Loaded with savory ground sausage, fluffy eggs, crusty bread, and lots of cheese, this delicious overnight breakfast casserole is easy to make ahead for a special holiday breakfast or weekend brunch. It’s one of my family’s favorite Christmas morning traditions, and made for customizing so it can become one of yours, too!
For as long as I can remember, I’ve made a breakfast casserole for Christmas morning. Some years it’s my sweet berry French toast casserole. Other years, it’s a savory hashbrown breakfast casserole. This overnight sausage and egg breakfast casserole is another savory option that’s easy to make the day before. Waking up to a delicious breakfast that’s ready to bake is almost as great as waking up to the presents under the tree.
With only five ingredients, including day-old bread, juicy breakfast sausage, melty cheese, fluffy eggs, plus simple spices, this overnight breakfast casserole is perfect for the festive season. Assemble, then cover the casserole and store it in the fridge overnight. It’s as easy as removing the cover and popping your breakfast casserole into the oven first thing.
Why I Always Come Back to This Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipe
- Made for holidays. This overnight breakfast casserole is a Christmas tradition I’ve carried into adulthood. It’s a wonderfully easy breakfast to share as a family on busy holiday mornings! I’ve even made it for Thanksgiving, Easter, and Mother’s Day brunch.
- Minimal work in the morning. Refrigerate the casserole and let the bread soak up the flavors overnight. It’s ready to bake when you wake up.
- Only 5 ingredients. Of course, there’s the option to add more ingredients you have kicking around in the fridge, from fresh veggies to different proteins.
- Room to customize. An overnight breakfast casserole, like a quiche, is super adaptable and welcomes extras like diced bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, bacon, and more.
Ingredient Notes
One of the best things about this overnight breakfast casserole recipe is that you only need a few ingredients. Find the exact measurements in the recipe card below.
- Bread – Similar to the bread I’d use for a French toast casserole, I recommend day-old, sturdier bread in this egg and sausage casserole, like the sourdough loaf from Pepperidge Farm. A classic white bread loaf, or even sandwich bread, works perfectly if it’s a bit stale, as it’ll better soak up the egg custard.
- Sausage – Any breakfast sausage will work here. I use a Jimmy Dean log. Brown and drain before assembling the casserole.
- Cheddar cheese – Freshly shredded cheese melts the best.
- Eggs – Be sure to use large eggs, not medium or extra-large.
- Milk – 2% or whole milk will give you the best texture in the casserole.
- Spices – Dry mustard, salt, and pepper. You don’t need a lot, but the flavor will be lacking without them.
How to Make This Overnight Breakfast Casserole
If you don’t wish to prepare your casserole the night before, it’s fine to bake right away, too. It just may not have quite the same depth of flavor or texture as when the ingredients soak overnight in the fridge, but it’ll still taste great! Here’s how to make it.
- Assemble the ingredients. Cube the bread and scatter it in the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Layer the ground sausage and shredded cheese on top.
- Add the egg mixture. In a bowl or measuring cup, whisk the eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt, and pepper together to make the custard. Pour the eggs over the casserole.
- Cover and refrigerate. Wrap or cover the casserole tightly, and place it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
- Bake. When you’re ready, bake the casserole under foil at 325ºF for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 15-25 minutes, or until the eggs are set. The exact baking time may vary depending on how “done” you like your breakfast casserole. To check for doneness, use a fork or knife to test how soft the middle is.
Tips & Variations
- Adjust the baking time. The exact amount of time your casserole needs to bake will depend on how runny or soft you want the eggs. If you prefer them runny, you may want to bake for a little less time. You can check by using a fork or knife in the center to see how soft it is.
- Try other meat. Bacon or ham would work in place of the sausage (or even in addition to the sausage).
- Add some veggies. Try adding diced onion or bell peppers to the casserole. You can cook them with the sausage. Mushrooms would also be a good addition.
- Cover with foil. To prevent the breakfast casserole from browning too quickly in the oven, cover the pan with foil for the first 30 minutes or so.
Serving Suggestions
While this overnight sausage and egg breakfast casserole is perfect by itself, these are some ways you can turn it into a full brunch spread.
- Sweet breakfast dishes: Serve with homemade pancakes, apple fritters, or blueberry muffins.
- Savory sides: Crispy bacon, or I love these crowd-friendly grape jelly smokies made in the crockpot.
Proper Storage
- Fridge. Store leftover sausage and egg breakfast casserole in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep it covered tightly with plastic wrap or foil or transfer to an airtight container.
- Reheat. The entire baking dish can be reheated in the oven, covered with foil, until heated through. Individual servings can be reheated in the microwave.
More Easy Breakfast Recipes
Overnight Breakfast Casserole
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Ingredients
- 6 slices bread (cubed*)
- 1 pound sausage (browned and drained)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Spread the bread evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Sprinkle the sausage and cheese evenly over the bread.
- In a large measuring cup, combine the eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt and pepper.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the ingredients in the pan.
- Cover and chill overnight.
- Prior to baking, preheat the oven to 325℉. Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until set. Cover it loosely for the first 30 minutes or so, then bake uncovered for the reminder. You may need to bake it for a little more or less time depending on your oven and how soft or “runny” you prefer the eggs to be. I don’t really like it to be runny, but I also don’t want it to dry out. To check it, use a fork or knife to stick in the middle and see how soft it still is.
- Remove from oven when done and serve warm.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition facts provided are calculated using a third-party tool and are estimates only. Actual nutritional content may vary based on the ingredients and brands you use, as well as portion sizes. For accurate results, please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist.
Enjoy!
This is great with cooked chicken instead of bacon or sausage…also put buttered corn flakes on top. Really good for dinner…think of all the protein in this dish!!
Made this for my daughter to share with company. She said it was delicious! So happy it was since making a new recipe for someone else can sometimes not work out!
So glad it was a hit!
Best casserole dish ever. Tweaked it using seasoned croutons instead of bread crust and used Cosco’s Kirkland Coastal English chedder. Absolutely delicious!
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
What type of bread do you use
Just a regular white sandwich bread usually.
If I double the recipe – how much longer do I cook it?
I’ve never doubled it and baked it in the same pan. If you’re using a 9×13 pan, it may not all fit. You might be better to make it in two separate pans. And it would definitely take a while longer to bake all in one pan. At least time and a half, maybe double. You’d want to keep an eye on it.
This is pretty close to the Christmas casserole passed down by my Grandmother. I’ve tweaked it a bit by substituting O’Brian potatoes in place of the bread….delicious!
Do you toast the bread before cutting/putting it in the casserole?
No, you don’t.
Question- do you toast your cubed bread before adding it to this recipe? Thank you!
I do not. Enjoy it!
Can I make two days in advance and put in fridge?
I haven’t ever made it that far in advance. I think the longest cracked eggs are supposed to be in the fridge is 2 days, so keep that in mind.
I lost my cookbooks in a house fire earlier this year and this is just like the recipe I make for Christmas morning! Thank you!!!
Oh no! I’m so sorry! I hope you enjoy the casserole!
Can I freeze this recipe??
I haven’t ever tried it. I imagine it would be ok.
When I poured my eggs over the sausage and cheese it’s soaked it right up should I put more eggs?
As long as you measured thing correctly, it should be fine. Did you use large eggs, not medium?
I love this recipe so much! It’s easy and can be prepped ahead of time so it’s bake and serve that day. Family thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Same recipe I had growing up as well. Every Christmas morning, and it’s also my birthday too, arent we lucky! I’m making it right now for Thanksgiving morning.
Ha! How fun! I’m so glad you enjoy it! We also had it Thanksgiving morning. 🙂
Clarify please, do I but & use pork sausage from Jones?,
First time making your wonderful recipe, only I don’t know what type of one pound of sausage to buy
I use ground pork sausage. Typically Jimmy Dean.
Can I freeze this and reheat? I assume I can make it, cook it as per instructions, let it cool, wrap in plastic/foil, freeze and then put in fridge night before I want to reheat it to serve?
I think that would be fine. I haven’t done it myself, but it should be fine.
Can left overs be frozen?
Yes, that’d be fine.
I love this casserole I make it all the time. Everyone loves it. Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s the best.
I’m so glad you enjoy it!