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.Â
- 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.Â
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.Â
- To make this casserole the night before serving: assemble as you would up through step five and then cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove the casserole when preheating the oven and remove the plastic wrap. 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.Â
- 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.Â
- Be sure your pan is a 9x9 or 11x7 or you may need to increase bake time by 10 minutes.Â
Tori
This was so great for dinner after a long work day with no food in the house. My 15 year old made it and she said it was so easy. She will be making this for Christmas morning!
Kristen Chidsey
I LOVE that your 15 year old made this AND that you want this for Christmas morning! So happy your family enjoyed Tori!
Sherry Clark
I made this for a group of my teenage son's friends, and they polished off the whole pan of this! Super easy, inexpensive, and flexible to use your choice of sausage and cheese. This will be a regular recipe in my arsenal!!
Kristen Chidsey
WAHOO!!! When the teens are happy, that truly is a win! So glad you all enjoyed Sherry!
Sarah
So tasty!! Made this for new years and was a hit! My family still talks about it 🙂 Doubled the recipe but used only one dish since we had other meals to go into the oven as well...so it needed a little longer baking but turned out great! Only thing I added was onion and green pepper, more so for color actually 😉
Question though, I need to bring something to a brunch where I don't have an oven available and will be there a few hours early. Could this be made in a slow cooker and if so how long do you think?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Sarah! I am so glad you enjoyed this so much! It can be made in the slow cooker. You will want to grease it well and it may be best doubled if you have a large slow cooker. Cook on Low for 7-8 hours or high for 2 1/2 – 3 hours. I hope you all enjoy again!
Anthony Baize
Made this last night. It was so good!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed Anthony!
Patti
Oh, and I used chorizo for the meat... chorizo, potatoes and cheese and egg. I'll let you know how it turns out. I'm guessing it'll be a hit.
Kristen Chidsey
I hope that you and your family enjoyed! I am sure the chorizo will add just the right amount of kick 🙂
Patti
I'm making this today for my family and doubled the recipe in a 9x13 pan. Got it in the oven now and will check it at tree 35 min mark. I can't wait for them (and me) to try it!
Matt
Just made this for Easter morning breakfast. Did it in a 9 x 13 pan with bacon and sausage and it turned out fantastic. Made it the night before and was very easy. Did take a ton of eggs to fill up that size pan though, I believe I put 15 eggs in there. After -2 eggs it seemed very sparse. Great recipe thigh and will be making agin. Thanks for sharing!
Kristen Chidsey
I love hearing that you enjoyed Matt!
Stephanie K
Please help! It’s been in the oven for an hour and the eggs are still not cooked. What should I do?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Stephanie, that seems extremely long for your eggs not to be set. It may have to do with your oven or size pan you have. At this point, I would try to increase the temperature to 375 and bake for 15 minutes and see if that helps. Also, if your hashbrowns were still frozen, that could be why the cook time was off, as this recipe calls for thawed hashbrowns. Hope that helps.
Emily
Help: what size eggs should I use? I did the first five steps with regular size eggs, but the egg mixture is very sparse and I can’t even see any of it.... it all sunk below the other ingredients after pouring it in. Does the egg mixture need to rise to the top of the other ingredients before baking?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Emily! Regular eggs will work--and they will rise above the ingredients to a point. However, if you feel your egg mixture is not sufficient, whisk up 2-3 more eggs and pour on top!
Nancy
Isn’t this too much to put in a 9x9 pan.? Or should be put in a 9x13?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Nancy! I make this all the time in a 7x11 or 2 quart pan. However, it is thicker. Feel free to bake in a 9x13--just keep an eye on bake time as that will change. And you may want to add in an extra 2 eggs to your egg mixture.
Tea Elle M.
I love this recipe! I change it up a little every time I make it. Today, I used left-over spicy pulled pork & spinach.
Kristen Chidsey
Oh that combination sounds delicious. I am so glad you love this recipe 😊
Amanda
Very tasty and easy to make, thanks for sharing! I tried to search the comments to make sure this wasn't already mentioned, but just wanted to add that I like crispy hashbrowns, but not the extra step of cooking them first, ha ha 🙂 I used defrosted/thawed hash brown patties in a smaller pan, and it turned out great! They also happened to be the only form of hash browns in our house, so it was either use them or make something else. Just wanted to share that idea! I have a mini Le Creuset casserole dish, and 4 patties fit perfectly across the bottom. I used 2/3 of the other ingredients, and that seemed to work well.
Kristen Chidsey
OH that's a great tip! Thanks for sharing Amanda! And so glad you enjoyed!
Lisa W
Yummy, easily prepared, no hassle!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!! So glad you enjoyed and this recipe was easy to follow--those are the best!
Jay
I altered this a little. Added green bell peppers, used turkey sausage, and baked in a 9x13. Thanks for the recipe. Breakfast casseroles have always been my favorite since I was a kid 😉
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Jay! I also love that you modified based on your tastes--that is the BEST way to use a recipe 🙂
Tammy
I'm looking forward to giving this a try! I was looking for a breakfast casserole that I could bake, freeze, cut into squares, wrap with foil for a ski in Yurt Trip. It will stay frozen as we ski in and place in coolers at the mountain yurt. The plan is then to reheat in individual foil packs over the wood stove for breakfast!
Kristen Chidsey
That sounds like a great idea Tammy. Enjoy your trip and breakfast.
Ingrid
Hello Kristen, I make this recipe every few weeks for our breakfast in church and almost everyone likes it and asks for the recipe. This is a great breakfast dish and so will convert this recipe into a vegan one for my husband unless you have already a vegan one you could share. Thank you
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Ingrid! I am SO glad your church group enjoys this so much. This would be a hard casserole to make vegan as eggs, sausage, and cheese are huge components. I do have a few Vegan options for breakfast that we adore though: Overnight Strawberries and Cream Steel Cut Oatmeal (Slow Cooker) (use vegan milk and yogurt), Sweet Potato Baked Oatmeal (leave out egg), Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal, and Southwestern Sweet Potato Hash (just don't top with egg). Hope that gives you some ideas 🙂