Thanksgiving is steeped in tradition for my family. Usually we kick things off by watching the Macy’s parade with cold mimosas in one hand and Cinnamon Rolls in the other before getting into our annual showdown over playing Scrabble. My Mom’s traditional Thanksgiving dinner feast is eventually served then we all snooze by the fire watching football. Not mad about it!
The men especially don’t last long on cinnamon rolls alone (and need something to soak up all those mimosas!) so before the big meal we fill in the gaps with creamy dips, homemade Chex Mix, and a huge Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole. Holidays, hosting overnight guests, tailgating – whatever the occasion – you will ADORE having this cheesy, hearty breakfast casserole sitting hot and ready on the countertop!
This crock pot breakfast casserole recipe is so good and easy that I plan all our family’s special occasions and get togethers around breakfast/brunch time, just so I can serve this casserole. Birthdays, holidays, you name it – you’re coming over in the morning so I can make this nearly brainless breakfast casserole for you to eat. You’re welcome! ;) You can assemble 99% of the dish a day ahead of time, and there’s only 6 everyday ingredients, plus salt and pepper, required.
What’s Inside:
Layer frozen hash browns, cooked breakfast sausage, eggs, green onions, and shredded cheese in a crockpot then let ‘er rip. Perfect for throwing together on Thanksgiving morning then cooking on high for 4 hours while everyone gets up and at ’em. You can even cook it on low for 8 hours overnight if the gang’s getting started early!
How To Make Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole:
Start by spraying a 6-quart crock pot with non-stick spray then spread half a 30oz bag shredded gluten-free hash browns in an even layer on the bottom (I like Ore-Ida.)
Next add a layer of 1/2lb cooked gluten-free breakfast sausage (I like Johnsonville.)
Followed by 4oz each shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
Top with 3 sliced green onions then repeat the hash brown, sausage, and cheese layers one more time.
Finally, whisk a dozen eggs with 1/2 cup milk, salt, and pepper, then drizzle the mixture over the casserole.
Cook for 4 hours on high, or 8 on low, and you’ll have yourself a fluffy, filling breakfast casserole the entire family will love!
Similar Recipes:
- Sausage Breakfast Tater Tot Casserole >
- Gluten Free Roasted Poblano and Sausage Breakfast Casserole >
- Breakfast Taco Casserole >
- Gluten Free Breakfast Casserole >
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Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole
Description
Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole is the perfect breakfast for feeding a crowd. Hearty and so delicious!
Ingredients
- 30oz bag gluten-free frozen hash browns (I like Ore-Ida)
- 1lb gluten-free sausage, browned & drained (I like Johnsonville)
- 8oz shredded cheddar cheese
- 8oz shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6 green onions, sliced and divided in half
- 12 eggs
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions
- Spray a 6-quart crock pot with non-stick spray then place half the hash browns into the bottom. Layer in half the cooked sausage, half the cheeses, and half the green onions, then repeat hash brown, sausage, and cheese layers.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper, then drizzle over top. Cook on high for 4 hours, or low for 8 hours, or until eggs are set. Serve with remaining green onions, salsa, or guacamole.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Video
Check out those layers of flavor!
Pair each hearty scoop of piping hot casserole with mashed avocado, diced tomatoes, salsa, or as Ben prefers – a slathering of cold ketchup. :) Hope you enjoy this easy breakfast casserole recipe!
how big is your crock-pot?
This looks great. Is this cooking time based on a smaller (ie, round) crock pot, or a larger (oval) crock pot?
Thx!
It’s a large crock pot!
[…] Iowa Girl Eats: Breakfast Casserole […]
Can this be made with fat free milk and egg whites?
Fat free milk for sure, but I’m not certain about the egg whites. I would think they’d turn out alright but I’ve never tried myself!
I sent this recipe to my mom because she’s always having the family over for breakfast (and getting totally flustered by all the commotion!) and every time she’s made it, it’s turned out great! Today (Mother’s Day!) I decided to make it for HER. Turned out great again and it was SO easy. Thanks, Kristin!
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[…] Directions here. […]
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[…] Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole […]
Love the sound of it but living in Australia I’d have to make adaptions. The only frozen hash browns I can get are in patties and no breakfast sausage here (nothing the same at least) so I’d either have to make my own, leave it out or use a substitute. Chorizo might be nice…might try using fresh grated potatoes, you’ve totem thinking!
I meant got me thinking…
[…] Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole […]
Can you make this without cheese? My hubby hates cheese:(
Sure!
This looks amazing! I will love to try this recipe out but I have a few questions. What can I use instead of frozen hash browns? Can I omit it completely or can I use vegetables (fresh or frozen?) or frozen cubed sweet potatoes? Also, the milk, are there any alternatives? Or can I use full fat non homogenized whole milk? Will it curdle? Last question, are there any other meat I can use instead of breakfast sausage?
I’ve read on a few other recipes on other sites that breakfast casseroles in the crock pot will dry out over night on low or high and to use the warm setting for 8 hours and that works best. I’m assuming temps vary from one crock pot to another so I’m worried I’m going to ruin a whole meal by drying it out or by cooking it on warm and it not getting cooked well. Have you heard of cooking it on warm?
I’ve made this in 2 different crock pots and never had a problem with it drying out. You could always keep an eye on it the last hour or so to make sure though!
How far in advance can this be made before being cooked? I’d like to cook it saturdaynight, but want to prep it Friday? Would that work?
I’m not sures as I’ve always just prepped then made it right away. Let us know if it works out!
[…] Directions here. […]
[…] Recipe: Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole […]
[…] Directions here. […]
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Does this freeze well? I’d love to cook this over night, but I’d only be making this for 3 people. I don’t want to half the recipe as I’m afraid it would dry out. I’m wondering if I could freeze the leftovers.
Hmmm, I’ve never tried freezing it, but I imagine it would be ok!
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can you make this the nite before and put it in the crock pot in the morning on low for a cool ‘breakfast for dinner’ meal???
[…] Iowa Girl Eats uses green onions […]
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[…] Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole […]
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I’m cooking it overnight tonight for a breakfast club at my office tomorrow. Can’t wait it sounds so yummy! :-)
Awwww yeah. It looks real tasty ‘n stuff. I WANT!
[…] Follow this principle and you’re sure to achieve a Zen-like state by night’s end, much as we were last Thursday evening. It started late Wednesday with Missy and her onslaught of Turkey-Day meal preparations (and continued well into Thursday). Her wonderful dishes included crock-pot breakfast casserole: […]
couldn’t wait for a holiday!This Iowa guy has the crock pot loaded and ready for breakfast in the a.m.. thanks for the recipe; also glad I stumbled onto your site as I see many more interesting recipe.goodnight
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This was amazing….made it for brunch with college friends and everyone wanted the recipe. Very little leftover, but the little bit that was heated up great for a small treat the next day. This is the fist time I have found your blog – did a search for crock pot breakfast and found it – but will be a regular visitor. THANK YOU !
[…] cinnamon rolls, and I may have to utilize my Crock Pot and go with a breakfast casserole such as this one from Iowa Girl Eats! (She has some amazing recipes on her blog! Check her […]
Made this last night and cooked it on low for brats this morning. It came out looking ver over cooked and not as pretty as yours. I wish I’d used the timer and cooked it for less time. How did you get it to come out so pretty? Mine was ugly and very brown. Perhaps I need to cook it on “keep warm” instead of low.
Hey Joanne! The only things I can think of is that maybe it over cooked, or the sausage wasn’t completely drained and the grease drained into the eggs causing them to brown? Hope it still tasted ok!
I’ve recently become a slow cooker junkie, so when I got the invite to my friend’s 32nd birthday, which was themed as a pajama party/breakfast pot luck, I knew I wanted to use my crock pot.
Mine is only a 3 quart cooker so I made a smaller casserole by basically cutting what the recipe called for in half. And because a lot of my friends are vegetarians, (I’m a recovering one myself), I used veggie sausage instead of the real stuff. I also left out the mozzarella and used twice as much cheddar. The upside of having a smaller cooker is that it cooked up in half the time!
Anyway, this casserole was delicious, and it was the HIT of the party. Everyone raved about it, and there was none left when it was time to leave.
Thanks so much!
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Maybe everyone else assumes this, but since you didn’t mention it, is the casserole covered while cooking? Thanks!
It’s just my husband and I, and I have an old, smallish crockpot, so will this cook just fine if I half the entire recipe? Will I need to adjust the time to cook it at all?
I’ve never halved the recipe, but I think it would probably work just fine! I’d halve the cooking time then see if it needs more time after that.
so I have an odd qu I do not have a crockpot yet, I kept seeing most things for crockpot can be made in ricecooker. I know time will change I’m sure rice cooker is faster cooking time but do you think it can work? I may do the oven but my oven gets too hot I feel like it will be overcooked and the look of it will change.
-thanks
the second to last shot is food porn
Hey AJ! Unfortunately I’ve never used a rice cooker so I can’t be sure. Let me know if you do, and how it works out. It’s an interesting concept for sure!
[…] church on Sunday we parked it on my parent’s back deck and enjoyed my Mom’s Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole with fresh fruit for brunch. This casserole is such a winner, you guys. Everyone raves whenever she […]
This looks so delicious! Do you think it could be made without cheese and then topped with it individually? We have a few people who are lactose intolerant in our group!
Definitely! My Mom likes to serve it with a “toppings bar” including salsa, green onions, etc, so you could definitely put out a bowl of shredded cheese. :)
[…] – Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole Recipe From Iowa Girl […]
Happy belated 1st mother’s day! My sister in law made this for mother’s day brunch yesterday and it was such a huge hit! Even with the picky kiddos!! Thanks for another great recipe :)
Do you think I could use Almond Milk for the recipe? I’m starting a clease Monday and need breakfast ideas that are not just hard boiled eggs. And I’ll have to leave the cheese out. Also, if people are having problems with the cook time being too long even on low, I made some crockpot oats once and just cooked them on the low setting for about an hour and then switched it to Warm before I went to bed. I’m an old lady in a young body, so I go to bed around 9 each night and turned the pot off around 7am. Perfect!
I’m sure almond milk would work just fine!
I am making these tonight for a family reunion breakfast at BIL house, I just worry not enough.. I may try making another in a oblong cake pan, with only one layer.. Anxious to see how the family loves it..
Thanks for sharing, your experiences..
This looks phenomenal! I’ve got one of the larger oval shaped slow cookers. I’m thinking the layers would be a bit thinner. Should any of the quantities or time cooked need to be adjusted?