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Have you tried adding cottage cheese to an egg casserole? It adds creamy flavor and results in tender texture for a delicious breakfast! This Sausage and Egg Cottage Cheese Breakfast Casserole is perfect for serving guests or meal prepping!

Two slices of breakfast casserole on two white plates with a bowl of chopped green onions in the background.

Whenever I’m tasked with serving multiple people breakfast, I always lean on delicious breakfast casseroles to be my guiding light. 

Not only do they turn out so deliciously with lots of flavor, but they are way to prepare, feed a crowd, and require little effort given how much food results. 

One of my classic favorites for years has been my Mediterranean Breakfast Casserole, but I wanted to try something new: cottage cheese.

The addition of cottage cheese results in tender, creamy eggs for amazing texture and flavor. The concept could be compared to adding heavy cream to scrambled eggs, although in this version, we’re adding less fat and much more protein. 

I was pleasantly surprised the first time I made this easy casserole, as the texture and flavor is so unique. I wouldn’t want it any other way!

With the holidays in coming up, comforting breakfast casserole recipes like this are an ideal way of feeding the whole family with minimal prep and cleanup. 

Plus, you can make casseroles well in advance, which makes them that much more convenient. Also, casseroles always taste better the next day or the 2-3 days following preparation, so don’t be afraid to make it ahead of time. 

Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for sausage cottage cheese breakfast casserole. 

Ingredients for Sausage and Egg Cottage Cheese Breakfast Casserole: 

Breakfast Sausage: Pick your favorite breakfast sausage to add protein, delicious flavor, and volume to this easy breakfast recipe.

I like using a sausage that’s slightly lower in fat like a turkey breakfast sausage or chicken breakfast sausage, but classic pork sausage works great too. 

Eggs: We need a full dozen eggs to make this delicious cottage cheese egg bake recipe. To lower some of the fat content, you can swap out a portion of the eggs for egg whites. 

Cottage Cheese: One of the start ingredients here! Creamy cottage cheese adds moisture and tender texture to the casserole in addition to creamy flavor and lean protein.

I use 0% fat content, but you can also use 2% or higher. This high-protein breakfast casserole is bound to help you meet your daily values of protein!

Avocado Oil: We need some cooking oil in order to sauté the vegetables and brown the sausage.

I like using avocado oil because it works has a high smoke point, making it ideal for cooking at high temperatures. 

Vegetables: Onion, Garlic, Red Bell Pepper, Baby Spinach: The fresh vegetables in this lovely casserole.

Onion, garlic, and bell peppers add a great deal of flavor, where spinach boosts the micronutrient levels without being easily detected. This is a great way of hiding vegetables, my friends!

All-Purpose Flour: Because the voltage cheese adds so much moisture to the casserole, we need some flour to help it set up.

I use gluten-free all-purpose flour to make gluten-free breakfast casserole, but you can use regular all-purpose flour if you don’t need the recipe to be gluten-free. 

Colby Jack Cheese: A great deal of cheese always makes a casserole taste great!

I love Colby Jack cheese in my casserole recipes, but any kind of melting cheese like cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, mozzarella cheese, Swiss cheese, or Gouda works in this easy breakfast casserole too.

Green Onions: Chop up some green onions and sprinkle them on top of the casserole before serving for some added vibrant flavor. 

Sea Salt and Black Pepper: Season the eggs with salt and black pepper to your personal taste.

Recipe Adaptations:

  • If you have fresh herbs like fresh parsley or oregano, toss them in!
  • Replace the onion and garlic with onion powder or garlic powder to save some time preparing this healthy breakfast.
  • Mix in some feta cheese for more flavor.
  • Add bacon, ham, or any of your favorite breakfast meats.
  • Breakfast Casserole Toppings:
  • Be sure to pick up any toppings you enjoy on breakfast casseroles. 
  • Sour cream, salsa, guacamole or sliced avocado, chopped red onion, and chopped tomatoes are all great options. Enjoy it with hash browns, potato hash, or breakfast potatoes and fresh fruit.
  • Now that we’ve covered the basic ingredients for this easy cottage cheese casserole recipe, let’s make it! 

Add crispy bacon or turkey bacon if you’re a bacon lover.

How to Make Cottage Cheese Breakfast Casserole:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9” x 13” large casserole dish with cooking spray.

Heat the avocado oil in a large thick-bottomed pot (such as a Dutch oven) or a large nonstick skillet (I recommend a 12-inch skillet with a deep lip) over medium-high heat.

Add the chopped onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add in the fresh minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes.

Onions sautéing in a large pot.

Transfer the raw breakfast sausage to the pot (or skillet) and use a spatula to break it into small pieces as the meat browns.

Continue cooking and breaking the sausage into small pieces until the sausage is completely cooked through, about 5-8 minutes.

Sausage and onions cooking in a large pot.

Transfer the chopped bell pepper, baby spinach, sea salt and pepper to the pot and stir well until the spinach has wilted.

Large pot of sausage, onion, spinach, and bell pepper

Stir in the all-purpose flour then remove from the heat to allow the sausage and vegetable mixture to cool.

large pot of sausage and vegetables with flour sprinkled on top.

Once cooled slightly, transfer the sausage mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.

Large casserole dish full of sausage and vegetables.

Crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl and whisk well until the eggs are well beaten.

Eggs in a bowl, ready to be beaten.

Add the cottage cheese and half of the colby jack cheese to the large bowl and mix well.

Beaten eggs, cheese, and cottage cheese in a mixing bowl. ready to mix together.

Pour the creamy egg mixture into the casserole dish and use a fork or spoon to stir the egg and sausage and veggies together so that everything is fairly well distributed.

Casserole dish full of egg and cottage cheese mixture with meat and veggies.

Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the eggs. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 40 minutes.

Grated cheese sprinkled on top of casserole ingredients for a cheesy topping.

Remove the foil and bake for another 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is golden-brown and the eggs have set up completely.

If you like crispy cheese on top, you can broil the casserole for 4-5 minutes or until it reaches your desired level of golden brown crisp.

Cottage cheese breakfast casserole, fresh out of the oven and ready to serve.

Allow the cottage cheese casserole to cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

If you’d like, serve with chopped green onions on top and/or sour cream, salsa, sliced avocado, or any other toppings you enjoy. Grated parmesan cheese is lovely here too!

Storage Instructions:

​To store the casserole, wrap the baking dish in plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

If you have a small amount of leftover casserole, store it in an airtight container. You can freeze casserole recipes in freezer bags for up to 3 months. 

Large slice of cottage cheese egg bake on a white plate with a golden fork, ready to eat.

The next time you have guests in town or simply want to make a big batch of breakfast ahead of time, make this creamy, dreamy, meaty cottage cheese breakfast casserole with sausage!

Ideal for basic weekly meal prep or special occasions alike, crustless quiche recipes like this are ideal for busy mornings. 

This crowd pleaser is the perfect breakfast for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning for a high protein breakfast to keep everyone feeling satisfied for hours.

Make it the night before and enjoy it the next morning!

You don’t have to wait for the holidays to make a habit of this easy cottage cheese egg bake. Make it any time of year!

If you’re looking for more breakfast casserole ideas, also try these reader favorites.

More Breakfast Casserole Recipes:

Cheesy sausage casserole for breakfast!

Cottage Cheese Breakfast Casserole

5 from 9 votes
By Julia Mueller
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour
Servings: 9 Servings
This easy cottage cheese egg bake recipe features tender eggs, delicious sausage and vegetables for a high protein breakfast. A filling and satisfying meal!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil
  • ½ yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound breakfast sausage
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 6 cups baby spinach, chopped
  • 1 tsp sea salt, to taste
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour*
  • 12 large eggs
  • 16 ounces cottage cheese**
  • 8 ounces colby jack cheese, grated
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9” x 13” large casserole dish with cooking spray.
  • Heat the avocado oil in a large thick-bottomed pot (such as a Dutch oven) or a large nonstick skillet (I recommend a 12-inch skillet with a deep lip) over medium-high heat.
  • Add the chopped onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Add in the fresh minced garlic and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Transfer the raw breakfast sausage to the pot (or skillet) and use a spatula to break it into small pieces as the meat browns. Continue cooking and breaking the sausage into small pieces until the sausage is completely cooked through, about 5-8 minutes.
  • Transfer the chopped bell pepper, baby spinach, sea salt and pepper to the pot and stir well until the spinach has wilted. Stir in the all-purpose flour then remove from the heat to allow the sausage and vegetable mixture to cool. Once cooled slightly, transfer the sausage mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.
  • Crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl and whisk well until the eggs are well beaten. Add the cottage cheese and half of the colby jack cheese to the large bowl and mix well.
  • Pour the creamy egg mixture into the casserole dish and use a fork or spoon to stir the egg and sausage and veggies together so that everything is fairly well distributed.
  • Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the eggs. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 25-35 minutes, or until the cheese is golden-brown and the eggs have set up completely. If you like crispy cheese on top, you can broil the casserole for 4-5 minutes or until it reaches your desired level of golden brown crisp. A great way of determining if egg bake recipes are fully cooked is to take their internal temperature. Insert a thermometer into the center of the egg bake, and if it is 160 degrees F (71C) or above, it is cooked through.
  • Allow the cottage cheese casserole to cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
  • If you’d like, serve with chopped green onions on top and/or sour cream, salsa, sliced avocado, or any other toppings you enjoy. Grated parmesan cheese is lovely here too!
  • ​To store the casserole, wrap the baking dish in plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. If you have a small amount of leftover casserole, store it in an airtight container. You can freeze casserole recipes in freezer bags for up to 3 months.

Notes

*I use gluten-free all-purpose flour
**I use low-fat cottage cheese, but you can use any kind you like

Nutrition

Serving: 1Slice (of 9), Calories: 445kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 32g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 323mg, Sodium: 1117mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Meet the Author

Julia Mueller

Julia Mueller is a cookbook author, recipe developer and owner of TheRoastedRoot.net. She shares quick and easy recipes for all occasions, from nutritious weeknight meals to holiday recipes. Dinner recipes, side dishes, desserts, appetizers, and more, can all be found on her website. Go to Julia's about page to learn more about her.

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5 from 9 votes

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28 Comments

  1. Elaine says:

    How do you reheat the casserole?

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      Hi Elaine! 350 for 30 minutes 🙂 I recommend bringing the casserole dish out of the refrigerator about 10 minutes in advance to bring it closer to room temperature. Happy cooking!

  2. Judith says:

    Just have to ask. What is considered voltage cheese that requires the flour as mentioned in the ingredient list? Not familiar with that term.

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      Sorry about that! Typo 🙂 It should read ‘cottage cheese.’ Never heard of voltage cheese in my life, either 😉

  3. Donna S Queen says:

    I’m making this for Christmas. I want to cook day before. What is the best way to reheat Christmas morning?

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      Hi Donna! My sincere apologies for the late reply. I generally reheat breakfast casseroles at 350 for 25-30 minutes, covered in foil, or until they are warm enough to your liking. I hope it turned out great for you guys!

  4. Cathy Addison says:

    I haven’t made this yet. Planning on it for tomorrow. I see in comments that several have left out the flour. Serious question: I’m wondering why it’s in there? I’m mostly – but not strictly – trying to avoid white flour, so just curious. Thanks!

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      Hi Cathy! The flour is there because the casserole is very moist without it. If you’re okay with a lot of moisture, you can definitely leave it out 🙂

  5. Betsy Bixler says:

    This was delicious. I had 4 egg whites that I needed to use along with leftover yellow pepper, black olives, onion and Italian and country sausage. I added 3 eggs, (for two people, plus leftovers!) I sprayed the bottom of the pan and tossed in 3/4 cup hash brown potatoes (as suggested previously) on the bottom of my casserole, added the meat and veg, mixed the cottage cheese with 1/3 cup ricotta and eggs…forgot the flour… topped with cheese and baked for 1/2 hour and continued to check before then resting for 10 minutes. It was beautiful! The mix rose souffle like and fell just a little. Sooo good. Definitely adding it to my breakfast rotation.

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      Your version sounds amazing, Betsy! Thanks so much for sharing!

  6. Mary Vestal says:

    Would it be possible to add shredded potatoes to this recipe?

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      Hi Mary! Yes, absolutely. If it were me, I would add anywhere from 1 to 3 cups. Let me know how it turns out!

    2. Mary Vestal says:

      I added 3 cups of frozen shredded potatoes on the bottom of the casserole dish and proceeded as the recipe instructed. It turned out delicious! Very filling.

      1. Julia Mueller says:

        Amazing! I love hearing that, Mary! Thank you so much for reporting back 🙂

  7. Elizabeth A Magnusen says:

    Looking for a recipe like this for my son who can’t chew right now but needs around 30 g protein per meal. (Fun times, really) Love your recipes, but we can’t have dairy. Any ideas on a dairy free substitute for the cottage cheese that would provide the same protein?

  8. Karla says:

    Best egg casserole I’ve ever made (and I make a lot) didn’t have spinach but we didn’t miss it. Great flavor

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      I appreciate that, Karla!! Thanks so much for swinging back around to share your feedback!

  9. Karla says:

    Nest egg casserole I’ve ever made (and I make a lot) didn’t have spinach but we didn’t miss it. Great flavor

  10. Martha says:

    This is the BEST Egg Casserole recipe I have ever fixed/ tasted and is the ONLY one I will be making from here on out! Quick question…does it freeze well ( after baking)?

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      Aww, I love hearing that, Martha!! I haven’t tried freezing the casserole myself, but I have heard back from others that they have done so with success. I would recommend cutting the casserole into individual slices then freezing them in a large zip lock bag. I imagine it will keep for 1-2 months. Let me know if you have any other questions!

  11. Tammy Wahlenmaier says:

    Would like to make these for a friend who just had a baby as an easy goto breakfast. wondering if you thought this would work to bake off in muffin tins and freeze? that way she could just pop one in the microwave in the morning and it would last her for a couple of weeks?? what are your thoughts/suggestions with this?

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      Hi Tammy! That’s so nice of you! If you have silicone muffin liners, this would be my recommendation. Often, egg dishes stick to regular muffin papers (or the sides of the muffin pan in the absence of anything). I’ve heard silicone liners work best and there’s no fuss with getting the egg muffin out. Bake them for 18-22 minutes at 350 🙂

  12. Piper says:

    I have made this like 5 times now and it’s the best breakfast meal prep! So easy and tasty! And great way to get 30g of protein. Love!

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      I’m happy you enjoy it, Piper!

  13. Jan says:

    Could I make it the night before, refrigerate, and bake the next morning?

    1. Julia Mueller says:

      Hi Jan! Yes, absolutely 🙂 I would recommend bringing the dish out of the refrigerator 15 minutes before baking to bring it closer to room temperature. Happy cooking!

  14. Ally says:

    Delicious! Everyone asked me for the recipe! I left the flour out and it still turned out perfect!