The Ultimate Breakfast Casserole Recipe for a Crowd

There’s something about a breakfast casserole that just feels like home. Perfect for weekend brunches, holiday mornings, or feeding a hungry crowd, this hearty casserole brings together sausage, potatoes, eggs, and sharp cheddar into one cozy, melt-in-your-mouth dish. We made it on Christmas morning and it was a total hit. Everyone came back for seconds!

Our breakfast casserole recipe is simple to make and packed with flavor. It starts with sautéed onions and tender diced potatoes, cooked until golden and fragrant. Add in savory breakfast sausage, a touch of garlic powder and onion powder, and a generous layer of sharp cheddar cheese. Finally, everything is bound together with fluffy eggs and milk and baked until golden and bubbly.

This recipe serves about 12 people, making it ideal for family gatherings or brunch parties. And the best part is, you can prep it ahead of time. Assemble it the night before, refrigerate, and pop it in the oven in the morning, and boom. Your house will smell amazing while you sip your coffee.

Here’s how to make it.

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds breakfast sausage

  • 1 large onion, diced

  • 3 pounds potatoes, diced small (Yukon gold or russet both work)

  • 10 large eggs

  • ½ cups fresh chives

  • 1 ½ cups milk (whole milk is best, but whatever you have is fine)

  • 2 ½ cups sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated

  • 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder

  • 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder

  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • Butter or oil for greasing the dish

Instructions

  1. Preheat & prep
    Heat your oven to 375°F. Generously butter a 9x13 baking dish and set aside.

  2. Cook the sausage
    In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until browned and fully cooked. Break it up as it cooks. Remove it with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving a little fat in the pan.

  3. Sauté the potatoes & onion
    Add the diced potatoes to the same skillet. Cook for about 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they’re tender and starting to get golden. Add the diced onion and cook another 4 to 5 minutes, until soft and fragrant. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

  4. Build the casserole
    Spread the potato and onion mixture evenly into the baking dish. Sprinkle the cooked sausage over the top. Finish with an even layer of grated sharp cheddar.

  5. Egg mixture
    In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, chives, salt, and pepper. Pour this evenly over the casserole.

  6. Bake
    Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until the center is set and the top is lightly golden. A knife inserted in the middle should come out mostly clean.

  7. Rest & serve
    Let it sit for about 10 minutes before cutting. It firms up and slices beautifully.

Make-ahead tip:
You can assemble this the night before, cover, and refrigerate. In the morning, let it sit at room temp for 20 minutes, then bake as directed.

Tips for the perfect breakfast casserole:

  • Use sharp cheddar cheese for bold flavor.

  • Dice your potatoes small so they cook evenly and get a little crisp.

  • Don’t skimp on seasoning! Garlic powder and onion powder make a subtle but delicious difference.

  • Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after baking; it makes cutting and serving a breeze.

Whether you’re hosting a brunch for friends or just want a comforting, make-ahead breakfast for your family, this sausage, potato, and cheddar breakfast casserole is a crowd-pleaser. It’s warm, filling, and exactly the kind of dish that makes people ask for seconds.

Enjoy!

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