You will love this Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Sausage because it’s so easy to make ahead for a special holiday brunch. Full of flavor with lots of melty cheese, bacon and sausage!
Breakfast casseroles – they are every mom’s make ahead solution for exciting holiday brunches, am I right?! Think Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day… This brunch bake? It’s always perfect.
I’m usually more into sweet breakfasts, but this hearty little number with cheese, bacon and breakfast sausage is too good to pass up. It’s super easy to assemble in the evening, then you can bake it in the morning without having to make a huge fuss around breakfast.
Ingredients you’ll need
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!
Ingredient notes
- Bread: I like to use a crusty sourdough, but you can also use French bread or Italian bread. Basically, any white bread with a good crust turns into a great breakfast casserole here! Steer clear from sweet breads such as Brioche.
- Ground sausage: Use your favorite sausage meat here. Regular breakfast sausage, sage or maple sausage, Turkey sausage, pork sausage… Use your favorite!
- Cheese: I go for cheddar cheese here, but feel free to use a different cheese such as Colby Jack, or a mix of a few cheeses.
- Milk: I use milk and not cream, the casserole is already very rich. Feel free to use half-and-half though, if you prefer.
- Worcestershire sauce: You can use soy sauce in place of the Worcestershire, or just leave it out if you don’t have any on hand.
How to make an overnight breakfast casserole
1. Start by cooking the sausage and bacon in a large skillet until browned and crumbled.
2. For the egg mixture, combine milk, eggs, Worcestershire sauce, mustard and all seasonings in a measuring jug. Whisk very well until combined.
3. To assemble the casserole, place the cubed bread in greased 9×13 inch casserole dish. Add the sausage and bacon mixture and evenly spread over the top.
Sprinkle on the cheese, then pour over the egg mixture. Push down any bread that’s not covered to make sure everything is evenly soaking in the liquid ingredients.
4. Finally, cover the dish and refrigerate it overnight.
In the morning, remove the dish from the fridge and uncover it. Let it sit on the counter while the oven preheats, then bake as directed in the recipe card below.
Allow the casserole to sit on the counter for 10 minutes before slicing it to serve.
Recipe tips
- You can use both fresh or stale bread for this. Stale bread makes a bit of a sturdier casserole, fresh bread a softer one. There is no need to toast fresh bread prior to making this, however, you are free to do so if you prefer bread bakes this way.
- Make sure you crumble the sausage as it browns in the skillet, it makes it much easier to evenly spread over the bread.
- When you assemble the bake, make sure all the bread is soaking in milk/egg mixture. Otherwise you’ll end up with dry spots in the casserole.
- If you forgot to prepare the casserole in the evening, you can get away with baking it after soaking for 1 hour. The casserole will be soggier than an overnight soaked casserole. It’s still delicious though and works if you really need to bake it as soon as possible.
Serving suggestions
We like to top our casserole with fresh herbs, green onion and serve sour cream on the side.
Due to the richness of this breakfast casserole, I like to serve it with something fresh and light. Try a Winter Fruit Salad (or a Summer Fruit Salad, depending on the season) for a sweet side.
For a savory side salad, try a Tomato Cucumber Salad or a Mexican Bean Salad.
More overnight breakfasts
PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.
Printable recipe
Cheesy Overnight Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Recipe details
Ingredients
- 1 pound breakfast sausage
- 1 cup diced bacon
- 12 oz sourdough bread sliced into 1 inch cubes (8-10 cups)
- 2 ½ cups milk
- 8 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon ground paprika
- ¼ teaspoon EACH onion & garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- chives, parsley, green onion, sour cream to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 inch square baking dish or spray with cooking spray.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown sausage and bacon. Stir regularly to break up any lumps. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Mix milk, eggs, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and all seasonings together in a large measuring jug.
- Place bread in prepared casserole dish. Evenly top with sausage mixture, then with shredded cheese. Pour over egg mixture, pushing down any unsoaked bread pieces with a spoon. Refrigerate overnight or at least 6 hours.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Let casserole sit on the counter while oven preheats. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes, until the center is completely set.
- Leave to cool on teh counter for 10 minutes before serving with your favorite toppings!
Notes
Tips
- If you don’t want to use pork sausage, feel free to use turkey sausage instead.
- When you assemble the bake, make sure all the bread is soaking in milk/egg mixture. It doesn’t have to be completely submerged, but all bread pieces should be in contact with the liquid.
- I enjoy the taste of smoked paprika in this dish, but if you don’t have it/don’t like it that’s completely fine. Just use regular paprika powder!
- If you’re looking to add more flavor, I suggest adding ¼ teaspoon each garlic and onion powder.
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
I usually prefer sweet breakfasts, too, but I feel like on holidays and special occasions I am all about the savory. This looks so perfect for Christmas morning!! Yum!!
Nora says
Sometimes it’s worth to dive into savory breakfasts 🙂 Thank you Jess!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
YES to everything about this casserole.. I love that it’s overnight, perfect for the busy christmas period!
Annie @ ciaochowbambina says
I love everything about this! From the sausage to the sourdough! This casserole sounds like a perfect way to begin Christmas day!
Tori@Gringalicious.com says
Perfet for Christmas morning! My family would love this. I have to try it now!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I love breakfast recipes that can be prepped the night before! I can’t wait to try this casserole!
Julie @ Julie’s Eats & Treats says
Totally agree that the rushing everywhere isn’t very enjoyable at the holidays some of the time! This looks like the perfect breakfast to wake up to on Christmas morning!
Nora says
Much better to have it cozy! Thanks Cyndi 🙂
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Ah, yes!!! the Overnight Sausage Breakfast Casserole!!! love this!!! and love that you and Branimir are going to experience this deliciousness again on Christmas morning . . your looks absolutely delicious! can’t believe Christmas is less than 2 weeks away!
Nora says
Thanks so much Alice! And YES! Christmas is way too close already, haha!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
If I had this waiting for me in the morning, I would hop out of bed bright and early! Would be better than an alarm clock : )
Nora says
Haha, yes exactly Natalie 🙂
Christina @ Bake with Christina says
This looks so yummy and such a great dish to have for breakfast!! Pinned!
Nora says
Thank you so much Christina and thanks for stopping by!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
Overnight breakfasts are my FAVORITE! Sweet or savory, it doesn’t matter. Breakfast is my favorite meal and if I get to have a hot breakfast without making it?! That’s perfection.
Nora says
I love breakfast too! I could eat it three times a day 😀 Thanks for stopping by Ashley!
Sarah | Broma Bakery says
I love recipes that are made in advance! This looks perfect for a large family like mine. We’d just devour this!
Nora says
They belong to my favorites too! Oh gosh, cooking for large families on holidays can be so stressful! Thanks for stopping by Sarah 🙂
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
How wonderful that you’ll be spending Christmas morning at home. That is the best! I love overnight anything on Christmas morning… it makes the morning so calm and slower. Thank you for sharing your recipe, Nora!
Nora says
It really is! Thank you so much Traci!
Jessica | A Happy Food Dance says
I love anything that can be made the night ahead – this will be perfect for company too!
Nora says
Thanks for stopping by Jessica! 🙂
Shinee says
I am all about overnight breakfast bakes. Love this, Nora!
Nora says
Thank you so much Shinee!
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says
I usually reach for the sweet breakfast items too, but this casserole seriously looks SO amazing I think I could bend a few of my rules. 😀 Absolutely loving that it’s overnight, which means in the morning, so much quicker to the table! Pretty photos, Nora! Pinned. 🙂
Nora says
Sometimes we all have to be rebellious against our own rules 😉 Thanks Sarah and thanks for pinning!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
I love Christmas morning breakfasts! Well, really any holiday breakfast because I use it as an excuse to indulge. I’ve been really into savory breakfasts lately so this casserole comes at the right time for sure. Pinning!
Nora says
Haha, breakfast or brunch is a great excuse to indulge! Thanks for stopping by Alyssa!