Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

This is an awesome breakfast casserole that is prepared ahead. It is easy and different. I found it in the December 2003 Southern Living magazine. We have had it for Christmas morning breakfast two years running. It's a hit at our house!

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  lb ground sausage ("hot" or "sage" flavored)
• 1⁄4 cup  chopped onion
• 2 1⁄2 cups frozen cubed hash brown potatoes
• 5  large eggs, lightly beaten
• 8  ounces  shredded sharp cheddar cheese (2 cups)
• 1 3⁄4 cups milk
• 1  cup baking mix
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

1. Cook sausage and onion in large frying pan over medium-high heat for 5 minutes or until meat crumbles.
2. Stir in hash browns, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink and hash browns are lightly browned.
3. Drain mixture well on paper towels.
4. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
5. A stoneware baking dish works really well.
6. Stir together the lightly beaten eggs, shredded cheese, milk, baking mix, salt and pepper.
7. Pour evenly over sausage/hashbrown mixture.
8. Stir well.
9. Cover and chill for 8 hours.
10. Bake covered with foil at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
11. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
12. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
13. You can also keep the casserole warm until you are ready to eat by covering it with foil and putting it in a 200 degree oven.
14. Optional toppings: sour cream, favorite sauce of your choice (picante, hot sauce) You can also garnish it with parsley.