Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
This crockpot breakfast casserole is loaded with breakfast sausage, hash browns, eggs, melted cheese, and bell peppers. The eggs are mixed with sour cream for a creamy texture, and everything cooks together in the slow cooker for a hearty breakfast that’s perfect for feeding the family.
How to Make Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
- Cook the breakfast sausage. Brown the breakfast sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Once fully cooked, remove the sausage and set it aside.
- Sauté the vegetables. Add the diced onion and bell peppers to the same skillet. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften, then remove from the heat.
- Prepare the egg mixture. In a large bowl, combine the 12 eggs, sour cream, salt, and black pepper. Use a hand mixer to blend everything until smooth. The sour cream helps give the eggs a creamy texture as they cook.
- Assemble the casserole. Lightly grease a 6-quart slow cooker. Spread the frozen shredded hash browns across the bottom, then add the cooked sausage, sautéed vegetables, and shredded cheese. Pour the egg mixture evenly over everything, making sure it reaches the ingredients throughout the casserole.
- Slow cook the casserole. Cover and cook on LOW for approximately 6–8 hours, or until the eggs are completely set in the center and the casserole reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Begin checking toward the earlier end of the cooking window to avoid overcooking.
- Rest and serve. Turn off the slow cooker and allow the casserole to rest briefly before cutting or scooping into portions. Serve while warm.
Tips for the Best Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
- Brown the sausage first. Cooking the breakfast sausage in a skillet adds flavor and allows you to drain excess grease before adding it to the slow cooker. Use the same skillet to sauté the onions and bell peppers for even more flavor.
- Use frozen shredded hash browns. Shredded potatoes distribute throughout the casserole, giving you potatoes in every serving alongside the sausage, eggs, and cheese. Keep them frozen until you’re ready to assemble the casserole.
- Don’t skip the sour cream. I use 1 cup of sour cream for every 12 eggs in my breakfast casseroles. After testing different egg casseroles, I’ve found this ratio gives the eggs a creamier texture and helps prevent them from becoming dry and rubbery.
- Avoid overcooking the eggs. Slow cookers vary in temperature, so start checking the casserole before the end of the suggested cooking time. The center should be fully set and reach 165°F. Continuing to cook it after the eggs are done can leave the edges dry and overcooked.
How to Store and Reheat Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
Refrigerating: Allow the casserole to cool slightly, then transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheating: For individual portions, microwave until heated through. You can also place larger portions in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and reheat at 350°F until hot throughout. Leftovers should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Preparing ahead: Brown the breakfast sausage and sauté the onions and bell peppers ahead of time. Refrigerate them in a covered container, then assemble the casserole with the hash browns, cheese, and freshly mixed eggs and sour cream when you’re ready to start cooking.
What to Serve with Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
- Southern Fried Apples – Tender Granny Smith apples cooked with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a sweet, syrupy sauce.
- Blueberry Butter Swim Biscuits – Buttery biscuits filled with juicy blueberries and finished with a sweet lemon glaze.
- Cathead Biscuits – Large, fluffy Southern-style biscuits baked in a cast-iron skillet.
- Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes – Sweet banana pancakes with chocolate chips for a family breakfast or brunch.
- Honey Butter Swim Biscuits – Soft, buttery biscuits with a touch of cinnamon and a sweet honey butter topping.
Related Breakfast Recipes
- Bisquick Breakfast Casserole – A fluffy, cheesy breakfast casserole loaded with sausage, eggs, hash browns, and Bisquick.
- Mexican Breakfast Casserole – A flavorful breakfast casserole with chorizo, hash browns, peppers, cheese, and salsa.
- Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole – Sausage, eggs, and melted cheese baked over a buttery crescent roll crust.
- Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast Casserole – Fluffy biscuits layered with sausage, eggs, and creamy Southern-style gravy.
- Biscuit Breakfast Casserole – A hearty breakfast casserole with sausage, cheesy eggs, and a fluffy biscuit layer.
- Croissant Breakfast Casserole – Buttery croissants baked with bacon, eggs, peppers, and melted cheese.
Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pounds breakfast sausage
- 16 ounce hash browns shredded & frozen
- 1/2 medium yellow onion diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper diced
- 12 large egg
- 1 cup sour cream equals to 8 ounces
- 2 cup shredded cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the sausage. Brown the breakfast sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess grease and remove the sausage from the skillet.
- Sauté the vegetables. Add the diced onions and bell peppers to the same skillet. Cook until they begin to soften, then remove from the heat.
- Prepare the egg mixture. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sour cream, salt, and black pepper. Use a hand mixer to blend until smooth.
- Assemble the casserole. Lightly grease a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the frozen shredded hash browns, cooked sausage, sautéed vegetables, and shredded cheese. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the ingredients, allowing it to spread throughout the casserole.
- Slow cook. Cover and cook on LOW for approximately 6–8 hours, checking toward the earlier end of the cooking window. The casserole is ready when the eggs are set in the center and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Rest and serve. Turn off the slow cooker and allow the casserole to rest briefly before serving.
Notes
- Sour cream: Keep the ratio of 12 large eggs to 1 cup sour cream for a creamier egg texture.
- Hash browns: Use frozen shredded hash browns. The quantity and cooking results will be confirmed during the next test.
- Sausage: Cook the sausage before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Overnight cooking: The original casserole cooked on LOW for 6–8 hours. This timing needs to be verified with the added hash browns before recommending unattended overnight cooking.
Can this be doubled easily?
No, you can’t double this in the crockpot because the eggs will rise when cooking.