Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Nov. 25, 2024
This Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole is bubbly and crisp on the edges and soft on the inside. It’s a great make-ahead breakfast or brunch that the whole family loves!
In This Article
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Why This Recipe Stands Out
I love brunch food. If it isn’t something sweet, then it’s got to be something deliciously savory and cheesy, like this Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole.
- Oh-So-Cheesy: This breakfast casserole boasts not one, not two, but three kinds of cheese – sharp Cheddar, Cottage cheese, and Swiss.
- Lots of Sausage: Just like this Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole, potato casserole has 1 whole pound of ground sausage meaning big flavor.
- Can Be Made in Advance: Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole can be fully assembled as a make-ahead breakfast or brunch the night before.
- A Full Meal in One Dish: While you can definitely prepare fruit, oatmeal, or bacon to serve alongside this dish, it’s also a complete meal all by itself!
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Sausage – Reach for your favorite kind of breakfast sausage and brown it along with the onions before adding to the casserole.
- Hash Brown Potatoes – We use frozen hash browns to make things super easy. Just make sure to thaw them first.
- Eggs – Eggs hold everything together in this casserole and blend amazingly with the cheese.
- Cheddar Cheese – We like extra-sharp, shredded cheddar cheese for it’s classic orange tint and sharp flavor.
- Cottage Cheese – Cottage cheese makes this casserole extra creamy while adding an impressive boost of protein.
- Swiss Cheese – Shredded Swiss cheese blends with the cheddar cheese for the perfect balance of sharp and mild.
- Onion – Chopped onion brings sweet and sharp flavors to Cheesy Potato Casserole.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some of our favorite variations to this Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole:
- Substitute Tater Tots: For a fun spin on this dish that everyone will love, try swapping the hash browns for tater tots. Take a look at our recipe for Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole for baking tips for this method.
- Add Bacon: Feel free to add bacon or ham for even more flavor, like we do in this Bacon and Eggs Breakfast Casserole.
- Make It Vegetarian: You can easily make this casserole vegetarian by omitting the breakfast sausage. Feel free to add some chopped bell pepper or tomatoes as well!
- Add a Topping: We love adding some Restaurant Style Salsa, hot sauce, or Balsamic Glaze on top of Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until sausage is browned throughout. Drain and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine potatoes, eggs, Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, Swiss cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add sausage mixture to egg mixture and stir to combine. Pour entire mixture into greased 9×13″ baking dish.
- Bake at 350F for 50-60 minutes until eggs are set and cheese is melted.
- Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Check out our simple tips for preparing Breakfast Casserole ahead of time:
- Grate Cheese in Advance: For best results, we recommend using freshly grated Cheddar and Swiss cheese, and you can do this a few days in advance. Store shredded cheese airtight in the fridge.
- Cook Sausage in Advance: Feel free to cook the sausage and onions the night before baking your casserole. Let it cool completely before storing in the fridge overnight.
- Make Entire Casserole: Cheesy Potato Casserole makes a great meal-prep breakfast! Just mix everything together as usual, add the mixture to the greased baking dish, cover, and chill in the fridge overnight.
Commonly Asked Questions
How long do Cheesy Potato Casserole leftovers keep?
Casserole leftovers keep wonderfully! You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
How do I know when Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole is done baking?
You’ll know the casserole is done baking when the eggs have set and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Use a spatula to press down on the top of your casserole to see if it’s firm.
Is Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole gluten-free?
Yes! This Breakfast Casserole is naturally gluten-free.
What would be some good veggies to add to this casserole?
We love adding chopped green or colored bell peppers, cubed tomatoes, black olives, chopped spinach, and sliced green onions.
Can I freeze the unbaked casserole?
Yes! You can freeze the unbaked casserole. Just note that the texture may come out a little different and it’ll need a little longer to bake.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole
This Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole is bubbly and crisp on the edges and soft on the inside. It's a great make-ahead breakfast or brunch that the whole family loves!
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 lb sausage, bulk
- 4 cups frozen hash brown potatoes, (20 oz.), thawed*
- 9 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 cups extra sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 ½ cups cottage cheese
- 1 ¼ cups Swiss cheese, shredded
- 3 tsp garlic powder
- 1 ½ tsp table salt
- 1 ½ tsp fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and set aside.
- Heat heavy large skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage and onion, stirring often and breaking up the bulk sausage into small pieces. Cook until sausage is browned throughout. Drain and set aside.
- In a very large bowl, combine potatoes, eggs, Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, Swiss cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add cooked sausage mixture to egg mixture. Stir to combine well. Pour entire mixture into prepared baking dish. At this point, you can tightly cover and refrigerate overnight, if desired.
- Bake in preheated oven 50-60 minutes or until eggs are set and cheese is melted. If casserole sat in fridge all night, it may need to bake a bit longer. Watch and cover with foil if the top starts browning too much in the oven. Let stand at least 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Don’t forget to thaw the frozen hash browns prior to mixing everything together to ensure everything bakes evenly.
- The casserole can be entirely assembled the night before, covered, and refrigerated until ready to bake.
- Omit the sausage to make this casserole completely vegetarian.
- See original article for delicious serving ideas and variations.
- This recipe is part of our Savory Breakfast Recipes Collection.
- Top Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with hot sauce, Restaurant Style Salsa, or Balsamic Glaze.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 616mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 395IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 216mg | Iron: 1mg
More To Cook And Eat
- Sweet Potato Sausage Breakfast Casserole – This sweet potato breakfast casserole is stellar for all the brunches, not to mention it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and Paleo!
- Mini Crustless Quiche – Packed with protein and totally bite-sized, these Crustless Mini Quiche are perfect for on-the-go weekday breakfasts.
- Bacon Hash Brown Casserole – This easy breakfast casserole combines all our favorite ingredients into one dish. Assemble it the night before for a super easy breakfast!
- Eggs Benedict Casserole – Eggs Benedict Casserole has all the flavor of Eggs Benedict without the fuss.