Description
This Pancake Sausage Casserole is a delicious breakfast casserole combining savory breakfast sausage and fluffy pancake batter baked to golden perfection. With a hint of maple syrup sweetness and optional cheddar cheese topping, it’s an easy one-dish meal perfect for family brunches or busy mornings.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage
- 1 pound breakfast sausage (mild or spicy)
Batter
- 1 1/2 cups pancake mix (or 1 cup 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
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and generously 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, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Cook thoroughly until browned, then drain excess fat and set the sausage aside.
- Prepare the Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the pancake mix (or the flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda if using homemade mix), milk, eggs, vanilla extract, melted butter, maple syrup, salt, and black pepper until you have a smooth, well-combined batter.
- Layer the Sausage: Evenly spread the cooked sausage across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer as the base of your casserole.
- Add the Batter: Pour the pancake batter evenly over the sausage layer, ensuring it covers the sausage uniformly for even cooking.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the casserole turns golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Add Cheese (Optional): If using cheddar cheese, sprinkle it evenly over the casserole during the last 5 minutes of baking to allow it to melt and bubble delightfully.
- 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 an enhanced sweet-savory flavor.
Notes
- You can use either mild or spicy breakfast sausage depending on your preference for heat.
- Using pancake mix simplifies the recipe, but you can make your own mix using all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.
- Cheddar cheese is optional but adds a nice savory richness when melted on top.
- Allow the casserole to rest slightly before slicing to ensure clean portions.
- Extra maple syrup drizzled on top adds a delightful sweetness contrast.
- To make this dish gluten-free, use a gluten-free pancake mix.
