Effortless Holiday Brunch: Herbed Stuffing Casserole with a Savory Wisconsin Twist
When it comes to feeding a crowd, especially during the festive holiday season or for a leisurely weekend brunch, breakfast casseroles are an absolute lifesaver. This time of year often brings a house full of visiting relatives and friends, making the task of preparing a substantial morning meal feel like a daunting chore. That’s precisely why a delicious, all-in-one breakfast casserole, baked to perfection in a single pan, is the ultimate solution. It simplifies meal prep, reduces kitchen chaos, and ensures everyone gets a warm, satisfying start to their day.
My journey to create this exceptional Herbed Breakfast Stuffing Casserole began with an exciting partnership. Pepperidge Farm reached out, inviting me to develop a unique recipe featuring one of their renowned stuffing products. As a long-time admirer of their stuffing, particularly the herb-seasoned variety that graces my Thanksgiving table alongside turkey, saying yes was a no-brainer. I knew the quality and flavor would provide an incredible foundation. However, they presented a delightful challenge: to craft something truly distinctive, infused with a special “Wisconsin twist.”
Being from Wisconsin, we proudly embrace our identity as “the Dairy State,” a title we hold dear (even if some others might try to claim it now!). So, when the challenge of a “Wisconsin twist” arose, my thoughts immediately turned to the rich, creamy goodness of cheese and milk. These quintessential dairy elements are the heart of many beloved Wisconsin dishes, and they instantly evoked visions of a luxurious Christmas breakfast spread: light, frothy eggs, perfectly crisp bacon, sizzling savory sausage – truly a feast for the senses. Yet, anyone who has attempted to orchestrate a farmhouse-style breakfast buffet for a large gathering understands the immense effort involved. The endless array of dishes to keep warm, the constant juggling of cooking times, and the inevitable outcome of cold, soggy toast and unevenly heated food can quickly turn a joyful occasion into a stressful ordeal.
The Ultimate Solution: A Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
This Herbed Breakfast Stuffing Casserole is truly an excellent way to serve a piping hot, hearty breakfast that will satisfy a large group without the usual headaches associated with preparing individual plates of eggs, sides, and bread. Its oven-baked nature means everything cooks together beautifully, ensuring consistent warmth and flavor. Moreover, the beauty of this recipe lies in its make-ahead potential, significantly easing your morning workload. Imagine waking up on a holiday morning, the house filled with the aroma of coffee, knowing that most of your breakfast prep is already done. This casserole allows you to enjoy those precious moments with loved ones rather than being tethered to the stove.
To make your life even easier, several crucial steps can be completed the day before. You can cook and crumble the bacon, cook and slice the breakfast sausage, shred the cheese, and precisely measure out the Pepperidge Farm herb-seasoned stuffing. These preparatory tasks, often the most time-consuming, will leave you with just a few quick assembly steps on the morning you plan to serve. Simply combine your prepped ingredients, whisk the eggs, and pop the casserole into the oven. This thoughtful planning transforms what could be a frantic morning into a calm, enjoyable experience. Serve this delightful, cheesy, savory casserole with warm, buttered bread or perfectly toasted slices for a truly memorable meal.
Crafting Your Herbed Breakfast Stuffing Casserole
The complete, detailed directions for this delicious casserole are provided below. While the recipe is inherently straightforward, you can make the entire process even smoother by tackling the preparatory tasks first. Cook and crumble the bacon, slice the sausage, shred your chosen cheese, and dice the shallots before you begin assembling. Once your mise en place is complete, the assembly becomes a breeze: spread the warmed corned beef hash evenly across the bottom of your baking pan, mix and layer the remaining ingredients as specified in the recipe, and then generously sprinkle with the shredded cheese. This methodical approach ensures efficiency and a perfectly composed casserole every time.
Finally, pour the whisked egg mixture over the layers, ensuring it permeates all the ingredients, and crown it all with the reserved stuffing for a wonderfully crisp, flavorful topping. Then, it’s into the oven for baking, and before you know it, a magnificent, aromatic breakfast casserole will be ready to be devoured!
For more culinary inspiration and fantastic recipes, be sure to visit PepperidgeFarm.com. They offer a wealth of creative ideas, and I’ll certainly be exploring their site to discover new ways to utilize the remainder of this delicious stuffing!
Customizing Your Casserole: Delicious Variations to Explore
One of the best aspects of this Herbed Breakfast Stuffing Casserole is its incredible versatility. You can easily adapt it to suit your family’s preferences, dietary needs, or whatever ingredients you happen to have on hand. Don’t be afraid to get creative and make this recipe truly your own!
1) Mix and Match the Meats: The choice of meat can significantly influence the casserole’s flavor profile. While breakfast sausage and bacon provide a classic, savory taste, you’re encouraged to experiment! Consider using cooked and diced ham for a milder, salty note, or explore the spicy kick of chorizo or the robust flavor of Polish sausage. For a lighter option, turkey sausage links work wonderfully. If you prefer a vegetarian version, you can omit the meat entirely or substitute it with plant-based sausage crumbles. Just aim for approximately 1 ½ cups total of your chosen cooked meat to maintain the perfect balance within the casserole.
2) Your Choice of Cheese: I personally adore Gouda for its slightly sweet, nutty flavor and excellent melting capabilities, which contribute beautifully to the “Wisconsin twist.” However, this casserole is incredibly forgiving, and almost any type of shredded cheese will work splendidly. Cheddar cheese is a classic and reliable choice, offering a sharp, familiar taste. Swiss cheese provides a distinctive tang, while Monterey Jack melts smoothly and adds a mild creaminess. For an extra gooey texture, a blend of mozzarella and provolone could be fantastic. Feel free to use your favorite or whatever you have on hand to create your ideal cheesy breakfast experience.
3) Alternative Base Layers: Not everyone is a fan of corned beef hash, which I’ve chosen for the bottom layer due to its savory depth and texture. If corned beef hash isn’t to your taste, a wonderful alternative would be frozen O’Brien Potatoes. For best results, measure out a scant 2 cups, thaw them thoroughly, and then lightly fry them in a skillet to warm them and develop a slight crispness before spreading them into the baking pan. Other delicious options include a layer of thinly sliced and lightly browned potatoes, or even a simple layer of sautéed onions and bell peppers for added vegetables and flavor.
4) Egg Substitutes for Dietary Needs: If you’re looking to reduce cholesterol or prefer a plant-based alternative, egg substitutes like Egg Beaters are a fantastic option. Since the eggs are whisked and scrambled within the casserole structure, egg beaters perform exceptionally well, maintaining the same fluffy texture and binding properties as whole eggs. This ensures that everyone can enjoy a slice of this delicious casserole, regardless of dietary preferences.
5) Enhance with Aromatics and Vegetables: Shallots provide a delicate onion flavor, but if you don’t have them on hand, a mild or sweet onion, such as a Vidalia onion, makes an excellent substitute. You only need about 2-3 tablespoons to impart a lovely depth of flavor. To further elevate your casserole, consider adding some finely diced bell peppers (red, yellow, or green) for color and a sweet crunch. Sautéed mushrooms would also be a truly delicious addition, bringing an earthy richness to the dish. Feel free to incorporate other vegetables like spinach, kale, or diced tomatoes for extra nutrients and vibrant flavors.
Herbed Breakfast Stuffing Casserole
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 7 breakfast sausage links cooked and sliced
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 15- oz can corned beef hash
- 1 medium shallot diced
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- Freshly ground pepper to taste
- 1 cup shredded Gouda cheese
- 2 cups Pepperidge Farm® Herb Seasoned Stuffing
Instructions
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Spray a 13×9 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350 F.
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After cooking the bacon, drain the grease but don’t clean the skillet. Empty the can of corned beef hash into the skillet and cook for a few minutes to warm it up and brown it lightly. Empty the warmed corn beef hash into the 13×9 pan and spread it evenly.
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In that same skillet, add a teaspoon of olive oil and sauté the diced shallots over medium heat, just until softened and lightly browned.
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Whisk together the eggs and the milk and season with freshly ground pepper.
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Reserve 1/2 cup of the stuffing. To the remaining 1 1/2 cups, add crumbled bacon, sliced sausage links, and the shallots. Stir to combine the spread over the top of the corned beef hash in the baking pan.
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Sprinkle the shredded gouda cheese over the top then pour the egg mixture over everything. Use a spoon to gently press down any ingredients poking up out of the egg. Sprinkle the reserved stuffing over the top and bake for 45-50 minutes.
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
Pepperidge Farm provided me with some tasty product samples and compensated me for the time it took to develop this recipe and purchase supplies. However, you can be confident in knowing that all opinions shared in this post are 100% honest and my own.