A tasty and entertaining take on classic morning fare is a pancake sausage casserole! It creates a filling and simple casserole by combining the sweetness of pancakes with the savory flavor of sausage. Here is a basic recipe that you could try:

Ingredients:

1 lb breakfast sausage (crumbled)

1 cup milk

3 large eggs

2 tbsp sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)

½ cup maple syrup (optional, for drizzle)

2 tbsp butter (for greasing the casserole dish)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with butter or cooking spray.

Cook the sausage: In a large skillet, cook the crumbled breakfast sausage over medium heat until browned and cooked through. Drain the excess fat and set the sausage aside.

Prepare pancake batter: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the pancake mix, milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined.

Assemble the casserole:

Pour half of the pancake batter into the prepared casserole dish.

Sprinkle the cooked sausage evenly over the batter.

Pour the remaining pancake batter over the sausage.

Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Add cheese: Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top of the casserole and return it to the oven for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve: Once baked, remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool slightly. If desired, drizzle with maple syrup before serving.

Tips:

You can add veggies like bell peppers or onions to the sausage mix if you like.

If you’re short on time, use pre-cooked sausage or even bacon crumbles.

For a lighter version, use turkey sausage or a lower-fat cheese.

This casserole is great for brunch or breakfast and can be made ahead of time too! Enjoy!