I recently whipped up a delightful Hashbrown Sausage Breakfast Casserole bursting with flavor. The crispy crumbled sausage mingles with golden hash browns, sharp cheddar cheese, and diced onions in a luscious mixture of eggs, sour cream, and whole milk. A hint of garlic powder and paprika creates an irresistible aroma.
I’ve been on a roll trying to perfect a recipe that’s equal parts surprising and satisfying. Recently I whipped up my Cheesy Sausage Hashbrown Casserole, and it quickly became a go-to for those busy mornings that still demand flavor.
I started off crisping up 1 lb of crumbled breakfast sausage with a finely diced small onion until they turned golden and savory. Then I mixed in a massive bag of thawed hash browns with 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese making each bite rich and a little bit gooey.
To hold everything together, I added 3 lightly beaten eggs, a cup of whole milk and a dose of sour cream, along with a pinch of garlic powder, salt, black pepper and paprika. It’s a bit like a sausage egg and cheese casserole with a twist and perfect for an overnight Christmas morning treat.
Trust me, this one is a total game changer for your breakfast table!
Why I Like this Recipe
I like this recipe because it gives me a burst of cheesy flavor in every bite, it’s super filling and perfect for starting an energetic day, and it just makes me feel really comforted when I eat it.
Cheesy Sausage Hashbrown Casserole is one of those dishes thats both tasty and pretty easy to make. First, you heat your oven up to 350°F and grease a 9×13 casserole dish. Then you cook 1 lb of breakfast sausage in a big skillet over medium heat until its browned up, making sure to stir it every now and then and drain the extra fat. Next, you mix the thawed shredded hash browns with a small diced onion, and the cooked sausage in a large bowl.
After that, you fold in 2 cups of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, so that cheesy goodness sits throughout the dish. In another bowl, whisk together 3 lightly beaten eggs, 1 cup of whole milk, and 1 cup of sour cream. Add in 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and 1/2 tsp paprika then stir everything well.
Once the egg mixture is ready, you pour it over the hash browns mixture and gently stir to combine everything evenly. Then you spread the mix into your prepared casserole dish and bake it for about 45 minutes until the top turns lightly golden and the set is complete. Let it cool a bit before serving and enjoy this awesome twist on breakfast or even at Christmas!
Ingredients
- Breakfast sausage is packed with protein and delivers a savory, hearty flavor to the casserole.
- Hash browns supply carbohydrates and a crisp texture that contrasts the creaminess of the dish.
- Sharp cheddar cheese offers bold flavor along with calcium, enriching every bite of the casserole.
- Eggs act as a binding agent and add protein while creating a smooth, custardy texture.
- Sour cream lends a tangy twist with creaminess that unites the flavors.
- Onions provide natural sweetness and a slight crunch that brightens the overall savory profile.
- Garlic powder and paprika add warm spice notes, deepening the aroma and flavor complexity.
Ingredient Quantities
- 1 lb breakfast sausage, crumbled
- 1 (30 oz) bag frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
How to Make this
1. Heat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
2. In a large skillet, cook the breakfast sausage over medium heat until it’s nicely browned, stirring now and then. Drain the excess fat.
3. In a big bowl, mix together the thawed hash browns, finely diced onion, and the cooked sausage.
4. Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese so that you have little pockets of cheesy goodness.
5. In another bowl, whisk the three large eggs, whole milk, and sour cream until they are just combined.
6. Add the garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and paprika to the egg mixture and give it a good stir.
7. Pour the egg mixture over the hash browns mixture and gently stir to combine everything evenly.
8. Transfer the complete mixture into your prepared casserole dish, spreading it out evenly.
9. Bake for about 45 minutes until the top turns lightly golden and the mixture is set; let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
Equipment Needed
1. Oven preheated to 350°F
2. 9×13 inch casserole dish, greased
3. Large skillet for browning the sausage
4. One big mixing bowl for combining hash browns, diced onion, and sausage
5. Another bowl for whisking the eggs, milk, and sour cream
6. A whisk for stirring the egg mixture
7. A spatula or spoon for stirring and mixing the ingredients
8. Measuring cups and spoons for accurate ingredient amounts
9. A knife and cutting board to finely dice the onion
FAQ
Cheesy Sausage Hashbrown Casserole Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Breakfast Sausage: You could use turkey sausage or even chorizo instead if you want a different flavor
- Frozen Hash Browns: Try using shredded potatoes that you pre-cook yourself or even tater tots broken up for a fun twist
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Pepper jack is a great substitute if you’re after a little extra kick in the dish
- Whole Milk: Swap in half and half for a creamier texture; you could also try almond milk if you’re looking for a dairy-free option
- Sour Cream: Greek yogurt is a nice alternative and adds a similar tangy flavor without a drastic change in texture
Pro Tips
1. After thawing your hash browns, pat them down with a paper towel to remove extra water so the casserole doesn’t get all soggy later on.
2. Brown the sausage really good and let that extra grease drip off just enough so you keep that savory flavor without making the dish too oily.
3. When mixing in the cheese, stir gently so that you end up with awesome little pockets of gooey cheese instead of it all melting into one mass.
4. Let the casserole sit for about 5-10 minutes after baking so it sets up right and the flavors can really meld together before you dig in.
Cheesy Sausage Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
My favorite Cheesy Sausage Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Oven preheated to 350°F
2. 9×13 inch casserole dish, greased
3. Large skillet for browning the sausage
4. One big mixing bowl for combining hash browns, diced onion, and sausage
5. Another bowl for whisking the eggs, milk, and sour cream
6. A whisk for stirring the egg mixture
7. A spatula or spoon for stirring and mixing the ingredients
8. Measuring cups and spoons for accurate ingredient amounts
9. A knife and cutting board to finely dice the onion
Ingredients:
- 1 lb breakfast sausage, crumbled
- 1 (30 oz) bag frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
Instructions:
1. Heat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
2. In a large skillet, cook the breakfast sausage over medium heat until it’s nicely browned, stirring now and then. Drain the excess fat.
3. In a big bowl, mix together the thawed hash browns, finely diced onion, and the cooked sausage.
4. Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese so that you have little pockets of cheesy goodness.
5. In another bowl, whisk the three large eggs, whole milk, and sour cream until they are just combined.
6. Add the garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and paprika to the egg mixture and give it a good stir.
7. Pour the egg mixture over the hash browns mixture and gently stir to combine everything evenly.
8. Transfer the complete mixture into your prepared casserole dish, spreading it out evenly.
9. Bake for about 45 minutes until the top turns lightly golden and the mixture is set; let it cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
