Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (2024)

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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 84 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!

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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

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Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe with sausage (2024)

FAQs

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

An egg strata traditionally consists of layered bread, cheese, and other foods (such as cooked sausage, ham, bacon, shrimp, or vegetables) over which a mixture of raw beaten eggs and milk are poured. The casserole is covered and refrigerated overnight to allow the liquid ingredients to be absorbed into the bread.

Do you have to refrigerate breakfast casserole before cooking? ›

Success Tip: Refrigerate Overnight

During this time, the flavors mingle together and the bread has a chance to soak up some of the liquid and flavor. Wake up and all you have to do is slide it into the oven. If you're in a rush, I do recommend at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before baking, if you can spare it!

How do you know when breakfast casserole is done? ›

To check if your egg casserole is done, you can insert a knife into it, and if it comes out clean and the casserole has set in the middle, then you can pull it out of the oven. As a quick tip, if it happens to be browning quickly, you can cover it with a piece of foil for the last minute of baking.

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? ›

Baked egg dishes tend to have issues with becoming too rubbery or watery after cooking. This is especially the case when high-moisture vegetables or dense meats are in the mixture—sautéing the potatoes and vegetables before baking helps to dry the food and concentrate flavors.

Can you leave raw egg mixture in the fridge overnight? ›

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.

Can you pre cook eggs the night before? ›

You can prepare eggs in advance to eat throughout the week. Eggs can last for several days in the fridge or for several months when frozen. There's a huge variety of egg-based dishes to choose from, and many of them can be meal prepped.

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 can you keep an unbaked casserole in fridge? ›

Uncooked Casseroles: If the casserole contains raw meat or seafood, it should be refrigerated for no more than 1-2 days before baking. A purely vegetable-based uncooked casserole can be refrigerated for 3-4 days. Cooked Casseroles: Once cooked, casseroles can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

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

Make-ahead meals (especially baked casseroles) are terrific because you can completely assemble them in advance and bake them just before serving. They're the ultimate comfort food as they come bubbling hot and delicious straight from the oven to the table to the delight of family and friends.

Do you cover casserole when baking? ›

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 to keep egg casserole from getting rubbery? ›

Always drain your meat to avoid rubbery eggs

The reason for this is that when meat is cooked, its fat goes from solid to liquid. All of this excess liquid floods the eggs and creates a rubbery texture. But no worries, this doesn't mean you have to forgo meat in your egg casserole altogether.

How do I thicken my breakfast casserole? ›

Whisk together equal parts cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. 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.

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Fresh herbs or citrus zest can also punch up flavors with a bit of welcome brightness for a long-cooked dish, as can adding some heat in the form of a dash of hot sauce, a generous pinch of minced or sliced fresh chili pepper, or a shake of red pepper flakes.

What is good to serve with breakfast casserole? ›

It can be made for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Serve it with some sliced fresh fruit on the side for breakfast, or if making for dinner, a green salad. If you omit the veggies in the casserole, consider serving some sautéed vegetables on the side. Or if leaving out the meat, some crispy bacon or cooked sausages.

Is it better to freeze a breakfast casserole cooked or uncooked? ›

The answer depends on what's in it. Casseroles with raw protein (meat, poultry, seafood) should be completely cooked before freezing. However dishes with pre-cooked meats or no meat are fine to go in the freezer uncooked.

How long can uncooked casserole stay in the fridge? ›

Uncooked Casseroles: If the casserole contains raw meat or seafood, it should be refrigerated for no more than 1-2 days before baking. A purely vegetable-based uncooked casserole can be refrigerated for 3-4 days. Cooked Casseroles: Once cooked, casseroles can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Can you freeze casserole including raw eggs to cook later? ›

Can I freeze a casserole with eggs in it? Yes, you can. Raw eggs are fairly stable in the freezer, especially when beaten or mixed with other ingredients. Check to see what else is in the casserole, though.

How long can cooked and raw eggs be kept in the refrigerator? ›

How Long Do Eggs Last?
EggsRefrigerator (35°F to 40°F)
Raw egg whitesUp to 4 days
Raw egg yolksUp to 2 days
Hard-boiled eggs (in shell)Up to 1 week
Hard-boiled eggs (peeled)Use the same day for best quality
2 more rows

Can I leave raw chicken in egg overnight? ›

In a glass dish, beat egg yolk with garlic. Place chicken in egg mixture, and turn to coat. Cover dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible.

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