This is the perfect make-ahead breakfast! Prepare this easy Sausage and Egg Casserole the night before, and all you need to do is bake it in the morning.
Calling all brunch lovers. This is your casserole! It’s easy, cheesy, and so simple to prepare.
This recipe for Overnight Sausage and Egg Casserole with cheese is from a 1980s church cookbook. I selected it because it’s really easy to make—just place everything in a casserole dish and bake.
The base is a layer of cubed white bread, topped with sausage, cheese, and a mixture of eggs and milk.
The eggs and milk create a silky custard-like texture, and when that’s topped with the crumbled sausage and cheese, it’s an irresistible breakfast casserole that everyone will love.
And you can make it ahead! I love a good make-ahead casserole, like my Overnight French Toast Casserole. For this recipe, I recommend assembling the casserole the night before. Then, you just need to bake and serve it in the morning.
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Ingredients
You need seven ingredients for this cheesy make-ahead casserole:
- Cubes of white bread create the base. You can use sandwich bread or a bakery bread that is a little crustier—they are both delicious.
- A combination of milk and eggs sink into the bread to create a savory custard.
- Salt and dry mustard flavor the dish. Skip the dry mustard if you don’t have it!
- Shredded cheese is a must for a breakfast casserole! I used cheddar.
- A one-pound package of breakfast sausage gets crumbled, cooked, and baked into the casserole. I used the regular variety of Jimmy Dean.
How to make overnight sausage and egg casserole
Start by greasing a 13×9 inch baking pan with cooking spray.
Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes. If you’re using soft sandwich bread, a chef’s knife is best for this. If you’re using a crusty white bread, a serrated knife is easiest.
Then, crumble the sausage into a large skillet. Place the skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is browned and cooked through.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, dry mustard, and cheese.
If you don’t have dry mustard, you can just leave it out. It’s delicious either way.
Place the cubed bread in the prepared casserole dish, followed by the crumbled sausage.
Pour the egg mixture over the top. Most of the cheese will likely float to the surface. That is a good thing for making a cheesy top to the breakfast casserole!
Cover the dish and place the breakfast casserole in the refrigerator overnight, or for at least 2 hours.
When you’re ready to serve it, bake the breakfast casserole for 40–50 minutes at 350°F, or until the top is golden brown and the eggs are set in the middle.
Top with parsley, if desired, and serve.
Can I make sausage and egg casserole ahead?
Yes! This casserole is designed to be made ahead. Assemble the casserole ingredients in the dish the night before, and bake it the following morning. You can assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Any type of bulk sausage that you like is good for breakfast casserole. You can use regular sausage, breakfast sausage, sage sausage, or even Italian sausage.
Instead of cheddar, try colby jack, monterey jack, or swiss. If you’re using Italian sausage, you can try using an Italian shredded cheese blend.
Since bread is an essential ingredient in this dish, I don’t recommend adapting this casserole to be gluten-free. Instead, try a gluten-free breakfast casserole that uses hash browns instead, such as this Sausage Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole (it also has instructions for how to make it dairy-free).
Substitute 1 tablespoon yellow mustard or Dijon mustard for 1 teaspoon of dry mustard. You can also omit it.
Reheating and freezing instructions
Overnight Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole is best served while it’s still warm.
To re-heat the casserole, place cooled slices on a baking sheet and place the baking sheet in a 400°F oven for 8–10 minutes, or until the slices are heated through.
You can also put the entire (cooked) casserole in the oven for 15–18 minutes, or until heated through.
To freeze breakfast casserole, place a double layer of foil over the UNCOOKED casserole and freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost in the refrigerator for 24 hours, remove the foil, and then bake as directed.
You can also freeze slices of cooked casserole. To do so, wrap slices in a layer of foil, then place in a resealable freezer bag. Freeze for 1–2 months. Defrost in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, and then heat in a 400°F oven for 8–10 minutes.
Serving suggestions
Bacon is a must alongside this casserole! Since the oven is at 350°F for the casserole anyway, it’s an excellent time to make bacon on a sheet pan while the casserole is baking.
If you’re feeling fancy (and want something sweet), Praline Bacon is extra delicious and your guests/family will LOVE it.
And if you love a good 13×9 inch casserole like I do, this Overnight French Toast Casserole is a sweet addition to your menu. For something more simple, a German Pancake with Apples is delicious, too.
Have you tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and/or comment below!
📖 Recipe
Overnight Sausage and Egg Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb. mild bulk sausage
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 slices bread, cubed
Instructions
- Spray a 13×9 inch dish with cooking spray.
- Place sausage in a large skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sausage is browned. Crumble and let cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and dry mustard. Stir in the cheese.
- Place the bread cubes in the prepared dish, followed by the sausage. Pour the egg mixture over the top. Gently press the bread cubes with your hands or a spatula so that they are covered by the egg mixture.
- Refrigerate overnight, or for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the casserole is cooked through.
- Let cool for 5 minutes and serve.
Nati says
The written portion of your recipe doesn’t tell you want to add the sausage to the mixture. I let everything except the sausage sick for two hours and now the sausage won’t mix into the swollen bread. You might want to clarify and update your instructions.😭😭😭
Kate Shungu says
I’m sorry about that! Recipe is updated. You can just put the sausage on top (followed by the cheese), and then cover the casserole with foil while it bakes so the sausage doesn’t get too brown.
Ronnie says
Can almond milk be used instead of dairy milk
Kate Shungu says
Yes! Unsweetened, plain almond milk can be substituted.
April says
It doesn’t say when to add the cheese?
Kate Shungu says
I’m sorry about that—I just fixed the recipe. Stir it into the egg mixture.