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Lightened-Up Cheesy Sausage Breakfast Casserole

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A healthier twist on a classic breakfast casserole, featuring lean turkey sausage, reduced-fat cheese, and whole wheat bread for a satisfying, guilt-free meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450g) turkey breakfast sausage
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 cup (240 ml) milk (2% recommended)
  • 2 cups (200g) reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 cups (about 200g) day-old whole wheat bread, cubed
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon dried mustard powder
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chives or parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray or grease lightly with butter.
  2. Brown the sausage: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the turkey breakfast sausage (remove casings if using links), breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through (6-8 minutes). Transfer to a plate and set aside.
  3. Sauté the vegetables: In the same skillet, cook the diced onion and red bell pepper over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat.
  4. Whisk the egg mixture: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until uniform and pale yellow. Add salt, black pepper, and dried mustard powder; whisk to combine.
  5. Layer the casserole: Spread the cubed bread evenly in the prepared dish. Sprinkle cooked sausage over the bread, followed by the sautéed vegetables. Pour the egg mixture evenly over everything, pressing down gently with a spatula to help the bread absorb the liquid.
  6. Add the cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
  7. Optional rest: Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to overnight for a more custard-like texture.
  8. Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the center is set (a knife inserted in the middle should come out clean).
  9. Cool and garnish: Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Sprinkle with fresh chives or parsley just before serving.

Notes

For best results, use day-old bread. If using fresh bread, toast it lightly before cubing. Let the casserole rest before cutting to ensure clean slices. If the top browns too quickly during baking, tent loosely with foil.

Nutrition

Keywords: breakfast casserole, lightened-up, cheesy, sausage, turkey sausage, healthy breakfast, meal prep

Find it online: https://daintydine.com/lightened-up-cheesy-sausage-breakfast-casserole-recipe/