Description
This Pancake Sausage Casserole combines savory breakfast sausage with fluffy pancake batter baked into a delicious, hearty dish perfect for brunch or a family breakfast. The casserole is flavorful, easy to prepare, and can be topped with melted cheddar cheese and maple syrup for extra indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage
- 1 pound breakfast sausage (mild or spicy)
Batter
- 1 1/2 cups pancake mix (or 1 cup of 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 Topping
- 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, cook the breakfast sausage over medium heat until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart 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 combination of flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda), 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 at the bottom of the prepared baking dish to create a savory base layer.
- Add Batter: Pour the pancake batter evenly over the sausage, ensuring even coverage for consistent cooking.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the casserole is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating it is fully cooked.
- Add Cheese (Optional): If using shredded cheddar cheese, sprinkle it over the casserole in the last 5 minutes of baking so it melts and forms a bubbly, cheesy crust.
- Serve: Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before slicing into squares. Drizzle with extra maple syrup before serving to enhance sweetness and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute pancake mix with a homemade dry mix of all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda as specified.
- Using mild or spicy sausage affects the casserole’s overall heat—choose according to your preference.
- The casserole can be prepared the night before and baked the next morning for convenience.
- Optional cheddar cheese adds a savory richness but can be omitted for a simpler flavor.
- If you prefer, use turkey sausage for a leaner alternative.
- Maple syrup complements the savory sausage and pancake flavors perfectly but can be served on the side to control sweetness.
