This loaded Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole Recipe is made with frozen hash brown potatoes, pork sausage, sweet onion, red bell pepper, eggs, and plenty of cheddar cheese. Make this fit for a crowd, savory casserole ahead of time, and be ready for your brunch or breakfast guests.
Start your day right with this easy and tasty hashbrown breakfast casserole recipe. This dish has crispy potatoes, savory sausage, and gooey cheese. It is a real crowd-pleaser. Get ready to impress your guests with this make-ahead, easily customizable breakfast casserole.
It features all your favorites baked with plenty of cheddar and hash brown potatoes in every bite. This easily freezable casserole is perfect for Christmas morning or those busy weekends with out-of-town guests. If you like this make-ahead casserole, try tater tot breakfast casserole, French toast casserole, and chile relleno casserole.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Frozen shredded hashbrowns: thawed. I like to use Ore-Ida. You can use shredded or diced hash browns. Shredded potatoes work just a bit better because the cheese and eggs seem to melt between the layers of the potatoes.
- Bell pepper: any colored pepper will work for this recipe – red, orange, yellow, or green. I prefer red because of the sweetness it lends to the dish.
- Ground pork sausage: I like Jimmy Dean’s All-Natural. You can use pork, chicken, or turkey sausage. Try substituting diced smoked ham or chopped crispy bacon.
- Eggs: large ones are best, but you make up the difference with smaller ones
- Seasonings – dried marjoram, dried thyme, seasoned salt, and black pepper, or zest it up a bit with a little Cajun seasoning
- Cheddar cheese: experiment with cheeses like Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Gouda, Muenster, Provolone, Mozzarella, or Pepper Jack.
How to Make Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
First, thaw the frozen hash browns. This takes about one hour, so take them out of the freezer before starting this recipe. Place them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish and let them thaw for a while.
Brown the pork sausage in a large pan over medium heat. About halfway through the browning process, add the onions and red bell pepper. Cook until the sausage is browned and the onions are soft. Then, remove the pan from the heat and let it cool.
Meanwhile, melt 1/2 cup butter. Pour the melted butter over the hash brown potatoes, stirring to coat. Then top with half the shredded cheddar and spoon the cooled sausage vegetable mixture over the potatoes.
Whisk the eggs, milk, marjoram, thyme, seasoned salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Pour the egg mixture into the casserole and top with the remaining cheese and half of the green onions. Bake for about 45 minutes or until no longer wiggly in the middle. Then top with the remaining green onions. Let sit for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Preparation Tips and Storage
- Frozen hash browns take about one hour to thaw, so plan accordingly.
- Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before slicing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepare the casserole up to a day in advance, but do not bake. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and place on a flat-level surface in the refrigerator. Remove the casserole from the fridge 40 minutes before baking to come to room temperature.
Then, remove the plastic wrap and bake according to the recipe instructions. Cook the sausage vegetable mixture up to 2 days in advance, cool, and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Prepare the casserole per the instructions, but do not bake. Then, cover it with several layers of plastic wrap and place it in the freezer on a flat surface. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Defrost in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 12 hours. Remove from the fridge 40 minutes before baking to come to room temperature. Bake according to recipe instructions.
More Breakfast Recipes
Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 30 ounces shredded hash brown potatoes thawed
- 1 lb ground pork sausage I love Jimmy Deans All Natural
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- ½ cup butter
- 10 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ½ teaspoon dried marjoram
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 green onions thinly sliced divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick baking spray.
- Place the thawed hash browns in the bottom of the casserole dish.
- Brown the pork sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. When it is about halfway browned, add the onions and red bell pepper, cooking until the sausage is browned and the onions are soft. Remove from the heat and let it cool.
- Melt 1/2 cup butter and pour it over the hash brown potatoes stirring to coat. Top with half the shredded cheddar. Spoon the cooled sausage vegetable mixture over the potatoes.
- Beat the eggs, milk, marjoram, thyme, seasoned salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Pour it into the dish and top with the remaining cheese and half of the green onions.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes or until set and no longer wiggly in the middle. Sprinkle with remaining green onions. Let sit for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Frozen hash browns take about one hour to thaw, so plan accordingly.
- Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before slicing.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
Nutrition
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https://www.smalltownwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Beth-1.pdf
Kelly Summersett
This was a favorite and feeds a lot! Easy to make and very tasty!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kelly! So glad that you liked it!
Karla Colestock
Can this be frozen after it is baked?
Beth Pierce
Yes
Tina Basu
This was so yum! Pure comfort food! Thanks for the recipe!
Khushboo
Wow it looks so yummy and delicious.I would like to to try this sometime.
Tammy
What a wonderful breakfast treat on the weekends and best the day after too! Thanks for the great recipe. The family really loved it!
Jasmine Hewitt
I’m saving this so I can try it tomorrow. I don’t usually eat a lot of eggs but i’ll try it for this one!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Jasmine! Enjoy!!
Glass Mosaic Tiles
omg this looks sooooooo good! I am doing it for sure, I am thinking tomorrow…Thank you so so much.
Beth Pierce
Thanks so much. Enjoy!
LavandaMIchelle
This is a perfect breakfast dish. My family loves it! Thanks for an amazing recipe!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine Lavanda!
Cathy
Just wanted to say TY for sharing your recipes without having to join a group or sign up for anything. I really like that your recipes are not so plain. I jazzed this one up with HOT Jimmy Dean sausage and added fresh Hatch green chilis to the egg mixture!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome! The pleasure is all mine. That sounds amazing! I bet it was delicious!
Stephanie
Now this is my kind of breakfast! We have “Big Breakfast Sunday” at our house and I will be making this one this weekend. My whole family will devour this for sure.
Jan
Did y’all use the marjoram and thyme in the recipe? Would it be ok if I left those ingredients out or does it really make a difference?
Kat
I’m not the author of this blog, but I have made many a frittata and egg casserole in my time. I would say use whatever herbs/spices you have on hand, or prefer. To me, the whole point of a basic recipe like this is to swap out what doesn’t suit your palate or insides (my mom can’t handle pork sausage, for example), and put in what makes your taste buds tap dance. 😁 In the case of herbs and spices, On one occasion, I’ll use what’s in the recipe, and on another, I may use some “Slap Ya Mama” spice instead, just because I’m in the mood for a Cajun kick to start the day. 😁 Happy cooking!
Allyson Zea
This casserole is the perfect weekend treat!
Catalina
This breakfast casserole was so hearty and delicious. It was perfect for our Sunday brunch and there was plenty for the whole family!
Sandra
This is seriously the best way to start my days! Really amazing!
Juliane
This was a good addition to start my day! My family just loved it and they want me to make again soon!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert
This is most definitely an EPIC breakfast!
Erik
This is exactly the kind of breakfast treat I love!