Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole | The Recipe Critic


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This Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole is quick and easy to put together! Breakfast can be cooked in the slow cooker while you’re sleeping! This casserole is loaded up with seasoned sausage, diced hash browns, tender vegetables, eggs, and cheese.

Overhead shot of slow cooker breakfast casserole in the crock pot. Overhead shot of slow cooker breakfast casserole in the crock pot.

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy to Make: This only takes 15 minutes of prep, and then set it and forget it! Have it all ready for you to wake up to Christmas morning!
  • Customizable: You can adjust this recipe to suit your preferences. Add more or less veggies, and change up the cheese or meat. Get creative!
  • Versatile: This breakfast casserole is great for meal prep or Christmas morning! Make it with my cinnamon rolls, Christmas fruit salad, and crustless quiche for the perfect Christmas brunch.

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

I am so excited for you guys to have this recipe. It has simple, budget-friendly ingredients, feeds a crowd, and is perfect for serving this holiday season. Scroll to the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Breakfast Sausage: A hearty, flavorful protein that goes perfectly with the eggs, cheese, and vegetables.
  • Diced Ham: My kids don’t care for sausage, so I double up on the ham!
  • Diced Frozen Hash Browns: Gives the dish a nice base that balances all the flavors.
  • Vegetables: I love adding Diced Onion and Red & Green Bell Peppers for the flavor and to help get my veggies in.
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Adds a salty, flavorful cheese that melts to ooey gooey perfection.
  • Large Eggs: Provides a nice base that fluffs up and holds everything together.
  • Half & Half: Makes the egg mixture creamy and light.
  • Chopped Parsley: Provides flavor and a pop of beautiful green color.
  • Garlic Powder: The secret ingredients to flavor town! Give me all the garlic!
  • Salt & Black Pepper: Together, they perfectly enhance all of the flavors.
Overhead shot of labeled ingredients. Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.

How to Make Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

You’ll love how easy it is to put this together! In just a few simple steps, you can create something that tastes absolutely amazing. Its so hearty and filling and full of flavor. You can adjust which veggies, meats, and cheese you use to make it just how you like. Let’s get started!

  1. Prep: Spray the pot of a 4-quart or 6-quart slow cooker with pan spray, then set aside. Mix the sausage, ham, frozen hash browns, onion, bell peppers, and cheese in a large bowl.
  2. Combine: Add the meat and potato mixture to the pot of the slow cooker.
  3. Whisk: In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, half & half, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  4. Cook: Pour the egg mixture over the top of the meat and potato mixture, then place the pot on the base of the slow cooker, cover, and cook on LOW for 6 hours or on HIGH for 3 hours. Serve warm, garnished with freshly chopped parsley or green onions.

Breakfast Casserole Tips and Variations

I love how easy this recipe is to adjust and make it just how you like it. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

  • Sausage: Since the sausage for this recipe should already be cooked, you can cook it yourself before using it, or you can use pre-cooked sausage and chop or crumble it to make the preparation easier and quicker! If you don’t like sausage, you can swap it with bacon. Cook it before as well.
  • Veggies: For even less preparation, you can easily swap out the peppers and onions with 3 cups of frozen peppers and onions instead. You can also use completely different veggies, like mushrooms, broccoli, or spinach.
  • Hashbrowns: If you want, you can use diced or shredded hash browns. I prefer the diced ones, but it really won’t make a difference if you prefer the shredded ones.
  • Cheese: Add some more cheese on top if you like your breakfast cheesy! ½-1 cup of added shredded cheese will be sufficient. Add it on top in the last 30 minutes of cooking so it doesn’t disappear into the casserole. For the best melting cheese, buy it by the block and shred it by hand. The pre-shredded cheese has additives to prevent it from clumping up, which also prevents it from melting nicely.
  • Eggs Will Fluff: When you pour the egg mixture over the meat and potato mixture in the slow cooker, it may look like there are not enough eggs. DON’T ADD MORE! The eggs will fluff up and expand as they cook, and they end up being the perfect amount!
  • Toppings: You can serve this with more fresh parsley, green onions, salsa, hot sauce, avocado, sour cream, or whatever your heart desires.

Close up shot of a scoop of slow cooker breakfast casserole on a wooden serving spoon. Close up shot of a scoop of slow cooker breakfast casserole on a wooden serving spoon.

Make Ahead and Leftover Instructions

  • Make Ahead: You can prepare this the night before, assembling everything in the slow cooker. Cover it with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook it. With all the ingredients and the base of the slow cooker chilled, it may take an extra 30 minutes or so of cooking time.
  • Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments.

Overhead shot of plated slow cooker breakfast casserole. Overhead shot of plated slow cooker breakfast casserole.

More Breakfast Casserole-Inspired Recipes

If you’re like me, then I know you love a simple, hearty breakfast that is loaded with flavor and protein. Here are a few recipes I know you’ll love!

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  • Spray the pot of a 4-quart or 6-quart slow cooker with pan spray and set aside.

  • Mix the sausage, ham, frozen hash browns, onion, bell peppers, and cheese in a large bowl.

  • Add the meat and potato mixture to the pot of the slow cooker.

  • In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, half & half, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the top of the meat and potato mixture.

  • Place the pot on the base of the slow cooker, cover, and cook on LOW for 6 hours or on HIGH for 3 hours.

  • Serve warm, garnished with freshly chopped parsley.

Originally Posted December 9, 2015
Updated December 19, 2024

Calories: 397kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 25gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 268mgSodium: 1059mgPotassium: 434mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 1145IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 218mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

 





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