• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
  • Recipes
    • Easy Dinners
    • Dessert
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • Thai
    • Gluten-free
    • Vegetarian

Inquiring Chef

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Easy Dinners
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home > Recipes > Breakfast and Brunch

    Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole (no bread)

    Published: Dec 13, 2019 · Modified: May 15, 2023 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 1 Comment · This post may contain affiliate links.

    slow cooker breakfast casserole
    slow cooker breakfast casserole
    slow cooker breakfast casserole
    slow cooker breakfast casserole
    slow cooker breakfast casserole on a white tray

    This classic breakfast casserole is filled with eggs, sausage, sweet potatoes, and cheese and can be made in the slow cooker! It’s low carb and keto-friendly. Prepare it at night to serve first thing in the morning (or prepare first thing in the morning to serve for brunch or lunch). 

    The original Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole became an instant classic around our house. We took it to work, served it to friends, and made it just for fun. But then we wanted a low carb version that was a bit lighter and could work for weekday mornings. This low carb version even feels like it would make a great dinner. It’s a bit savory and would be great with a simple green salad on the side.

    a piece of slow cooker breakfast casserole

    Why Make Breakfast Casserole in the Slow Cooker?

    The low temperature of the slow cooker helps to keep the eggs in this casserole from over-cooking. They get a tender, almost custard-like texture that balances well with the savory sausage and the tender sweet potatoes.

    uncooked breakfast casserole in a slow cooker

    Ingredients

    • Butter - Use softened butter rubbed on the inside of the slow cooker to prevent sticking.
    • Breakfast Sausage - Be sure to grab either mild or spicy breakfast sausage, depending on your spice preference.
    • Sweet Potatoes - These add a great flavor to the casserole. Steam them in the microwave first to be sure they are nice and tender in the finished dish. 
    • Eggs - Use large eggs for the protein-packed base of the casserole.
    • Milk - Any type of milk will work. 2% or whole milk will give the dish a slightly richer flavor and creamier texture. Even an alternative milk like almond should be fine (though we didn’t test it this way).
    • Cheese - White or yellow cheddar is classic, but any type of cheese you’d like works well. Gruyere, fontina, goat cheese, or feta would be great. You can use pre-shredded cheese here to save time. 
    • Salt and Pepper - Don’t forget the salt and pepper - eggs taste bland without them!
    eggs in a glass measuring cup

    How to Make Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole

    1. Prepare a 6-Quart Slow Cooker. Line the slow cooker with a foil collar. (See below for details.) Rub the inside of the foil collar and bottom of the slow cooker with softened butter to prevent sticking.
    2. Brown Sausage. Brown the breakfast sausage in a skillet and then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. 
    3. Steam Sweet Potatoes. The sweet potatoes will need a bit of a head start so they come out tender in the finished casserole. To do this, place them in a microwave-safe bowl with some water. Cover with a paper towel and microwave on high until potatoes are tender, ~3 minutes. 
    4. Combine Everything. Place sweet potatoes and sausage in the slow cooker. Mix together eggs, milk, salt, black pepper, and cheese. Pour the liquids into the slow cooker.
    5. Add Paper Towel Layer. Place a double layer of paper towels on top of the slow cooker and then add the lid. The paper towels will prevent moisture from dripping down on the casserole and making it soggy.
    6. Cook. Slow cook on high for 2 hours. In this time the eggs will firm up. Then the slow cooker can be left on the warm setting for up to 6 hours more. (Great if you want to prepare this at night and have it ready in the morning.)
    7. Slice and serve!
    cut sweet potatoes in the slow cooker
    adding egg mixture to sweet potatoes and sausage in the slow cooker
    slow cooker breakfast casserole on a white tray

    How (and why) Make a Foil Collar for the Slow Cooker

    The challenge with baking right inside the bowl of the slow cooker is that most slow cookers get very hot on the side that’s closest to the heating element. The fix is easy. A layer of foil between the food and the heat helps to insulate it from the high heat. 

    To make a foil collar, take a sheet of foil that is long enough to wrap around the inside of the machine and fold it into thirds. Place it inside the slow cooker and assemble the casserole inside the foil. This will prevent the sides of the casserole from burning and will also make it easier to remove the casserole when it’s done cooking.

    a foil collar in the slow cooker
    slow cooker breakfast casserole on a white tray

    More Breakfast Casseroles

    • Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole - This alternative version of a breakfast casserole uses sliced bagels as a base.
    • Spicy Breakfast Strata - Chorizo gives this baked breakfast casserole with eggs and bread cubes a spicy kick. 
    • Bagel and Egg Breakfast Bake - This breakfast casserole is like a bagel and lox breakfast using a casserole instead of whole bagels. The recipe includes whipped scallion cream cheese (so easy to make!) and is great with lox and capers.

    Favorite Tools

    • KitchenAid Slow Cooker - This recipe should be made in a 6-quart Slow Cooker (this is a link to the I have and love).

    📖 Recipe

    slow cooker breakfast casserole slices on a white oval tray
    Print Recipe
    5 from 6 votes

    Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole (no bread)

    This classic breakfast casserole with eggs, sausage, and cheese has the addition of sweet potatoes for substance and flavor. It happens to be low carb and keto-friendly because it's made without bread, but will be enjoyed by everyone.
    Prep Time30 minutes mins
    Cook Time2 hours hrs
    Total Time2 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Course: Breakfast, Brunch
    Keyword: easy breakfast recipe, keto, low carb, slow-cooker
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 326kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $8.00

    Equipment

    • 6-quart Slow Cooker

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
    • 8 ounces breakfast sausage (loose sausage from the deli counter or sold in a roll)
    • 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
    • 12 large eggs
    • 1 cup milk (any type)
    • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 4 ounces shredded mild cheddar cheese

    Instructions

    • This recipe can be baked overnight in a 6-quart slow cooker or baked right away in a 3-quart baking dish.
      Slow cooker: If using a slow cooker, line it with a foil collar. Do this by folding a sheet of foil in thirds and wrapping it all the way around the inside of the bowl of the slow cooker. (This is where the heating element is on most slow cookers, so this extra layer will prevent the casserole from overcooking.) Rub the inside of the slow cooker and the foil collar with the softened butter.
      Oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Rub the inside of a 3-quart baking dish with softened butter.
    • In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage, breaking it apart until cooked through and browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
    • Transfer the cooked sausage to a paper towel-lined plate to let it drain.
    • Place the sweet potatoes in a microwave-safe bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water and cover the bowl with a damp paper towel. Microwave on high until sweet potatoes are tender, about 3 minutes.
    • Spread the sausage and sweet potatoes out in the bottom of the slow cooker or baking dish.
    • Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and black pepper. Add the cheese and stir to combine.
    • Pour the egg / cheese mixture over the sweet potatoes and sausage.
    • Slow cooker: Place two layers of paper towels underneath the slow cooker lid before you close the slow cooker. (The paper towels will absorb moisture that collects on the lid, preventing it from dripping down onto the casserole and making it seem soggy at the end of cooking.) Cook on high for 2 hours. Serve immediately or let the slow cooker switch to warm for up to 6 hours. (Note: This is to allow you to let it sit overnight. Check the manual of your slow cooker to be sure that the warm function will stay on for the full 6 hours so it stays warm until morning.)
    • Oven: Bake the casserole until the eggs are just set, about 30 minutes.
    • Slice and serve.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 326kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 291mg | Sodium: 650mg | Potassium: 408mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 8681IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 194mg | Iron: 2mg

     

    Related

    « Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
    Slow Cooker Shakshuka »

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Janaina Guedes

      May 19, 2020 at 1:26 pm

      5 stars
      What a wonderful recipe !!
      Thanks for sharing, enough water to look at these photos

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Welcome! We're Jess and Frank. Since 2010, we have been serving up easy, original recipes here on Inquiring Chef.

    More about us →

    Latest Recipes

    • slices of easy, moist banana bread with chocolate chips
      Easy Banana Bread
    • 3 loaves of French bread on a wire cooling rack
      French Bread
    • picking up miso noodles from a blue and white bowl
      Miso Noodles
    • no bake granola bars stacked on a wooden tray
      No-Bake Granola Bars

    Trending Recipes

    • hand holding a chocolate chip cookie with a bite out of it
      Crispy and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    • stir fry over rice in a white bowl with chopsticks
      Honey Ginger Chicken Stir-Fry
    • square image overnight oats in mason jars with berries on top
      Mason Jar Overnight Oats
    • beef and broccoli stir fry on a white plate with chopsticks
      Beef and Broccoli Ramen Stir-Fry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates
    • Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest

    Contact

    • Email Us

    Copyright © 2023 Inquiring Chef