Overnight Country Sausage-Hash Brown Casserole

How to Make Sausage-Hashbrown Casserole

Learn how easy this make-ahead hash brown casserole for a crowd is to prepare. Refer to the recipe for all the specific details:

Spray the Casserole Dish 

We prefer to use a 13x9-inch casserole dish, so that each serving gets the maximum the cheesy goodness on top. You can, however, use any shaped 3-quart casserole you have in your kitchen. Spray to lightly coat the bottom and sides.

Cook the Sausage

Use a small skillet to cook the sausage. Break up any clumps with a spoon, until it is no longer pink. Drain sausage to remove the grease, so the casserole won’t taste greasy when baked.

Mix the Ingredients

Beat the eggs, milk, mustard, and pepper in a large bowl using a whisk, to break up the eggs quickly. Stir in the refrigerated hash browns, along with most of the cheese. Hold back the remaining cheese to add just before baking. This will keep the cheese on top verses sinking in. Cover and place in the refrigerator.

Pour into the Dish and Refrigerate

Refrigerating the mixture allows you to do all the prep ahead, giving you a break in the morning. And as the mixture sits, the starch released by the potatoes helps the dish set-up when baked.

Uncover, Top with Cheese, and Bake

Uncover the casserole, add that remaining cheese and bake.I no time you’ll have a moist, cheesy, and as enticing to look at as it is to eat.

Cool and Serve

Let the baked casserole stand for 10 minutes, for the egg bake to set up so the pieces come out of the dish intact. Cut the casserole down the center lengthwise, using a sharp knife. Cut the casserole in half crosswise, and then make 2 additional cuts crosswise, to cut the casserole into 8 equal-sized pieces. Use a small cookie spatula to remove servings from the dish.

Sausage-Hashbrown Casserole Variations

You can try any of these suggestions on how to change up the cheesy sausage and hashbrown casserole, based on what you already have in your kitchen or your family’s preferences:

Swap the Sausage: Go for what’s on sale or the type of sausage your family loves. You could use bulk ground hot Italian turkey sausage, breakfast sausage, chicken sausage, chorizo, or andouille sausage. Or, if you have non meat eaters, try plant-based bulk sausage, instead. You could also just skip the sausage altogether; however, it does add heartiness and flavor to the dish while bulking up the servings.

Spice it Up: Tweak the flavor of the dish by changing the style of mustard. Try spicy brown mustard for an added kick or honey mustard, for a touch of sweetness. You can also add herbs for additional color and flavor. Since the casserole is made ahead, use dried herbs, such as basil leaves or Italian seasoning. If you love the look and flavor that comes from fresh herbs, chopped Italian parsley, green onions, or chives could be used without them turning dark during the storage step. Other fresh herbs are not recommended, as they can turn dark during the refrigeration of this dish.

A New Cheese, Please: Use a cheese that tempts your tastebuds or that’s been in your fridge, looking for a little love. Swap an equal amount of any shredded cheese that has a nice melty quality when heated. Try a Mexican cheese blend, spicy jalapeño, Monterey Jack, or even Swiss cheese would be delicious in this breakfast casserole.

How to Store Overnight Country Sausage-Hash Brown Casserole

Any leftover baked hash brown casserole should be refrigerated within 2 hours of baking it, to avoid any potential bacteria from growing, which could cause food-borne illness. You can cover the leftovers right in the dish they were baked in or transfer them to a food-safe storage container or plate and cover. Refrigerate the leftovers no longer than 4 days. We don’t recommend freezing the baked casserole, as the eggs and hash browns can get watery during the thawing and reheating stages.

To reheat refrigerated leftovers, place a serving on a microwavable plate. Cover loosely and microwave on medium-high (70%) 1 minute to 1 1/2 minutes or until the center reaches 165 °F when tested with an instant-read food thermometer. We do not recommend reheating the baked casserole in the oven, as it would dry out before the center would be hot enough.