🧇 Sausage Pancake Breakfast Casserole

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This savory-sweet, fluffy breakfast casserole layers juicy sausage and cheddar between golden pancake batter—perfect for feeding a crowd or meal-prepping breakfast for the week.

📋 Recipe Card

👨‍🍳 Servings: 6–8
⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 30 minutes
🕒 Total Time: 40 minutes
🏷️ Tags: Make-Ahead | Brunch | Casserole | Family-Friendly
🍽 Dietary Info: Can be dairy-free with substitutions

🛒 Ingredients Checklist

Main Ingredients

  • 1 lb breakfast sausage (pork, turkey, or chicken)

  • 2 cups pancake mix

  • 1¼ cups milk

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 2 tbsp melted butter

  • Optional Add-ins:

    • 1 tbsp maple syrup (adds a touch of sweetness)

    • ½ tsp ground cinnamon

    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Other

  • Cooking spray or butter (for greasing the baking dish)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Dish

    • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

    • Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.

  2. Cook the Sausage

    • In a skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage until browned and fully cooked.

    • Drain off excess fat and set sausage aside.

  3. Mix the Pancake Batter

    • In a large bowl, whisk together the pancake mix, milk, egg, vanilla, melted butter, maple syrup, and cinnamon until just combined. Don’t overmix—lumps are okay!

  4. Assemble the Casserole

    • Pour half the batter into the greased baking dish.

    • Evenly spread the cooked sausage over the batter.

    • If using, sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the sausage.

    • Pour the remaining batter over the top, spreading it gently.

  5. Bake & Serve

    • Bake in the preheated oven for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

    • Let cool for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.

💡 Quick Notes

  • A maple syrup drizzle on top after baking takes this to brunch-perfection status.

  • The casserole puffs up slightly while baking and settles as it cools—totally normal.

  • Customize with mix-ins like cooked bacon, caramelized onions, or diced apple.

🥓 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s the perfect breakfast hybrid: pancakes + sausage + cheese = one cozy, crowd-pleasing dish. It’s quick to prep, easy to bake, and reheats like a dream.

📸 Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

1. Cook the Sausage

Brown it fully—this is your flavor base. Drain well to keep the casserole from getting greasy.

2. Make a Simple Batter

Think classic pancakes: stir gently just until combined. Adding maple syrup or cinnamon gives a brunchy twist.

3. Layer It Up

Half the batter → sausage + cheese → rest of batter. No fancy swirling required!

4. Bake to Golden Brown

Bake until fluffy and golden. Let it rest before slicing for clean cuts and better structure.

🔄 Substitutions & Variations

Meat Options

  • Use chopped bacon, diced ham, or even vegetarian sausage crumbles.

  • Prefer spicy? Try hot Italian or chorizo sausage.

Dairy-Free Version

  • Use almond or oat milk and plant-based butter and cheese.

Pancake Mix Tip

  • Use your favorite boxed mix—just make sure it’s “just add water” or “complete” style, or adjust for eggs/milk accordingly.

🍽 Serving & Pairing Ideas

  • Serve With: Fresh fruit, a green smoothie, or hash browns

  • For Brunch: Add mimosas or fresh-squeezed juice

  • On-the-Go: Cool, slice into squares, and store for easy weekday breakfasts

🧊 Storage & Reheating

Fridge:

  • Store leftovers covered for up to 4 days.

Reheat:

  • Microwave individual slices for 30–60 seconds, or rewarm in a 325°F oven for 10 minutes.

Freezer-Friendly:

  • Freeze slices in an airtight container. Reheat from frozen in the microwave or oven.

Make-Ahead Tip:

  • Assemble and refrigerate the casserole unbaked overnight. Bake fresh in the morning (add 5–10 minutes to baking time).

❓ FAQ

Q: Can I use links instead of ground sausage?
A: Absolutely! Just slice the links thinly after cooking and layer them like crumbles.

Q: Can I use homemade pancake batter?
A: Yes! Use any basic buttermilk pancake recipe that yields about 2½ cups of batter.

Q: Can this be made gluten-free?
A: Yes—use a gluten-free pancake mix and double-check your sausage and cheese labels.

🧡 Final Thoughts

This Sausage Pancake Breakfast Casserole is one of those “make it once, crave it forever” kind of recipes. It’s hearty, cozy, and perfect for lazy weekends or busy weekday mornings.

📣 Let’s Get Cooking!

Tried it? Share your breakfast creations using #BrunchBakeLove and tag @YourBlogHandle.
Got a brunch twist? Tell us in the comments—because breakfast should never be boring. 🧇🥓

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