Description

A warm, hearty, and cheesy breakfast casserole filled with savory sausage, eggs, and bread—perfect for cozy Christmas mornings or any holiday brunch.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound breakfast sausage (mild, spicy, or sage)
8 large eggs
2 cups whole milk (or half-and-half for extra richness)
6 cups (about 8 slices) French bread, cubed
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or Italian seasoning
1/2 cup diced bell peppers (optional)
1/2 cup chopped onions (optional)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage until browned and crumbly, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat and let cool slightly.
Cube the bread into bite-sized pieces. If using fresh bread, toast lightly in the oven for a few minutes.
Layer half of the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half the sausage and half the cheese over the bread. Repeat with remaining bread, sausage, and cheese.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme until smooth.
Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole, pressing down lightly to coat all the bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Bake covered for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 15–20 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is golden brown.
Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Use day-old bread for best texture. Let the casserole rest after baking for a clean slice. You can prepare it the night before and bake in the morning. For a lighter version, use turkey sausage and skim milk. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free bread.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 of cass
Calories: 425
Sugar: 4
Sodium: 820
Fat: 28
Saturated Fat: 12
Carbohydrates: 18
Fiber: 1
Protein: 25

Keywords: Christmas breakfast, sausage casserole, holiday brunch, make-ahead breakfast, cheesy casserole