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Weekends and breakfast
Who doesn’t love an easy and delicious weekend breakfast? This Chicken Apple Sausage Breakfast Casserole is the perfect option. It’s great anytime, but especially on the weekends.
The fun thing about making casseroles is that you can switch up the ingredients and serve it for any meal. They are quick, easy and delicious!
For this recipe, I used Chicken Apple Sausage which added a sweet maple flavor. Switching from just a regular sausage to a chicken apple sausage like this one, will add a lot of flavor but help you save on calories and fat. If you haven’t tried them before, you definitely should. They are delicious!
When you’re picking out your Chicken Apple Sausage, look for a good one. Check the back of the package and look for the most whole, natural ingredients you can find. We love the Al Fresco brand, but Trader Joe’s sausages are also great.
Let’s talk potatoes
I also added potato to this casserole to make it a little more filling. Frozen, diced potatoes are great to have on hand because they are quick and already partially cooked. I just heat them with my sausage and onion mixture in a skillet.
If you have the time, feel free to cook any raw potato. Sweet potatoes are another favorite of mine! They are so good diced up and cooked in a little oil or butter. You can also use a Red or Yukon potato.
This Chicken Apple Sausage Breakfast Casserole would be great with hash browns, diced potatoes like I used, or even tater tots. YUM! It makes a great meal for breakfast or brunch. I like to serve it with some fruit and hot coffee. Then again, I think everyone loves breakfast for dinner sometimes too.
The onion and green chilies in this recipe are definitely needed in this dish. They both add a lot of flavor. I have found that green chilies and eggs go really well together. Of course, you may leave them out if you’d like, but I don’t think it will be the same without them.
For the love of eggs
I am a BIG FAN of EGGS!!! They are so versatile and loaded with all the things your body needs. A big part of our healthy lifestyle includes whole eggs. I try to always incorporate both the egg whites and the yolk. They both have beneficial vitamins and nutrients.
Each whole egg has 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of healthy fats. Not to mention Folate, Vitamin A, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, Phosphorus, and Selenium. It also has decent amounts of Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Calcium and Zinc.
Eggs are one of the healthiest whole foods you can add into your diet. They do have a higher level of cholesterol than some other foods, but it isn’t enough to significantly raise the cholesterol in your body. Especially if you stick to 1-2 a day. For more information on egg nutrition, check out this article HERE.
NOTE: That being said, I am not a doctor or a nutritionist. Always consult with one before starting a new food regimen or if you have certain health conditions or concerns.
Make ahead
If you are cooking this casserole for a large crowd (more than 6-8 people), you will want to double or triple it. You can make it the night before, but make sure you have cooled down the sausage and potato mixture (don’t overcook potatoes) so it’s the same temp as your eggs. In the morning, just grease your pan and pour mixture in to bake.
I don’t recommend pouring it into the dish the night before, unless you pull it out the next morning to rest at room temp before baking. If you place a cold dish into a hot oven, it can crack or break entirely.
Recipe tips:
-If serving more than 6-8 people, you will want to double or triple this recipe.
-Use whole, Organic eggs for the most nutritious and flavorful eggs.
-Dice any potatoes, sausage or other vegetables to be roughly the same size. This makes it easier to eat. Of course, if you are swapping in tater tots or hash browns, you don’t have to dice those.
-Add a little butter (1-2 Tbsp) in your pan when you cook the potatoes. Butter makes them so much better!
-Brown sausage in a skillet before adding it into the casserole. Then add onion and potatoes to the same pan to partially cook them. You will get so much extra flavor this way!
-Add a seasoning blend instead of just salt and pepper. I love McCormick Hamburger blend (toasted onion, garlic, pepper, salt, red bell pepper and a little sugar) because it is a basic spice blend that is good with everything and adds so much flavor! Not just for burgers!
-Top your casserole with some fresh cut chives. It adds a little extra flavor and serves as a nice garnish.
-Shred your cheese from the block when possible. A lot of pre-packaged cheese contains anti-caking agents. I usually just shred or slice as I go.
-For more flavor, use two types of cheese. I like a Sharp Cheddar cheese mixed with a spicy Pepperjack Cheese. Use whatever flavors you like.
CHEESE TIP: Keep your block of cheese wrapped in parchment paper and then placed in a resealable bag to preserve moisture and freshness. Swap out paper when it becomes too moist.
Chicken Apple sausage breakfast casserole
I hope you enjoy this Chicken Apple Sausage Breakfast Casserole recipe as much as we do! Play with the ingredients and make it your own. That’s the fun in cooking and baking at home……you get to choose what goes into your food. A great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Also try my Fluffy Applesauce Belgian Waffle Recipe HERE. It is a great addition to any breakfast or brunch.
Follow me on Instagram @motivate.educate.repeat and tag me if you try this recipe. You can also use the hashtag #MotivateEducateRepeat. I’d love to see what you come up with. 🙂
Chicken Apple Sausage Breakfast Casserole
This breakfast casserole is easy and delicious! Chicken apple sausage, potatoes and cheddar cheese are the perfect combination. A great choice for a weekend brunch!
Ingredients
- 8 Whole Eggs (preferably Organic)
- 2 Chicken Apple Sausages, diced and skin removed (I use Al Fresco brand)
- 1 1/2 Cups Diced Frozen Potatoes
- 1/2 Medium Onion, diced
- 1/2 4 oz can Diced Green Chilies (mild and fire-roasted, I use La Victoria brand)
- 1 1/2 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
- 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1/2 tsp Ground Mustard
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tbsp Fresh chives, diced
- Seasoning Blend to taste (I use McCormick Hamburger Seasoning)
Instructions
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Add olive oil to a large skillet pan on medium heat. Add diced sausage and cook until golden brown.
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Next, add potatoes, onion, butter, garlic, and seasoning blend. Cook 4-5 minutes until the ingredients are warmed through. Do not cook throughly. These will finish in the oven. Remove from heat.
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Grease your 8x8 glass baking dish. Pour sausage mixture into pan and let cool (About 10 minutes).
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In a small bowl, whisk eggs, ground mustard and seasoning blend. Once combined, stir in 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and green chilies.
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Pour egg mixture evenly over the sausage mixture in the baking dish. Make sure your sausage mixture has cooled completely. You don’t want your eggs to cook yet. Top casserole with remaining 1/2 cup Shredded cheese and chives.
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Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. This cook time will depend on your individual oven. Mine tends to run hot, so my casserole only took just over 20 minutes. NOTE: Always start with a lower cook time and add more if needed.
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Let casserole rest 5 minutes before cutting. Serve with fruit or salad.
