This super easy, Breakfast Casserole recipe is loaded with hearty elements like smoky bacon and breakfast sausage, sautéed veggies, spinach, and diced potatoes. A simple egg + cottage cheese mixture ups the protein here which makes this breakfast delight so filling! It’s the perfect make-ahead meal for busy mornings, holiday get-togethers, and everything in between. You’ll love this cheesy and delicious casserole!

slice of breakfast casserole on small plate with fresh fruit

Hey, peeps! I hope your spring season has been off to a good start. The second quarter of the year is always a ton of fun with holidays, sunshine, and the approach of summer! I’ve been tending to my green thumb lately by way of gardening…herbs, tomatoes, flowers, and more. My raised garden bed is thriving, y’all! I’m excited to see the fruits of my labor months from now, too.

breakfast casserole slices on plates with fresh fruit

The Best Breakfast Casserole! 🙌🏾

There’s nothing quite like a good breakfast or brunch item, friends. Let’s go a step further and put all of those universally loved elements into one dish aka a casserole. This egg-centered breakfast casserole is loaded with hearty goodness like sausage, bacon, and potatoes. It’s seriously delicious.

There’s also plenty of protein and big flavor here plus it’s nice and filling. It’s the perfect make-ahead dish to have on hand for meal prepping, holiday-inspired get togethers with your people, and all else in between!

ingredients for breakfast casserole in bowls

Ingredients Needed For The Casserole:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

  • The meats: Bacon + breakfast sausage, yessirrrr.
  • Aromatics: A little bell pepper + onion to sauté, mmm.
  • Garlic: Everything needs a lil garlic ya know.
  • Leafy greens: We’ll use a whole bag of spinach for health, ha.
  • Seasoning: My Creole Cajun seasoning is a holy grail. This well-rounded spice blend is so good because it has a variety of spices all in one. Make my homemade version or use store-bought Cajun seasoning if you’d like!
  • Eggs & cottage cheese: For binding, protein-rich wholesomeness.
  • Half & half: Just a touch for a plush, eggy texture.
  • Potatoes & cheese: To round out the breakfast goodness.
crispy bacon pieces in skillet with rubber spatula

How To Make This Breakfast Casserole:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Then coat a baking dish with nonstick spray.
  • Cook the bacon & sausage. Add the chopped bacon into a large skillet and cook until golden and crisp. Use a slotted utensil to transfer the crisp bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the sausage and cook until browned.
  • Sauté, add spinach & build the base. Add the bell pepper and onion into the same pan and sauté until tender and golden. Then stir in the garlic paste. Add the spinach into the pan and toss until wilted down and season with Cajun seasoning. Add the crisp bacon back into the pan and stir well to combine with the sausage mixture. Then remove from heat.
eggs and cottage cheese in blender body
egg mixture being poured over sautéed veggies and meat

Finish & Bake Casserole:

  • Combine the egg mixture. In the body of a high-speed blender, add the eggs, cottage cheese, half and half, and salt/pepper- to taste. Blitz the mixture until well combined.
  • Assemble breakfast casserole. Add the potatoes, Cajun seasoning, and cheese in an even layer to the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Next, add the sausage/spinach mixture in an even layer over the potatoes. Lastly, pour the egg mixture over everything and then sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top in an even layer.
  • Bake the casserole at 375°F for 25-35 minutes or until mostly set with slightly crisp edges and a barely jiggly center.
breakfast casserole in baking dish

Serving Your Breakfast Casserole:

  • Slice the breakfast casserole into wedges and serve immediately! You won’t regret a garnish of freshly sliced scallions and a topping of sour cream either on this baddie, yummo 😛!

I love to have this recipe prepped for busy mornings or on deck for a holiday breakfast/brunch moment. It’s a dream for Easter, Mother’s/Father’s Day, Christmas or Thanksgiving morning, and all other festive celebrations.

slice of breakfast casserole on small plate

Recipe Tips + Tricks & More Notes

Here’s some more info on this breakfast casserole recipe…

  • Make-ahead: Make/prep the casserole recipe as written except for baking. Cover the baking dish with foil and refrigerate overnight. Then bake the dish on the next day and serve. This is a great option because the flavors will have a chance to meld and intensify!
  • Freezing leftovers: Make sure the baked casserole has cooled to room temperature. Wrap leftover wedges tightly in foil. Then transfer the leftovers into a freezer-safe container, it’ll keep for up to 2 months. When ready, let the casserole servings thaw in the fridge overnight or until completely thawed.
  • Reheat: Bake the leftovers in the oven at 300°F for 15-20 minutes or in the microwave until warmed through.
slices of breakfast casserole on plates with fresh fruit

This Breakfast Casserole recipe is one that I have no doubts you will enjoy, friends. It’s so easy and full of goodness! Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

More BBR breakfast/brunch eats:

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slice of breakfast casserole on small plate with fresh fruit

Hearty & Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe

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  • Author: Quin Liburd
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 55 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 12
  • Category: Breakfast, Brunch
  • Method: Baking, Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This super easy, Breakfast Casserole recipe is loaded with hearty elements like smoky bacon and breakfast sausage, sautéed veggies, spinach, and diced potatoes. A simple egg + cottage cheese mixture ups the protein here which makes this breakfast delight so filling! It’s the perfect make-ahead meal for busy mornings, holiday get-togethers, and everything in between. You’ll love this cheesy and delicious casserole!

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (16-ounces) thick-cut bacon, chopped
  • 1 lb (16-ounces) breakfast sausage (we use Jimmy Dean)
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon garlic paste
  • 1 (5-ounce) bag fresh baby spinach
  • 1 tablespoon Creole Cajun seasoning, homemade or store-bought, plus more to taste
  • 12 large eggs
  • 1 (16-ounce) container cottage cheese (we use Good Culture)
  • ¼ cup half and half
  • Kosher salt & fresh ground black pepper- to taste
  • 2 cups refrigerated diced potatoes
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, preferably hand-grated, divided
  • Sliced scallions & sour cream, for garnish/serving- optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside.
  2. Crisp bacon. Add the chopped bacon into a large deep skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the bacon starts to sizzle, stir the bacon every so often until the pieces are broken up, cooking until golden and crisp, about 10-15 minutes. The bacon will render a lot of fat. Use a slotted utensil to transfer the crisp bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Then carefully pour the majority of the rendered fat, leaving about 2 tablespoons in the pan, out into a small ramekin- set aside.
  3. Brown the breakfast sausage. Add the sausage to the same pan and use a wooden utensil to break the sausage apart into crumbles. Cook the sausage, stirring often, until golden brown and lightly crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
  4. Sauté the veggies. Add the bell pepper and onion into the same pan, stirring with the sausage, and sauté until the veggies become tender and golden, about 3-4 minutes. If your pan looks dry, add a teaspoon or two of the reserved bacon fat into the pan, only if needed! Then stir in the garlic paste and continue cooking for 1 minute.
  5. Add the spinach & finish. Add the spinach into the pan and toss; it might look like a whole lot at first but the spinach will wilt down significantly. Once the spinach has wilted down, season the sausage mixture with Cajun seasoning and stir well to combine. Add the crisp bacon back into the pan and stir well to combine with the sausage mixture. Then remove from heat.
  6. Combine the egg mixture. In the body of a high-speed blender, add the eggs, cottage cheese, half and half, and salt/pepper- to taste. Blitz the mixture until well combined and smooth and set aside.
  7. Assemble breakfast casserole. Add the diced potatoes in an even layer to the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Season the potatoes with Cajun seasoning and use your hands to briefly toss to coat the potatoes. Sprinkle a little shredded cheese in an even layer over the potatoes. Next, add the sausage/spinach mixture in an even layer over the potatoes. Lastly, pour the egg mixture over everything and then sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top in an even layer.
  8. Bake the casserole at 375°F for 25-35 minutes or until mostly set with slightly crisp edges and a barely jiggly center. After baking, set the casserole aside to cool down and set before slicing, about 15-20 minutes.
  9. Serve. Slice the breakfast casserole into squares and garnish with freshly sliced scallions and a topping of sour cream, if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

  1. Freezing leftovers: Make sure the baked casserole has cooled to room temperature. Wrap leftover wedges tightly in foil. Then transfer the leftovers into a freezer-safe container, it’ll keep for up to 2 months. When ready, let the casserole servings thaw in the fridge overnight or until completely thawed.
  2. Reheating: Bake the leftovers in the oven at 300°F for 15-20 minutes or in the microwave until warmed through.
  3. Please read blog post in its entirety for more tips + tricks.

Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: Ashley McLaughlin