Breakfast Taco Casserole

It feels like everyone I know has been to Austin, TX sometime in the past 6 months and the taco shots they’ve been sharing on Instagram are killing me!

Chicken tacos, pork tacos, jack fruit tacos, and – oh yes – breakfast tacos. GIMME. That is to say, I love, love, love tacos but the breakfast ones in particular aren’t exactly wild mornings + 2 young children-friendly. Eventually I’ll get to a place where I can sit down and enjoy a nice taco or two at 8am in the morning (I think…I hope?) but for now I’m layering all the classic breakfast taco ingredients in a casserole dish, dousing them with homemade cheese sauce, and calling it a day. Or rather, breakfast. Make that lunch, dinner, and every meal in between – I have been eating Breakfast Taco Casserole at all hours of the day lately!

This dish is TOPS. Check it out – cooked breakfast sausage, sauteed vegetables, and scrambled eggs are layered in a casserole dish with corn tortilla strips then drizzled with homemade cheese sauce and baked until bubbly. SO MONEY!!!

Not only is this dish absolutely delicious for a work potluck, holiday, etc, but it reheats wonderfully so you can assemble and bake on Sunday then reheat and eat for easy breakfasts all week long. The cheese sauce gets nice and saucy again after being warmed in the microwave and oh my gosh you just HAVE to try this.

I was originally going to call this “Breakfast BURRITO Casserole” but Ben said nobody in their right mind would call a breakfasty dish with corn tortillas a burrito, and, ugh, I guess he’s right (hate when that happens.) I used gluten-free corn tortillas because, well, they’re gluten-free but also because I love how soft and creamy they get from the cheese sauce. That said, if you don’t need to worry about gluten and/or don’t like corn tortillas, you could try swapping them out for flour tortillas.

However you go about it, I know you’ll love this dish!

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Gluten Free Breakfast Pizza with Hash Brown Crust

Start by browning 1lb gluten-free breakfast sausage in a large, 12″ skillet over medium-high heat, then scoop into a bowl and set aside.

Next add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to the skillet then add 2 chopped green peppers and 1/2 chopped yellow onion. Season with salt and pepper then saute until tender, 8-10 minutes, turning the heat down slightly if the vegetables begin to burn. Scoop into a bowl then set aside.

Turn the heat down to medium then add 8 large eggs that have been whisked with 1/4 cup milk (any kind – I used unsweetened almond milk,) salt, and pepper. Scramble just until they’re set then, you guessed it, scoop into a bowl or plate and set aside!

Time for the cheese sauce – so easy and tasty!

Melt 3 Tablespoons butter in a saucepan over medium heat then sprinkle in 3 Tablespoons gluten-free flour and whisk for 1 minute. Slowly stream in 2 cups milk (any kind – again, I used unsweetened almond milk,) while whisking to create a smooth sauce then turn the heat up slightly to bring the sauce to a bubble. Turn the heat back down to medium then stir until the sauce has slightly thickened, a couple minutes. Finally, remove the pan from the heat then add 8oz freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese and stir until smooth. Season with salt to taste. Cheese sauce = done!

Last step is to slice 14, 6″ gluten-free yellow corn tortillas into 1″ (ish) strips. I used these Mission Yellow Corn Tortillas.

Casserole assembly time! Spray a 9×13″ baking dish with nonstick spray then spread 3/4 cup cheese sauce in the bottom. Next add 1/2 the tortilla strips, 1/2 the sausage, 1/2 the vegetables, 1/2 the eggs, and 1/2 the remaining cheese sauce. Repeat the layers one more time then cover with nonstick sprayed foil and bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees, or until the cheese sauce is bubbling.

Let the casserole sit for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. I’m telling you – total breakfast epicness, right here my friend! Keep the leftover casserole in the fridge then slice, reheat, and eat for breakfasts all week long. Enjoy!