Ultimate Breakfast Casserole

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This is one loaded breakfast casserole! It’s made with eggs, crispy bacon, breakfast sausage, sweet potato, bell pepper, and the perfect amount of seasoning. Serve it up on the weekends, meal prep it for the week, or make it ahead of time for special occasions and holidays, like Christmas!

Loaded breakfast casserole in a pan on a table.

The Best Breakfast Casserole

Who says a hearty breakfast casserole means store-bought hash browns and lots of cheese? Oh no, this one’s loaded with far better ingredients that are just as filling, super tasty, and provide vibrant color. Roasted sweet potatoes, bell pepper, onion, bacon, and sausage add oomph to the perfect all-in-one meal.

This easy breakfast casserole makes for a delicious weekend breakfast, it’s ideal for meal prep, and it’s perfect for special occasions and holidays like Christmas morning or Easter brunch. You can easily feed the entire family (and then some), but you may not have much in the way of leftovers as it always gets devoured!

Ingredients for a breakfast casserole on a table.

Breakfast Casserole Ingredients

Next time you’re at the market, grab a dozen eggs to make this reader-favorite breakfast casserole. Eggs form the casserole base, but from there, you can really customize it to your liking. Here’s what I include in mine:

  • Eggs: The star ingredient that binds everything together.
  • Bacon: Crispy bacon makes everything taste better, am I right?
  • Breakfast Sausage: I’m using a slightly sweet breakfast sausage, but feel free to go for a mild, medium, or even spicy flavor.
  • Sweet Potato: I dice, then roast the sweet potato with some spices so that it’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. It’s my version of hashbrowns, but healthier.
  • Bell Pepper: You can use any color, but I love green for the contrast in color to the sweet potato.
  • Onion: I’m using a yellow onion, but you could use a red onion or even slice up green onions.
  • Garlic & Spices: Minced garlic and dried spices like cumin and paprika add incredible flavor to the casserole.
  • Milk: Just a splash of milk makes the eggs nice and fluffy. You can use dairy or dairy-free milk, it’s up to you!
  • Cheese: This is optional, but I personally love a little sprinkle of sharp cheddar cheese on top – so good.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below

How To Make This Breakfast Casserole

While the ingredient list may seem long, it’s much easier to make than you think!

Roast the bacon and potatoes. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and toss the diced sweet potatoes with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Then, add slices of bacon to a separate sheet pan. Pop both those items in the oven and cook the bacon for 15 to 20 minutes.

Once the bacon is done, take it out and place it on a paper towel-lined plate. Then continue roasting the sweet potato for an additional 15 minutes.

Roasting sweet potatoes and bacon for a breakfast casserole.

Cook the breakfast sausage, bell pepper, and onion. On medium-high heat, sauté the breakfast sausage until browned, then transfer it to a 9×13-inch casserole pan. Drain off a bit of the sausage grease, then sauté the bell pepper and onion for 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute, then add it to the casserole pan.

Sauteeing breakfast sausage and bell pepper for a loaded breakfast casserole.

Stir everything together. Mix the sausage, bacon, bell pepper, onions, and sweet potato in the casserole pan and season with salt and pepper.

Mixing ingredients in a casserole pan for a loaded breakfast casserole.

Add the eggs. Whisk together the egg mixture and pour it over the meat and veggies.

Adding egg mixture into a loaded breakfast casserole.

Bake and serve. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until the edges are golden and the center is cooked through. Then slice the breakfast casserole into squares for serving!

Breakfast casserole in a pan, sliced into pieces.

Ideas for Serving

Oh yeah, this breakfast casserole is mouthwatering on its own. But if you want to spruce it up a bit for guests or make it an even heartier meal, here are a few easy ideas:

  • Garnish with greens. Top it off with sliced green onions, microgreens, or chopped herbs such as parsley.
  • Pair with avocado. Slice up some avocado, add it to each plate, and sprinkle a bit of salt and freshly ground black pepper on top.
  • Sprinkle cheese. If cheese is your thing, add some crumbled goat cheese or feta cheese on top. You could do this before baking or after.
  • Add a side salad. Amp up the greens in your meal by quickly tossing leafy greens (such as spinach or arugula) in a lemon vinaigrette and serving on the side. A simple kale salad is also great.
Loaded breakfast casserole pieces on two plates with avocado slices.

Dietary Substitutions

Meal Prep and Store

This make-ahead breakfast casserole means several meals are done for the week – for either breakfast, lunch or dinner! What more can someone with a busy weekday schedule ask for? Here are a few ways to store it:

  • To eat throughout the week: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days. Then simply reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds to a minute.
  • To freeze for later: Store leftovers in an airtight container, with parchment paper in between layers (to prevent them from sticking together) in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge, then microwave a serving for 30 seconds to a minute.
Scooping up a piece of a loaded breakfast casserole with a spatula.

More Easy Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast couldn’t be any easier with these reader favorites. Plus, these make for great meal prep options that turn Sunday cooking into exciting meals for the week.

Want even more recipes? Check out these 40+ healthy breakfast ideas!

This breakfast casserole really is loaded with flavor! If you make it, let me know how it turned out in a comment below. Your review helps others in the community!

An easy breakfast casserole with sausage in a white pan next to forks.

Ultimate Breakfast Casserole

4.98 from 90 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Author: Lisa Bryan

Description

This breakfast casserole is loaded with eggs, bacon, sausage, sweet potato, and bell pepper for the perfect holiday breakfast or weekend brunch. Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!

Video

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 pound sweet potato, peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces bacon
  • 1 pound breakfast sausage, mild, medium or spicy, your choice
  • ½ large onion, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, deseeded and diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 12 large eggs
  • cup milk (dairy or dairy-free)
  • optional: shredded cheese and sliced green onion for garnish

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and get a 9×13-inch casserole pan out. On one baking sheet pan, toss the diced sweet potato with olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
    Sweet potatoes on a baking sheet.
  • On another sheet pan, add slices of bacon. Then place both the sweet potato and bacon in the oven and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy. The bacon will be done first, so keep an eye on it and remove it from the oven when it's done, then place it on a paper towel-lined plate. Stir the sweet potato and continue cooking it for another 15 minutes.
    Bacon and sweet potatoes on baking sheets.
  • While the sweet potato is cooking, cook the breakfast sausage in a pan on medium-high heat. Once it's browned, remove it with a slotted spoon and place it in the casserole pan.
    Browning breakfast sausage in a pan.
  • Drain off all but a tablespoon of grease from the pan, then saute the onion and bell pepper for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and saute for another minute. Transfer this mixture to the casserole pan.
    Sauteeing bell pepper and onion for a loaded breakfast casserole.
  • Remove the sweet potato from the oven and add it to the casserole pan along with the crumbled bacon, breakfast sausage, onion, and bell pepper. If you'd like to add cheese, you can add it to the casserole pan now or sprinkle it on top.
    Breakfast casserole ingredients in a casserole dish.
  • Stir all of the ingredients in the casserole pan together. Feel free to season with more salt and pepper.
    Stir ingredients in a pan for a loaded breakfast casserole.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together, until lightly frothy.
    Whisking egg mixture for a loaded breakfast casserole.
  • Pour the egg mixture on top of the meat and vegetables. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the center is cooked through and the edges are slightly golden.
    Pouring egg mixture into a pan for a loaded breakfast casserole.
  • Slice the breakfast casserole into squares, and if you'd like, garnish with green onion or herbs before serving.
    Loaded Breakfast Casserole!

Lisa’s Tips

  • One pound of sweet potatoes is usually one medium to large sized sweet potato. If it’s slightly over, that’s fine as well.

Nutrition

Calories: 305kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 203mg | Sodium: 454mg | Potassium: 343mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 5693IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: best breakfast casserole, Breakfast Casserole, breakfast casserole recipe, Loaded breakfast casserole
Did you make this recipe?Mention @downshiftology or tag #downshiftology!

Recipe originally published December 2020, but updated to include new information.

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About the author

Lisa Bryan

Lisa is a bestselling cookbook author, recipe developer, and YouTuber (with over 2.5 million subscribers) living in sunny Southern California. She started Downshiftology in 2014, and is passionate about making healthy food with fresh, simple and seasonal ingredients.

4.98 from 90 votes (13 ratings without comment)

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203 Comments

  1. I made the ultimate breakfast casserole and it was amazing! My grandkids loved it. Easy, fast, healthy. New favorite dish.5 stars

  2. Is is possible to fully assemble this casserole the night before, refrigerate overnight, and then bake it in the morning?

    1. Hi Kathy – I’d recommend making it the night before and then just reheating in the morning. Enjoy!

  3. I love it that you list carbs because my husband is a diabetic and they count carbs plus I have IBS and can find recipes we both can eat. Thank, Nancy

    1. Hi Nancy – Glad the nutritional information is helpful! Hope you two enjoy this breakfast casserole.