Amish Breakfast Casserole

I found this recipe when hunting down easy breakfast recipes for Father's Day this year. I offered to host the holiday for Mom, but I had two problems. One...I had to find something to make that either cooked in around a half hour, since I had church right before lunch OR cooked in the slow-cooker. Two...I had to find something Dad would like, and he is kind of a picky eater, bless his little heart.

After much debate, I settled on a breakfast menu for Father's Day. I made the sticky rolls that are already in the recipe list, served some fruit, and found this alternative to my standard breakfast casserole. This does not REPLACE the other casserole, mind you. It is simply an alternative. Dad actually loved it! I told him I picked it out because it had Amish in the name, and he loves all things Amish.

Last week, I took this to work for the going-away party of my sweet friend Rachel. The work gang cleaned it up. Not even a spoonful left over for me!!

The Recipe:

1 pound ground sausage, browned and drained
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
6 eggs lightly beaten
4 cups frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) small curd cottage cheese
1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

In a large skilled, cook sausage and onion until sausage is browned; drain. In a bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; stir in sausage mixture. Transfer to a greased 9x13 baking dish.

Bake, uncovered at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until set and bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

You know me...always the rebel. I skipped the chopping of the onion and used dried minced onion. Tasted great...couldn't tell a bit that I'd cheated!


The first time I made this, I browned the sausage the night before, refrigerated it, and dumped it in with the other ingredients the next day. It worked fine. The second time I made it, I actually made the entire casserole the night before, refrigerated it and baked it the next morning. That worked fine too. Both times I skipped out on putting the dried, minced onion in with the sausage. I just dumped it in with the rest of the ingredients and it was fine.

I don't actually own a whisk. This is an attachment that came with one of the dearly departed beaters I used to own. :) Works great!

The best part of the casserole - you can just dump everything in. The sausage, the beaten eggs, and that fabulous onion...

...Topped with the cheddar, the mozzarella, and the cottage cheese. I love cheese....

...Mix it all up. Looks terrible, but trust me. It's worth it!

Put it in the greased baking dish...

...Ta daaaaaaaaaa!!! Tastes so good! Warms over nicely too - if there's any left, that is. But I wouldn't count on it if I were you.