My mother-in-law surprised us with this on Easter morning and now it has become our new holiday tradition. The whole family cleaned the dish completely.

This oven baked 6-ingredient Amish sausage and egg breakfast casserole is exactly the kind of dish that shows up on a holiday morning and quietly steals the show. My mother-in-law surprised us with a pan of this on Easter morning—simple, hearty, and deeply comforting—and now it’s become our new holiday tradition. The whole family cleaned the dish completely. While versions of egg casseroles appear in many Midwestern church cookbooks, this one leans into that Amish-style practicality: a short ingredient list, familiar flavors, and a no-fuss method that lets the oven do the work while you enjoy your morning.

Serve this casserole hot, cut into generous squares straight from the foil-lined baking sheet. It pairs beautifully with a simple fruit salad (think oranges, berries, or grapes), buttered toast or warm dinner rolls, and a pot of good coffee. For a fuller holiday spread, add a green salad with a light vinaigrette or a platter of sliced tomatoes and cucumbers for something fresh alongside the rich eggs and sausage. Leftovers reheat well, so it’s also perfect tucked into a soft roll as a breakfast sandwich the next day.

Servings: 8

1 pound bulk breakfast sausage (mild or regular, not links)

Line a 9x13-inch baking dish or quarter-sheet pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, pressing it into the corners and up the sides, then lightly grease the foil with butter or cooking spray. This makes cleanup easy and gives you those clean, crisp edges you see in the photo.

In a large skillet over medium heat, crumble the breakfast sausage and cook, stirring often, until browned and no pink remains, about 7–10 minutes. Break it into small crumbles as it cooks so you get sausage in every bite. Drain off excess fat and let the sausage cool slightly.

While the sausage cooks, cut the day-old bread into 1-inch cubes. Spread the bread cubes evenly over the bottom of the foil-lined baking dish in a single, fairly even layer.

Scatter the cooked sausage crumbles evenly over the bread cubes, making sure they are distributed to the edges so every serving has plenty of sausage.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs until the yolks and whites are fully blended. Add the whole milk, kosher salt, and black pepper, and whisk again until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Sprinkle 2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the sausage and bread layer. Reserve the remaining 1 cup of cheese for topping later to create that melted, golden finish.

Slowly pour the egg and milk mixture evenly over the entire pan, moving back and forth so it soaks into the bread and sausage. Gently press down on the top with the back of a spoon or clean hands to help the bread absorb the liquid and to even out the surface.

Cover the dish tightly with foil and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight. This rest helps the bread fully absorb the custard, giving you a fluffy, cohesive casserole rather than distinct layers.

When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the casserole from the refrigerator while the oven heats so it can take off some of the chill.

Remove the foil cover and sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. Place the dish on the middle rack of the preheated oven.

Bake, uncovered, for 35–45 minutes, or until the casserole is puffed, the cheese is fully melted and lightly golden, and the center is set. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 160°F, and the top will look lightly browned with visible sausage crumbles and melted cheese throughout.

If the top is browning too quickly before the center is set, loosely tent with foil and continue baking until done. Conversely, if you want a deeper golden top at the end, you can broil on high for 1–2 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.

Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 10–15 minutes before cutting. This resting time allows the egg mixture to firm up, making it easier to cut clean squares and helping the layers stay intact.

Using the edges of the foil, you can gently lift the casserole out onto a cutting board for an overhead presentation, or simply cut squares directly in the pan. Serve warm, with extra black pepper on the table if desired.

You can easily tailor this Amish-style casserole to your family’s tastes while keeping the spirit of the original. For a bit of color and sweetness, stir 1/2 cup of very finely diced bell pepper or onion into the sausage during the last few minutes of browning (this will technically add ingredients, but the base recipe remains solid with just six). Swap half of the cheddar for Monterey Jack or Colby for a slightly milder, creamier flavor. If you prefer a lighter version, you can use 2% milk and turkey breakfast sausage; just be sure to brown the turkey well and drain it thoroughly since it can release more moisture. Day-old bread works best because it soaks up the custard without turning mushy—if your bread is very fresh, dry the cubes in a 300°F oven for 8–10 minutes before assembling. For make-ahead flexibility, you can assemble the casserole the night before and bake it in the morning; just add 5–10 minutes to the baking time if it goes into the oven very cold. Food safety tips: Always cook sausage until no pink remains and it reaches a safe internal temperature (160°F for pork or turkey sausage). Cool cooked sausage slightly before adding to the eggs so you don’t inadvertently start cooking the eggs in the bowl. Keep the unbaked casserole refrigerated until you’re ready to bake, and do not leave it at room temperature for more than 2 hours total. Leftovers should be cooled, covered, and refrigerated within 2 hours and eaten within 3–4 days; reheat individual portions to at least 165°F before serving.