Overnight Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Whenever we go to my mom’s house, I am always blown away at how much food she has prepared yet she always seems so calm. I get frazzled when I have company and am also trying to prepare food. My solution is that I serve easy things like take and bake pizza. I asked my mom how she remains calm in the midst of entertaining and she gave me her secret.

Make ahead dishes.

This recipe is one that she makes the day before so the day that company arrives, she isn’t also trying to prepare a main dish, do the dishes etc. My family is headed out of town for a long weekend with two other families soon and I am making a double batch of this for us all to have anytime of the day. Instead of making it in the house we are renting, I am choosing to make it ahead so we can simply just heat it up whenever we want.

Ingredients

Frozen Shredded Hash Browns – 3 cups (This equals out to ½ of a 30 ounce bag)
Cheddar Cheese- ¾ cup
- Note- Mexican blend is ok too
- I like to use extra cheese for the top at the end
Ground Italian Sausage – 1 cup (about 1/2 pound)
Green Onions – ¼ cup sliced
Bell peppers (any color) – ½ cup chopped
Eggs – 4 beaten
Half & Half- 1 ½ cups
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: hot sauce

To Prep:

Cook sausage on stove top. I cook all the way through though it will continue cooking in the oven.
Sauté peppers (optional).
Spray 2 quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Spread hash browns into bottom of dish.
Top with cheese, onions, peppers, and cooked sausage
Whisk together: eggs, half & half, salt/pepper.
- Add in optional hot sauce (I keep this out due to my kids’ taste buds but add hot sauce once served for the adults)
- Pour over hash brown mixture
Cover and refrigerate overnight
- If time doesn’t allow, refrigerate for at least one hour
Optional: top with extra cheese

To Cook:

Preheat oven to 350.
Bake uncovered for 60 minutes at 350 degrees or until center is set and is slightly brown around the edges
Remove from oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving
Enjoy!