This Crack Breakfast Casserole is what happens when you throw everything good about breakfast into one pan and bake it until nobody can stop eating. Hash browns, eggs, bacon, sausage, cream cheese, cheddar, and ranch seasoning. Yeah, it's called crack for a reason.
Why You'll Love This Crack Breakfast Casserole
Listen, I started making this Crack Breakfast Casserole three years ago for Christmas morning and now my family threatens to boycott the holiday if I don't make it. My uncle who literally only eats plain scrambled eggs at home scraped the pan clean and asked if I had more hidden somewhere.
What Actually Works: You're basically building layers of awesome in a 9x13 pan. Hash browns go in first after you crisp them up a bit. Then cooked bacon and sausage. Pour over an egg mixture loaded with cream cheese and ranch seasoning. Top with enough cheddar to make a cardiologist cry. Bake until bubbly. The ranch is the secret weapon here because it adds this savory punch that regular breakfast casserole completely lacks. My neighbor made it without the ranch once and said it tasted "fine" which in cooking terms means boring and forgettable.
Why Other Methods Fail: I've watched people dump raw frozen hash browns into this thinking they'll cook through. They don't. You end up with crunchy potato chunks that crack your teeth. Some people go light on the cheese to "make it healthier" which defeats the entire purpose of Crack Breakfast Casserole. Others forget to drain their meat and wonder why there's an oil slick on top. This version actually works because every ingredient gets treated right and nothing's holding back.
The thing that changed everything: Took me four disasters to figure out that frozen hash browns need actual attention. First Christmas I made this, I was so focused on getting everything else ready that I threw frozen solid hash browns straight into the pan. An hour later they were still half raw while the eggs had turned into rubber. My dad joked that he needed a jackhammer to break through the potatoes. Now I thaw them completely, squeeze out the water like I'm wringing out a wet towel, and pre-bake them until they're starting to crisp. That's when you get Crack Breakfast Casserole that's actually worth waking up early for instead of something you choke down to be polite.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Crack Breakfast Casserole
- What You'll Need for Crack Breakfast Casserole
- How to Make Crack Breakfast Casserole
- Top Tip
- Ways to Mix It Up
- Storing Leftovers
- What to Serve With It
- My Crack Breakfast Casserole Story
- Questions People Always Ask
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Crack Breakfast Casserole
- Related
- Pairing
What You'll Need for Crack Breakfast Casserole
Nothing fancy. Just stuff that tastes really good when you pile it together.
Main Stuff
- Frozen hash browns (the shredded kind)
- Thick cut bacon
- Breakfast sausage (regular or spicy)
- Large eggs
- Cream cheese
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Ranch seasoning packet
- Green onions
- Whole milk
- Salt and black pepper
- Butter for greasing
If You Want Extra
- Sour cream for topping
- Hot sauce (I use Frank's)
- Diced poblano peppers
- Sliced jalapeños
- Monterey Jack cheese
- Fresh chives
- Everything bagel seasoning
Check the Recipe card for actual amounts.
How to Make Crack Breakfast Casserole
This takes some steps but none of them are hard. Just don't skip anything.
1. Deal With the Hash Browns
Pull your frozen hash browns out and let them thaw on the counter for thirty minutes. Grab handfuls and squeeze them over the sink like you're trying to get every drop of water out. Seriously squeeze hard. Spread them in a buttered 9x13 pan and stick them in a 400°F oven for twenty minutes. They should start getting golden on the edges. This step is non-negotiable for good Crack Breakfast Casserole.
2. Cook Your Meat
While the hash browns are doing their thing, cook your bacon in a big skillet until it's actually crispy, not that floppy sad bacon. Drain it on paper towels and crumble it into pieces. Use the same pan for the sausage because those bacon drippings add flavor. Break up the sausage with your spatula and cook it until there's no pink left. Drain off all that grease into a can, not your sink unless you want plumbing issues.
3. Mix the Egg Situation
Crack your eggs into a big bowl and whisk them with milk, the entire ranch packet, salt, and pepper. Nuke the cream cheese for about forty seconds so it's soft and whisk it into the eggs. Don't worry if it's lumpy because it'll melt when it bakes. This cream cheese is what makes Crack Breakfast Casserole creamy instead of dry and weird like those breakfast casseroles at bad hotel buffets.
4. Build the Layers
Pull your hash browns out and turn the oven down to 350°F. Scatter the bacon and sausage all over the hash browns. Pour that egg mixture over everything, making sure it gets into all the corners. Dump a ridiculous amount of shredded cheddar on top. I'm talking at least two cups, maybe three if you're living right. Sprinkle on your sliced green onions.
5. Bake Until Perfect
Slide the whole pan back in the oven and bake for forty-five to fifty minutes. You'll know your Crack Breakfast Casserole is done when the middle doesn't jiggle when you shake the pan and a knife poked in the center comes out without raw egg on it. The cheese should be golden and bubbly, maybe even a little crispy around the edges. Let it sit for ten minutes before you cut into it or it'll fall apart into a sloppy mess.
You'll end up with this insane Crack Breakfast Casserole where every bite has crispy potatoes, creamy eggs, salty meat, and that addictive ranch flavor that makes people weird about getting seconds.
Top Tip
Squeeze those hash browns dry like your life depends on it before you do anything else with them. First Easter I made this Crack Breakfast Casserole, I was running late and just dumped the thawed hash browns straight into the pan without squeezing them. There was so much water that the whole thing turned into this soupy potato egg soup situation instead of a casserole. My sister-in-law tried to be nice and said "it has good flavor" while pushing the liquid around her plate. Now I squeeze each handful until my hands hurt and my Crack Breakfast Casserole actually holds together when you cut it. That extra two minutes of hand cramps prevents breakfast soup.
Also, use full fat everything. I tried making this "lighter" once with turkey bacon, turkey sausage, and reduced fat cheese because I was on some health kick. It tasted like cardboard pretending to be breakfast. The whole point of Crack Breakfast Casserole is that it's indulgent and rich. Make it right or don't make it at all.
Ways to Mix It Up
Meat Variations
Go all bacon if you're a bacon purist. All sausage works too, especially the spicy kind that adds heat to your Crack Breakfast Casserole. Diced ham is good for Easter when you've got leftover ham anyway. My friend uses chorizo and it's ridiculously good.
Add More Vegetables
Sauté some diced bell peppers and mushrooms before adding them in. Spinach works if you chop it and squeeze out the water. Roasted poblanos are incredible in Crack Breakfast Casserole if you like smoky flavor. Just make sure you cook any vegetables first or they'll release water and make it soggy.
Different Cheese Game
Mix pepper jack with the cheddar for spice. Add some crumbled goat cheese on top for tang. Gruyere makes it taste fancy but honestly cheddar is perfect. Some people do a Mexican cheese blend in their Crack Breakfast Casserole and top it with salsa which is pretty good.
Make It Spicy
Dice up some jalapeños and mix them in with the meat. Use spicy breakfast sausage instead of regular. Add cayenne to the egg mixture. Drizzle hot sauce on top when serving your Crack Breakfast Casserole. I like heat so I do all of these.
Tater Tot Swap
Use frozen tater tots instead of hash browns and people lose their minds. Tastes a little different but equally addictive. My kids actually prefer the tater tot Crack Breakfast Casserole version.
Healthier-ish
Okay so you can use turkey products and part-skim cheese and egg whites if you absolutely must. It won't be as good but it'll still be decent. Add extra vegetables to make yourself feel better about the cream cheese that's definitely still in there.
Storing Leftovers
In the Fridge: Leftover Crack Breakfast Casserole keeps covered in the fridge for four days. Reheat slices in the microwave for ninety seconds or warm the whole thing covered with foil in a 325°F oven for twenty minutes. The eggs get a little rubbery when reheated but the flavor's still there and it's better than cooking breakfast from scratch on a Tuesday morning.
Freezer: Cut cooled Crack Breakfast Casserole into portions, wrap each piece in plastic wrap then foil, and freeze for three months. Reheat from frozen in the microwave for three to four minutes. Perfect for when you need breakfast but have zero energy to cook.
Make It Ahead: This is literally the best thing about Crack Breakfast Casserole. Assemble everything the night before, cover it tight with plastic wrap, stick it in the fridge. Morning comes and you just unwrap it and bake. Add ten extra minutes since it's cold from the fridge. I do this every Christmas Eve so I can actually sleep in on Christmas instead of cooking.
Serving Fresh: Hot from the oven is peak Crack Breakfast Casserole when the cheese is still melty and the edges are crispy. That ten minute rest before cutting is important though or your first slice will be a disaster.
What to Serve With It
Honestly this Crack Breakfast Casserole is so loaded you don't really need much else.
I usually do a big fruit salad because you need something fresh and light to balance all that cheese. Toast with butter and jam. Coffee, obviously. Orange juice for the people who drink it.
If I'm doing a whole brunch spread, I'll add some muffins or cinnamon rolls, maybe some yogurt parfaits for the people who pretend they eat healthy. Crispy bacon on the side even though there's bacon in the casserole because some of us have priorities.
My mom always makes mimosas when I bring Crack Breakfast Casserole to her house. Says it's the only way to handle that much richness before noon. She's not wrong.
My Crack Breakfast Casserole Story
Christmas morning 2021, I decided to make this for the first time. Found a basic recipe online and thought I'd just wing the details because how hard could breakfast casserole be? Dumped frozen solid hash browns into the pan, didn't drain the meat because I was watching my kids open presents, forgot the cream cheese was even a thing. Baked it at 375°F because that seemed like a good temperature for stuff.
Pulled it out an hour later to find the hash browns were still crunchy, the top was burnt, and there was a layer of sausage grease floating on top. My dad took one bite and very diplomatically said "interesting texture" which is dad code for "this is terrible but I love you." We ended up ordering bagels.
Tried again for New Year's with thawed hash browns that I actually squeezed dry, properly drained meat, and cream cheese whisked into the eggs. Completely different dish. Creamy, fluffy, actually edible. My brother had three servings and asked why I hadn't made it like this for Christmas.
Then Easter rolled around and I got cocky. Made the whole thing the night before but forgot to account for it being cold from the fridge. Baked it for the normal time and the middle was still raw when everyone was ready to eat. Had to stick it back in for another twenty minutes while my family stood around hangry.
Now I've got this Crack Breakfast Casserole completely figured out. Thaw and squeeze the hash browns like you mean it. Pre-bake them. Drain everything. Use cream cheese. Add the ranch. If it's cold from the fridge, add extra time. My family actually requests this specific dish for every holiday breakfast now. My aunt tried to make her own version and it didn't turn out so she just asks me to bring mine instead.
Questions People Always Ask
Why is it called John Wayne casserole?
John Wayne casserole is a totally different thing that uses biscuits, ground beef, and salsa, supposedly named because the actor liked it. Has nothing to do with Crack Breakfast Casserole. This one's called "crack" because the ranch seasoning and cheese combo makes it so addictive that people actually joke about needing rehab after eating it. My coworker literally called me at ten PM once asking for the recipe because she couldn't stop thinking about it. That's where the name comes from.
What are some common breakfast casserole mistakes?
Using frozen ingredients straight from the freezer is the biggest screwup with breakfast casseroles including Crack Breakfast Casserole. They release water and make everything soggy. Not draining your meat leaves it greasy. Too many eggs makes it rubbery and bouncy. Not enough seasoning makes it Crack Breakfast Casserole and boring. Underbaking leaves the center runny. Overbaking makes the eggs dry and tough. And cutting into it immediately instead of letting it rest makes it fall apart into a sloppy pile.
What is an Amish breakfast casserole?
Amish breakfast casserole uses torn up bread instead of hash browns, usually soaked overnight with eggs and milk like a savory bread pudding. It's simpler and plainer, sometimes with sausage and cheese but no ranch or cream cheese. Different vibe entirely from Crack Breakfast Casserole which is all about being loaded with everything good and having that addictive ranch flavor. Both are fine but one's basic and one's extra.
What is the hashbrown casserole at Cracker Barrel made of?
Cracker Barrel does hash browns with cream of chicken soup, sour cream, butter, onion, and cheese. It's a side dish, not a full breakfast. Crack Breakfast Casserole is a complete meal with eggs, multiple meats, cream cheese, and ranch making it way more substantial. Also tastes completely different. I like both but they serve different purposes at the table.
More Recipes You'll Love
Once you've got this Crack Breakfast Casserole in your regular rotation, try my Vanilla French Beignets Recipe for when you want something sweet and fancy without leaving the house. My Bang Bang Chicken Bowl Recipe handles weeknight dinners with crispy chicken and that sauce everyone goes crazy for. And my Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is another easy meal that actually tastes good instead of just being quick.
Crack Breakfast Casserole
Equipment
- 1 9x13 inch baking dish For baking casserole
- 1 large skillet For cooking meat
- 1 Large mixing bowl For egg mixture
- 1 Whisk To combine eggs
- 1 paper towels For draining meat
- 1 knife To test doneness
Ingredients
- 30 oz frozen shredded hash browns, thawed Squeeze out all moisture
- 12 thick cut bacon strips Cooked crispy and crumbled
- 1 lb breakfast sausage Regular or spicy
- 12 large eggs Room temperature preferred
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened Microwave 40 seconds to soften
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese Freshly shredded melts better
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix 1 oz packet, not dressing
- 4 green onions, sliced Both white and green parts
- ½ cup whole milk Not skim or it's too thin
- 1 teaspoon salt Adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper Freshly ground is best
- 2 tablespoons butter For greasing pan
Instructions
- Thaw frozen hash browns completely and squeeze handfuls over the sink to remove all excess moisture that would make the casserole watery.
- Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish and spread squeezed hash browns evenly across the bottom.
- Bake hash browns at 400°F for 20 minutes until edges start turning golden and crispy so they're tender in the finished casserole.
- Cook bacon in a large skillet until crispy, drain on paper towels, and crumble into pieces.
- Brown breakfast sausage in the same skillet, breaking it into small pieces, then drain off all grease completely to prevent an oily casserole.
- Whisk eggs with milk, ranch seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until well combined.
- Microwave cream cheese for 40 seconds to soften, then whisk it into the egg mixture until mostly smooth with only small lumps remaining.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and scatter cooked bacon and sausage evenly over the pre-baked hash browns.
- Pour egg mixture evenly over the meat and hash browns, making sure it reaches all corners of the pan.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously over the top, covering the entire surface, then add sliced green onions.
- Bake at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes until the center is set when you shake the pan and a knife inserted comes out clean.
- Let casserole rest for 10 minutes before cutting so it holds together instead of falling apart when you serve it.
Notes
Nutrition
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Crack Breakfast Casserole:
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