Broccoli Cheese Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Best part of the weekend is to be able to sleep in and have a lazy morning with the family. What makes it even better is having a casserole in the refrigerator that is ready to be baked. It’s also great when you’re expecting a crowd for a holiday brunch. You can prepare everything from the night before and simply bake in the morning. 

Keeping the casserole overnight also helps the ingredients come together and incorporate all these delicious flavors throughout. It’s not necessary to prepare it the night before but it certainly has its benefits.

This flavor combination of broccoli and cheese is a classic that you know your family and guests will love. Parents will be happy that kids are eating broccoli and kids will be happy with cheesy potatoes and egg mixture. Have some fun with cheeses as well. Use flavorful cheeses that are sharp or smokey and that will make your casserole even tastier. 

Feel free to add some meat to this breakfast casserole too. Bacon, ham, chicken, turkey, and sausage all will be great meats to add. Even leftover meats from a holiday dinner would be perfect. 

How To Make Broccoli Cheese Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

Fist, you’ll need to saute onions and broccoli. I like to get the onions nice and deep golden brown for more flavor, so start cooking onions first. When onions start to golden, add broccoli to saute it lightly. Let the vegetables cool slightly before adding to the casserole dish. 

Grease the casserole dish and add thawed hash browns to it. Mix sauteed broccoli and onion with hash browns and some shredded cheddar. Make sure it’s mixed evenly throughout. 

In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, sour cream, milk, and seasoning together until smooth and pour that mixture evenly over the hash brown mixture. Very gently shake the pan to make sure that egg mixture is spread evenly. Bake the casserole at 350° for about 45 minutes. Add remaining cheese all over the top of the casserole and bake for another 5-7 minutes. Let it cool for about 15 minutes before cutting. 

What Meats Will Work In This Casserole

It’s very easy to add meats to this casserole, just make sure that the meat is cooked first and chop into small pieces. Try adding:

• Sausage
• Bacon
• Ham
• Chicken (or rotisserie chicken)
• Turkey (roasted or deli)

Storing Suggestions

Store leftover casserole in the refrigerator, covered tightly with plastic wrap or a tight fitting lid. Properly stored, breakfast casserole will last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

To reheat individual slices, use a microwave. Make sure to use a microwave safe plate and cover the plate with a microwave safe lid. If reheating it all at the same time, you can use an oven. Preheat it to 350°, cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep the top of drying out and reheat for 15-20 minutes. 

Freezing Breakfast Casserole

You can easily freeze the casserole before baking.

• Use a 9×13 aluminum pan if you plan to freeze it. Follow the recipe instructions to prepare the casserole through step 5, wrap the pan tightly in plastic wrap, and then in aluminum foil. Label and freeze for up to 3 months. 
• Defrost in the refrigerator completely before baking. It will take 8-12 hours to defrost. 
• Bake per the recipe instructions one the casserole is completely defrosted. 

Variations To Try

• Southwestern Style: Add diced bell peppers, jalapeños, black beans, and use Mexican cheese blend. Top with salsa and avocado.
• Mediterranean: Substitute feta and mozzarella for cheddar, add sun-dried tomatoes, spinach instead of broccoli, and fresh herbs.
• Meat Lover’s: Mix in 1 cup each of cooked crumbled bacon, diced ham, and browned breakfast sausage.
• Veggie-Loaded: Add sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, and spinach along with the broccoli for extra nutrition.

More Potato Breakfast Recipe Ideas

If you love this broccoli cheese hash brown casserole, you’ll want to explore more of my potato-packed breakfast favorites! My crispy Potato Pancakes are crispy outside and tender inside. Loaded Baked Potato Breakfast Skillet brings all the flavors of a loaded baked potato to your morning meal. For perfectly crispy sides, try my Home Fries or transform your leftovers into delicious Mashed Potato Cakes. Try the popular ham and cheese hashbrown breakfast muffins and my honey mustard ham and egg potato bake is full of flavor.

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