The Snooze Button Special Ultimate Overnight Sausage Cheddar and Chive Breakfast Casserole

Sausage Overnight Breakfast Bake

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Preparation time:25 Mins

Cooking time:55 Mins

Servings:8 servings

Ingredients:

• 10 cups stale/day-old bread cubes (about 1-inch pieces)
• 1 lb ground breakfast sausage (cooked and drained)
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
• 1/4 cup fresh chives, chopped
• 10 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
• Pinch of nutmeg

Instructions:

• Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until fully browned and cooked through. Drain off all excess fat thoroughly and set aside.
• Cube the bread into roughly 1-inch pieces. Lightly toast the cubes in a low oven (300°F/150°C for 10 minutes) if the bread isn't already stale.
• Generously butter or grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• In the prepared dish, alternate layers of bread cubes, cooked sausage, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, dry mustard powder, and nutmeg until fully combined and slightly frothy.
• Slowly pour the egg custard evenly over the layered ingredients, ensuring all the bread is saturated. Press down gently with a spatula to encourage absorption.
• Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours, or preferably overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Remove the casserole from the fridge 30 minutes before baking to take the chill off.
• Sprinkle the remaining half of the cheddar cheese and the chopped chives evenly over the top.
• Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove the foil and continue baking for another 20–30 minutes, or until the casserole is puffed, golden brown, and a knife inserted near the centre comes out clean.
• Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Nutrition Facts

Calories:1183 kcal

Protein:15.1 g

Fat:29.1 g

Carbs:21.9 g

Fiber:8.6 g

Sugar:0.0 g

Sodium:571 mg

Recipe Info

Category:Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine:American

Conquering Chaos: Why This Overnight Breakfast Casserole Saves Your Mornings

As an expert in the kitchen, I can confidently state that the difference between a frantic morning scramble and a serene start to the day often boils down to one crucial decision made the night before. Enter the Overnight Breakfast Casserole . This dish isn't just food; it's a strategic tool designed to gift you back precious minutes when the sun is barely up. When you need hearty sustenance for the family or unexpected guests, nothing beats pulling a piping hot, flavour-packed casserole from the oven, knowing all the heavy lifting was done while you were sleeping. This specific recipe—The 'Snooze Button Special'—leverages sturdy bread, savoury sausage, and sharp cheddar to create a comforting, custardy experience that redefines what easy brunch means.

The Culinary Secret Weapon for Stress-Free Brunch Hosting

Preparing for guests often involves juggling timing, temperature, and presentation. A bake like this ensures that the main event—a substantial, satisfying portion—is entirely managed ahead of time. This transforms you from a frantic chef into a relaxed host, allowing you to focus on coffee brewing and greeting arrivals rather than wrestling with raw eggs and measuring spices.

From Prep Night to Plate Perfection: The Time-Saving Magic

The real genius behind any good Breakfast Casserole You Can Make Night Before lies in the soaking time. We rely on sturdy, day-old bread—about 10 cups cubed—to act like tiny sponges. While assembling, we layer this bread with 1 lb of thoroughly cooked and drained breakfast sausage and 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese, interspersed with fresh chives. The magic happens when the rich egg and milk custard is poured over this structure. This lengthy soak (minimum 8 hours) is non-negotiable; it ensures that the bread fully absorbs the binder, resulting in an unbelievably tender, creamy interior rather than a dry, spongy texture.

Why Savory Outshines Sweet Before Noon

While sweet casseroles are lovely, a savoury profile, like the one featured in this recipe, offers a more grounded, satisfying start to a busy day. The foundation here is built on classic breakfast elements: robust sausage flavour balanced by the tang of cheese and a subtle complexity from Dijon mustard and dry mustard powder within the custard. This particular combination makes it one of the most appealing Overnight Breakfast Casserole Recipes circulating today. It provides substantial protein and flavour depth that lasts until lunch.

Setting the Stage: Essential Gear for Success

Fortunately, this culinary conquest requires no specialized equipment. You’ll need a standard 9x13 inch baking dish to house the layers. A large skillet is necessary for thoroughly browning and draining the sausage—you must drain all that fat! Beyond that, a reliable whisk for creating a smooth custard in a large mixing bowl, and sharp knives for chopping are your primary tools. Simplicity in equipment equals less cleanup when the morning rush hits.

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Building Blocks: Sourcing Components for Your Casserole Masterpiece

Selecting quality ingredients is vital, even in a make-ahead dish. For the bread, skip the soft supermarket loaves; we aim for something with structural integrity, like a day-old French loaf or sourdough. The structure it maintains overnight is what separates a great bake from a soggy mess.

For the meat component, 1 lb of ground breakfast sausage (mild or spicy, depending on preference) provides the necessary depth. Remember, drain it completely after cooking! The cheese selection should be sharp cheddar, shredded fresh if possible—2 cups are needed, divided for layering and topping. The fresh chives, roughly 1/4 cup chopped, introduce a welcome, mild oniony freshness that cuts through the richness of the eggs and sausage.

The Custard Core: Achieving Perfect Bread Saturation

The binder is where the transformation occurs. This Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Hash Browns alternative relies on a decadent custard. The core ratio calls for 10 large eggs and 2 cups of whole milk. Whole milk ensures the necessary richness, preventing the final product from tasting thin or watery.

Beyond Basic Milk: Crafting the Rich Egg Binder

A truly exceptional Egg Casserole Recipes With Hashbrowns counterpart needs layers of flavour in its liquid base. Beyond the eggs and milk, we introduce 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard for a slight tang, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and a half teaspoon of dry mustard powder to amplify the savoury cheese notes. A tiny pinch of nutmeg, though optional, marries beautifully with the dairy and eggs, providing that subtle 'something extra' that elevates the whole dish.

Pro Tip: Prepping Ingredients the Evening Before

To maximize your morning ease, the night before should be dedicated to assembly. Brown the sausage, cube and lightly toast your bread if it’s not perfectly stale, and whisk the custard components together until just combined. Get everything layered into the greased 9x13 dish, pour the custard over, press gently, cover, and chill. This 25 minutes of active prep is the only commitment required until morning.

Assembly Timeline: Constructing Your Overnight Breakfast Casserole Layer by Layer

When constructing this powerhouse Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Hash Browns , think of it as building a flavourful fortress. Start by generously buttering your baking dish. Then, begin alternating the star components: a layer of your cubed bread, followed by half of the cooked sausage, and then half of the shredded cheddar. Repeat this layering sequence until the dish is filled. This layering technique ensures every bite has a balanced ratio of bread, meat, and cheese.

The Crucial Soak: Ensuring Optimal Texture Development

After layering, it's time for the liquid infusion. Slowly pour that rich custard mixture evenly over the layered ingredients. This is where patience pays off. Use a spatula or fork to gently push down on any dry-looking bread pockets, encouraging the custard to fully permeate every single cube. If you are looking for similar convenience but prefer using potato, know that a great Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Potatoes follows this exact soaking logic, but this recipe focuses on the bread base.

The Overnight Chill: Storing Your Unbaked Creation Safely

Once fully saturated, cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Into the refrigerator it goes for at least eight hours. This extended rest allows the starches in the bread to fully hydrate, resulting in that signature custardy texture. If you were planning a big event, storing this Breakfast Casserole With Hash Browns And Cheese overnight is the key to hosting success.

Baking Ritual: Temperature and Timing for a Golden Finish

When morning arrives, pull the dish out about 30 minutes before you plan to bake it—letting it lose the intense chill ensures more even cooking. Preheat your oven to 375° F ( 190° C). Before baking, sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and the freshly chopped chives across the top. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes. This initial covered time steams the inside gently. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 20– 30 minutes until the top is beautifully golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165° F ( 74° C). For an even easier morning bake, many excellent Overnight Breakfast Casserole Crockpot variations exist, though this oven method yields a superior browned crust.

The Final Flourish: Resting and Serving Recommendations

Resist the urge to slice immediately! Like any good casserole, this Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Sausage needs 10 minutes on the counter to set up after leaving the heat. This resting period solidifies the custard just enough so that when you cut into it, you get neat, satisfying slices rather than a loose scramble.

Elevating Your Make-Ahead Morning Bake: Tips and Twists

To take this from excellent to legendary, consider how you prepare the sausage. If you brown it with a touch of sage or a dash of smoked paprika, you introduce smoky undertones that pair wonderfully with sharp cheddar. If you’re using Overnight Breakfast Casserole With Potatoes instead of bread, pre-roasting the potatoes until just tender the night before is crucial so they cook through properly in the custard.

Storage & Reheating Guide for Leftover Casserole Portions

Leftovers are a fantastic bonus! Store cooled portions tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheating is best done in the oven at 350° F ( 175° C) until heated through, perhaps covered with foil initially to prevent drying. For single servings, a microwave zap will work in a pinch, though the texture won't be quite as perfect as the oven refresh.

Flavor Frontiers: Delicious Variations on the Cheesy Theme

While the sausage and cheddar combination is classic, feel free to explore. Try swapping the sausage for diced ham to create a superb Ham Breakfast Casserole With Hashbrowns vibe, or use crumbled Italian sausage mixed with sautéed onions and peppers. A truly decadent twist involves substituting half the cheddar with Gruyère for a nutty, complex flavour profile.

Nutritional Snapshot: Understanding the Hearty Components

This is undeniably a hearty meal, designed to provide staying power. The combination of eggs, milk, and sausage ensures a high protein count, while the bread provides satisfying complex carbohydrates. Expect around 450–500 calories per generous serving, depending on the leanness of your sausage and the sharpness of your cheese choices.

Troubleshooting Common Casserole Concerns

If your casserole turns out overly wet, it almost always points back to insufficient draining of the sausage fat or using bread that was too fresh and unable to absorb the full liquid volume. If the centre seems undercooked, it means the dish was baked straight from the fridge; always allow that 30-minute tempering time before the oven goes on.