Venison Breakfast Casserole (Farmer’s Casserole with Wild Game)

About This Recipe

This venison breakfast sausage recipe was adapted from my Grandma Marilyn's special breakfast casserole that she would make each Christmas. Her version was made with pork sausage, but other than that it's exactly the same. It's cozy, it's easy. This is a venison breakfast sausage recipe that uses hash brown, cheese, egg and milk.

She would always serve it the same way: a jello salad with whipped topping, frozen fruit cups and orange juice. Plus Christmas cookies, of course! Her specialty were her Cranberry Orange cookies. They are little drops of holiday sunshine that can be eaten in two quick bites!

What Sausage is Best for Venison Breakfast Casserole?

Not only is the savory casserole a nostalgic hunting-inspired remix of an old favorite, but it is the perfect way to use venison in a unique way. Every hunter probably has ground venison in the freezer. We are currently loving a blend of turkey and pork sausage that is seasoned with A.C. Legg Blend #10. We think it tastes just like FFA sausage or Jimmy Dean Breakfast sausage and it's our favorite venison breakfast sausage recipe.

This can be made with sausage made from deer, elk, turkey or really whatever you have handy! The key ingredients for the perfect breakfast sausage are black pepper, sage and maybe a smidge of garlic.

If you make your own venison breakfast sausage, we prefer a blend that includes pork to add fat. If you don't have venison sausage, regular pork or turkey breakfast sausage will work just fine!

Ingredients

• 6 cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes
• 2 cups shredded Jalapeno Monterey Jack Cheese or cheddar cheese (I like to use a combo of both!)
• 1 pound of venison breakfast sausage 
• ½ cup sliced green onions
• 8 large eggs, beaten 
• 24 ounces whole milk (or substitute 2 cans of evaporated milk)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper

Instructions

1. Grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Brown the venison sausage and chop the green onions. Using the biggest mixing bowl you have, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and pepper.
2. Add the frozen hash browns, shredded cheese and sausage. Stir it together until well combined and then pour it into the prepared baking dish.
3. At this point, you can cover and refrigerate until ready to bake (several hours or overnight). When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the center appears set. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. If baking after casserole has been chilled, you will need to increase baking time to 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Can I Substitute Fresh Potatoes Instead of Hash Browns in Breakfast Casserole?

When you grate fresh potatoes, they will quickly begin to oxidize and turn a gray or brown color.  I don’t recommend using fresh potatoes for this recipe. Try to find high quality organic hash browns for venison sausage breakfast casserole.

Make Ahead Instructions

I love to mix up this casserole the night before and bake it early in the morning while my family is still sleeping. I brown the sausage and assemble the casserole as written, but instead of baking it I cover the casserole and put it in the refrigerator. The next morning I pull the uncooked casserole out of the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter as the oven preheats. I remove the cover from the dish and bake it for 1 hour and 30 minutes. This is 15 minutes longer than the original recipe.

More Breakfast Ideas

If you love this hearty venison breakfast casserole, aka Farmer's Casserole with a hunting twist, you will love Sourdough Crepes! These easy crepes come together in less than a half hour from start to finish and can be eaten with fresh fruit or cream filling.

Another favorite breakfast food at our house are Sourdough Pumpkin Muffins. If you are seeing a sourdough theme, you caught me! I love using my sourdough discard in simple recipes. These pumpkin muffins are easily frozen and can be thawed for quick grab-and-go breakfasts. Sticking with this busy morning theme, be sure to check out my Sourdough Bagels or Sourdough Coffee Cake! The cool thing about this coffee cake is that it has the most unique texture. It's light and airy with a crispy crust, almost like a funnel cake.