Description
Ina Garten’s sausage breakfast casserole combines hearty ingredients for a morning meal that comforts and satisfies. Layers of bread, eggs, cheese, and savory sausage create a delightful dish you’ll crave at weekend gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) fresh bulk pork sausage with sage
- 10 oz (280 g) sharp cheddar cheese
- 5 large eggs
- 2 cups (480 ml) half-and-half
- ½ loaf sliced white bread
- 1 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- butter (for greasing)
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously cube bread into uniform 1-inch pieces and evenly spread across a greased 9x13x2-inch ceramic baking dish.
- Sausage Layer: Brown sausage in a medium skillet over medium heat, draining excess fat, then distribute evenly over bread cubes.
- Cheese Application: Generously cover sausage with freshly grated sharp Cheddar cheese, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Egg Mixture: Whisk half-and-half, ground dry mustard, kosher salt, and eggs in a mixing bowl until thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Liquid Integration: Pour egg mixture uniformly over cheese layer, guaranteeing comprehensive distribution throughout the casserole.
- Chilling Process: Cover dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate for 8-12 hours, allowing flavors to meld and develop completely.
- Temperature Adjustment: Remove casserole from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking, letting ingredients reach near-room temperature.
- Baking Sequence: Position oven rack in center, preheat to 350°F, then uncover casserole and bake for 50-55 minutes until center sets and edges turn golden-brown.
- Resting Phase: Remove from oven and let casserole rest for 15 minutes, enabling ingredient stabilization and easier serving.
Notes
- Prep Ahead Strategy: Refrigerate the casserole overnight to enhance flavor infusion and allow ingredients to meld seamlessly, creating a more complex and delicious breakfast dish.
- Bread Cube Precision: Cut bread into uniform 1-inch cubes to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Fat Drainage Technique: Thoroughly drain sausage fat to prevent a greasy, soggy bottom and maintain the casserole’s ideal structural integrity.
- Temperature Balance: Let the casserole sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking to promote even cooking and prevent potential temperature shock to the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 438
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1065 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 186 mg