4-Ingredient Country Breakfast Casserole (A Classic Make-Ahead Morning Dish)

This 4-ingredient breakfast casserole is the kind of dish you’ll find on church basement tables and farmhouse kitchen counters all across the Midwest. It’s simple, hearty, and comforting—the sort of meal that feels like home before you even take a bite.

I grew up with breakfasts like this. On cold Sunday mornings, my mother would slide a casserole into the oven before church, and by the time we came back home, the house smelled like sausage and eggs. Everyone gathered around the table, plates steaming, with no rush and no fuss. This recipe carries that same feeling—warm, familiar, and meant to be shared.

It’s perfect when you have overnight guests, when you need to feed a hungry group without standing at the stove, or when you just want breakfast to feel like a family gathering instead of a weekday scramble.

Why This Breakfast Casserole Works

Only four main ingredients
Easy to prepare ahead of time
Filling enough to serve as a complete meal
Ideal for holidays, weekends, and gatherings
Budget-friendly and pantry-based

This is one of those recipes that doesn’t try to impress—it simply delivers.

4-Ingredient Country Breakfast Casserole

Servings: 6–8

Ingredients

1 pound breakfast sausage (pork, mild or hot)
6 large eggs
2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
5 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (about 16 ounces), slightly thawed

Optional seasoning: salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

Step 2: Cook the Sausage

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage, breaking it into crumbles as it browns. Cook until fully done, then drain off excess grease.

Step 3: Layer the Hash Browns

Spread the shredded hash browns evenly in the prepared baking dish, pressing them gently into a flat layer.

Step 4: Add the Sausage

Scatter the cooked sausage evenly over the hash browns so each serving gets a good mix of meat and potatoes.

Step 5: Mix the Eggs

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until well blended and slightly frothy. Season lightly with salt and pepper if desired.

Step 6: Assemble

Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and hash browns. Gently tilt the pan to help the liquid settle into all corners.

Step 7: Bake

Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes, or until the center is set and the edges are lightly golden. A knife inserted in the center should come out mostly clean.

Step 8: Rest and Serve

Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm.

Serving Suggestions

This casserole is hearty enough to stand on its own, but it pairs beautifully with a few simple sides:

Fresh fruit such as orange slices, grapes, or berries
Toast or warm biscuits with butter and jam
Coffee, tea, or orange juice

For a larger gathering, add cinnamon rolls or a simple coffee cake and let breakfast linger into late morning.

Variations and Tips

This recipe has been quietly adapted in farm kitchens for generations:

Add cheese: Sprinkle 1–2 cups of shredded cheddar or Colby over the sausage before adding the eggs
Lighten it up: Use turkey sausage and lower-fat milk
Bread version: Swap hash browns for 5–6 cups of cubed day-old bread
Individual servings: Bake in greased muffin tins for 20–25 minutes
Extra flavor: Add finely chopped onion or bell pepper when browning the sausage

Still, the beauty of this dish is how little it needs. Four ingredients, one pan, and a table full of people ready to eat.

Final Thoughts

This 4-ingredient country breakfast casserole is more than a recipe—it’s a reminder of slow mornings, shared meals, and the comfort of familiar food. Whether you’re feeding family, friends, or just yourself, it’s the kind of breakfast that makes the day start right.