5-Ingredient Hash Brown Casserole

Update your breakfast routine with this 5-ingredient hash brown casserole! This cheesy breakfast casserole is packed with hash browns, sausage, and eggs — there’s no better way to start your morning.

Breakfast is one of my kids’ favorite meals of the day. We love it so much in my house that we’re known to do breakfast for dinner at least once a week! I love this breakfast casserole for a twist on sausage, potatoes, and eggs. It’s super filling — making it the perfect contender for those evenings we do have breakfast for dinner.

There are so many different ways that you can make this recipe your own too. If you like spicy foods, consider using spicy breakfast sausage. If you want to use a completely different type of meat, I recommend ground beef or turkey! You can also feel free to replace the hash browns with tater tots, but more on that later.

The prep for this hash brown casserole with eggs will take just about 15 minutes, and then you’ll just have to be patient as it bakes. Let’s get started!

Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post: 

• The ingredients you’ll need to make this hash brown casserole without sour cream — plus some substitutions
• Instructions on how to make a 5-ingredient hash brown casserole from start to finish
• How to freeze cheesy hash brown casserole and how to make ahead (which will make your life much easier!)

If you’re ready to learn how to make a delicious 5-ingredient hash brown casserole, all that’s left to do is keep reading!

How to Make 5-Ingredient Hash Brown Casserole

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. While your oven preheats, cook the sausage (I like Jimmy Dean) until it’s crumbly and no longer pink. Place it in a bowl or on a plate lined with paper towels so that you can soak up any excess grease.

STEP TWO: In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with milk, salt, and pepper. Combine the hash browns, cooked sausage, and cheese into your egg mixture. Pour it into a greased 9×13-inch casserole dish.

STEP THREE: Bake your breakfast casserole for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden and the casserole has set. If you’d like, garnish with green onions. Serve and enjoy!

Ways to Add Even More Flavor to a Hash Brown Casserole Without Soup

No need to add condensed soup to make your meal more flavorful! You can easily make a hash brown casserole without soup, using any of these add-ons for more flavor:

• Creamy bechamel sauce 
• Chicken or vegetable bouillon cube
• Sauces like Dijon mustard or Worcestershire 
• Spices like garlic and parsley, or dry Ranch seasoning

Do I Need to Thaw the Hash Browns for This Breakfast Casserole?

For this Jimmy Dean sausage breakfast casserole with hash browns, all of your ingredients should be thawed.

To defrost frozen hash browns, simply leave the bag in the fridge overnight. Or, you can pour them into a bowl and let them reach room temperature after about 30-40 minutes. Remove any excess liquid before placing them in your casserole.

Can I Freeze Hash Brown Casseroles? 

Yes, you can freeze hash brown casseroles! Simply assemble all of the ingredients (including the cooked sausage and the whisked eggs) and place them in a freezer-safe dish — I recommend you use a foil container.

Bake the casserole as you normally would, and then set it aside to cool. You can then store your cheesy hash brown casserole for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen.

Can I Make This Hash Brown Casserole Ahead of Time?  

This hash brown casserole without soup is the perfect recipe to make ahead of time. Prepare the casserole as instructed and place it in a dish that you can put in your refrigerator. Place the unbaked casserole in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can also make this hash brown casserole with eggs in advance and freeze it for later. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can I Replace Hash Browns for Tater Tots?  

Yes! Feel free to substitute Ore-Ida tater tots for the hash browns in this casserole recipe. In this case, both forms of potato work really well.

And if you love Ore-Ida tater tots, you’ll love my tater tot casserole recipe!

Can I Use a Different Kind of Meat? 

Yes, you can use any type of ground meat for this hash brown casserole without sour cream — hamburger or ground turkey are great options!

Other Breakfast Recipes You’ll Love:

• Hash Browns in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Breakfast Burritos 
• Hamburger Hash Brown Casserole
• Bananas Foster Pancakes
• Brioche French Toast Casserole
• Air Fryer Bacon
• Air Fryer Hash Brown Patties
• Bisquick Coffee Cake
• Sausage in the Air Fryer
• Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
• Air Fryer Apple Fritters