Breakfast Pie (with Sausage and Hash Browns)

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My sausage hash brown Breakfast Pie is filled to the brim with breakfast sausage, potatoes, 2 types of cheese, garlic, and a special crunchy topping! Hearty and unique, it’s a wonderful breakfast option that will fill you up for the entire morning.

Breakfast Pie

Breakfast happens to be my favorite meal of the day. Honestly, I could eat it for every single meal! There are so many options, like these Ham and Egg Breakfast Cups, Breakfast Enchiladas (my husband loves these!), or this Triple Berry French Toast Casserole.

This breakfast pie is a variation of my breakfast Sausage Hash Brown Casserole. I made a few changes to the ingredients and just mixed everything together. Then, I topped the whole thing with crumbled Ritz (!!). I was going through my pantry and the crackers just kept catching my eye, so I thought, why not? They add a little something extra to my breakfast pie recipe without making it complicated.

And, as all of my fellow parents will agree, breakfast should not be complicated!

Why You’ll Love Hash Brown Pie

Moist and buttery with a slight crunch
Perfect for holidays or any lazy weekend morning
Enough to feed 4 really hungry adults — or 6 if you pair it with some fruit or other breakfast treat
Just 30 minutes of prep work
Hearty and satisfying!

a serving of my breakfast pie recipe on a plate with a fork

Key Ingredients to Make My Breakfast Pie Recipe

BREAKFAST SAUSAGE – For savory flavor and extra protein! We love breakfast sausage in our house, so I almost always have a package in the fridge and/or freezer… or both! Use classic sausage, or opt for chicken sausage or a plant-based version instead if you’d like.
ONION – I like to sauté some chopped onion in the same pan with the sausage. It enhances the flavor and adds a bit of sweetness.
SPINACH – To add some veggies to the mix! If I can hide some greens somewhere for my kids, you better believe I’m going to. Tomatoes or mushrooms are some other good options.
GARLIC – Also enhances the flavor. It pairs so well with the sausage, onion, and spinach too.
FROZEN HASH BROWNS – It wouldn’t be a sausage and hash brown pie without them. Potatoes bulk up the pie even more and add a nice texture.
EGGS – For even more protein!
SHARP CHEDDAR – I love sharp cheddar cheese here, but you can definitely switch things up if you’d like. Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Swiss, or even mozzarella are all good alternatives.
COTTAGE CHEESE – For… that’s right, even more protein! Cottage cheese also injects the sausage breakfast pie with a healthy dose of creaminess and tang.
MILK – Helps keep everything moist and makes the ingredients easier to blend.
MELTED BUTTER & RITZ CRACKERS – For the crunchy, buttery topping.
SALT & PEPPER – To taste.

How to Make Breakfast Sausage Pie

RECIPE PREP: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and grease a deep dish pie plate with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

COOK THE SAUSAGE: Add the breakfast sausage to a large skillet along with the chopped onion and brown. Drain any excess grease, then add the spinach and garlic. Stir until the spinach starts to wilt then remove from heat.

MAKE THE BREAKFAST PIE FILLING: Combine the hash browns, eggs, cheddar, cottage cheese, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add the sausage and spinach and mix well before transferring the filling to the prepared pie plate.

PREP THE TOPPING: Place the crushed Ritz crackers and melted butter in a small bowl to combine. Spread on top of the breakfast sausage pie then bake for 1 hour. Let cool slightly before slicing, and enjoy!

closeup: a slice of hash brown pie with chopped tomatoes on top on a plate with a fork

FAQs

Why is the bottom of my breakfast pie soggy?

You won’t have to worry about that with my breakfast pie recipe as it doesn’t involve a crust! That said, there may be some excess moisture in the frozen hash browns. Your best bet is to thaw the potatoes and then pat them dry before adding them to your pie. Also, be sure to drain any excess grease from the sausage before adding the spinach and garlic!

Is there a difference between breakfast sausage and regular sausage?

Yes — breakfast sausage is usually made with ground pork and flavored with sage, black pepper, and other seasonings, resulting in a savory and pretty mild taste. Regular sausage, like Italian sausage, is often flavored with stronger herbs and spices like fennel, red pepper flakes, and garlic.

How will I know my hash brown pie is done cooking?

I typically insert a knife into the middle of the pie after about 55 minutes in the oven. If it comes out wet, I leave it to bake for about 5-10 more minutes with a piece of foil on top to prevent it from burning.

Sausage Breakfast Pie Pro Tips

Drain the sausage well and thaw those frozen potatoes to prevent your pie from becoming too soggy! I know I address this in the FAQs, but it’s so important that it bears repeating.
Freshly shredded cheddar melts better and boasts a much creamier texture than the pre-shredded bags.
Add the crushed crackers in an even layer for a perfectly golden topping. And don’t be afraid to press them down slightly so they stick better.
Use a deep dish pie plate so you don’t have to worry about any overflow! It will also help the filling bake as evenly as possible.
Let the pie rest for at least 5-10 minutes before slicing. The filling needs that extra time to set. It also makes serving much easier.
Add an extra fried egg on top of each serving to make this even heartier. My husband likes to eat it with a couple of fried eggs on top because that’s how he rolls. Fried eggs on EVERYTHING!! I, on the other hand, as you know, am not the biggest egg person so I usually (okay, always) pass on this extra “topping.” 🙂

titled image (and shown): hashbrown sausage breakfast pie

More Breakfast Recipes To Try

Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you think about this breakfast pie recipe!

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