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Crack Breakfast Casserole

Crack breakfast casserole is a bacon-ranch cheesy egg bake layered over crispy hash browns and finished with a deeply golden crust. Serve it as an easy brunch casserole with sausage and bacon crumbles for a rich, sliceable breakfast bake.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 720
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Frozen hash browns
  • 30 oz frozen hash browns Thawed
Meat layers
  • 1 lb breakfast sausage Cooked and crumbled
  • 8 bacon Strips, cooked and crumbled
Egg mixture
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 0.5 cup whole milk
  • 1 oz ranch seasoning 1 packet
  • 2 cups sharp cheddar Divided
Seasoning
  • 0.25 tsp salt To taste
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper To taste
  • 0.25 fresh chives For garnish

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Preheat and layer the casserole
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13 dish.
  2. Spread the thawed frozen hash browns in the bottom of the dish and press lightly into an even layer.
  3. Scatter the cooked and crumbled breakfast sausage and bacon crumbles over the hash browns.
Mix and assemble
  1. Whisk together the eggs, sour cream, whole milk, ranch seasoning, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
  2. Stir in 1.5 cups of the shredded sharp cheddar.
  3. Pour the egg mixture over the sausage-and-bacon layer, then top with the remaining sharp cheddar.
Bake and finish
  1. Bake uncovered at 375°F for 40–45 minutes, until the casserole is golden and set.
  2. Let the casserole rest briefly, then garnish with fresh chives before serving.

Notes

For make-ahead convenience, assemble through pouring the egg mixture, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours; bake straight from the fridge, adding 5–10 minutes as needed for a fully set center. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3–4 days and reheat until hot. Freezing is not recommended because the hash browns can soften after thawing. For a lighter option, use low-fat sour cream and milk (texture remains close).