Easy Overnight Breakfast Casserole - the prep is quick and even better it's all put together the night before. Cheese, bread, and sausage (or your breakfast meat of choice) are all combined in a fluffy egg mixture. Let the magic happen while you sleep! Then just bake it up fresh, delicious, and bubbling hot in the morning.
Breakfast Casseroles are perfect meals for weekends, holidays, or to serve when you have guests over. With all the yum inside it really is a meal in itself, but on special occasions why not create an at-home breakfast buffet with fruit salad, blueberry or banana nut muffins, and some sausage gravy!
Doesn't that sound like a delicious plan?
Why you’ll love this recipe!
- Make Ahead: All the prep is done ahead of time. All you have to do the morning of is bake and enjoy.
- Easy to Adapt: The casserole shining stars are the cheese and breakfast meat and they are easy to adapt to your family's tastes.
Whether you need a breakfast casserole for a potluck, brunch, or family holiday meal, this sausage casserole is the perfect make-ahead meal.
Holidays and gatherings are usually full of excitement and a little bit of chaos! Lots of busyness hurrying around to prepare for the day. Are you picturing it in your head like I am?
So make ahead items for brunch or breakfast make for an easy and more enjoyable day for all. I know I want to soak up every moment I can with my family and friends when we are all together.
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On these precious days like this anything that allows me to spend more time with them is just right up my alley!
You make this ahead and while you are sleeping the bread in the casserole soaks up all those flavors and combines for perfection to be baked in the next day! Don't you just love that!
Here's what you'll need for this easy recipe!
Ingredients
How to make Overnight Breakfast Casserole
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and instructions!
Step 1 | Cook Breakfast Sausage, Bacon or Ham
- In a skillet cook sausage and break into crumbles while cooking. Cook until no longer pink and has some browning on it. (You can also use bite-sized bacon pieces or diced ham)
- Drain on paper towels and let cool while preparing the remaining ingredients.
Step 2 | Prepare Egg Mixture
- Cut or tear bread into cubes, set aside.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and ground mustard together. Then add in meat, cheese, and bread cubes.
Step 3 | Prepare Baking Dish, Fill and Refrigerate Overnight
- Butter or spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Pour breakfast casserole mixture into dish.
- In a large bowl whisk eggs and add in milk, salt, pepper, and ground mustard and whisk until fluffy. Add in bread, cheese, and sausage (or meat of choice) and stir together until combined.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Step 4 | Remove Dish & Bake
- Pull the dish out of the fridge a half hour before baking.
- Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes or until done.
- Let rest for 5 minutes and enjoy while hot!
Tips
- Make sure to drain the sausage so the casserole isn't too greasy.
- Grease your casserole dish before adding the egg mixture, so it is easy to remove. If you are are baking in a cast iron or oven safe skillet, you can cook the meat in the skillet and pour out onto paper towels to drain. The grease left behind is typically plenty to keep the casserole from sticking, but you can also take the paper towel you drained the meat on and coat the pan or baking dish.
- Make sure to take the make ahead casserole out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking. This will ensure even cooking and prevents a glass or porcelain dish from breaking in the oven (going from extreme cold to hot).
- The casserole is done when the edges are set and there is just a slight jiggle in the center.
Variations and Substitutions:
The great thing about this overnight breakfast casserole is how versatile it is. You can make this over and over and change up the flavor combinations. The combinations are endless!
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! To make this meat-free you can omit the sausage or use a plant-based sausage replacement. You can also add any other meat you love. Bacon, ground beef, or even shredded chicken can be used.
Yes, you can! Substitute the bread with gluten-free bread or even hashbrowns, diced potatoes or sweet potatoes will work too.
Storage and Reheating
Storage:
Cover with foil or plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Freeze:
This sausage casserole freezes really well. I recommend baking it completely first. Completely cool and then wrap it tightly with freezer-safe wrap and foil. It will keep well for up to 2 months.
If you plan to make ahead and freeze, using a disposable tin pan works really well.
Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Reheat:
To reheat individual servings, place desired amount on a microwave-safe dish and reheat. Microwave in 30-second intervals until heated to your liking.
To reheat a whole casserole in the oven, cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 to 30 minutes or until heated through.
What to serve with Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Like I mentioned before this sausage breakfast casserole is a meal in itself however there are many amazing options to pair with this dish.
It really goes well with fruit and toast, biscuits, or bagels. We love grits on the side or even some sweetbreads or cinnamon rolls.
On Christmas morning my family wants this creamy chipped beef gravy!
This casserole isn't just for breakfast. Serve it for brunch or even for dinner. Add a nice green salad and you have a meal
Any way you serve it - This easy breakfast casserole is delish!
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Overnight Breakfast Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound sausage, bacon, or ham, cooked and drained
- 6 slices bread, cut into cubes or torn into bite sized pieces
- 12 eggs, beaten
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt, optional or to taste
- ½ pepper, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard, (optional)
- 4 cups cheese, cheddar, gouda, or mozzarella
Instructions
- In a skillet cook sausage and break into crumbles while cooking. Cook until no longer pink and has some browning on it. Drain on paper towels and let cool while preparing the remaining ingredients. (You can also use bite-sized bacon pieces or diced ham)
- Cut or tear bread into cubes, set aside.
- In a large bowl whisk eggs and add in milk, salt, pepper, and ground mustard and whisk until fluffy. Add in bread, cheese, and sausage (or meat of choice) and stir together until combined.
- Butter or sprayed with cooking spray a 3-quart or 9 x 13 casserole dish. You can also use an oven-safe dutch oven or cast iron skillet. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove from the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350° for 40 to 50 minutes or until eggs are cooked through (the center will be just slightly jiggly) and casserole is bubbly.
- Let set for 5 minutes and enjoy while hot.
✱ Nikki's Tips
- Make sure to drain the sausage so the casserole isn't too greasy.
- Grease your casserole dish before adding the egg mixture, so it is easy to remove. If you are are baking in a cast iron or oven safe skillet, you can cook the meat in the skillet and pour out onto paper towels to drain. The grease left behind is typically plenty to keep the casserole from sticking, but you can also take the paper towel you drained the meat on and coat the pan or baking dish.
- Make sure to take the make ahead casserole out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before baking. This will ensure even cooking and prevents a glass or porcelain dish from breaking in the oven (going from extreme cold to hot).
- The casserole is done when the edges are set and there is just a slight jiggle in the center.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Update 2/19/2022
susan | the wimpy vegetarian says
This would be perfect the next time the kids come to visit!!
[email protected] says
I love to make this when I have a house full! It's you can switch out the ingredients with your favs also!
Hezzi-D says
I'm all for an overnight casserole so I don't have to rush around in the mroning and this one sounds so good!
Katie says
Love how fluffy this looks! Gimme gimme!
[email protected] says
It is so delicious! I will save you a slice!
Liz says
Happy Easter!!! I make a similar casserole---always a hit!!!!
[email protected] says
Happy Easter Liz! It is always a crowd pleaser. I like change up the flavors each time I make it!
Cricket Plunkett says
This looks delicious! I bet these flavors really intensify over night!
Cindy Kerschner says
Fast and easy casseroles are on my keeper list!