policies to them. C’mon over!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (9)Arleen says

    Can left overs be frozen ?

    Reply

    • Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (10)Anna says

      Hi Arleen, I've never frozen any leftovers so I can't say for sure. If you give it a try, please stop back and let others know how it worked for you!

      Reply

  2. Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (11)Molly Anderson says

    Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (12)
    I just made this for me and my husband. I’m trying to incorporate more protein in my diet and it definitely filled me up! I did about 4.5 oz of sharp cheddar, 5 oz colby jack, and then 5 oz mozzarella on top of the sausage mix (I was low on cheeses lol) instead of just sharp cheddar. It turned out so yummy and so flavorful. Great recipe!!

    Reply

« Older Comments

Rate the Recipe, Leave a Comment or Share a Tip!

Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (2024)

FAQs

Why do you have to refrigerate breakfast casserole overnight? ›

The casserole is covered and refrigerated overnight to allow the liquid ingredients to be absorbed into the bread. This is a perishable mixture and should be cooked the morning or day after assembly. Bake in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. Most recipes suggest 350 °F.

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? ›

Pre-cook the veggies. Veggies are naturally watery. As they cook, they release that moisture. If they only cook in the casserole, all that extra moisture will also be IN your casserole.

How long can uncooked breakfast casserole stay in the fridge? ›

The version written below with sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, spinach, and cheddar cheese is generally the most popular with guests. You can assemble the entire dish and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.

How do you know when breakfast casserole is done? ›

However, when it comes to knowing definitively that your casserole is done, Kitchen Seer states there is really only one way: A food thermometer. You will need to ensure the internal temperature is at a minimum of 165 degrees F. If you don't have a thermometer, it may be time to invest in one.

Can you make a casserole with raw egg and leave it uncooked overnight in fridge? ›

Can you make a casserole with raw egg and leave it uncooked overnight in the fridge? Yes, you can cover and refrigerate overnight. Bake uncovered the next day for 45 minutes or until the eggs are set. If the top begins to brown too quickly, loosely cover with foil.

Can you leave raw egg mixture in fridge? ›

If you've got raw egg yolks or whites left over from a recipe which you don't want to waste (let's face it, why would you?), you can store them in the fridge as long as you plan to use them within the next few days.

When baking a casserole is it covered or uncovered? ›

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

How do you thicken breakfast casserole? ›

Make a cornstarch slurry for a fast and easy thickener.

Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness. Then, let the casserole finish baking.

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

Can you make a casserole with raw eggs ahead of time? ›

I'd say it's probably fine as long as you don't delay putting it in the freezer. To be on the safe side, you might want to let the cooked ingredients cool, before you mix in the egg. Since you can freeze raw eggs, I see no reason you couldn't freeze a casserole that contains them.

Can I leave breakfast casserole out overnight? ›

The USDA recommends that cooked eggs and egg dishes should be refrigerated within 2 hours of cooking and consumed within 3-4 days.

Can you eat an egg casserole that was left out overnight? ›

Follow these serving guidelines for eggs and egg dishes.

Never leave cooked eggs or egg dishes out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours or for more than 1 hour when temperatures are above 90° F. Bacteria that can cause illness grow quickly at warm temperatures (between 40° F and 140° F).

Do you have to brown meat before casserole? ›

Browning it causes the Maillard reaction, which should make it tastier. But if you don't, it doesn't matter. Maybe it will have a little less flavour, but I've never noticed it. I happily make stews without browning the meat first and they're still nice.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Putting a casserole together a day or so before baking ensures that everything is ready to go when dinner time rolls around. That means no rushing at the last minute. Along with greater convenience, making a casserole ahead of time also results in a richer, deeper taste.

How long should a casserole be in the oven for? ›

The time a casserole takes to cook will vary from 2-2½ hours for chuck, blade and thick flank, up to 4 hours for shin, leg and neck. Pork cuts for braising and casseroling normally take 1½ hours, and lamb much the same.

What happens if you forget to put casserole in the fridge overnight? ›

Myth: You shouldn't put hot foods in the refrigerator.

Perishable foods should be put in a refrigerator that is 40 degrees or below within 2 hours of preparation. If you leave food out to cool and forget about it after 2 hours, throw it away.

How long to refrigerate casserole before baking? ›

Unless food will be frozen, it's safest and will provide the best quality product to start preparing most perishable foods no more than a day before a meal. For example, assemble a vegetable casserole a day in advance, refrigerate and then bake the day of your dinner.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Neely Ledner

Last Updated:

Views: 6714

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (62 voted)

Reviews: 93% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Neely Ledner

Birthday: 1998-06-09

Address: 443 Barrows Terrace, New Jodyberg, CO 57462-5329

Phone: +2433516856029

Job: Central Legal Facilitator

Hobby: Backpacking, Jogging, Magic, Driving, Macrame, Embroidery, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Neely Ledner, I am a bright, determined, beautiful, adventurous, adventurous, spotless, calm person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.