Cheesy Apple and Sausage Breakfast Casserole Recipe

Name: This Easy Cheesy Breakfast Casserole Is a Total Crowd-Pleaser
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature; 5 cups (about 19 ounces) shredded hash browns, thawed; 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided; 2 Gala apples, peeled and diced; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 6 large eggs; 1 cup milk, whole or 2%; 1 (12-ounce) package Johnsonville breakfast sausage links (about 14 links), casings removed; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Prep takes minutes, making this an easy choice for busy mornings or hosting.
Store-bought shredded hash browns form a hearty base, cutting down on time and effort.
There are many ways to customize, from swapping apples to adding bacon or vegetables.

This breakfast casserole is the ultimate crowd pleaser. Sweet, warm apples pair perfectly with salty, spiced breakfast sausage and sharp cheddar cheese. It’s quick to throw together, and who doesn’t want their breakfast on a bed of hash browns?

This casserole is my favorite no-stress way to feed guests because it encompasses all the best parts of a sweet and savory breakfast. It comes together in minutes, and you can make it ahead of time and freeze it in pieces. Whether you’re hosting a holiday brunch, meal prepping, or just looking to make breakfast a little more exciting, you simply can’t go wrong with this recipe.

Slice of apple sausage casserole on a plate with a fork layers visible in detail — Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Key Ingredients

The cinnamon and apples give this casserole a delicious wintery feel. As far as apples go, I prefer to use Gala apples in this recipe. They have the perfect level of sweetness, and they retain their shape and crispness through the baking process.

I also prefer sharp cheddar cheese in this recipe. The tang of a sharp cheddar brings the potatoes, apples, and sausage together. I’m not too picky about the sausage. I tend to go with traditional breakfast sausage links. I’ve also made this with Jimmy Dean bulk breakfast sausage and it turned out just as delicious!

For the potatoes, I use frozen Ore-Ida shredded hash browns. I find the shreds are the perfect size to act as a base for this casserole, but any brand of shredded hash browns should work.

Substitutions and Variations

There are many ways to make this recipe your own. Add some vegetables that complement apples—like sweet potato or onions—to the filling. Or switch the type of apple to whichever is your favorite, like Granny Smith.

You could add more meat to the filling as well, like chopped ham or bacon. You can also use different shapes of potatoes: frozen diced potatoes, hash brown patties, and even tater tots would work.

A plate with a slice of cheesy apple sausage casserole a casserole dish in the background — Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Cheesy Apple and Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Prep Time 20 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 65 mins

Servings 8 to 10 servings

If using a ceramic baking dish, this casserole may take up to 1 hour to bake.

Keep Screen Awake

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups (about 19 ounces) shredded hash browns, thawed
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
2 Gala apples, peeled and diced
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 large eggs
1 cup milk, whole or 2%
12 ounces breakfast sausage (casings removed, if links)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Using a paper towel, spread the butter around the bottom and sides of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
Layer the potatoes and cheese:

Scatter the potatoes evenly across the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the cheddar evenly over the potatoes.
Toss the apples with cinnamon:

In a medium bowl, toss the apples with the cinnamon until evenly coated. Set aside.
Prepare the filling:

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until smooth. Break the sausage into bite-size pieces and add to the bowl with the eggs. Add the cinnamon-coated apples, 1 cup of the cheddar, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Mix everything together well with a silicone spatula.
Assemble and bake the casserole:

Pour the filling into the pan over the potatoes and cheese and spread out evenly with the spatula. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar on top.

Bake the casserole until the cheese is melted and the edges are golden, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool on a rack for 10 minutes before serving.

Let leftovers cool completely, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 4 days. To freeze, cut the casserole into portions, wrap in aluminum foil, and freeze in a zip-top bag for up to a month. Unwrap and microwave 1 portion at a time until heated through.

Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
439	Calories
31g	Fat
23g	Carbs
18g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories	439
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g	40%
Saturated Fat 11g	54%
Cholesterol 169mg	56%
Sodium 887mg	39%
Total Carbohydrate 23g	8%
Dietary Fiber 2g	8%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 18g
Vitamin C 3mg	15%
Calcium 224mg	17%
Iron 1mg	8%
Potassium 439mg	9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.