Description
Ina Garten’s sausage breakfast casserole brings Italian sausage, eggs, and cheese together in a comforting morning masterpiece. Hearty layers of crusty bread, savory meat, and melted cheese create a satisfying breakfast that will delight breakfast lovers and weekend brunch enthusiasts.
Ingredients
Scale
main ingredients:
- 1 pound fresh bulk pork sausage with sage
- 10 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
- 5 large eggs
supporting ingredients:
- 2 cups half-and-half
- ½ loaf sliced white bread
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
preparation ingredient:
- butter (for greasing)
Instructions
- Meticulously dice the bread into precise 1-inch (2.5 centimeters) cubes, ensuring uniform size, and distribute evenly across a thoroughly greased 9x13x2-inch (23x33x5 centimeters) ceramic baking dish.
- Heat a medium-sized skillet over medium temperature, thoroughly brown the sausage until completely cooked, carefully draining excess fat to prevent sogginess.
- Generously scatter the crumbled, cooked sausage directly over the arranged bread cubes, creating an even, substantial layer.
- Liberally sprinkle freshly grated sharp Cheddar cheese across the sausage, allowing complete coverage and potential melting potential.
- In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together half-and-half cream, ground dry mustard, kosher salt, and lightly beaten eggs until perfectly integrated and smooth.
- Gently pour the egg mixture over the cheese layer, ensuring comprehensive and uniform distribution throughout the casserole.
- Carefully cover the entire dish with aluminum foil, then refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours or preferably overnight to allow flavors to thoroughly meld and develop.
- Remove the casserole from refrigerator approximately 30 minutes prior to baking to reduce temperature shock.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), positioning the rack in the center for consistent heating.
- Uncover the casserole and bake for 50-55 minutes, or until the center is set and the edges display a golden-brown, slightly crispy texture.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 15 minutes, enabling the ingredients to stabilize and making serving easier.
Notes
- Cold refrigeration helps the bread absorb the egg mixture, creating a silky, custardy texture.
- Aluminum foil during refrigeration prevents unwanted moisture and helps ingredients meld together.
- Drain sausage fat completely to prevent a greasy final dish and ensure crisp, delicious results.
- Room temperature ingredients blend more smoothly and create a more consistent egg mixture.
- Half-and-half provides a luxurious creaminess that elevates this classic breakfast casserole.
- Sharp Cheddar cheese adds a rich, tangy flavor that perfectly complements the savory sausage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg