BY
Let’s Assemble!:
Bread
This easy overnight casserole starts with bread. While most similar casseroles call for dried out french bread, I actually recommend basic everyday soft white sandwich bread fresh from the bag. You’ll cut off the crusts, butter one side, and place the pieces butter-side-down in a 9×13 baking dish.
Cheese
You’ll need a lot of cheese! I call for a mix of Jack and Cheddar. That’s my favorite combination, but in a pinch I’ve also used Colby Jack, and it would also be great with some pepperjack in there. Experiment if you’d like to, but the classic way is terrific! My one tip: I do not recommend pre-shredded cheese in a bag for this recipe. Shredding directly from a block of cheese will produce better results.
Sausage
There are always a lot of questions when I have recipes that call for sausage of any kind. It’s probably because there are so many different types: breakfast sausage, Italian sausage, sausage in links, sausage in castings, sausage in tubes, sausage in 8 different sections of the supermarket! You’ll find this sausage in the fridge section, usually near the bacon. Avoid sausages with flavors like maple. I only use Jimmy Dean because that’s what my Mom always used and we like the flavor the best! It looks like this (you may use their low-sodium/low-fat version if you prefer):
Green Chilis
You find tiny cans these near the jarred salsa at the grocery store. I don’t bother draining the tiny can, just use your hands to grab the chilis from the can and sprinkle onto the casserole, the juice that comes with it is just fine
Egg mixture
Finally you’ll whisk together eggs, milk, and some spices and seasonings. Stir the egg mixture immediately before pouring on top of the assembled casserole. Otherwise all the spices will all gather in one spot and drop onto one single piece of casserole!
Refrigerate and Bake
It then goes in the fridge overnight (no, you may not skip this step) and in the morning you just pop it into the oven and have a gorgeous breakfast or bunch in under an hour!
What to serve with Overnight Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole:
- We love serving this with a platter of fresh fruit.
- For a fun special drink, try our Sparkling Citrus Punch or Virgin White Peach Sangria
- Want some other overnight ideas? Sometimes we’ll do one sweet and one savory and serve this Overnight Sasuage and Egg Casserole along side this Overnight Strawberry Lemon Croissant French Toast (SO good!) or Cinnamon Rolls (see overnight directions in notes.)
Check out our index of dishes for Breakfast and Brunch for more great holiday ideas!
Overnight Sausage and Egg Casserole
Description
An easy overnight casserole with crumbled sausage, eggs, and cheese.
Ingredients
6–8 slices plain white sandwich bread
Very soft butter for buttering slices
2 cups shredded jack cheese (not pre-shredded from a bag)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (not pre-shredded from a bag)
12 oz pork sausage, crumbled and browned (I use Jimmy Dean)
1 4-oz can green chiles
6 large eggs
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
Instructions
Start by removing the crusts from your bread and lightly buttering one side.
Place bread butter side down in a 9×13 baking dish. You want the bottom of the pan covered with no big gaps, so cut up some pieces like a puzzle to cover the whole pan.
Grate your cheese and sprinkle it evenly over the top of the bread. Spread the browned sausage on top of that. Open your can of green chilis and use your hands to sprinkle them over the top of the casserole.
In a medium sized mixing bowl whisk eggs. Add milk and then seasonings and whisk to combine well. Give the mixture a final whisk before immediately pouring evenly on top of the assembled casserole.
Cover well and place in the refridgerator overnight.
In the morning preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Bake (uncovered) for 50-60 minutes. You’ll want the center to be puffed and set and the outside edges to be golden brown. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated in the microwave.
YUM, YUM, YUM!! I LOVE breakfast casserole – especially Christmas morning. Mine never turns out quite right, though, so I'm using your bread tip (the recipes I've tried have bread in chunks and mixed throughout) and no bagged cheese! This and the overnight cinnamon rolls are on the menu for our Christmas morning. 🙂 Mmmmmm…..
My mom just made this for a christmas brunch the women in our family had together. It was so good we stuffed ourselves and didn't save room for the cheesebake dessert! Thanks for the recipie, now I don't have to ask her for it!
I also just made your peppermint bark popcorn for another party -LOVE your blog!
Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas to you and your family… just wanted to thank you for all your time that you put into your blog!!! I love it!
I make something similar as well, but with tater tots on top instead of bread on the bottom. Dee-licious. And I love the green chiles too.
Merry Christmas!
I cannot even begin to express my love for this casserole… LOL
SOOOOOOOOOOOOO DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!
I have a similar recipe and I love it! Such an easy breakfast. I put my husband in charge of making it a few months ago, and he decided to substitute cubed potatoes instead of the bread, and it was delicious!
Where so cubed potatoes boiled semi cooked or place raw directly on the bottom of casserole?
Use frozen potatoes, shredded or cubed..with or without onions and peppers
This is one of my very favorite recipes. In fact, I was planning on making it for Christmas morning. And then my husband begged me to make quiche instead. So…I might have to make quiche for Christmas and this for New Years! Thanks for the tips on the bread and cheese too. I've never thought of using Colby Jack before.
I was so hoping you would be posting a Christmas morning recipe. I was just thinking I need to prepare something. Unfortunately it needs to be milk free so this one won't do. SOunds yummy though!
Looks really good, thank you!
I would encourage you all to forget buying pre-grated cheese period…did you know that there is an antibiotic in it? (Natamycin…not sure on my spelling, but if it is in there, it is on the back of the bag…) and also cellulose…
Anyway, that is enough to have me grating my own cheese….yuck…
GLad to have found you!
C~
Want to wish you you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
This recipe looks so good. Hubby loves sausage so i know he will love this.
sure hope your hand is ok and no pain.
Hugs Pam