Description
A hearty and comforting breakfast casserole combining savory hot breakfast sausage, creamy tangy cream cheese, crispy hash browns, and melted cheddar cheese, all baked together with seasoned eggs and milk for a perfect morning meal that serves a crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage Mixture
- 2 lb hot breakfast sausage
- 2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
Hash Browns
- 1 (30-32 oz) bag frozen shredded hash browns
Seasonings
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
Cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Egg Mixture
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the hot breakfast sausage until it is no longer pink, breaking it apart as it cooks. Once cooked, drain excess fat carefully.
- Combine Sausage and Cream Cheese: Stir the cooked sausage with the softened cream cheese until well blended. Set this mixture aside to cool slightly.
- Cook Hash Browns: In the same skillet, add the frozen shredded hash browns and cook until they are lightly browned, creating a crispy texture.
- Layer Ingredients: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the cooked hash browns evenly on the bottom. Evenly layer the sausage and cream cheese mixture over the hash browns, then sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top.
- Mix and Pour Egg Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and milk until fully combined. Pour this mixture evenly over the layered hash browns and sausage mixture in the baking dish.
- Refrigerate (Optional): If you prefer to bake later, cover the casserole and refrigerate at this point.
- Bake: Bake the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is golden brown.
Notes
- You can prepare the casserole the night before and refrigerate it before baking to save time in the morning.
- Use mild or spicy sausage depending on your heat preference.
- Ensure the cream cheese is at room temperature for easier mixing with the cooked sausage.
- For extra crispiness, broil for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Feel free to add chopped onions or bell peppers with the hash browns for additional flavor and texture.
