Farmer's Breakfast Casserole

Farmer's Breakfast Casserole is a savory dish made with hash browns, cheese, sausages, eggs, cream, and scallions. This breakfast casserole is savory and unique. It’s made with only a few ingredients and prepped and ready to bake in just 10 minutes. It’s a dish your whole family will love.

What is Farmer's Breakfast Casserole? 

This cheesy meal is layered with rich flavors and is the perfect make-ahead dish. You can save it in the refrigerator overnight and bake it the next day. The hot dogs are chopped into small pieces and pair wonderfully with the other ingredients. This is not a dish you will ever forget!

If you prefer a different sausage, then you might like to try this Italian sausage breakfast casserole instead. It has a bit more of a unique flavor that is traditional to sausage.

Ingredients: 

• 5 cups hash browns: You can buy frozen hash browns and thaw them or boxed shredded potatoes and rehydrate them. 
• 1 cup cheese, shredded: Cheddar cheese pairs well with the other flavors in this dish.
• 2 cups hot dogs, sliced: Slice the hot dogs into small, bite-sized pieces.
• 8 eggs: Use fresh, large AA eggs in this meal. 
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream: Heavy whipping cream makes this dish creamy and rich.
• Cooked bacon and green onions are added after baking for an extra texture and flavor.

How to make farmers' breakfast casserole: 

Video Recipe:

Here’s a brief overview of how to make this dish. See the recipe card below for the specific recipe instructions. 

1. Preheat the oven to 350F/180C and prepare your baking dish with non-stick spray then set it aside.

2. In a large bowl, you will whisk together the eggs with cream, salt, and pepper.

3. Then, in the prepared baking dish, combine the hashbrowns and chopped hot dogs or sausages.

4. Pour the beaten egg mixture over the potato and hot dog mixture.

5. Sprinkle the top of the casserole with shredded cheese.

6. Bake the farmer's breakfast casserole for 1 hour 30 minutes or until the eggs are cooked through and the casserole is set.

7. For added color, you can pop the cooked casserole under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes. Top with chopped cooked bacon and chives before serving.

Tips for success: 

Here are a few tips for success and variations you can try to make this the best farmer's breakfast casserole you've ever eaten.

• You can substitute the heavy cream with cream of mushroom soup if you’d like a richer flavor. In this instance, chopped mushrooms can also be added to the potatoes for more flavor and texture.
• To make this dish keto-friendly, leave out the hashbrowns and replace them with vegetables.  Spiralized zucchini works great in this instance.
• Add seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, Italian herbs, or even a taco seasoning blend for more flavor in the casserole.

Can I substitute another meat for the hot dogs?  

If you’d like to use a different protein in place of the hot dogs in this farmer's breakfast casserole, you can easily do so. You may not be able to find them or just prefer a different type. Below are some options that work just as well in this recipe.

• Cooked ground sausage or sausage links cut into chunks.
• Chopped cooked bacon.
• Ham or Canadian bacon slices or pieces cut into 1" cubes.
• Cooked ground beef, ground turkey, ground pork, or ground chicken with a sausage seasoning blend.
• Shredded cooked chicken or pulled pork.
• Leftover steak or roast beef shredded or chopped.
• Or just mushrooms and no meat for a vegetarian option.

Which vegetables can I add to this farmer's breakfast casserole?  

Try adding some fresh veggies to this casserole to make it healthier and give it an even deeper flavor and texture. When adding vegetables, I recommend no more than an additional 1 or 1 ½ cup total. Also, remember if you are adding vegetables, you may want to cook them first to remove some moisture, or at least pat dry if they were frozen.

Some options include:

• Cabbage
• Corn
• Mushrooms
• Spinach or kale
• Asparagus spears
• Green beans
• Artichoke hearts
• Broccoli or cauliflower
• Bell peppers and onion
• Tomatoes

Can I make this casserole in an Instant Pot?   

Yes, you can easily make this dish in a pressure cooker. This is a great way to cook when you need to use the oven for another dish. When cooking in the Instant Pot, you need to make sure there is water to create the steam for pressure.

In this instance, the pot-in-pot method is best for making a farmer's breakfast casserole. This is simply when you put the casserole in a baking dish, then set the dish on top of a trivet and pour water under or around it. This allows the steam to come to pressure without watering down your casserole or causing it to burn.

1. Combine the ingredients as directed in a dish that will fit into the Instant Pot easily. Then, cover with a piece of aluminum foil, and place into the pot on the trivet with 1 to 1 ½ cups of water.
2. Cover and seal the lid, then set to manual high pressure for 30 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is over, allow it to naturally pressure release for 5 minutes before manually releasing any remaining pressure.
3. To brown the top, pop it into the oven on broil for 4 to 5 minutes before serving.

Printable Recipe:

How to store:

Store any leftover casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. Reheat it in the microwave with 30-second increments until it’s hot all the way through. 

If freezing in individual portions after cooking, just allow this to cool then slice into serving sizes. Wrap each one in plastic wrap, then place it into an airtight container or freezer storage bag that has been labeled.

If freezing before baking, I recommend doing so by assembling it in a disposable aluminum baking pan. Then, wrap it with plastic wrap, and then a layer of aluminum foil. Sit flat on a shelf to freeze fully before stacking additional items on top in the freezer.

No matter which method you choose, make sure to properly label, date, and mark cooking directions on the package for later.

Remember that if you cook it from frozen, it will take longer to cook in the oven without thawing first. Keep the foil on until the last 30 minutes of cooking so the top can brown.

FAQs: 

More Tasty Breakfast Casseroles

If you like this delicious meal, then you may want to check out a few more of our favorite breakfast casseroles. Loaded with eggs, meats, and cheeses, these are a perfect way to start your day! Make sure that you bookmark the recipes, print them out, or pin them to Pinterest so they are handy when you are ready to cook.

• Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
• Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
• Egg and Hashbrown Casserole
• Sausage Breakfast Casserole
• Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
• Potato Ham and Egg Breakfast Casserole