Overnighy Cheesy Sausage and Bell Pepper Breakfast Casserole
This overnight breakfast casserole combines savory sausage, sweet bell peppers, and sharp cheddar cheese with challah bread and a rich egg custard for a delicious, make-ahead meal perfect for entertaining or a leisurely weekend breakfast.
Equipment
- Large skillet
- 9x13 inch baking dish
- Large bowl
- Whisk
- Plastic wrap
- Instant-read thermometer (optional)
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb breakfast sausage
- 8-10 slices day-old challah bread, cubed
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 12 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ½ cup chopped red bell pepper, sautéed
- ½ cup chopped yellow onion, sautéed
- 1 tbsp butter, for greasing
Instructions
Preparation
- Cook the breakfast sausage in a large skillet until browned and crumbled; drain excess fat and set aside.
- Sauté the chopped red bell pepper and yellow onion in the same skillet until softened.
- Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish generously with 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Spread the cubed challah bread evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the cooked sausage, sautéed bell peppers, and onions evenly over the bread cubes.
- Scatter 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheddar cheese over the meat and vegetable mixture.
Assembly & Soaking
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until well combined.
- Carefully pour the egg mixture evenly over the layers in the baking dish, ensuring all bread cubes are saturated.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, or ideally, overnight (8-12 hours).
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C); remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
- Uncover the casserole and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until puffed, golden brown, and cooked through (internal temperature of 160°F or 71°C).
- Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving to allow it to set up.
- Serve with fresh fruit, hash browns, and a beverage of choice.
Notes
This casserole is perfect for meal prepping as it can be assembled the night before. For a vegetarian option, omit the sausage and add more vegetables or a meat substitute. You can also experiment with different types of cheese or spices to customize the flavor profile.