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This breakfast casserole has saved me so many Christmas mornings. I just throw everything in the crockpot before bed and wake up to the most amazing smell. My kids come running downstairs asking what smells so good. It's packed with potatoes sausage and loads of cheese no one leaves the table hungry.
Why We Love This So Much
Listen this casserole is a lifesaver on busy mornings. I used to stress about making breakfast when family stayed over but now I don't even think about it. Pop it in before bed and breakfast is ready when you wake up. Plus everyone can dig in whenever they're ready no need to coordinate breakfast time.
What You Need
- Sausage: One pound cooked and crumbled I use turkey sausage sometimes
- Hash Browns or Tater Tots: The big 32 oz bag
- Peppers: One red and one green diced up
- Onion: Just one yellow onion chopped
- Cheese: Two cups of Pepper Jack or Monterey Jack
- Eggs: A full dozen
- Milk: One cup
- Salt and Pepper: To taste
- Optional: Green chiles cilantro or whatever toppings you like
Putting It Together
- Get Everything Ready
- Cook up your sausage and chop the veggies. Give your crockpot a good spray so nothing sticks.
- Start Layering
- Put down some hash browns then sausage peppers onions and cheese. Do this three times.
- The Egg Part
- Beat up your eggs with milk salt and pepper until they're really well mixed. Pour this all over everything in the crockpot.
- Time for Bed
- Turn it on low and get some sleep. It'll be perfect in about 8 hours.
Mix It Up
Sometimes I use bacon instead of sausage or throw in both. My kids love when I use tater tots instead of hash browns they get all crispy on top. Adding some green chiles gives it a nice kick and sometimes I put out bowls of pico de gallo and sour cream so everyone can top their own.
Make It Your Way
Last weekend I made it with lots of cilantro and Monterey Jack cheese had a real Tex-Mex thing going. My sister likes hers with maple syrup on top sounds weird but it's actually pretty good. The kids love it with fruit salad on the side.
A Few Tricks I've Learned
Don't skip spraying the crockpot or you'll be scrubbing forever. Really beat those eggs good they'll come out fluffier. Make sure you drain the sausage well or the whole thing gets greasy nobody wants that.
Getting It Ready
Layer everything nice and even so it cooks the same all the way through. Make sure that egg mixture gets down into all the layers I usually poke a few holes with a fork to help it along. Then just pop the lid on and let it do its thing overnight.
Making It Perfect
Buy good cheese it makes a difference trust me. Let it sit for about 10 minutes before you cut into it the pieces come out neater. Sometimes I stick it under the broiler for a minute to get the top extra crispy.
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Saving Some For Later
Leftovers last about 3 days in the fridge but they never stick around that long at my house. If you want to freeze some cut it into squares first then put them in freezer bags. Just pop them in the microwave when you want a quick breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I prep this the night before?
Yes! Layer everything in the crockpot, cover and refrigerate overnight. Add the egg mixture just before cooking in the morning.
- → What if I don't have pepper jack cheese?
Any melting cheese works great. Try Monterey Jack, Colby, or more cheddar. The pepper jack just adds a nice kick of heat.
- → Can I use fresh potatoes instead of frozen?
Fresh grated potatoes work but need to be rinsed and dried well first. Frozen hash browns are more convenient and give consistent results.
- → Why is my casserole watery?
Don't lift the lid while cooking as this creates condensation. Also make sure your frozen hash browns aren't icy when adding them.
- → How do I know when it's done?
The eggs should be set and not jiggly in the middle. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean, and edges should be lightly golden.