Sausage and Cheese Hash Brown Casserole

If you’re looking for an easy breakfast to serve on Christmas morning, this cheesy hash brown breakfast casserole is a great choice.

It’s loaded with crispy-edged hash browns, savory breakfast sausage, fluffy eggs, and plenty of melted cheddar cheese.

This is one of those breakfast recipes that everyone seems to enjoy. It’s hearty, filling, and easy to prepare ahead of time so you aren’t spending your entire Christmas morning in the kitchen.

Serve it with fresh fruit, cinnamon rolls, muffins, or a cup of coffee for an easy holiday breakfast.

Ingredients

• 1 (30-ounce) package frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
• 1 pound breakfast sausage
• 8 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted

How to Make Cheesy Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.

In a large skillet, cook the breakfast sausage over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles as it browns. Add the diced onion and cook until softened. Drain any excess grease.

Spread the thawed hash browns evenly in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle the melted butter over the potatoes.

Sprinkle the cooked sausage and onion mixture over the hash browns. Add the shredded cheddar cheese.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until well combined.

Pour the egg mixture evenly over the hash brown mixture.

Bake uncovered for 45–55 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is lightly golden. A knife inserted in the center should come out without liquid egg mixture.

Let the casserole rest for about 5–10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This breakfast casserole is perfect for preparing the night before Christmas.

Assemble the casserole according to the directions, but don’t bake it yet. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning, remove the casserole from the refrigerator while the oven preheats. Bake at 350°F until the center is completely set.

Since the casserole will be cold when it goes into the oven, it may need a little extra baking time.

Easy Variations

One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to customize.

• Bacon and cheese: Replace the breakfast sausage with cooked, crumbled bacon.
• Ham and cheddar: Use diced cooked ham instead of sausage.
• Vegetable breakfast casserole: Add diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach.
• Pepper jack cheese: Replace some or all of the cheddar with pepper jack for a little extra flavor.
• Extra cheesy: Add another 1/2 cup of shredded cheese to the top during the last 10 minutes of baking.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Store leftover breakfast casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.

Reheat individual portions in the microwave until heated through. You can also cover the casserole with foil and warm larger portions in a 325°F oven.

More Christmas Breakfast Recipes

Planning a special Christmas morning breakfast? Here are a few more festive recipes to add to your holiday menu!

• Overnight French Toast Casserole – A delicious make-ahead breakfast casserole.
• Easy Make-Ahead Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Casserole – All the flavors of cinnamon rolls in an easy breakfast dish.
• Christmas Monkey Bread – Sweet, gooey cinnamon-sugar bread that’s fun to pull apart and share.
• Overnight Sausage Breakfast Casserole – A hearty savory breakfast you can prepare the night before.
• Gingerbread Pancakes – Fluffy pancakes filled with warm gingerbread spices.
• Cinnamon Roll Pancakes – Pancakes with a buttery cinnamon swirl and cream cheese glaze.
• Cranberry Orange Muffins – A festive muffin with tart cranberries and fresh orange flavor.

This cheesy hash brown breakfast casserole is a wonderful addition to your Christmas breakfast menu.

You can prepare it the night before, pop it in the oven in the morning, and enjoy a warm, hearty breakfast without a lot of last-minute work.

It’s also delicious for weekend brunch, Easter breakfast, or any morning when you want something a little more special.

Follow my Christmas Breakfast board on Pinterest.