Description
Looking for a delicious dinner idea? Try this easy Crack Break Casserole recipe. Discover a new family favorite today!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) breakfast sausage, mild or hot based on preference
- 8 slices bacon (about 8 ounces/225g), chopped
- 1 medium yellow onion (about 1 cup/160g), finely diced
- 1 red bell pepper (about 1 cup/150g), diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
- 1 cup (240ml) half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 package (30 ounces/850g) frozen hash browns, thawed
- 2 cups (8 ounces/225g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup (4 ounces/113g) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Dish Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. This ensures your Crack Break Casserole won’t stick and makes cleanup much easier. If you’re planning to refrigerate overnight, you can wait to preheat your oven until you’re ready to bake.
- Step 2: Cook The Meat In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage, breaking it into crumbles with a wooden spoon as it browns. Once cooked through (about 5-7 minutes), transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. In the same skillet, cook the chopped bacon until crisp (about 5-6 minutes). Remove bacon to the paper towel-lined plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan.
- Step 3: Sauté Vegetables Add the diced onions and bell peppers to the skillet with the reserved bacon grease. Sauté until softened, about 4-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Step 4: Prepare Egg Mixture In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, half-and-half, salt, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne (if using) until well combined and slightly frothy. This creates a custard-like base for your Crack Break Casserole that will bind all the ingredients together while baking.
- Step 5: Assemble The Casserole Spread the thawed and dried hash browns evenly across the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the cheese mixture over the potatoes. Next, evenly distribute the cooked sausage, bacon, and sautéed vegetables. Pour the egg mixture slowly over everything, allowing it to seep down between the layers. Top with the remaining cheese and sprinkle with half of the green onions.
- Step 6: Bake To Perfection Bake the Crack Break Casserole uncovered for 45-55 minutes, or until the center is set and no longer jiggly. The top should be golden brown and slightly crisp around the edges. If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover with foil for the remainder of the baking time.
- Step 7: Finish And Serve Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving. This resting period allows the casserole to set completely and makes it easier to slice into clean portions. Garnish with the remaining green onions and fresh parsley before serving your delicious Crack Break Casserole.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 50mg