Description
This Pancake Sausage Casserole is a hearty and delicious breakfast dish combining savory breakfast sausage with a fluffy, sweet pancake batter baked to golden perfection. Ideal for feeding a crowd, it blends comforting flavors of maple syrup, vanilla, and melted cheddar cheese for a satisfying start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage
- 1 pound breakfast sausage (mild or spicy)
Batter
- 1 1/2 cups pancake mix (or substitute with 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
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 into small pieces as it cooks. Drain any excess fat and set the sausage aside.
- Prepare the Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the pancake mix (or the all-purpose flour mixture), milk, eggs, vanilla extract, melted butter, maple syrup, salt, and black pepper until the batter is smooth and well combined.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread the cooked sausage evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create a savory base layer.
- Add the Batter: Pour the pancake batter evenly over the cooked sausage, ensuring it covers the sausage completely.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the casserole is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Add Cheese (Optional): If using cheddar cheese, sprinkle it over the casserole during the last 5 minutes of baking to allow it to melt and bubble nicely on top.
- Cool and Serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes after baking, then slice into squares. Drizzle extra maple syrup on top before serving for added sweetness and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute pancake mix with a homemade combination of flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda as listed.
- The casserole can be made ahead and reheated; just cover it and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- For extra flavor, try adding diced onions or peppers to the sausage while cooking.
- Use mild or spicy sausage depending on your heat preference.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pancake mix or flour.
