Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole is hands down the BEST breakfast casserole recipe ever! It is an easy recipe made with frozen hash browns, eggs, sausage, and cheese, that everyone loves!
This Breakfast Casserole can feed a crowd, is extremely versatile, can be made allergy-friendly, and it can be prepped the night before or in the morning for an effortless way to entertain for breakfast or brunch. I recommend serving with Overnight Cinnamon Rolls for a holiday breakfast everyone will remember--and one that will be effortless for you to pull together!
Why This is the Best Breakfast Casserole
- It can be made in advance. I prepare this hashbrown breakfast casserole the night before entertaining and then simply bake in the morning. However, it can also be prepped the morning of or baked and frozen for future use. It really is adaptable to what works best for your schedule.
- Allergy-Friendly. This casserole is soy-free and nut-free. And it is easy to find gluten-free breakfast sausage and gluten-free hashbrowns, making this breakfast casserole perfect for those with gluten sensitives or allergies. Just be sure to carefully read both your sausage and hash brown labels.
- Feeds a crowd. This breakfast casserole is hearty and filling and can be doubled easily to feed a crowd large or small.
- Incredibly easy to make. It seriously takes minutes to assemble this breakfast casserole. The hardest part is browning up the breakfast sausage. It truly is an effortless, delicious recipe to use when entertaining at breakfast or brunch.
- Inexpensive. There are no fancy ingredients or specialty items in this breakfast bake, making it very affordable.
- Adaptable: While the hashbrowns, sausage, and cheddar cheese are a classic combo, you can use ham or bacon instead of sausage, add in vegetables, and switch out the cheese for Swiss or Gouda.
- Crowd-Pleaser. Who cares if this is an easy and inexpensive dish if it does not taste good. But the reviews on this breakfast casserole are 5 stars. It is simply delicious.
Ingredients Needed
- Hashbrowns: I suggest using shredded or cubed hashbrowns for this recipe. Even O'Brien style with peppers and onions is a great choice. In fact, I have even used frozen tater tots or hash brown patties with great success. If you would like to start by making your own homemade hash browns which I often do because it is so easy, here is a great step by step recipe for homemade hash browns from Country Cleaver.
- Sausage: I love this casserole made with homemade breakfast sausage, but any breakfast sausage you like works. In fact, this recipe works great with leftover cubed ham, crumbled up cooked bacon, or keep this meatless and add in sauteed vegetables like peppers, onions, or mushrooms.
- Cheese: I love sharp cheddar, as it contrasts with the sausage and eggs well and melts beautifully, but feel free to use any shredded cheese your family likes or has on hand.
- Eggs: This recipe calls for 6 eggs and they will puff up a bit as they bake. However, if you like a thick layer of eggs, increase the number of eggs to 8 instead of 6.
How to make Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
This hash brown breakfast casserole is almost TOO easy--which let's be honest, that is EXACTLY what you need when entertaining or holiday breakfasts.
Step One: Layer defrosted hash browns in a greased casserole dish.
Yes, you can brown your hash browns first in a skillet--but there is NO need to take this step unless of course, you are craving the texture of crispy hash browns mixed with creamy eggs.
If you are desiring, crispier hash browns, I would recommend browning the hash browns ups in the oven for 10-15 minutes before adding the remaining ingredients. This way, you save yourself the step (and extra dish) of browning in the skillet.
Step Two: Layer the hash browns with browned sausage.
Brown up sausage, breaking into small pieces as it cooks, and then drain off any excess grease. Layer the sausage evenly over the potatoes. If you are using ham, bacon, or vegetables, be sure to sprinkle over the potatoes evenly as well.
Step Three: Sprinkle cheese over top of the sausage and hash browns.
Wondering why I put the cheese on now before I add the egg custard?
This helps the cheese to be in every bite of the casserole, not just one gooey layer on top. But hey, if you are craving gooey, layers of slightly browned cheese like a classic lasagna, put the cheese on top of the egg mixture.
Step Four: Mix together the eggs with seasonings and milk and pour over the layers of hash browns, sausage, and cheese.
The eggs will puff up as they bake, but feel free to use 2-3 more eggs if you like your breakfast casserole with a thick layer of eggs--just keep in mind that you will need to increase bake time by 10 to 15 minutes. If you add in more sausage than this recipe calls for, you will need to increase the number of eggs used as well.
Step Five: Bake and serve.
Once your breakfast casserole is assembled, you can immediately bake until the eggs are set and the cheese is browned slightly.
Preparing in Advance
If you are looking for an overnight breakfast casserole, this recipe is perfect for you!
I have made this casserole many times the night before baking. Just assemble as you would up to pouring the eggs over the hash browns and then cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Remove from the refrigerator when the oven is preheating and add an extra 10-15 minutes to the total baking time.
Easy-peasy and perfect for when you are entertaining.
In fact, you can even FREEZE this breakfast casserole for later use. Bake in a freezer-safe pan (like a foil disposable pan) and cool completely. Wrap well in foil and freeze. Defrost in fridge night before planning to eat and then cook for 30 minutes at 350 or until warmed through.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- It is best to use DEFROSTED hashbrowns for this recipe. You can brown your hash browns first before layering in your baking dish if you prefer the texture of crispy hash browns mixed with creamy eggs.
- If you opt to use tater tots instead of hashbrowns, do not defrost before layering in your casserole, but you will need to increase bake time by 5-10 minutes.
- Feel free to use only ½ pound of sausage instead of a full pound if you would like to cut back on the amount of sausage used.
- This breakfast casserole recipe can easily be doubled to feed a crowd. Most bags of frozen hash browns come in 32 ounces and this recipe only calls for 16 ounces. Prepare as directed, but bake in a 9x13 pan.
- Feel free to add an additional 2 eggs to the custard if you like a really thick layer of eggs--just increase the bake time by 10 minutes.
- Be sure your pan is a 9x9 or 11x7 or you may need to increase bake time by 10 minutes.
More Breakfast Casserole Recipes
- Overnight French Toast Casserole
- Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole
- Green Chile Egg Casserole
- Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole
If you made this Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole I would love for you to leave a comment and a review below! I love to hear from you!
Easy Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 16 ounces frozen hashbrowns defrosted (this is usually half a bag)
- 1 pound breakfast sausage browned
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
- 6 eggs
- ½ cup milk or cream
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and brown sausage.
- Layer defrosted hash browns in greased 7x11 or 9x9 casserole dish.
- Layer the browned sausage over the hashbrowns.
- Sprinkle cheese over top the sausage and hashbrowns
- Mix together the eggs with seasonings and milk and pour over the layers of hashbrowns, sausage, and cheese.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until eggs are set.
Notes
- Hashbrowns: You can brown your hash browns first if you prefer the texture of crispy hash browns mixed with creamy eggs. You can also opt to use fresh or frozen hashbrowns, just be sure they are defrosted before preparing this casserole.
- To make this casserole the night before serving: assemble as you would up to step five and then cover and refrigerate overnight. Add an extra 10-15 minutes to the total baking time in the morning.
- I love sharp cheddar for this sausage breakfast casserole, but Gruyere, Swiss, Gouda, or Mozzarella works.
- This recipe can easily be doubled to feed a crowd. Most bags of frozen hash browns come in 32 ounces and this recipe only calls for 16 ounces. Prepare as directed, but bake in a 9x13 pan.
- Feel free to add an additional 2 eggs to the custard if you like a really thick layer of eggs--just increase the bake time by 10 minutes.
- Be sure your pan is a 9x9 or 11x7 or you may need to increase bake time by 10 minutes.
Kathy
Sorry haven't tried it yet that is why there is not rating. Sounds good but I'm not a egg person and was wondering if less eggs is possible but don't want to ruin it so thought I would ask first.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Kathy! I haven't tried cutting the eggs in this recipe, in fact, most prefer with a couple extra eggs. You can certainly try to decrease.
Kathy
Thanks for answering! I will try your recipe the way it is first. ^_^
Paula Jones
This was super easy to prepare and oh, so delicious. It was a hit with the family. I made two batches in two separate pans because I didn't want to allow for the additional bake time for a double batch. Ended up covering it with foil at the end because my oven is evidently hot. Thanks for this recipe which will now be a staple in our home.
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing how much you all enjoyed Paula! Thank you for sharing!
Ms Shari
Thank you! Very delicious! Made for family Sunday morning and was a huge hit! Followed recipe and added 2-3 additional eggs. Next time will add some minced onions and/or vegetable for their flavor.
Mike
Very tasty!
I used a slightly bigger casserole dish then called for, but when I took it out, there were liquid egg whites on top. Maybe my oven temp.
Next time, I will cook 10 minutes longer and also put the hash browns in for 10+ minutes to crisp, as recommended.
Shannon
Great. Very simple-we were very hungry so I sped up the process by sautéing the hash browns for about 10 min. I used the bagged kind. I also added a small amount of minced onion & butter. Then I put in pan & cooked them in oven at 400-while I cooked my turkey sausage. Layered sausage on potatoes, then added my sharp cheddar, egg, and half & half mixture. Yum! Thank u! Cooked at 375 for less than 20 min.
Paul Durr
Hey Kristen...I've always liked breakfast burritos w/salsa and I'm a bachelor looking for a simple way to use up some sausage and salsa. This looks like the best way. Going to add about a half jar of salsa to the mix and cross my fingers. And I'm going to cut it into individual pieces and freeze so should I use parchment paper or foil or just grease the dish w/butter?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Paul! First, I suggest using parchment paper. I also think the salsa, unless really thick, may cause your eggs to not set up well. I would suggest preparing the casserole as directed and then cutting the casserole and rolling in burritos with salsa and then freezing those burritos for busy mornings.
Paul Durr
Ok thx for the suggestion. Didn't think they allowed my question so didn't check and too late for parchment paper. But I did cut some crescent rolls in half, rolled them flat and placed on the bottom. Will just add my salsa alacarte, I think. Will let you know how it turns out.
Paul Durr
Kristen...good that I didn't use parchment because the box said don't use in a toaster oven and my 8 x 8 dish fit nicely in the toaster oven so I thought why not economize and us it? But being that close to the heating element it browned the cheese pretty quick (without undercooking). Next time I'll use about half the potatoes - maybe one layer of McDonald's type hash brown patties from Walmart - maybe half the cheese and two extra eggs. Not sure about adding the salsa to the mix - I have successfully added salsa to the Just Crack an Egg product, and heating salsa separately is kind of messy (don't really like burritos/tortillas, just the salsa). But visually it might not look too good. After greasing and flouring the pan the squares came out easily. Excellent base recipe for an unsophisticated bachelor to experiment with!
L. Chapman
I love this recipe! I have added onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms to the dish
sauteed in the sausage grease. I think next time, I will add sauteed baby spinach. Thank you for such a great recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing you enjoy this recipe and I love the additions you made the casserole. I love adding sauteed spinach myself.
Anneke
I used a 9x13 pan, a whole 30 oz bag of hash browns that I browned first. Then I sprinkled some of the cheese between two layers of the hash browns. I also used 8 eggs and no milk because I was out! Cooked for 55 minutes and it turned out PERFECT. Eggsactly how I hoped! 🤓
Kristen Chidsey
Ha ha! Love that this turned out "egg"cellent 😉
Janet
Hi, want to try this recipe with bacon, how much bacon would I add ?
Thank you
Janet
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Janet. I like to bake 1 package of bacon (about 12 ounces) and crumble and use it. I would decrease the salt in the egg mixture to account for the bacon. Enjoy!
Carol
How do I follow you?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Carol! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest, or sign up for my email.
Jackie
Love it make it every year for Christmas Breakfast.
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that Jackie! Thank you for sharing!
Amanda
I followed recipe for a Christmas morning breakfast and it was delicious!! Everyone loved it! Thank you! My mom used to make an almost identical recipe but added a layer of Crescent rolls on the bottom. I’ve never been able to get the eggs to set with it, though! Any suggestions?
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Amanda. As for the casserole with crescent rolls, I have not made that version myself, but my best guess would be that the crescent rolls absorb the eggs and are never really able to "set" up even though safe to eat.
Ginny
I love easy peasy and this recipe is Great!!!
Mama Bear
I would bake the rolled out Crescent rolls for about 5-10 minutes then add the rest of the ingredients.
Captain pete
those extra crescent rolls from a big gathering make an excellent base also