Hearty baked breakfast with sausage, eggs, cheese, and bread cubes. Feeds 8, easy to prep ahead.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound breakfast sausage, casings removed
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped (optional)
03 - 1/2 red bell pepper, diced (optional)
→ Dairy & Eggs
04 - 8 large eggs
05 - 2 cups whole milk
06 - 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
07 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
→ Bread
08 - 6 cups day-old bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (French or sourdough)
→ Seasonings
09 - 1 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried mustard powder
12 - 1/4 teaspoon paprika
→ For Greasing
13 - Butter or nonstick spray
# Cooking Steps:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. If using, add onion and bell pepper; sauté until softened, 3-4 minutes. Drain excess fat.
03 - Spread the bread cubes evenly in the prepared baking dish. Top with the cooked sausage and vegetables, if used.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, mustard powder, and paprika until well combined.
05 - Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese and all the mozzarella into the egg mixture.
06 - Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and sausage in the baking dish. Gently press the bread down so it soaks up the liquid.
07 - Sprinkle remaining cheddar cheese on top of the casserole.
08 - Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes until golden and set in the center.
10 - Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
