Crack Breakfast Casserole

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Crack breakfast casserole gets its name for a reason. It is bursting with delicious flavors you won’t want to stop eating! It’s packed with layers of shredded potatoes, crispy bacon, sausage, and smooth cream cheese, topped with a layer of crispy cheese.

Angle shot of a serving of crack breakfast casserole being lifted out of the baking dish with a spatula.

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Flavor: The flavors in this breakfast casserole give it the name “crack” for a reason. It tastes so good you can’t stop!
  • Easy to Make: It only takes about 20 minutes to cook up the meat and mix the ingredients. Then, you can sit back while the oven works its magic.
  • Perfect Brunch Dish: Everyone will love this casserole and beg for the recipe. Make it for your next brunch with my 45-minute cinnamon rolls, yogurt parfaits, and my granola fruit pizza.

Ingredients for Crack Breakfast Casserole

These ingredients are basic and won’t break the bank. Make sure you set your cream cheese out so it is at room temperature when you’re ready to put it together. For exact measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  • Pork Sausage: A hearty and flavorful protein source that adds richness to the dish.
  • Bacon: Adds a crispy texture and smokey meaty flavor.
  • Room Temperature Cream Cheese: Provides a smooth, creamy texture and tangy, cheesy flavor that can’t be beat.
  • Sour Cream: Adds to the tangy smoothness to complement the salty meats.
  • Whole Milk: Provides moisture for the dish to stay creamy and delicious.
  • Eggs: Binds everything together and adds more protein and flavor.
  • Dry Ranch Seasoning Mix: This is what makes this a “crack” recipe. So much flavor!
  • Seasonings: Your casserole will be packed with incredible flavor by using Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt, and Black Pepper
  • Frozen Hashbrowns: The sturdy base that holds everything up.
  • Shredded Cheddar Cheese: Gives the casserole a nice melty cheesy inside and a wonderfully browned cheese crust on top.
Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.

How to Make Crack Breakfast Casserole

This recipe comes together fairly quickly. You just need to brown your meats, mix everything together, and let the oven do the work. It’s great to prepare ahead of time so you can throw it in the oven when you’re ready to eat it!

  1. Prep: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a 9x13x2 inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the bacon and sausage together until fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain the excess fat from the meat, then set aside.
  2. Mix: In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese and sour cream using a hand mixer. Once the cream cheese mixture is smooth, add milk, eggs, ranch dressing mix, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
  3. Combine: Add the cooked meat, hashbrowns, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese to the cream cheese and egg mixture and then stir to combine.
  4. Bake: Pour the casserole mixture into the prepared baking dish, sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese, then cover with foil and bake for 50-60 minutes.
  5. Brown Cheese: Uncover the dish and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, until the cheese on top is bubbly and beginning to brown. Remove the dish from the oven, then let it rest for a few minutes, and serve!
Angle shot of bacon and sausage being cooked in a skillet.
Angle shot of cream cheese, sour cream mixed together with eggs, ranch dressing mix, and other seasonings on top.
Angle shot of the egg and cream cheese mixture mixed in with the hash browns and meats.
Angle shot of casserole ingredients in a baking dish covered with cheese ready to go into the oven.
Angle shot of crack breakfast casserole being baked in the oven.

Breakfast Casserole Variations

You can play around with this crack breakfast casserole recipe to suit your tastes. For instance, you can change the type of meat, add vegetables, or simply have fun experimenting with different ingredients. Here are some ideas to help you get started.

  • Meat: You can use all sausage or all bacon, but I like the mix.
  • Vegetables: You can add vegetables to this casserole, like diced bell peppers, broccoli, spinach, or any of your favorites. Just add the vegetables in with the hash browns.

Slow Cooker Instructions

This is a great way to have breakfast ready to eat right when you wake up!

  1. Cook: After step 3, pour the filling into a large crockpot, cover, and set to LOW for 8 hours. 
  2. Melt Cheese: During the last 10 minutes, top the casserole filling with the remaining 1 cup of cheese. Cover, and let it cook until the cheese has melted.
Overhead shot of crack breakfast casserole in a baking dish.

How to Properly Store Casserole Leftovers

This crack breakfast casserole is a great dish to have leftovers. I love having something to heat up so my kids can have a hot breakfast.

  • Refrigerate: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze: Store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. 
  • Make Ahead: This casserole can be assembled, covered tightly with a lid or plastic wrap, and kept in the fridge overnight, and baked fresh in the morning. You can assemble up to 24 hours in advance.

Close up shot of a plated portion of crack breakfast casserole.

More Breakfast Casserole Recipes

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  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a 9x13x2 inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray.

  • Heat a skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the sausage and bacon together until they are fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain the excess fat from the meat and set aside.

  • In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, mix the cream cheese and sour cream. When the cream cheese mixture is smooth add in the milk, eggs, ranch mix, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

  • Add the cooked meat, hashbrowns, and 1 cup of cheddar cheese to the cream cheese and egg mixture and stir to combine.

  • Pour the casserole mixture into the prepared baking dish, top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese, cover with foil, and bake for 50-60 minutes.

  • Uncover the dish and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes, until the cheese on top is bubbly and beginning to brown.

  • Remove the dish from the oven, let it rest for a few minutes, and serve!

Calories: 457kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 20gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 198mgSodium: 799mgPotassium: 282mgFiber: 0.05gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 609IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Published by Staff Reporter