Description

This Crack Breakfast Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish perfect for weekend mornings. Combining savory pork sausage, crispy bacon, creamy cheese, and fluffy eggs with tender hash browns and fresh vegetables, this casserole offers a comforting and satisfying meal that’s easy to prepare and sure to please a crowd.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat

1 pound Pork Sausage (Substitute with turkey sausage for a lighter version)
6 strips Bacon (Omit for a lighter dish or replace with a vegetarian sausage)

Dairy

8 ounces Cream Cheese (Ensure it’s softened for easier mixing)
1 cup Sour Cream (Can be substituted with Greek yogurt)
1 cup Whole Milk (Use non-dairy milk for lactose-free)
8 large Eggs
2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese (Swap with pepper jack for a spicy kick)

Vegetables

30 ounces Frozen Shredded Hash Browns (Ensure they are thawed and drained)
1 cup Bell Peppers (Choose your favorite varieties)
1 cup Spinach (Use fresh or thawed frozen spinach, well-drained)
1 cup Mushrooms (Sauté them beforehand)

Seasonings

1 packet Ranch Seasoning Mix (Opt for gluten-free blends)
1 teaspoon Onion Powder (Adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (Adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon Salt (Adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon Black Pepper (Adjust to taste)

Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
Cook the meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the pork sausage and chopped bacon until browned and crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat to keep the casserole from becoming greasy.
Prepare the creamy mixture: In a mixing bowl, blend the softened cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Then stir in the whole milk, large eggs, ranch seasoning mix, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
Combine ingredients: Add the cooked sausage and bacon to the egg and cream cheese mixture, followed by the thawed and drained hash browns and one cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Fold everything together gently to combine without breaking the hash browns too much.
Assemble the casserole: Pour the entire mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the surface.
Bake covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes to allow the casserole to set and cook through.
Finish baking uncovered: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes to melt the cheese topping and develop a golden, bubbly crust.
Cool and serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before cutting it into squares. Serve warm and enjoy your hearty breakfast casserole.

Notes

You can substitute turkey sausage or omit bacon for a lighter dish.
Vegetarian sausage can replace meat for a vegetarian-friendly version.
Use non-dairy milk to make the dish lactose-free.
Sauté mushrooms beforehand to reduce moisture and enhance flavor.
Opt for gluten-free ranch seasoning if you need to avoid gluten.
Feel free to customize the vegetables according to your preference.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: breakfast casserole, crack breakfast casserole, sausage breakfast casserole, hash brown casserole, weekend breakfast, brunch casserole, cheesy breakfast bake