Sausage Casserole Recipe (Cheesy Sausage Breakfast Casserole)

This sausage casserole recipe is the perfect comfort food for breakfast. It’s loaded with seasoned breakfast sausage, golden hash browns, melty sharp cheddar cheese, and tender peppers and onions—all baked together until bubbly and irresistible. The best part? It’s an easy sausage casserole that works for any meal of the day. Whether you want a hearty sausage breakfast casserole for brunch, a cozy one-pan dinner on a busy weeknight, or a make-ahead meal for the freezer, this recipe does it all.

Why I Love This Sausage Casserole

I’ve always been a big fan of breakfast-for-dinner, and this sausage casserole is one of my go-to recipes. It’s hearty, cheesy, and filling—everything I want in a comfort food casserole. The flavors come together perfectly from the very first bite: savory sausage, crispy hash browns, melty cheese, and just the right amount of onion and bell pepper for a balance of flavors.

What I also love is how versatile it is. You can serve it straight out of the oven for a hot dinner, make it ahead for meal prep, or even assemble it the night before and bake it fresh in the morning for brunch. It’s freezer-friendly, easy to customize, and always a crowd-pleaser.

And since it bakes up while you do other things, it’s the kind of recipe that makes entertaining or feeding a crowd stress-free. Pair it with something simple on the side—like a fruit salad or even a café-style Starbucks cafe mocha—and you’ve got the kind of meal that makes any start to your day feel special.

Ingredients

The ingredient list is pretty straightforward, and you have tons of room to modify things depending on the flavor you're after. Honestly, one quick trip to the grocery store is all you need to make this easy sausage and potato casserole!

Anyway, here's exactly what you'll need to make this sausage breakfast casserole:

• ½ lb. breakfast sausage (I used spicy sausage)
• ¼ cup chopped red bell pepper
• ¼ cup chopped yellow bell pepper
• ¼ cup chopped onions
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 10oz. hashbrowns, fresh or frozen, chopped
• 6 eggs
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 ¼ cups shredded cheddar cheese
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

See, that's not so bad, right?

By the way, if you have all or most of these ingredients, then you already have everything you need to make this chicken hashbrown casserole as well. And if you have extra sausage and cheese, you can put it to good use by making my overnight egg casserole, this sausage cream cheese casserole, my famous cream cheese sausage balls, or this biscuits and gravy casserole next!

How To Make Sausage Casserole

Step 1: Prep

 Preheat oven to 375°F. Remove the sausage casing. Heat a large skillet with oil over medium-high heat.

Step 2: Cook the Sausage and Veggies

Add the sausage to the hot oil and cook it until browned. Break into sausage crumbles as it cooks. Add the bell peppers and onions and cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes. Transfer the cooked sausage and veggies into an 8x8 casserole dish.

Step 3: Make the Filling

 Beat the eggs with milk and heavy cream in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir in the cheddar cheese.

Step 4: Assemble and Bake

 Pour the egg mixture over the sausage mixture. Add the hash browns. Stir gently to combine everything. Bake the casserole for 45 minutes.

Step 5: Serve and Dig In

Cool the sausage breakfast casserole on a wire rack briefly before slicing. Garnish the casserole with some chopped parsley and serve warm. 

Expert Tips for The Best Sausage Casserole

• Prep Ahead for Busy Mornings – Brown the sausage and sauté the veggies the night before. Store them in the fridge, then just assemble and bake the casserole the next day. This trick makes it a true make-ahead sausage casserole.
• Choose Your Sausage Wisely – Classic breakfast sausage gives that traditional flavor, but don’t be afraid to swap in Italian, spicy, maple, chicken, turkey, or even smoked sausage. Each variety brings a slightly different twist to your casserole.
• Mix in Extra Veggies – Bell peppers and onions are a great base, but this dish is super flexible. Try broccoli, spinach, kale, zucchini, or even diced tomatoes for a heartier and more nutritious casserole variation.
• Get Creative with Cheese – Cheddar is classic, but pepper jack, Colby Jack, mozzarella, or even a sharp provolone can change the flavor profile. For a spicy kick, pair pepper jack cheese with a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes in the egg mixture.
• Keep the Texture Just Right – If you're using frozen hash browns, make sure they're thawed and patted dry before layering them in. This prevents excess moisture and helps the casserole bake up golden instead of watery.
• Add Toppings for Serving – Elevate each slice with toppings like avocado, salsa, sour cream, or even a drizzle of my copycat McDonald's breakfast sauce. It’s a simple way to give the dish a loaded breakfast casserole vibe.

FAQS About This Sausage Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Can I make this casserole ahead of time?

Yes! You can fully assemble the casserole the night before. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate overnight. When you’re ready to serve, bake it straight from the fridge (adding a few extra minutes of bake time if needed). This makes it a perfect make-ahead sausage breakfast casserole for holidays, brunch, or busy mornings.

How do I store leftovers?

Cover and refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for best results, or warm individual slices in the microwave for a quick meal.

Can I freeze sausage casserole?

Definitely. Bake the casserole first, let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly in foil or portion it into freezer containers. It will keep for up to 2 months. To reheat, bake from frozen at 350°F until warmed through or thaw overnight in the fridge for quicker reheating.

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy?

The most common reason is excess moisture. Be sure to drain the sausage grease well before mixing it into the dish. Also, cook your veggies until soft and drain them before adding them. Using thawed and patted-dry hash browns instead of frozen ones will also help prevent a watery casserole.

Can you use pre-cooked sausage for this recipe?

Yes! Pre-cooked sausage will make the prep work much quicker. Just slice or crumble the cooked sausage into the casserole and cook the veggies separately before assembling.

What’s the best sausage to use?

This casserole works with almost any sausage. Breakfast sausage is classic, but Italian sausage, spicy sausage, smoked sausage, maple sausage, or even turkey sausage all taste great and give the casserole a slightly different flavor. There are no wrong answers!

Can I make this casserole without hash browns?

Yes. You can swap the hash browns for cubed potatoes, cooked rice, or even bread cubes for a more classic breakfast strata-style casserole. I personally like mixing it up and using potatoes for a cheesy sausage potato casserole.

Can I add more protein?

Absolutely. This recipe is flexible—my favorite ways to add more protein are to add cooked bacon and diced ham for a meat lover's style recipe.

More Casserole Recipes

If you liked this easy recipe, we have a ton of other casseroles on the blog that is just as easy to make!

Here are some of our most popular casserole recipes:

• Chicken pot pie casserole
• Cheeseburger casserole
• Carrot casserole
• Pineapple casserole
• Philly cheesesteak casserole
• Ground turkey casserole
• Crack chicken casserole
• Hash brown egg casserole

And, as always, don't forget to follow us on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, for more easy recipes.