Easy Breakfast Casserole with Bread Recipe
This easy breakfast casserole with bread is a hearty and delicious morning dish perfect for family gatherings or a weekend brunch. It features a hollowed-out Italian bread loaf filled with a savory mixture of sausage, bell peppers, cheeses, and a rich egg custard, baked to golden perfection and garnished with fresh scallions and parsley.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Cheese
- 16 oz. Italian bread (1 large loaf) (Substitute gluten-free or whole wheat bread if desired)
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese
Sausage and Vegetables
- 1 lb. mild breakfast sausage (Substitute spicy sausage or turkey sausage for variations)
- 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper (Red bell pepper adds nice color)
Egg Mixture
- 4 large eggs
- 1/3 cup heavy cream (Replace with unsweetened oat milk for dairy-free options)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Garnish
- 1/4 cup chopped scallions
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Prepare Bread: Using a serrated knife, carefully cut a wedge from the center of the bread loaf without cutting through the bottom. Hollow out the inside of the loaf with your fingers, leaving about an inch of bread around the edges to maintain structure. Reserve the removed bread scraps for making breadcrumbs or another use.
- Add Cheese Layer: Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese evenly on the bottom inside the hollowed-out bread. This will create a cheesy base for the filling.
- Cook Sausage and Bell Peppers: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage along with the chopped bell peppers for about 7 minutes until the sausage is fully browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease carefully, then spoon the cooked sausage and pepper mixture over the cheese layer inside the bread.
- Mix Egg Custard: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, and salt until well combined. Pour this egg mixture evenly over the sausage mixture inside the bread, allowing it to soak into the layers.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the filled bread on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until the eggs are set, and the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden. If the bread or top starts browning too quickly, tent loosely with foil to prevent burning.
- Cool and Garnish: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes. This resting time helps the custard set further, making it easier to slice. Just before serving, sprinkle chopped scallions and parsley on top for a fresh burst of flavor and color. Slice and enjoy your hearty breakfast casserole!
Notes
- You can substitute gluten-free or whole wheat bread depending on your dietary preference.
- Try using spicy or turkey sausage for different flavor profiles.
- For a dairy-free option, replace heavy cream with unsweetened oat milk.
- Use red bell pepper for added color, but any bell pepper variety works.
- Be careful not to pierce the bottom of the bread loaf when hollowing it out to avoid leaks during baking.
- Tenting with foil halfway through baking helps prevent the crust from burning.
Keywords: breakfast casserole, sausage casserole, baked breakfast, savory breakfast, Italian bread recipe
