Make-Ahead Egg and Sausage Wake-Up Casserole Recipe
Serve this easy Make-Ahead Egg and Sausage Wake-Up Casserole to get your family jumping out of bed. A yummy breakfast strata made with cooked sausage, eggs and melted cheese makes a fast and easy morning meal. Just add some fresh fruit on the side.
Prep Time: 10 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 40 minutesminutes
Resting time in the fridge: 8 hourshours
Total Time: 8 hourshours50 minutesminutes
Servings: 6servings
Calories: 721kcal
Ingredients
4cupsbagel piecesabout 3/4-inch in size (this is about 6 oz.)
1cupshredded cheddar cheese
1/2lb.sausagecooked, crumbled, and fats drained
2cupsmilk
4eggsbeaten
1tsp.granulated onion
1Tbs.spicy brown mustardor substitute 1 tsp. ground mustard powder
2Tbs.chopped flat-leaf parsleyoptional
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs; whisk in the milk, onion, mustard, and parsley. Add the shredded cheese, cooked sausage, and bagel pieces, stirring to combine.
Pour the prepared egg mixture into a greased 2-quart oval casserole dish, spreading it out evenly; cover with foil and refrigerate for 4-8 hours, or overnight.
When ready to bake the breakfast casserole, remove it from refrigeration about 1 hour before you'd like to bake it, uncovering it as as it rests on the counter. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Bake the casserole, covered with foil, on the center oven rack for 35-40 minutes, or until the breakfast casserole is nicely puffy on top and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean; remove the foil for the last 10 minutes of the baking time. Let the breakfast bake rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
If possible, let the breakfast casserole rest overnight in the fridge so the liquids can be absorbed into the bagel pieces.
If you’re like me, tempted to add half-or-half or cream in place of the milk, don’t do it! The consistency of milk is lighter than cream helping the casserole become puffy and tender.
Any cooked meat can be substitute in place of the sausage in this breakfast bake. We enjoy using chopped ham or chopped bacon in place of the sausage.
And the same goes for cheese in this breakfast bake, substitute any preferred shredded cheese in place of the cheddar.
If you make this for a brunch and would like a more upscale version of this casserole for your guests, substitute feta cheese in place of the cheddar, then add 1 cup well-drained and chopped artichoke hearts and 2 Tbs. kalamata olives into the bread mixture. Divine!