Description

This hearty Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole is a flavorful and satisfying morning dish featuring crispy hashbrowns, savory sausage, colorful bell peppers, onions, and melted cheddar cheese all combined with a rich egg and evaporated milk custard. Perfect for a weekend brunch or to prepare ahead for busy mornings, this casserole bakes to a golden perfection, delivering a comforting, protein-packed meal that the whole family will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Hashbrown Casserole Base

20 ounces shredded hash browns (thawed)
1 pound sausage of your choice (cooked, crumbled, and drained)
¼ cup finely diced onion
½ red bell pepper, diced
½ green bell pepper, diced
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

Custard Mixture

8 eggs
12 ounces evaporated milk (1 can, or 1 ⅓ cups milk)
½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
½ teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
¼ teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish or spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Cook Sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no pink remains. Drain excess fat and set the cooked sausage aside.
Combine Casserole Ingredients: In the prepared casserole dish, layer thawed hashbrowns, cooked sausage, diced onion, red and green bell peppers, and 1½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Gently mix the ingredients evenly in the dish.
Prepare Egg Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, evaporated milk, kosher salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning if using, until fully blended.
Assemble Casserole: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the hashbrown and sausage mixture in the casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly on top.
Optional Refrigeration: You may cover the casserole and refrigerate overnight for convenience. If refrigerated, remove it from the fridge 30 minutes before baking.
Bake: Bake the casserole uncovered for 55 to 65 minutes until the eggs are set and the top is a golden brown color.

Notes

You can substitute milk for evaporated milk if preferred, though evaporated milk adds a richer texture.
Use turkey sausage or vegetarian sausage to adjust for dietary preferences.
Customize the vegetables by adding mushrooms or spinach for extra nutrition.
Make sure hashbrowns are fully thawed for even cooking.
This casserole can be made a day ahead and refrigerated before baking, making it excellent for meal prep.