Cheesy Sausage Spinach Breakfast Casserole
At 32 years old, I continue to be a stereotypical kid on Christmas morning. I love opening my eyes knowing that it’s Christmas. That excitement is heightened exponentially if I sneak a peek outside and see even the slightest bit of snow. For me, Christmas morning has always meant putting on comfy pajamas and sitting in front of the tree exchanging presents. Usually as soon as gifts are done being exchanged, I’m like a 5-year-old and immediately want to try on or put together whatever it is I’ve received. For maybe the only day of the year, food is nowhere near the forefront of my mind. I just enjoy the coziness of family, giving and making memories. However, at some point we need to eat in order to fuel us through a day full of jumping from one family member’s house to another. I usually end up eating something quick, like pb&j on toast, on my way into the shower since I play with my toys until the very last minute. However, a breakfast casserole would be way more satisfying! You could easily make this the night before then pop it into the oven while you’re exchanging gifts, then when you’re done, poof! You have a nice warm breakfast waiting for you. It ups the holiday special factor quite a bit!
Last year, I began playing around with breakfast casseroles, trying a French toast version, as well as a savory sausage and egg version. This new casserole takes a standard sausage and egg casserole and amps it up with the addition of spinach and prepared stuffing (no soaking bread!). More cheese, less eggs, throw in some spinach, and you have an unbelievably hearty breakfast. If I were in charge of planning Christmas breakfast, I would have one French toast casserole and one of these sausage spinach casseroles in the oven bright and early Christmas morning… and then I would hoard any leftovers for days to come!
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Do you have any Christmas morning food traditions?
One year ago: Peppermint Whoopie Pies
Two years ago: Mini Cheesecake Cookies
Five years ago: Biscotti
Cheesy Sausage Spinach Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 6 ounces (170.1 g) packaged herb-flavored stuffing mix
- 1 pound (453.59 g) bulk breakfast sausage
- ¼ cup (25 g) chopped scallions
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 10 ounces (283.5 g) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 8 ounces (226.8 g) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
- 1½ cups (354.88 ml) half-and-half
- 3 eggs
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish; set aside.
- Prepare the stuffing according to package directions; set aside.
- Cook the sausage over medium heat in a large skillet, breaking it up as it cooks. Add the scallions and cook until the meat is no longer pink. Add the garlic and cook for another minute, or until the garlic is fragrant. Drain any fat from the pan.
- Add the prepared stuffing and the spinach to the skillet with the sausage and mix together until thoroughly combined. Transfer to the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the Monterey Jack cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the half-and-half and eggs and pour evenly over sausage mixture. Rap the dish against the counter once or twice to make sure the liquid is evenly distributed.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted in the center reads 160 degrees F. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake for 5 more minutes, or until bubbly. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
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OMG this looks awesome! I love breakfast casseroles but have never made one.
Since I do all the Christmas morning cooking for immediate and extended family, years ago I successfully made a Breakfast Taco Bar our tradition. The items were easy to cook in large qualities and everyone served themselves – it was so easy & a party host’s dream! Then one year I stupidly changed it up to Eggs Benedict. Needless to say, the breakfast taco bar and easy Christmas mornings are a thing of the past. *sigh*
PS. Pinned and saved this recipe – it looks AMAZING!
My family enjoys sweet breakfasts on Christmas, like a blueberry coffee cake or homemade cinnamon rolls. Kids have hot chocolate afterwards, while my husband and I down coffee like we’re fueling up for the zombie apocalypse! I love egg dishes like this, so I may be able to sneak it in for a weekend lunch or light supper one night :)
I love stuffing and I love the idea of a breakfast casserole with stuffing mix! I’ve added this to my list of recipes to try soon. Thanks!
Would it really negatively effect the recipe if I used skim milk instead of half and half for the eggs? I usually use skim for my omelets and scrambled eggs but I’ve never made and egg bake before. Think this will be my first one!
Hi Tim, The half and half provides a richer flavor and texture. I probably would not go below 2% if you want to cut some of the fat.
I totally agree with the childlike quality and fun factor of Christmas. At 22, I still have to drag my dad out of bed so the present opening can commence :)
As for Christmas morning traditions, I used to make cinnamon rolls. I stopped after not measuring the amount of sugar I used. They were so very sweet that I am nor sure I can ever eat another cinnamon roll. My husband joked that he was in a sugar coma!
M definitely making this one! Will probably do a veggie version also. I’m hosting a gathering of friends and family for Christmas this year. This will be perfect! Thanks & Merry Christmas Michelle
definitely going to try this, thanks!
Before our neighbors moved away, we used to always go to their house for Christmas breakfast! She would always make egg strata and this reminds me very much of that! Maybe I will make it this year for the memories!
Can’t wait to try this!
Hi, Could I still make this the night before and then bake it Christmas morning? Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Hi Shannon, I definitely think so!
Om nom nom nom… Looks SO good! Lol
Our Christmas morning revolves around our food! It was torture as a kid because we had to wait until breakfast was over to open presents! We always have a hashbrown casserole, a sausage casserole, my grandmother’s coffee cake (which is more like an enormous danish than what’s normally called coffee cake) frozen fruit (still frozen most years) and as most of us are now of age-we get mimosas! Yum! Can’t wait!
Love that this has stuffing in it. Maybe I’ll try this out for Christmas breakfast! I love casseroles that have everything you need in one dish :)
Love the recipes, and I am an email subscriber… Don’t want to miss those goodies!
Would you have any suggestions if I wanted to leave out the sausage – I would like to do this for meatless people. Do you think increasing any ingredient(s) would be needed like more eggs??
Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks and love all your receipes shared here.
Pam, I was curious about that, too. I usually make two breakfast casseroles, one without sausage or bacon. I add instead mushrooms, onion, peppers, diced tomatoes and sometimes black olives. Whatever you would like in an omelet I find works pretty well. I’m looking forward to trying the stuffing mix instead of bread or croutons.
You could replace the sausage with mushrooms! I bet that would taste fantastic!
This looks so good!!
I have followed your site for some time, and enjoy it. However, the advertising you recently added is very obtrusive and annoying.
Hi Dan, I’m sorry to hear you’re disappointed, but I actually haven’t changed the placement of any advertisements for more than a year. If you have specific concerns, please feel free to email me or contact me through the Contact page: https://www.browneyedbaker.com/contact/ and I’d be happy to address them.
Breakfast casseroles are standard at our house on Christmas morning. I like the idea of using stuffing…this casserole would be perfect for us!
our Christmas morning food tradition looks a lot like this! we don’t usually put spinach in ours, but i love that idea – happening this year for sure!
what type of breakfast sausage are you talking about? the frozen links or patties or something else? I never buy sausage..
this looks great and I want to make it. Need the type of sausage used please. thanks’Diane
Hi Diane, The bulk sausage (I’ll edit the recipe to include that). You buy it a tube, I like the Bob Evans brand.
thanks very much!!!
I used sweet chicken suasage from Trader Joes, and it was perfect! Yummy!!!
I am sure it is bulk sausage, comes in a tube. In the same section of most groceries with bacon.
What a great dish to serve on Christmas morning! My Husband isn’t big into egg bakes, but my guess is, if it contains sausage he’s in!!!
Our Christmas breakfast tradition is breakfast pizza. It is made with crescent rolls, sausage, cheese, and eggs. Really yummy!
I’d like that recipe too. Sounds easy and good.
This looks perfect for Christmas morning. Yum.
We do some variety of breakfast casserole every year and I love this one with spinach! Our breakfast drags on most of the morning because my whole family operates on your 5-year-old level. We stay in our pajamas, drink coffee or hot cocoa, and inevitably fall asleep on the couch.
Love all that cheesy goodness!
This recipe sounds delicious! I will be trying it soon.
Christmas morning tradition: Cinnamon rolls. Homemade. Every year, it’s the best!
I like the crunchy topping!