This is not the mushy sausage egg casserole your mom used to make, says author Melissa Coleman. Not that there’s anything wrong with what you grew up with. But technically, this make-ahead marvel, which will have family and friends cooing for seconds, is a strata. So if family or brunch guests start to get sassy with you about making a casserole, know that you have semantics on your side.Renee Schettler Rossi

Baking dish of sausage egg casserole of bread, eggs, sausage, tomato, kale, and Cheddar cheese, a plate and tea nearby

Sausage Egg Casserole

5 from 1 vote
This sausage egg casserole in a time saver for breakfast and brunch. Cooked sausage and kale are mixed with torn bread and Cheddar cheese. An egg mixture is poured on top, and the whole thing is left in the fridge overnight. The next morning, it’s slid into the oven. Breakfast is done.
David Leite
CourseBreakfast
CuisineAmerican
Servings4 to 6 servings
Calories839 kcal
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time8 hours 45 minutes
Total Time9 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients 

For the sausage mixture

  • 1 pound breakfast sausage
  • 4 cups chopped kale
  • 4 cups cubed or torn crusty bread (like sourdough, baguette, or ciabatta)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

For the egg mixture

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper

Garnish

  • Sprig fresh thyme

Instructions 

  • The night before serving, in a 10-inch (25-cm) cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, cook the sausage, stirring with a spoon to crumble, until it’s browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in the kale and cook for 2 minutes more. Place the sausage-kale mixture in a 12-by-10-inch (30-by-25-cm) baking dish. Add the bread and cheese and toss to combine.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together all the egg mixture ingredients until combined. Pour evenly over the sausage mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until the eggs are set. Garnish with fresh thyme.
The Minimalist Kitchen Cookbook

Adapted From

The Minimalist Kitchen

Buy On Amazon

Nutrition

Serving: 1 portionCalories: 839 kcalCarbohydrates: 43 gProtein: 46 gFat: 53 gSaturated Fat: 20 gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7 gMonounsaturated Fat: 19 gTrans Fat: 0.3 gCholesterol: 404 mgSodium: 2352 mgPotassium: 901 mgFiber: 4 gSugar: 10 gVitamin A: 7665 IUVitamin C: 63 mgCalcium: 607 mgIron: 6 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe?Mention @leitesculinaria or tag #leitesculinaria!
Recipe © 2018 Melissa Coleman. Photo © 2018 Caitlin Bensel. All rights reserved.

Recipe Testers’ Reviews

Wow, this sausage egg casserole is a definite keeper! This was a great recipe that absolutely worked. Not too many ingredients, simple to assemble and achieves big flavor. This is also very adaptable, you could use spinach or vegetables instead of kale or different herbs to change it up. For health’s sake, you could reduce calories with some substitutes as well. I might mix half ground turkey with pork, and use lowfat milk. This will be in my rotation.

Crunchy, custardy, and rich, this is one of those dishes you can’t help but indulging in just another bite. The top crisps up nicely while the center bakes into a creamy yet firm balance of egg, bread and flavorful sausage. The kale and thyme accent the dish with freshness that keep it from being too heavy. I used day-old homemade sourdough bread which added a layer of yeasty tang to an already flavor-forward recipe. My hens provided the eggs, a local dairy the fresh milk and I used my family’s beef to make breakfast sausage, so I felt very en vogue with my local ingredients. When I went to bake the casserole, I feared there wasn’t enough egg mixture, as all of it had been soaked up by the bread, but I was surprised that it came out perfectly custardy without drying out at all. This egg casserole is a craveable winner.

This was good. I served it at brunch yesterday. I think this casserole depends heavily on the type of sausage used because the flavor comes out very strongly.




About David Leite

David Leite has received three James Beard Awards for his writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Yankee, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and more.


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Recipe Rating




6 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This sausage egg casserole is very visually appealing and could be served for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or even dinner with a side salad.