Farmers’ Market Overnight Breakfast Egg Casserole
~ Loaded with bountiful veggies, this hearty egg bake is deliciously satisfying, without weighing you down! Unlike many recipes, this egg casserole is made without bread. And since you can make it the night before, it’s perfect for holiday brunches or make-ahead family breakfasts! ~
This Recipe Is: • Freezable • Make Ahead • Gluten Free •
I have a little backstory about our blog and this recipe … and the friendship that inspired them both. But, first things first, right? Before I dive into all that, I know you’re truly here for the recipe … and you might want to take a peek at our little video tutorial that showcases this egg casserole recipe (and how easy it is to make). No worries! I get it … go ahead and check it out!
Video Tutorial
Yum, right?!? Yeah. It really is a favorite! You definitely do want to make this! But if you wanna know the backstory, read on here before you head to the recipe card …
Sooooo … Ever since we became friends a few years back, Gretchen has laughed a lot.
At me.
Generally while also shaking her head with that expression of wide-eyed disbelief that says “I think you might actually be certifiably nuts, but you’re pretty fun to hang out with, so I’m just gonna humor your latest insane idea/crazy suggestion/I-seriously-don’t-know-where-you-come-up-with-this-stuff comment.”
Although, to be fair, I guess I probably spend just as much time giggling and shaking my head right back at her.
In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s how we ended up with a blog. We have no idea anymore whose you’ve-got-to-be-kidding idea this originally was, but apparently the other one decided to go along with it.
So here we are.
And isn’t that just one of the very best things about good friends?
They give you an entirely different perspective on the world, without ever judging your own views and ways of doing things (even if they do think you’re a little bit crazy!). And sometimes you actually learn a lot along the way.
I especially notice this with Gretchen since we spend so much time working together in the very personal spaces of each other’s kitchens (rooting through each other’s cupboards and refrigerators), discussing what flavor combinations taste terrific, and chatting about our families’ food preferences and traditions.
For example …
• She organizes things in her kitchen totally differently than I do (as in, she actually organizes things).
• While it seems completely clear to me that the fastest way to deal with a clove of garlic is with a chef’s knife, it has always been absolutely obvious to her that the best way to tackle garlic is with a garlic press. Huh. Go figure. (Side note: I absolutely swear by my 8″ Victorinox chef’s knife – unbeatable price and a top Cook’s Illustrated rating convinced me to buy it, and I’ve never looked back.)
• Oh – and that amazing little contraption she calls a can opener still remains a mystery to me no matter how many times she shows me how to use it. Never seen a can opener like that before! But I have to admit that it works like a charm (and I kinda covet it). Who knew?
• Yeah, and she fastidiously pre-rinses every dish before it goes in the dishwasher. I pretty much figure that’s why I bought a dishwasher in the first place, and only worry about any food particle bigger than an entire hamburger. We’re just different that way, ya know?
And really, our differences make us – and this blog – so much better. We’re constantly questioning and pushing each other to retest and perfect recipes, or to clarify techniques that might not be clear to anyone else, even though they seem crystal-clear to one of us.
This all leads us to the story of this breakfast casserole.
Because … holiday food traditions? Well, we’ve learned a few things from each other there, too!
I mean, in my family, holidays like Easter and Christmas involve gaggles of family members and generally require multiple parties. At least one gathering’s always a brunch (gotta start early if you’re gonna cram in that much partying!). And it’s always just been a no-brainer for all of us that this meant make-ahead breakfast casseroles.
As much as we love cooking, we sure don’t want to get up at the crack of dawn to do it! (We may start our parties early, but we’re for sure not crack-of-dawn people!)
And, seriously – who wants to be stuck in the kitchen when there are Easter eggs to hunt and raucous laughter emanating from the next room?
Gretchen’s side of the family doesn’t live quite so near, so morning festivities and massive brunch parties aren’t really their thing.
And she was a little surprised when I passionately explained how (obviously!?!?!) everyone absolutely needs make-ahead breakfast casseroles for holidays. I mean … it just seemed so clear to me that everyone did!
But, of course, she loves any recipe that’s an easy make-ahead. So, it wasn’t actually all that hard to convince her that if she ever begins hosting brunch bashes, overnight casseroles are the only way to go!
And she was totally on board when I said that we’d clearly, therefore, need to do a round-up of make-ahead breakfast ideas for last Christmas! As we were compiling those recipes, I was sure I’d find a recipe Just.Like.This.One. It seemed perfectly obvious – the typical hearty egg casserole made fresher, lighter, healthier, yummier by tons of great veggies. It was the recipe I really wanted to find – surely everyone had a recipe Just.Like.This.One. Right?
Apparently not.
If you check out our THK round-up of make-ahead breakfasts, you won’t see this recipe, or even one just like it.
So, since I didn’t find it, I created my own.
And I love it. We all love it!
It’s got all the hearty, fuel-you-up-to-finish-hunting-down-that-last-impossible-egg ingredients you’d expect from an egg casserole, but with leaner sausage and cheese, plus tons of delicious and nutrition-packed veggies.
It’s like a farmers’ market in your baking pan (you know … hence, the name …).
Make It Ahead … the Night Before!
Best part of all? You can prep the entire casserole the night before (and much of the work can be done even further ahead than that!), so you don’t miss one second of the action on the morning of your brunch! Perfect!
Your oven does all the work while you discover the last, impossible-to-find egg (what was the Easter Bunny thinking on that one????).
Meal Prep and Freezing Options!
Also perfect?
Leftovers reheat beautifully for easy breakfasts all week long! It’s a great little recipe for those of you who like to meal prep to simplify busy weeks.
In fact, I often make this just for my family of four on the weekend, and then enjoy quick, ready-to-reheat breakfasts for days! Honestly, I was truly surprised how well this reheats – it’s just as good warmed up three or four days later!
It also freezes beautifully. Just portion out individual servings, wrap them in plastic, and freeze them in a zipper bag. A quick tango with your microwave, and they’ll be scrumptious all over again!
It’s Even Portable!
And for all those on-the-go mornings, just rewarm some of this breakfast casserole and wrap it inside a whole-grain tortilla. You’re out the door in a flash, with a fantastic, portable breakfast to power you through your busy day.
When it comes to easy, delicious, healthy make-ahead breakfasts (and particularly this fantastic overnight egg casserole), Gretchen and I definitely agree … fabulous, all around!
But it for sure won’t be long before she finds some other reason to giggle and shake her head at me.
Or until I stare in wide-eyed wonder at her as she organizes something that doesn’t actually need organized, or elaborates on the next crazy scheme that she will somehow eventually talk me into!
That’s just how friends are.
Farmers' Market Overnight Breakfast Egg Casserole
Loaded with bountiful veggies, this delicious egg bake has been winning raves for years and years! It's great for holiday brunches or make-ahead breakfasts. And, since this egg casserole is made without bread, it's even gluten free, too!
• Freezable • Make Ahead • Gluten Free •
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet Italian turkey sausage
- 1 1/2 cups diced sweet onion (from about half a large onion)
- 8 ounces fresh sliced mushrooms
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (sometimes labeled "country style")
- 2 cups shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- 1 cup diced green pepper (from about 1 small-medium pepper)
- 2-3 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced (to equal about 1 - 1 1/4 cups)
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions (from about 6 onions)
- 12 eggs
- 1 3/4 cup nonfat milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a large non-stick skillet (I like this one) over medium heat, cook sausage, onions, mushrooms, and garlic until sausage is no longer pink and mushrooms have given off some of their liquid, about 10 minutes. Throughout cooking, stir to crumble sausage and break up mushrooms. (You can leave the mushrooms in larger slices or break them into almost unnoticeable little pieces as you crumble the sausage.) Drain the liquid.
- In a 9x13 pan coated with cooking spray, layer potatoes (there is no need to thaw them), sausage mixture, 1 cup cheese, green peppers, tomatoes, and green onions.
- In a medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, parsley, salt, basil, and pepper. Whisk thoroughly to combine, then add remaining 1 cup of cheese and whisk again. Pour egg mixture evenly over other ingredients in baking pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. (Alternately, you can bake this casserole immediately.)
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake casserole, uncovered, for about 60-70 minutes, or until egg in middle is just set and edges are lightly golden brown.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Notes
Make-Ahead Options:
If you need to start on this recipe even earlier than the evening before your brunch, you can cook the sausage, onions, mushrooms, and garlic earlier in the day or a day ahead, and also chop the green peppers and green onions. Refrigerate the sausage mixture and the chopped peppers and onions in separate containers until assembling the casserole.
After the casserole is baked, you can refrigerate leftovers and reheat individual portions in the microwave for quick breakfasts all week.
This also freezes wonderfully. Pre-portion leftovers, wrap each portion individually in plastic, and store in a zipper container in the freezer. Microwave on several layers of paper towel to reheat as needed. After being frozen, the veggies let off water when reheated, but this casserole is still surprisingly terrific, so don't let that liquid worry you.
For Breakfasts On the Go (Or Snacks and Dinners on Busy Evenings): Nestle re-warmed slices of the casserole into a tortilla for a wrap.
Breakfast for Dinner: You can make this in the morning and refrigerate until baking, or prep it in the afternoon and then cook it immediately, for a fun "breakfast for dinner" option.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 servings Serving Size: 1 pieceAmount Per Serving: Calories: 187Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 169mgSodium: 615mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 2gSugar: 4gProtein: 18g
Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
So, I wanted to tell you, I was worried about sneaking in the turkey sausage as the family LOVES their regular Italian sausage…I kept my cool as I served it and kept peeking at their reactions. WHEW! It was a winner! Whoot!
Thank you!! 😉
Sherry
What a sweet and hilarious comment, Sherry! You crack me up! I totally hear you about the difficulty in switching out ingredients for healthier stand-ins, though. My dad is NOTORIOUS for sniffing out anything that might be different (aka healthier) in his favorite meals. Drives my poor mom nuts! I always count it as a major victory if even HE doesn’t notice my little healthification strategies LOL! I’m so thrilled this recipe passed yet another family’s test, and won you raves! Happy holidays – and thanks bunches for taking a moment to let me know how this went for you – I really appreciate your feedback! ~Shelley
I have made this several times and it’s always a big hit. What do you think would happen if I left out the hash browns and sausage? Trying to make a lighter version. Thanks!
Hi Jen! That’s a good question … let me address the sausage first, since another reader asked about that a couple of years ago, so I already have an answer for ya on that one. Basically, leaving the sausage out of this breakfast casserole may change the flavor somewhat, as sweet Italian turkey sausage includes Italian spices that give a big boost to the flavors in this casserole. But, if you do want to try leaving out the sausage, you could try adding a bit of Italian spice blend to the egg mixture to make up for the spices you’re leaving out in the sausage. Ok … now, about those potatoes. I’m sure you can leave them out, similar in a way to a simple, oven-baked frittata. What I’m not exactly sure about is precisely how leaving out the potatoes (and also the sausage) will affect the baking time. My guess is that you’ll need to reduce it by maybe 10-15 minutes since you’ve removed a relatively large proportion of the ingredients and now need to heat a much smaller overall amount of ingredients. I would recommend that you start checking for doneness waaaaay before you think you’ll need to pull it out of the oven, and just re-check patiently at regular intervals until it’s properly cooked through. I hope that helps! I’d love to know what you try and how it works out – let me know! ~Shelley
Can I use regular shredded cheddar instead of reduced fat and italian pork sausage instead of turkey sausage? And can I use whole milk or 2%?
Hi Linda! You should be able to make the various changes you’re asking about, although you may end up with a heavier-seeming and somewhat greasier end product, particularly because of the additional fat in the sausage and cheese. Be especially careful to drain the sausage as thoroughly as possible. Really, though, I would encourage you to try our leaner version of this recipe, as written – it’s gotten so many raves from family and friends, and also from lots and lots of our readers. Using reduced-fat cheese, sausage and milk has a big impact on the healthfulness of this egg casserole, slashing both calories and also some of the less-healthy fats. I think you’ll still find the casserole to be satisfying and flavorful, even with the selection of the healthier ingredients we suggest. I hope you’ll give it a try – enjoy! ~Shelley
Hello there I was just looking over the recipe can I omit the hash browns to make it low carb?
Hi, Jamal! That’s a good question! I’m sure that you ~could~ leave the hash browns out — it would make this recipe similar to a simple oven-baked frittata. What I’m not exactly sure about is precisely how leaving out all the potatoes will affect the baking time. My guess is that you’ll need to reduce it by maybe 10-15 minutes since you’ve removed a relatively large proportion of the ingredients and now need to heat a much smaller overall amount of stuff. I’d recommend that you start checking for doneness waaaaay before you think you’ll need to pull it out of the oven, and just re-check patiently at regular intervals until it’s properly cooked through. I hope that helps! I’d love to know what you try, and how it works out — let me know! ~Amy
I must tell you…I cut down on the sausage by 1/2 lb. and sautéd a little chopped eggplant (peeled) in place of mushrooms). I also substituted either chopped asparagus or chopped broccoli in place of the potatoes.
Still a big hit, and delicious! Didn’t alter baking time…..and it was perfect!
Hi, Bev! We’re always so glad to hear how our readers have made our recipes their own! Thanks for sharing your little twists, and so glad to hear you enjoyed! ~Amy
Can this be made vegetarian…maybe add more mushrooms to replace the sausage?
Hi, Maeve! I don’t see any major issue with adding some more mushrooms instead of sausage, or even just leaving the sausage out altogether. There are some things you’ll want to consider, though. 🙂 Leaving the sausage out of this casserole may change the flavor somewhat, as sweet Italian turkey sausage includes Italian spices that give a big boost to the flavors in this recipe. But, if you do want to try leaving out the sausage or replacing it with mushrooms, you could try adding a bit of Italian spice blend to the egg mixture to make up for the spices you’re leaving out in the sausage. What I’m not exactly sure about is precisely how leaving out the sausage will affect the baking time. My guess is that you’ll need to reduce it by maybe 5 minutes since you’ve removed a decent proportion of the ingredients, and now need to heat up smaller overall amount of stuff. I would recommend that you start checking for doneness quite a bit before you think you’ll need to pull it out of the oven, and just re-check patiently at regular intervals until it’s properly cooked through. And if you do decide to just add extra mushrooms in place of the sausage, you’ll want to be careful with adding too many: those little guys tend to let off a LOT of liquid, so you may end up with a pretty watery casserole. (I’d suggest maybe subbing in some sort of veggie meat instead?) I hope that helps! I’d love to know what you try and how it works out – let me know! 😀 ~Amy