5-Ingredient Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns
With only 5 main ingredients, this delicious, make ahead Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns is a cinch to throw together. It’s also gluten-free. You can prep it ahead and store in the fridge or make this into a freezer breakfast casserole using our instructions. You may also like our Mediterranean High Protein Breakfast Casserole.
This post is sponsored by Hy-Vee (Columbia).
Reasons We Love This Recipe
If a cheesy hash brown casserole had a baby with a traditional breakfast casserole (the kind with bread), you’d end up with this Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns!
- It’s hearty, cheesy, and full of flavor, like our Savory Breakfast Muffins.
- This dish is naturally gluten-free, if you’re trying to avoid that. Do make sure you buy certified gluten-free hash browns if there is an allergy concern.
- While we chose to keep this recipe simple, it is customizable. Use the meat you like (cooked bacon, sausage, or ham) and/or add in sautéed veggies. It’s hard to mess this up.
- The basic recipe only has 5 main ingredients! So simple.
P.S. A few other breakfast recipes that have 6 ingredients or less are:
Ingredients
Here are the 5 main ingredients you’ll need to make this hearty and comforting casserole…
- All-natural ground pork sausage or turkey sausage (Sub: uncured bacon, see Cooking Notes)
- Refrigerated or frozen shredded hash browns (you’ll need to thaw them if they are frozen)
- Shredded cheddar cheese (Dairy-free option: Omit the cheese.)
- Eggs
- Milk (Dairy-free option: Use unsweetened, plain almond milk or oat milk.)
You’ll also need a few pantry staples–salt, pepper, and a little cooking oil. You can eat the casserole “as is” or top it with items like hot sauce, salsa, ketchup, freshly chopped tomatoes and avocado.
Note: Find our full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and directions at the bottom of this post.
Order Groceries from Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee has everything you’ll need for this recipe. Order your groceries now from Hy-Vee for pick-up or have them delivered via Instacart.
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Variations
- You can make this casserole with your choice of cooked meat: pork sausage, turkey sausage, baked bacon, or ham. We like it with any of those choices.
- Amp up the flavor by adding in your favorite chopped and sautéed vegetables. Onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach or kale would all be delicious additions.
- Add minced fresh parsley to the egg mixture for a healthy and colorful addition.
How to Make Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
After browning and draining the sausage, generously spray an 8×8 inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Then, add a layer of half of the shredded hash browns…
Next, add half the sausage…
Finally, sprinkle on half of the cheese in the dish, and repeat with the remaining hash browns, sausage, and cheese.
Now you’ll make the egg mixture. Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the casserole.
Bake the casserole, uncovered, in a 350°F oven for 50-60 minutes or until done in the middle and bubbly around the edges.
From Rachel’s Kitchen: Tips for Success
- You can use bacon in place of the sausage. It’s a delicious replacement! We suggest baking bacon in the oven and then chopping it up to avoid the stovetop mess.
- You’ll need to mostly thaw your frozen hash browns before putting together this casserole. Do this overnight in fridge or using your microwave’s defrost setting. Squeeze out any excess moisture. I do this by placing them in a colander and pressing down with my hands or a paper towel. You can even squeeze it out.
- If the casserole is still cold when you put it in or if it was previously frozen, it will likely take longer to bake. Our tests showed that it will take about 60 minutes to bake after being frozen and thawed. This is because of the extra liquid that’s released during that process.
- We created this recipe using a glass baking dish. If using metal, check to see if it is done sooner.
Serving and Side Dish Ideas
Serve a slice of casserole warm and, if desired, top with toppings like salsa, sour cream, chopped green onion, hot sauce, or diced avocado.
Some side dish ideas that would pair well include:
FAQs
Yep! This would be an easy substitution. Just fully cook and crumble the bacon before adding it.
It should be fine for a day or two. If you need it prepped ahead longer than that, consider freezing it.
You bet. Amp up the flavor by adding in your favorite chopped and sautéed vegetables. Onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach or kale would all be delicious additions.
Technically it has no ingredients with gluten. However, if you have an allergy, please please check the hash browns and sausage packaging to make sure they are labeled gluten free. Different brands may include different ingredients or be processed in a factory with gluten.
Want More Make Ahead Breakfast Ideas?
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How to Video
5-Ingredient Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil (sub: olive oil)
- 1 pound ground pork sausage (all-natural; sub: ground turkey sausage or uncured bacon, see Cooking Notes)
- 3 cups frozen shredded hash browns (thawed and squeezed of excess moisture)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk (any kind)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (plus more to taste)
- Optional toppings: hot sauce, salsa, ketchup, freshly chopped tomatoes, and avocado
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Heat the oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmery, add the sausage and cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks. Transfer the sausage to a paper towel–lined plate to drain and set aside.
- Generously spray an 8×8-inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Layer 1 1/2 cups of the hash browns, half the sausage, and 3/4 cup of the cheese in the dish, then repeat with the remaining hash browns, sausage, and cheese.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Pour over the ingredients in the dish.
- Bake, uncovered, for 50-60 minutes or until edges are bubbly, the middle is set, and top is golden. Tent with foil if the top starts to get too brown before it’s done. (Note: If the casserole was still cold when you put it in or if it was previously frozen, it will likely take longer. Our tests showed that it will take about 60 minutes to bake after being frozen and thawed. This is because of the extra liquid that's released during that process.)
- Let the casserole sit for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, topped with hot sauce, salsa, or ketchup, if desired. Season with more salt and pepper, if desired.
Freezer Instructions
Notes/Tips
- You can use bacon in place of the sausage. It’s a delicious replacement! We suggest baking bacon in the oven and then chopping it up to avoid the stovetop mess.
- You’ll need to thaw your frozen hash browns before putting together this casserole. Do this overnight in fridge or using your microwave’s defrost setting. Squeeze out extra liquid.
- If the casserole is still cold when you put it in or if it was previously frozen, it will likely take longer to bake. Our tests showed that it will take about 60 minutes to bake after being frozen and thawed. This is because of the extra liquid that’s released during that process.
Nutrition
Looks like a winner! Can I shred potatoes instead of buying hash browns if I can’t find gluten free?
Thank you.
Hi Corry. We have not tested by shredding our potatoes but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Be sure to still remove as much moisture as possible. Let us know how it goes if you do shred your own!