Description
A hearty and delicious Pancake Sausage Casserole that combines savory breakfast sausage with fluffy pancake batter, baked to golden perfection and optionally topped with melted cheddar cheese. Perfect for a weekend brunch or family breakfast, this casserole is easy to prepare, comforting, and served with a drizzle of maple syrup.
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
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 browned and fully cooked, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Drain excess fat and set aside.
- Prepare the Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the pancake mix (or the combination of flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda), milk, eggs, vanilla extract, melted butter, maple syrup, salt, and black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Layer Sausage: Spread the cooked sausage evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the first layer of the casserole.
- Add Pancake Batter: Pour the prepared pancake batter evenly over the sausage layer in the baking dish, ensuring it is spread out uniformly.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Add Cheese (Optional): If using shredded cheddar cheese, sprinkle it over the casserole during the last 5 minutes of baking to allow it to melt and bubble on top.
- 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 added sweetness and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute pancake mix with a homemade combination of flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda as listed in the ingredients.
- Use mild or spicy breakfast sausage depending on your flavor preference.
- For a richer flavor, add shredded cheddar cheese, or omit for a simpler casserole.
- Maple syrup is essential for the sweet-savory balance but can be adjusted to taste.
- This casserole can be assembled the night before and baked in the morning for a convenient breakfast option.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated in the oven or microwave.
