Cheesy Sausage Hashbrown Egg Casserole

This has become to be one of my family and friend's favorite.  You can do a lot with this casserole, add addition things and make it yours!  Pro tip - this thing is great to make in advance, stick in fridge overnight, and just throw in oven next morning. Plus giving the potatoes additional time to soak the egg mixture is great!  If in a rush and can't leave in fridge no worries! Taste great if you don't leave in fridge overnight! More tips below instructions!  I'll be sure to grab a bag of tortillas because this makes an excellent burrito!!

Prep Time

30 minutes

Cook Time

1 hour 15 minutes

Yield

8-12 servings

Ingredients

1/2 Package of frozen hashbrowns (12-18oz)

1 lb. Breakfast Sausage (or bacon)

11/2 Cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 White onion chopped

1 Green bell pepper chopped

6 Large eggs

1/2 Cup milk

1 Teaspoon salt

1/2 Teaspoon pepper

1/4 Teaspoon ground mustard

Instructions

• Pull hashbrowns out of freezer and allow to thaw.
• Cook sausage in skillet over medium heat.  Cook until brown and sausage is broken up.  Place sausage in bowl so we can re-use the skillet. 
  • If using bacon cook same way or how you prefer (I always enjoy baking bacon 425° F for about 20-25 minutes.  Check frequently though).  Chop bacon into bits.
• Preheat oven to 350° F
• Saute vegetables in skillet until done to your liking.  Combine sausage and mix.
• In a 9"x13" baking dish coat with non-stick cooking spray or use a little olive oil and rub around interior of dish.  Doesn't need to be a lot but be sure to hit every surface.
• Pour thawed hashbrowns into baking dish.
• Sprinkle sausage vegetable mix on top and spread out evenly.
• Whisk eggs, milk, and spices together.
• Pour egg mixture over top of sausage evenly.
• Sprinkle cheese over top evenly.
• Cover with aluminum foil with shinny side down.
• Place in oven for 40 minutes.
• Take aluminum foil off and cook for another 20-30 minutes.  Center of casserole should be set.  You can use a toothpick and stick in middle.  If any egg mixture comes with the toothpick when pulling out, I'd cook it longer and check ever 5 minutes.

Tips

• Prep ahead and leave in fridge overnight.  Pop in oven next morning!  You'll become the new favorite cook!
• Sausage is amazing.  Bacon is great with this too!  Combine the two now you're asking for it!  If you do both, do about 1/2 lb each.
• You can use other veggies too!  I've use green and sweet onions in place of white onion.  I've also not added onion or the green pepper and add1/2 teaspoon of onion powder.  I've added mushrooms and other peppers (orange, red).  Make it yours!
• Makes for great burrito as I mentioned above!  Alone on it's own its just dandy too!  I've also added it in between bagel slices or make a breakfast sandwich.
• Reheats well in oven again - 350°F 20 minutes or so.

Let me know if you try it and what your thoughts are!  Especially if you add something that I haven't thought of, would love to hear!