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. DROOL! I love, love, love tacos but the breakfast ones in particular aren’t exactly wild mornings + 3 young children-friendly, know what I mean? Until I get to a place where I can sit down and enjoy a nice taco or two at 8am (#dreambig) I’ll be layering classic breakfast taco ingredients in a casserole dish, dousing them with homemade cheese sauce, then calling it a day.
Or rather, Breakfast Taco Casserole.
This phenomenal twist on traditional breakfast casserole will knock your socks off!!
Breakfast Casserole with a Taco Twist
This dish is TOPS. Check it out – cooked breakfast sausage, sauteed onions and peppers, and fluffy scrambled eggs are layered in a casserole dish with corn tortilla strips then drizzled with homemade cheese sauce and baked until bubbly. SO DELICIOUS!
Not only is this Breakfast Taco Casserole perfect for taking to a work potluck, or serving on a holiday morning to feed a crowd, 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 it.
I was originally going to call this “Breakfast BURRITO Casserole” but burritos use flour tortillas and I kept this gluten free by using corn tortillas. I love how soft and creamy they get from the cheese sauce.
Mmm – let’s get to it!
How to Make This Recipe
Start by browning gluten free breakfast sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat then scoop into a bowl and set aside.
Heat a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to the skillet then add chopped green peppers and yellow onion. Season with salt and pepper then saute until the vegetables are tender, 8-10 minutes, turning the heat down slightly if they begin to burn. Scoop into a bowl then set aside.
Turn the heat down to medium then add eggs that have been whisked with 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!
How to Make Homemade Cheese Sauce
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat then sprinkle in gluten free flour (or all-purpose flour if you don’t need to eat GF) and whisk for 1 minute. Slowly stream in 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 freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese and stir until smooth. Season with salt to taste. Cheese sauce = done!
Last step is to slice gluten free yellow corn tortillas into 1″ (ish) strips. I use 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!
free email bonus!
5 Day Clean Eating Guide
Fresh and craveable recipes + healthy eating tips!
Breakfast Taco Casserole
Description
Breakfast Taco Casserole is layers of breakfast taco ingredients in casserole form. This gluten free breakfast recipe is cheesy and SO satisfying!
Ingredients
- 8 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk, any kind
- salt and pepper
- 1lb gluten-free breakfast sausage
- extra virgin olive oil
- 2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 14, 6" gluten-free corn tortillas, cut into 1” strips
- For the cheese sauce:
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 3 Tablespoons gluten-free flour
- 2 cups milk, any kind, at room temperature
- 8oz freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- salt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees then spray a 9x13” baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside. Add eggs, milk, salt, and pepper to a large bowl then whisk to combine and set aside.
- Add breakfast sausage to a large skillet over medium-high heat then brown. Remove to a plate then set aside. Add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to the skillet then add peppers and onions, season with salt and pepper, and then saute until the peppers are tender, 8-10 minutes, turning heat down slightly if vegetables begin to burn. Remove to a plate then set aside. Turn heat down to medium them add whisked eggs to the skillet and scramble until set (do not overcook.) Remove to a plate then set aside.
- For the cheese sauce: Add butter to a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle in flour then whisk for 1 minute. Slowly add milk while whisking constantly until smooth. Turn heat up slightly to bring sauce to a simmer while stirring frequently, then turn heat back down to medium and cook, stirring constantly until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat then add shredded cheese and stir until smooth. Add salt to taste.
- Add 3/4 cup cheese sauce to the bottom of the baking dish then spread into an even layer. Add half the tortilla strips, half the cooked sausage, half the vegetables, half the scrambled eggs, and half the remaining cheese sauce. Repeat layers. Cover the baking dish with nonstick sprayed foil then bake for 30 minutes, or until cheese sauce is hot and bubbly. Let sit for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Sooo good and easy to make! Even my picky eater loved it. We used chorizo on half and sausage on the other half. Breakfast taco casserole is going to be a regular in our meal rotation.
Love the addition of chorizo! So glad it was a hit!
Do you think flour tortillas would work in this? I’m just not a fan of corn tortillas
Sure!
I have just recently discovered your sight and this was the first recipe I tried………it ROCKS!! I did add some chorizo and a tad salsa to the last of the cheesy sauce but other than that, it will be on my rotation of favorites recipes. THANKS!!!!
YUM – great addition! I’m so glad you enjoyed, Mary!
I’d like to make this for a tailgate tomorrow but don’t want to get up early enough to do all the work. If I assemble it today, do you think it would turn out ok? Would you do the final bake in the morning or do it both today and tomorrow? Thanks in advance!
Delicious! Served it for Christmas morning brunch – devoured. No leftovers (which I was selfishly hoping for!). I had left over tortilla strips so next time, I’ll reduce the tortillas to twelve. Used half spicy, half mild sausage (love Haggerty’s brand – gluten free!). Salsa makes a nice accompaniment.
Wonderful recipe, Kristen – thanks so much!
Looks so delicious! I will definitely tell my wife to make this for me this weekend. One question: what do you suggest instead of cheese as my doc will not allow?
Can you make this the night before and bake the morning of? Or will the corn tortillas be too soggy after sitting overnight? Thanks
[…] breakfast taco casserole from Iowa Girl Eats is layers of breakfast sausage, vegetables, scrambled eggs in a yummy […]
[…] Breakfast Taco Casserole – Iowa Girl Eats […]
We loved this recipe the first time I made it! About to make again for Christmas breakfast and wondering your thoughts on leaving the tortillas whole and layering instead of slicing into strips. Any watch-outs that I’m overlooking? Thanks!
I think that would be ok! I worry a touch about the overlapping tortilla sections being a little bit harder then just a single layer, but I’m sure they’d steam and soften just fine inside the casserole.
I have a feeling my wife is going to love me just a little bit more after I make these for her:)
My 1.5 and 4 year old each asked for 2nds. If that isn’t confirmation that this recipe is a WINNER, I don’t know what is! :)
Made my day!! So glad to hear the whole family enjoyed!!
I’ve made this several times…It’s amazing! I’ve also used Johnsonville Monterey and Chipotle chicken sausage in place of breakfast sausage and it was equally yummy.
Yuuuuum – love that idea!! I’m so glad you loved it, Kayla, and thank you for the feedback!