Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole is an overnight breakfast casserole made with hash brown potatoes, eggs, shredded cheese and breakfast sausage. The perfect dish for Sunday brunch or any holiday breakfast.
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If you're looking for an easy breakfast for weekends or holidays, this super easy hashbrown breakfast casserole is for you. This easy recipe is a complete meal with hash brown potatoes, breakfast sausage, bacon and loads of cheddar cheese.
This easy breakfast bake takes just a few minutes to throw together. So, it's perfect if you're not an early riser -- like moi. Even better, if you want a make ahead breakfast, you can make this cheesy breakfast casserole the night before and bake it the next morning.
My Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole makes a delicious holiday side dish. And this breakfast casserole with sausage and hash browns makes an easy holiday breakfast to serve for Christmas morning, Easter brunch, Mother's Day brunch or Thanksgiving morning.
Love easy breakfast casseroles? Try our Sausage Sourdough Breakfast Casserole, Lemon Blueberry Breakfast Casserole or Ham and Cheese Breakfast Strata and check out more breakfast recipes from the recipe archives.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients for this delicious casserole. They should be available in your grocery store.
- Hash browns -- I use Simply Potatoes as the potatoes need to be thawed for this recipe. Use your favorite frozen hash brown potatoes and thaw them and drain them to remove excess water.
- Eggs -- scramble eggs and add to the casserole before baking
- Breakfast sausage -- Either slice up cooked breakfast links or cook crumbled sausage
- Cheddar cheese -- for cheesy goodness
- Milk
- Melted butter
- Seasonings -- sea salt, black pepper and onion powder
- Bacon -- optional cooked bacon for topping and extra flavor
How to Make Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
First, whisk the eggs and milk together. Then, add the half of the thawed hash browns to a prepared baking dish.
You can grease the casserole dish with butter, oil or nonstick cooking spray.
Top that with half of the sausage and some of the shredded cheese. I personally like to layer the casserole. It's not necessary, so if you forget to layer the ingredients, no problem.
Repeat the layers, and pour the egg mixture over the casserole. Top with crumbled bacon, and pour melted butter over the top.
Cook Time
Bake the breakfast casserole for 45 minutes total or until it's hot, bubbly and the center is set. To be safe, you can test the temperature.
Egg casseroles are done when the internal temperature is 160 degrees, according to a food thermometer.
Right before the casserole is done, top it with the remaining cheese and more bacon if you like.
Let the casserole set for about 5 to 10 minutes before serving. This makes it easier to cut and serve.
If you want to make it extra pretty, sprinkle some chopped parsley over the top! It's not necessary, but it adds a little pop of color.
Overnight Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
To make this hashbrown breakfast casserole recipe ahead of time, assemble as directed. But don't add the melted butter yet.
Cover with plastic wrap, and pop the dish into the fridge overnight.
Allow the casserole to sit at room temperature in the morning while you preheat the oven. Remove the plastic wrap, and add the melted butter before baking.
Bake as directed. The sausage breakfast casserole may take a little longer to bake if it is still cold.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover breakfast bake in an airtight container in your refrigerator. It lasts for up to 4 days.
To reheat the hashbrown breakfast casserole, you can bake it until it's heated throughout. Or, reheat individual portions in the microwave. I usually cook it at 70 percent power for about a minute.
Recipe Variations
You can cook a pound of ground breakfast sausage instead of using the links.
Sub cooked ham or turkey sausage or leave out the meat completely if you want a breakfast casserole without meat.
Add chopped bell peppers or red pepper and green onions for extra flavor and crunch. My family does not like these options for breakfast, so I leave them out.
Use your favorite cheese. Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack and Colby Jack are all great options in this potato casserole.
FAQ
Yes. The potatoes need to be thawed so that all ingredients will cook evenly and the casserole won't be too wet.
Thaw frozen hash browns in your refrigerator. Or, follow directions on the package. Then, drain them well to remove excess moisture. This will prevent your casserole from becoming soggy.
Recipe
Cheesy Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ cup milk
- 4 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 20 ounces hashbrown potatoes thawed
- 5 breakfast sausage links cooked and sliced
- 2½ cups shredded cheddar cheese divided, or cheddar blend or colby jack
- ¼ cup melted butter
- cooked crumbled bacon optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Grease or spray a 2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray
- Whisk the milk and eggs together until well blended, and stir in salt, onion powder and pepper
- Add half of the hashbrowns to the baking dish, then layer half of the sausage slices and half of the cheese.
- Repeat layers, top with crumbled bacon, and pour egg mixture over casserole
- Pour melted butter over casserole, and bake uncovered for 40 minutes. Top with remaining cheese, and bake for additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted, casserole is hot and bubbling, and internal temperature is 160°
- Allow to sit for 5 minutes before slicing, then serve
Notes
Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.
Nutrition
I hope you enjoy this simply potatoes breakfast casserole recipe as much as we do. It's a real crowd pleaser and a huge hit with my entire family!
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If you do try this hash brown breakfast casserole recipe, please leave a star rating and/or comment.
Cheesy hashbrown breakfast casserole was published in 2020 and updated in 2023.
Winniebear says
Not a rating but rather, a question. Can this casserole be frozen, and if so should it be before OR after it's cooked?
Dee says
You can freeze the casserole after baking. Just let it cool first. Bake it again when you're ready to eat. 🙂
Patrick says
Easy to make for a good and hearty breakfast! Made this before we all went skiing! Will make this again!
Kevin says
This was like the best breakfast to wake up to this weekend!
Bee says
What a great way to start the day!! This was amazing!
Jim says
Made this for breakfast this morning. Taking the day off for vacation but woke up early and made this. It was great. Making it again for Christmas morning.
Dee says
So glad you liked the casserole, Jim. Thanks!
Susanna says
This has become a favorite in our home! We love the flexibility to change it up.
Kimberly Kelley says
I don't see how many eggs to use in the ingredient list. How many eggs does this recipe call for? Thank you. I'd like to make this for Christmas morning. Kim
Dee says
Sorry about that, Kim! You need 4 eggs -- I corrected it.
Beth says
Breakfast is by far the best meal of the day. I am going to make this for hubby and I on Sunday. It looks delicious!
Dee says
Hope you like the casserole, Beth. Thanks!
Jen says
This looks like the perfect way for me to encourage my family to get out of bed on the weekends.
katerina @ diethood.com says
YUM! I wouuld love to wake up to this!! It looks incredibly delicious!
Dee says
Thank you, Katerina! It's so good!