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Breakfast Casserole

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A breakfast casserole brimming with sausage and sharp Cheddar cheese makes a stress-free, crowd-pleasing brunch.

Breakfast casserole in a baking dish.

A breakfast casserole, sometimes called a strata, combines common breakfast ingredients, such as eggs, meat, vegetables, cheese, and bread, baked in a large dish. This ultra-rich version, brimming with savory sausage and sharp cheddar cheese, boasts a deep flavor, crisp golden crust, and creamy interior. It’s one of my standbys for entertaining because it can be assembled ahead of time and feeds a crowd. The recipe was given to me by one of my oldest and closest friends, Kelly Santoro, who got it from her friend Corey, who got it from his mother, who originally found it in an old spiral-bound church cookbook. Such is the path of a good recipe! This breakfast casserole will save you time and effort during those busy holiday mornings — prep it the day before, and when morning comes, simply pop it in the oven for an effortless and delicious brunch.

What You’ll Need To Make Breakfast Casserole

breakfast casserole ingredients

Step-by-Step Instructions

Start by cutting the bread into cubes. Set aside.

bread cubes on cutting boardMelt 1 tablespoon of butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break the meat into small clumps, until browned, about 10 minutes.

browning the sausage Transfer the sausage to a large mixing bowl, leaving the fat in the pan. Turn the heat down to medium, then add the onions to the pan along with 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook the onions, stirring constantly, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.

cooking the onionsAdd the onions to the mixing bowl with the sausage, along with the bread cubes, grated cheese and parsley.

sausage and onions tossed in bowl with other breakfast casserole ingredientsToss well, then spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan.

bread, sausage, and onion mixture in baking dish

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, salt and pepper.

eggs and half-and-half mixture in bowlPour the egg mixture evenly over the bread mixture.

pouring the egg mixture over the bread and sausage mixture Cover tightly with saran wrap and refrigerate for at least a few hours or overnight.

covered breakfast casserolePreheat the oven to 350°F. Bake for about one hour, uncovered, until puffed and golden brown. Serve immediately.

Breakfast casserole in a baking dish.You May Also Like

Video Tutorial

Breakfast Casserole

A breakfast casserole brimming with sausage and sharp Cheddar cheese makes a stress-free, crowd-pleasing brunch.

Servings: 6 to 8
Cook Time: 1 Hour
Total Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 1 pound sweet or spicy pork sausage (casings removed)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 loaf (18 slices) white sandwich bread, such as Pepperidge Farm, crusts removed and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2½ cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 cups half-and-half
  • Scant teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with butter.
  2. In a large nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon to break the meat into small clumps, until browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a large mixing bowl, leaving the fat in the pan.
  3. Turn the heat down to medium, then add the onions to the pan along with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook the onions, stirring constantly, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the onions to the mixing bowl with the sausage, along with the bread cubes, grated cheese, and parsley. Toss well, then spread the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, salt, and pepper.
  5. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread mixture. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Bake for about one hour, uncovered, until puffed and golden brown. Slice into squares and serve immediately.
  7. Note: The cook time is based on cooking the bread pudding directly out of the refrigerator. If it's left to sit out at room temperature before baking, check for doneness after 45 minutes.

Nutrition Information

Powered by Edamam

  • Per serving (8 servings)
  • Calories: 669
  • Fat: 44 g
  • Saturated fat: 20 g
  • Carbohydrates: 37 g
  • Sugar: 8 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 32 g
  • Sodium: 1098 mg
  • Cholesterol: 251 mg

This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.

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Comments

  • I have made this before and it is excellent. Can I substitute gluten free sandwich bread (store bought), and if so, are there any other adjustments I would need to make?

    • — Chris Delmar on February 2, 2024
    • Reply
    • Glad you liked it! Yes, you can use gluten-free bread; no other adjustments are necessary.

      • — Jenn on February 3, 2024
      • Reply
  • Any chance I can omit the bread? If so, what adaptations might I need to consider?

    • — AMarie on February 1, 2024
    • Reply
    • You really need the bread for this – sorry!

      • — Jenn on February 1, 2024
      • Reply
  • I made this and several other of Jenn’s recipes for Christmas, 2023. This was, hands-down, the winner. It was perfect in every way, and there wasn’t a drop left. I should’ve made two. I made zero changes to the recipe and I stored it in the refrigerator overnight, not just the several hours minimum. Delicious.

    • — Jennifer Oldham on January 2, 2024
    • Reply
  • I was looking for something easy and delicious to add to my Christmas breakfast and stumbled on “once upon a chef” and I am SOOO happy I did. My family loved this! I might have added more sausage than the recipe calls for but only because my family loves sausage! I also made the oatmeal bake and that was also a hit! Thank you for sharing your easy instructions and delicious recipes. I am a total FAN and love your website and your “story” and I am about to order a cookbook.

    • — Denise G. on December 31, 2023
    • Reply
  • I made this a few years ago in an 8×8 pan and added too much liquid and it took forever to cook. This time I used a 9×9 pan and reduced all ingredients by 1/3. Turned out great! I added sauteed onion, red & green bell pepper and 2/3 lb sausage. Big hit on Christmas morning. Took a little longer than an hour to cook through. This will be the go-to for Christmas morning from now on.

    • — Ellen S on December 26, 2023
    • Reply
  • This may have already been answered: Can I make it the day before and reheat the day of serving? Will reheating it dry it out? Thanks.

    • — Peggy on December 20, 2023
    • Reply
    • Yes, Peggy that will work. I’d reheat it at 325 degrees. Keep it covered with foil and then remove the foil for the last few minutes to crisp up the top. Hope that helps!

      • — Jenn on December 20, 2023
      • Reply
      • It helps tremendously. Thanks so much.

        • — Peggy on December 20, 2023
        • Reply
  • The best.

    • — Ashlea on December 16, 2023
    • Reply
  • Can we sub white Broche bread cutting them to the size in the recipe?

    • — Dorothea on December 14, 2023
    • Reply
    • Sure!

      • — Jenn on December 14, 2023
      • Reply
  • Can you use hash browns instead of bread? Love all your recipes but your pumpkin bread is always a hit!

    • — Angie on November 30, 2023
    • Reply
    • Glad you like the pumpkin bread! I do think this could work with frozen hash browns. I’d love to know how it turns out if you try it!

      • — Jenn on November 30, 2023
      • Reply
      • The casserole was delicious with hash browns just needed to add an hour to the cooking time!🤩

        • — Angie on December 3, 2023
        • Reply
        • Glad it came out well — thanks for taking the time to report back! 😊

          • — Jenn on December 4, 2023
          • Reply
  • Another fantastic recipe! It was easy to prepare and so flavorful. I made this for a teacher breakfast at my daughter’s school and so many people asked for the recipe.

    • — Karla on November 19, 2023
    • Reply
  • I have no sausage on hand but tons of bacon. Could I use bacon instead of sausage, and if so, how much?

    • — Taryn on November 8, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Taryn, I think this would be best with sausage but if you’d like to use the bacon you have on hand, I’d suggest about 8 ounces. Please LMK how it turns out if you try it!

      • — Jenn on November 8, 2023
      • Reply
  • I have made a few of your recipes before without fail, they come out great. Made this for the first time for a brunch and yep, it was great! I used breakfast sausages instead which I found easier to cut up into chunks as they’re small and added fresh sage. While it wasn’t dry, I may add an extra egg and half & half next time. Thank you for the recipe!

    • — Karen L on October 31, 2023
    • Reply
  • This is my first time making this. It was really good.

    • — Joan Maher on October 20, 2023
    • Reply
  • Always a hit for Christmas morning breakfast and work putluck! I’m thinking of making two (or three!) trays of this for a work potluck for my husband next week, could I use seasoned stuffing cubes instead of sliced white bread to cut down on the prep work?

    • — Karen L on September 10, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Karen, I don’t recommend seasoned stuffing cubes here – sorry!

      • — Jenn on September 11, 2023
      • Reply
      • Oh no, I already bought some and started cooking, would it be horrible to use them?

        • — Karen L on September 11, 2023
        • Reply
        • Hi Karen, No not horrible – just better with fresh! How did it turn out?

          • — Jenn on September 12, 2023
          • Reply
  • Hi Jenn!

    I love all your recipes! I only have one of your cookbooks but everything I’ve ever made has been a hit!

    My question is this: I am not a fan of parsley – could I sub fresh basil with the same results? Or should I just omit the parsley?

    • — Christene on September 6, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Christene, Sure I think basil would work nicely here. Please LMK how it turns out – and so glad you enjoy the recipes!

      • — Jenn on September 7, 2023
      • Reply
      • Thank you! Serving it to company tomorrow am!!! Making it now!

        • — Christene Madsen on September 7, 2023
        • Reply
        • I did substitute basil for the parsley Jenn and it was DELICIOUS! Definitely a winner!!! We are Costco shoppers and they have an awesome spicy pork sausage that worked perfectly.

          Thanks for being such an amazing chef!!

          • — Christene Madsen on September 14, 2023
          • Reply
  • Hi – I need to transport this dish after cooking – probably a couple of hours before we eat it. Will it work to reheat it after cooking? Any suggestions are appreciated!

    • — Julie on August 31, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Julie, Sure, I’d reheat it at 325 degrees. I’d keep it covered with foil and then remove the foil for the last few minutes to crisp up the top. Hope that helps!

      • — Jenn on August 31, 2023
      • Reply
  • Sorry if this was asked already but can you make this and freeze it. My niece is a school teacher and is looking for something to meal prep in the morning. She would take it into work and reheat in a microwave.

    • — Lori Falconer on August 28, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Lori, I’ve never tried freezing this dish, and am not sure how well it would freeze with the eggs and dairy. That said, a number of readers have commented that they have frozen it successfully.

      • — Jenn on August 29, 2023
      • Reply
  • I haven’t made this yet, but it sounds delicious! Thinking I will substitute the bread for skillet fried potatoes. Thoughts?

    • — Donna on July 22, 2023
    • Reply
    • Unfortunately, I don’t think that will work as the potatoes won’t soak up the egg mixture like the bread does. Sorry!

      • — Jenn on July 24, 2023
      • Reply
  • Hi Jen,
    Question: was looking for your savory sausage bread pudding recipe.
    Is this casserole the same recipe.

    Thanks, Rose

    • — Rose Kidd on July 21, 2023
    • Reply
    • Sorry for you any confusion — yes, it’s the same. I just changed the name. 🙂

      • — Jenn on July 22, 2023
      • Reply
  • Made this casserole last night and came out perfect and delicious! Quickly added it to “my recipe box “ and look forward to having it again for dinner with salad! 🙂

    • — Kimberly on May 7, 2023
    • Reply
  • Good morning, I’ve just made the casserole. It was delicious. What I didn’t understand was the half and half on the ingredients list … what is it about, please?
    Many thanks,
    Isilda

    • — Isilda on April 30, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Islida, It sounds like you may live outside the US? Half and Half is just a mixture of half whole milk and half cream. I’m not sure where you live, but in the UK, it’s referred to as half cream. Hope that clarifies!

      • — Jenn on May 1, 2023
      • Reply
  • Hi! I don’t have half and half on hand but I do have heavy cream and whole milk. Should I use one cup of each or all of one or the other in place of the half and half? Thank you so much!

    • — April on April 28, 2023
    • Reply
    • I’d go with one cup of each. Enjoy!

      • — Jenn on April 28, 2023
      • Reply
  • Like nearly everyone else, I thought that this casserole was absolutely delicious! Changes I made thanks to helpful commenters were: Add two 4 oz. cans of Hatch green chilis drained (will add 4 cans next time); 2 tsp. of Dijon mustard in the egg mixture; 1 red bell pepper, sauteed w/onions first; one 9 oz. package of mini-croissants from the bakery, halved, toasted in the oven at 350° ’til lightly browned (about 10 min.) and then broken into bite-size pieces.
    The best ingredient was that I got to share the casserole with a neighbor who suffered a recent loss. Thanks as always for all of your time & effort in helping others here, Jenn.

    • — John M. on April 16, 2023
    • Reply
  • Absolutely delicious😊I made it on Saturday and baked Easter morning. The whole family loved it! Since my baking dish is glass I brought to room temperature and lowered temperature 25 degrees. Baked 45 minutes then increased 25 degrees for 15 minutes to brown. Perfect 💕

    • — Chris on April 12, 2023
    • Reply
  • Can it be any simpler?? This was a fantastically easy and super delish breakfast casserole! I made mine Saturday evening and popped it in the oven Easter morning for 45 minutes since I removed it from the fridge ahead of time. I used plant sausage, vegan cheddar cheese, and Ripple half-and-half to accommodate the vegans in the group and EVERYONE loved the dish! Served with fresh pico de gallo and guacamole, yum! This will be a standard “go-to” receipe!

    • — Kathy on April 10, 2023
    • Reply
  • THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! Your egg casserole is the BEST. The eggs and bread were pillowy delicious and the sausage, parsley and cheese scrumptious… Also, I made your The Best Strawberry Shortcake – OMG THE BEST!!! I have tried so many of your recipes Jenn and every recipe has been a hit with my family & friends. You are my first go-to when searching for a recipe. Do you have an egg casserole with hashbrowns & bacon or any suggestions. Again, thank you…

    • — Susan Lee on April 10, 2023
    • Reply
    • Glad this was a hit (and thanks for your kind words about the recipes)! As of now, I don’t have a recipe for an egg casserole that has hashbrowns and bacon, but I will add it to my list of recipes to potentially develop. 🙂

      • — Jenn on April 10, 2023
      • Reply
  • Another EXCELLENT recipe. The only thing I did was weigh the bread in case I couldn’t find Pepperidge Farm sandwich bread (425 g). Thank you!

    • — Lulu on April 8, 2023
    • Reply
  • Absolutely delicious! This has just replaced my previous go to overnight casserole. I made this with Tennessee Pride hot sausage, a particularly spicy brand, and it worked beautifully though I’m sure any type or brand of sausage would be just fine. I made a half recipe since it was a meal for just the two of us. I prepped it in the afternoon and cooked it several hours later. I paired this with Jenn’s strawberry/orange fruit salad and a hot biscuit for a great breakfast for dinner meal. This will definitely be making an appearance at holiday brunches. Thank you for another winner!

    • — Rhonda on April 7, 2023
    • Reply
  • I am planning to make this for Easter brunch. Got so much extra advice and tips from reading the reviews which were all crazy good. You are my go- to- chef for recipes, Jenn. Made your Pad Thai this last week and it was delicious! So grateful for your recipes.

    • — kathleen on April 5, 2023
    • Reply
    • 💕

      • — Jenn on April 5, 2023
      • Reply
  • Does this dish go directly from fridge to oven? Thank you

    • — Susan on April 3, 2023
    • Reply
    • Yep 🙂

      • — Jenn on April 3, 2023
      • Reply
  • About how many cups of cubed bread is this? Thanks.

    • — Leslie Case on April 2, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Leslie, I’ve never measured the bread once I’ve cubed it, but I suspect it should about be 10 – 12 cups. Hope you enjoy!

      • — Jenn on April 3, 2023
      • Reply
  • Hi Jenn
    I have a question about the amount of bread used in this recipe. You mentioned using 18 slices of bread but curious how many ounces the package weighs? The photo shows it already cut up.
    Thanks
    Chris

    • — Chris on April 2, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Chris, you’ll need 16 ounces of bread. Hope you enjoy the dish!

      • — Jenn on April 3, 2023
      • Reply
  • This recipe is in Jenn’s first cookbook listed as “Sausage & Cheddar Bread Pudding”

    • — Patti R on April 2, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi I live in Canada we do not have pepperidge sandwich bread. Is there a substitute I can use. Thank you

      • — Janis Duval on July 27, 2023
      • Reply
      • Hi Janis, you really can use any kind of bread you like here. Hope you enjoy!

        • — Jenn on July 27, 2023
        • Reply
  • This is so comforting and delicious ! I made it with milk instead of half and half and it was perfect ! Thanks again.

    • — Taline on March 14, 2023
    • Reply
  • I made 2 batches of this, one as written and one dairy free. They both came out great!
    For the dairy free batch I subbed Oatly Barista Blend for the half and half and used Follow Your Heart Vegan Cheddar Shreds.
    I used a good crusty french loaf because that’s just what kind of bread I prefer and let everything sit overnight. It was perfect for the baby shower I hosted and made day of prep very easy.
    I really enjoyed it with some Tabasco, I thought it gave it a nice kick to break up the creaminess of the dish.

    • — Kal on March 2, 2023
    • Reply
  • Hi Jenn,
    I’d love to try this recipe. I only have parmigiano-reggiano and parmesan cheeses. Can I sub either one for cheddar cheese? Also, how many gram is 2 tbsp of butter?
    Many thanks.

    • — Katherine on January 23, 2023
    • Reply
    • Hi Katherine, I wouldn’t recommend those cheeses as they don’t melt nearly as well as cheddar — sorry! And 2 tablespoons of butter is the equivalent of 28 grams.

      • — Jenn on January 25, 2023
      • Reply
  • The simplicity of this recipe’s ingredients, made it an absolutely delicious breakfast for New Year’s morning. I almost steered clear of it because Italian sausage in a breakfast dish seemed unusual to me but it is actually what elevated this dish and we loved it. Thank you Jen for sharing it with us.

    • — Stephanie on January 2, 2023
    • Reply
  • Made this for New Years Day breakfast with the rest of an Italian bread (used the first half for croutons for your Caesar salad)….didn’t cut off the crusts, and it was excellent and so easy to pop in the oven. Highly recommend! Happy New Year Jenn!

    • — Raquel on January 1, 2023
    • Reply
  • I think this would have been really good but there is too much bread for the amount of egg mixture. Some of the bread rises above and gets hard. I would stick to about 10 slices of bread.

    • — Kevin M on December 27, 2022
    • Reply

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