Description
This Jalapeno Breakfast Casserole is a hearty, bold, and flavorful dish combining creamy eggs, smoky smoked beef sausage, spicy jalapenos, and melty Mexican blend cheese. Perfect for breakfast or brunch, it offers rich pockets of cream cheese and just the right kick of heat, making it an easy-to-prepare crowd-pleaser that reheats beautifully for next-day meals.
Ingredients
Egg Mixture
- 12 large eggs, well beaten
- ½ cup Mexican blend cheese
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Additional Ingredients
- 1 cup Mexican blend cheese, divided
- 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed
- 4-5 jalapenos, seeds and stems removed, diced
- 1 cup smoked beef sausage, cooked and diced
Garnish
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- Additional smoked beef sausage (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix egg ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the beaten eggs, ½ cup of the Mexican blend cheese, heavy cream, salt, and black pepper. Stir well until fully blended to ensure consistent flavor and texture.
- Assemble casserole: Pour the egg mixture into the prepared baking dish. Scatter the cubed cream cheese evenly across the surface to create rich, creamy pockets throughout the casserole.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle the diced jalapenos and most of the cooked diced smoked beef sausage evenly over the egg mixture in the dish.
- Bake initial layer: Bake the casserole for about 30 minutes. This allows the eggs to begin setting and flavors to meld.
- Add remaining cheese and continue baking: Remove the dish from the oven, sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of Mexican blend cheese evenly on top, then return to the oven for an additional 10 minutes or until the center is fully set and a thermometer inserted in the middle comes out clean (usually about 160°F/71°C).
- Finish and garnish: Once baked, remove the casserole from the oven. Garnish with the remaining smoked beef sausage and freshly chopped cilantro if using. Serve warm, optionally accompanied by salsa and sour cream.
Notes
- You can substitute smoked beef sausage with diced chicken sausage for a different flavor.
- To increase the spice level, leave some jalapeno seeds intact.
- Add diced bell peppers or green onions to enhance texture and color.
- Leftovers keep well in an airtight container refrigerated up to 4 days and reheat well in microwave or oven.
- For a lighter texture, replace heavy cream with half-and-half.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage or replace it with sautéed vegetables like spinach or mushrooms.
- Remove all jalapeno seeds to make the casserole milder.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mexican-American
