This Sausage & Green Chile Breakfast Casserole recipe is an easy dish that is a crowd-pleasing hit! It is gluten-free and layered with tortillas, cheese, and eggs, with just the right amount of spice to be enjoyed by all!
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Several years ago, a friend of mine shared a recipe for a really delicious green chile, tortilla, and egg casserole. It was an instant hit in our home! Over the years, I have adapted the recipe and we love it even more!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Fast - There is less than 10 minutes of prep for this recipe. It is so easy!
Make-Ahead - This casserole is now our Christmas breakfast tradition. I love that I can make it the day before and leave it overnight in the refrigerator. It goes into the oven when we begin opening our gifts, and is ready to serve right when everyone is starting to get hungry.
Great Flavor - The ingredients are pretty simple, but together they make up a flavorful dish! Creamy eggs, offset by tortilla strips and sausage crumbles, then layered with gooey cheese. It is a wonderful alternative to the more typical hash brown breakfast casserole.
Crowd Pleaser - Our oldest eats gluten-free, so this makes a perfect Christmas morning breakfast, as it is something we can all enjoy! While it has a hint of spice, it is mild enough for the kids
Ingredients
Tortillas - I love the subtle corn flavor that is added when using corn tortillas. But flour tortillas could work as well. Make sure that you check your labels if eating gluten-free is important to you.
Green Chilies -This recipe is especially delicious when you use home-roasted Hatch chiles! But canned chiles are convenient and work as well.
Cheese - Shred your own cheese for the best melt. Pre-shredded cheese has a drying agent in it that keeps it from melting smoothly.
Sausage - Hot sausage adds a nice level of heat to this recipe. It isn't terribly spicy but still has great flavor. If you are especially sensitive to heat then substitute mild sausage.
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Instructions
Prepare the Ingredients
- Brown your sausage and break it into crumbles. If you like chorizo, feel free to use that instead! The flavors are perfect for this recipe! While the sausage is browning, prepare the rest of your ingredients.
- Chop tortillas into strips that are about ½ inch by 2 inches. There is no need to be precise here.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, and spices together.
Layer the Casserole
- Everything gets layered in halves. First, spread half of the green chile into the bottom of your baking dish. You don't need to drain the chiles. Just dump them in straight from the can. Top it with half of the tortillas, then half of the sausage, and half of the cheese.
- Repeat! You do almost the exact same thing again, spreading the remaining ingredients in another set of layers. The only thing I do differently with the second layer is I sprinkle the green chile in this time, as it is hard to spread it when there are other things in the pan.
- Then pour the egg mixture over the top of the cheese. The eggs will fill all of the empty crevices and bake into the best breakfast casserole you have ever had!
- Cover with aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator overnight.
- The next day, it will bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.
Serving Suggestions
For even more flavor, top with a homemade hatch chile salsa verde!
I love to serve this with French Toast Casserole, as that can be made ahead as well, and cooked alongside this savory casserole.
Slice some oranges or your favorite fruit, and you have a complete meal!
Well, almost complete. This also pairs well with your favorite breakfast cocktails. Try it with a Paloma or a Tequila Sunrise!
Recipe FAQs
If you are sensitive to spice, make sure you pick up the mild green chiles. It will say "mild" right on the front of the can. You can also reduce the chili powder by half.
If you want it extra spicy, get the hot green chili, and top your casserole with fresh jalapeno.
This is an easy recipe to cut in half! Layer in a 9x9 pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until the center is no longer jiggly, and the top has browned.
The casserole can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead of time. Just keep it in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
To reheat in the oven: Cover your dish with foil, and reheat at 350 for up to 15-30 minutes. (The exact time will depend on how much you are reheating.)
To reheat on the stove: Melt a tablespoon of butter in a pan over medium heat. Place casserole in the pan and cover with a lid. Cook until heated through.
To reheat in the microwave: It is recommended to reheat one serving at a time when using the microwave. Place on a microwave-safe plate and cover with plastic wrap. Reheat 1 minute at a time, until heated through.
Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind the scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!
Recipe
Sausage Green Chile Breakfast Casserole
Recipe by:Ingredients
- 1 pound hot bulk sausage
- 8 corn tortillas
- 16 ounces chopped green chiles
- 16 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 8 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- avocado slices, sour cream, and salsa, to serve
Instructions
- Cook sausage in a saucepan over medium heat. Use a spoon to break the sausage into crumbles and cook 4-5 minutes, until no longer pink.
- Cut corn tortillas into strips.
- Spray a 9x9 or 9x13 pan with nonstick spray.
- Spread half of the chiles onto the bottom of the baking dish.Sprinkle half of the tortilla strips over the chiles.Add half of the sausage on top of tortilla strips.Top with half of the cheese.
- Repeat layers.
- Beat milk and eggs together in a large bowl, until well-beaten. Add in the spices and mix well.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the top of the layered ingredients.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees.For a 9x13 pan, bake 50-60 minutes.For a 9x9 pan, bake 70-80 minutes.Remove from the oven once the middle is fully set. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve with avocado, sour cream, and salsa.
Bob W
Thank you for the Hatch chili info. I appreciate the directions. My wife is also a wonderful cook and has just retired from teaching food prep part time! I am blessed!
Bob W
Wow! I cut the recipe in half and added onions to the sausage as it was cooking.Really is a easy mexican dish for any time of the day. I just added some refried beans and salad for my dinner. Thank you!
Erin
That sounds delicious!
Bob W.
I am going to use hatch chilis that I peeled and seeded....extra work but I love to cook. My wife doesn't appreciate the heat so I am making this while she is visiting our daughter out of state.
Erin
I love this Bob! Hatch chiles are so delicious. Funny enough, I JUST published a new post on how to roast Hatch chiles. Here it is if you want to check it out: https://stateofdinner.com/how-to-roast-hatch-chiles-includes-freezing-instructions/ Enjoy your tasty breakfast casserole!
Susan Feller
This recipe is a keeper. Super easy to assemble and amazingly delicious. I only had three cans of green chilies, so it is also forgiving.
Erin
Isn't it great to have that versatility? I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe!
Myra
My family loved this casserole! My mother in law even asked for the recipe. So good!!!