Cheesy Sausage and Bell Pepper Breakfast Casserole
This cheesy sausage and bell pepper breakfast casserole is an easy and delicious way to feed a crowd. Prepare it the night before for a stress-free morning meal.
Equipment
- large skillet
- 9x13 inch baking dish
- large bowl
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound breakfast sausage
- 1 large onion
- 2 bell peppers
- 8 cups stale bread
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- Hot sauce Optional: to taste
Unit Conversions
- lb pound
- cups cups
- tsp teaspoon
Taxonomy IDs
- Breakfast Sausage wprm_ingredient_unit ID: 1
- Large Onion wprm_ingredient ID: 2
- Bell Peppers wprm_ingredient ID: 3
- Stale Bread wprm_ingredient ID: 4
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese wprm_ingredient ID: 5
- Large Eggs wprm_ingredient ID: 6
- Whole Milk wprm_ingredient ID: 7
- Salt wprm_ingredient ID: 8
- Black Pepper wprm_ingredient ID: 9
- Garlic Powder wprm_ingredient ID: 10
- Hot Sauce wprm_ingredient ID: 11
Instructions
Prepare Your Fillings
- Cook breakfast sausage in a large skillet until browned and crumbled; drain excess grease and set aside.
- Sauté chopped onion and bell peppers in the same skillet until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
Bread Base
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and spread cubed stale bread evenly across the bottom.
Layer It Up
- Layer half of the cooked sausage and vegetables over the bread, then sprinkle with 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
- Repeat the layering with the remaining sausage, vegetables, and the remaining 1 cup of cheese.
Whisk the Egg Mixture
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Optionally, add a few dashes of hot sauce and whisk thoroughly until combined and slightly frothy.
Pour and Soak
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the layered ingredients, ensuring all the bread is moistened and gently pressed down to absorb the liquid.
Chill Out
- Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight (8-12 hours).
Bake Time
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C); remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes while the oven preheats.
Golden Perfection
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the casserole is set in the center, golden brown on top, and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
- If the top browns too quickly, loosely tent the dish with aluminum foil.
Rest and Serve
- Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving for cleaner slices.
Notes
For best results, prepare this casserole the night before to allow the bread to fully soak up the egg mixture.