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One-Pan "Cheat Code" Sausage & Croissant Brunch Bake

One-Pan "Cheat Code" Sausage & Croissant Brunch Bake

Sunday brunch shouldn't require waking up at dawn or doing a sink full of dishes. By using flaky bakery croissants and pre-cooked breakfast sausage, we skip the tedious overnight soaking and stove-top splatters entirely. Just tear, whisk, pour, and bake your way to a crispy, cheesy, sweet-and-savory masterpiece.

Elena Reyes
Elena Reyes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
6
easy
breakfast
brunchweekendone-pandump-and-bake+1

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Timeline

1 hour
0m15m30m45m1h
Preheat & Prep Pan
Assemble Base
Whisk Egg Mixture
Soak Croissants
5m
Top & Cover
Bake Covered
20m
Bake Uncovered
15m
Garnish & Serve

Ingredients

  • 1 lb fully cooked breakfast sausage links(thawed if frozen, chopped into thirds)
  • 6 large store-bought bakery croissants(stale is actually perfect here)
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1.5 cups whole milk
  • 1.5 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese(divided)
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup(for drizzling)
  • 1 tbsp butter(for greasing the pan)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Heavily grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with 1 tbsp butter.

    2 min

    Tip: Don't skimp on greasing the pan! The eggs will want to stick to the corners.

  2. 2

    Tear the 6 large store-bought bakery croissants into big, bite-sized chunks and scatter them evenly across the bottom of your baking dish. Top the croissants with the chopped 1 lb fully cooked breakfast sausage links and half of the cheese, which is 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

    3 min

    Tip: Using pre-cooked sausage is my ultimate brunch hack—no messy frying pan to clean up on a Sunday morning.

  3. 3

    In a large mixing bowl, vigorously whisk together the 8 large eggs, 1.5 cups whole milk, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp salt until completely smooth and a little frothy.

    3 min

    Tip: The Dijon mustard won't make it taste like a hot dog, I promise. It just adds a deep, savory background flavor to the eggs.

  4. 4

    Pour the egg mixture evenly over the croissants and sausage. Gently press down on the croissants with your hands or a spatula so they absorb the liquid. Let the dish sit on the counter for 5 minutes.

    5 min

    Tip: Most stratas need to soak overnight. Because croissants are essentially buttery, flaky sponges, 5 minutes is all you need!

  5. 5

    Sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the soaked casserole. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil.

    2 min

    Tip: Covering with foil prevents the delicate croissant tops from burning before the eggs are fully cooked.

  6. 6

    Bake covered in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

    20 min

    Tip: Now is the perfect time to make coffee or set the table.

  7. 7

    Carefully remove the foil. Continue to bake uncovered for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the croissants are deeply golden brown, puffed up, and the center of the bake is completely set and no longer jiggles.

    15 min

    Tip: Every oven is a little different; give the pan a gentle shake to test the center.

  8. 8

    Remove from the oven and let it cool for just a couple of minutes. Right before serving, drizzle the entire dish evenly with 2 tbsp maple syrup.

    2 min

    Tip: Do not skip the maple syrup! That sweet-and-salty combination is what makes this dish legendary.

Chef's Notes

Here is the absolute truth about brunch: nobody actually wants to be flipping individual pancakes for six people while everyone else is drinking mimosas. This bake is my Sunday morning secret weapon. Using bakery croissants instead of regular bread means you don't have to wait 8 hours for it to soak, and buying fully cooked sausage means zero stove splatters to clean up. You assemble it in one pan and walk away. Boom. You're the hero of Sunday morning, and you barely broke a sweat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does One-Pan "Cheat Code" Sausage & Croissant Brunch Bake take to make?

One-Pan "Cheat Code" Sausage & Croissant Brunch Bake takes about 50 minutes total. That includes 15 minutes of prep and 35 minutes of cooking.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 6 servings.

What skill level is needed for One-Pan "Cheat Code" Sausage & Croissant Brunch Bake?

This recipe is rated easy — it's beginner-friendly and straightforward.

What ingredients do I need for One-Pan "Cheat Code" Sausage & Croissant Brunch Bake?

The main ingredients are: fully cooked breakfast sausage links, store-bought bakery croissants, large eggs, whole milk, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, maple syrup, butter.

What type of meal is One-Pan "Cheat Code" Sausage & Croissant Brunch Bake?

One-Pan "Cheat Code" Sausage & Croissant Brunch Bake is categorized as: breakfast.