Description
A comforting and hearty pancake sausage casserole that combines fluffy pancake batter with savory cooked breakfast sausage. Baked to golden perfection and optionally topped with melted cheddar cheese, this easy breakfast casserole is perfect for feeding a crowd and served with a drizzle of maple syrup for a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage
- 1 pound breakfast sausage (mild or spicy)
Batter
- 1 1/2 cups pancake mix (or 1 cup of all-purpose flour + 1 tablespoon sugar + 1 teaspoon baking powder + 1/2 teaspoon baking soda)
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup (plus extra for serving)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Optional Topping
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage until it is browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess fat and set the cooked sausage aside.
- Prepare the Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the pancake mix (or the all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda mixture), milk, eggs, vanilla extract, melted butter, maple syrup, salt, and black pepper until you have a smooth batter.
- Layer Sausage in Dish: Spread the cooked sausage evenly across the bottom of the prepared 9×13-inch baking dish to create a flavorful base layer.
- Pour Batter Over Sausage: Carefully pour the pancake batter evenly over the sausage layer, distributing it so it covers the sausage completely.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the casserole is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Add Cheese (Optional): If using shredded cheddar cheese, sprinkle it evenly over the casserole during the last 5 minutes of baking. Return the casserole to the oven to allow the cheese to melt and become bubbly.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Slice into squares and drizzle with extra maple syrup before serving for added sweetness and flavor.
Notes
- The pancake mix can be substituted with a homemade blend of flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda as indicated.
- Drain the cooked sausage thoroughly to avoid excess grease in the casserole.
- Adding cheddar cheese is optional but adds a nice savory richness to the dish.
- For a spicier casserole, use spicy sausage or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the batter.
- This casserole can be prepared the night before by assembling and refrigerating, then baking in the morning; add a few extra minutes to baking time if baked from cold.
- Serve with additional maple syrup or fresh fruit to complement the savory flavors.
