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Homemade Crack Breakfast Casserole

Homemade Crack Breakfast Casserole

This Homemade Crack Breakfast Casserole is your ultimate savory breakfast solution, a deliciously decadent dish packed with all your favorite breakfast staples. It's incredibly useful for busy mornings, feeding a crowd, or simply indulging in a comforting and satisfying meal that everyone will adore.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound breakfast sausage (pork or turkey)
  • 1 pound bacon diced
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
  • 1 loaf (16 ounces) white bread cut into 1-inch cubes (day-old or slightly stale bread is best)
  • 8 large eggs
  • 3 cups milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives for garnish (optional)

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Large skillet
  • Medium Bowl
  • Separate large bowl

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. This prevents sticking and ensures a beautiful presentation.
  2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the breakfast sausage, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Once the sausage is cooked through, drain off any excess grease. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set it aside in a medium bowl.
    1 pound breakfast sausage
  3. In the same skillet, add the diced bacon. Cook over medium heat until crispy. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked bacon to the bowl with the sausage, leaving a little bacon grease in the skillet if desired for extra flavor.
    1 pound bacon
  4. Add the chopped onion and diced green and red bell peppers to the skillet with the reserved bacon grease (or add a tablespoon of oil if you drained all the grease). Cook over medium heat until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and add them to the bowl with the sausage and bacon.
    1 large onion, 1 green bell pepper, 1 red bell pepper
  5. To the bowl containing the sausage, bacon, and vegetables, add 2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir everything together to combine evenly.
    3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  6. Distribute the cubed bread evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. This forms the delicious foundation of your casserole.
    1 loaf (16 ounces) white bread
  7. Spoon the sausage, bacon, vegetable, and cheese mixture evenly over the bread cubes in the baking dish.
  8. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the 8 large eggs, 3 cups of milk, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder until well combined and slightly frothy.
    8 large eggs, 3 cups milk, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  9. Carefully and evenly pour the egg mixture over the entire casserole, ensuring it seeps down into the bread and throughout the mixture.
  10. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. This will melt into a beautiful golden crust.
    3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  11. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
  12. Remove the aluminum foil and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes, or until the casserole is set, golden brown, and bubbly. A knife inserted into the center should come out clean.
  13. Let the Homemade Crack Breakfast Casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the casserole to set up properly. Garnish with fresh chives if desired.
    1/4 cup chopped fresh chives

Notes

Store leftovers tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Can also be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Reheat in microwave or oven.