Refrigerated crescent rolls are the secret weapon to making an easy, delicious breakfast casserole!
Need a big, hearty breakfast for Christmas morning, a hosted brunch, or just a weekend? Those canned crescent rolls in the refrigerated section of your supermarket are a great resource. By simply unrolling them out of the canister and leaving them as a whole sheet of crescent roll dough, you get a fantastic base for a casserole that tastes delicious. While other breakfast casseroles use slices of bread with the crusts cut off or cubed French bread, this one couldn’t be easier. No slicing or chopping required!
Breakfast casseroles in general are underrated. They are usually make-ahead recipes that you can assemble the night before, so they are super easy the day of serving, and they usually feature some combo of eggs, protein, and cheese. And they’re not just for breakfast! Our family enjoys them as a cozy dinner from time to time. Especially on a chilly winter night, we love having breakfast for dinner (aka “brinner”).
Crescent roll breakfast casserole is a winner because it is not only super easy to prep ahead of time with the refrigerated dough, but it also has a unique flavor profile. The crescent rolls are starchy and provide structure, but they’re also slightly sweet. The slight sweetness tastes great with the savory sausage, eggs, and cheese. You will love crescent roll breakfast casserole, and it may just become a favorite for breakfast or dinner in your household!
Breakfast sausage basics
The breakfast sausage called for in this recipe needs to be cooked ahead of time. If you don’t cook sausage regularly, here are a few things to keep in mind. First, the easiest way to buy breakfast sausage is in the plastic-sleeved tube with the little metal clamps at the end. Just snip off the end with scissors, and you can dump the raw sausage right into your pan. Always sprinkle a little salt into your pan before the sausage to alleviate any sticking. As it cooks, continue to break it up into crumbles with a wooden spoon. You need to cook the sausage until it registers 160 degrees with an instant-read thermometer. Unload the cooked sausage onto a paper towel-lined plate so that the grease drains properly; you can even dab it with another paper towel as an extra measure.
How do I store leftovers?
Leftovers of this casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Serving suggestions
Crescent roll breakfast casserole is so filling and hearty, so you don’t need much to go with it. However, lots of sides work well with it. You can always serve a potato dish like hash browns or Skillet Breakfast Potatoes. It also tastes delicious with any number of sweet baked goods. Great options include blueberry muffins, Cranberry-Orange Scones, or Pumpkin Bread. Any of these are make-ahead, so you’re not scrambling in the morning. As for variations, a fun one to try if you like things spicy is to replace the pound of breakfast sausage with chorizo, cooked and crumbled, and the Monterey Jack cheese with pepper jack cheese. It’s amazing!
Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough (8 ounces)
- 16 ounces breakfast sausage cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
- 8 large eggs
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Unroll the crescent roll dough and press it into the bottom of the baking dish, sealing any perforations to create a solid layer.
- Layer the cooked sausage over the crescent roll dough. Sprinkle both types of cheese evenly over the sausage.
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, salt, and pepper. Pour this mixture evenly over the cheese and sausage layers.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until the eggs are set and the top is golden brown.
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