Pancake Casserole

This one-dish pancake casserole can be ready to eat in 45 minutes. Pop it in the oven after a kids’ sleepover or make a pan for guests staying during the holidays. The recipe combines two breakfast classics—pancakes and sausage—in one 13×9-inch pan, which we love. The pancake casserole is baked up, sliced and served all at once, so there’s no need to flip individual pancakes for a crowd. Pass the syrup!

Ingredients for Pancake Casserole

• Pork sausage: Look for bulk pork sausage at the store with other breakfast meats. The flavor of breakfast sausage is delicious paired with sliced apples, cinnamon, sugar and maple syrup.
• Biscuit/baking mix: You can whisk together baking mix to keep on hand or pick up a pre-made mix like Bisquick.
• Milk: Our recipe uses 2% milk for the pancake batter. For an extra-rich batter, substitute whole milk.
• Eggs: It’s a great opportunity to practice how to crack eggs perfectly without a mess!
• Oil: This fat makes the pancake batter tender and moist. Choose a neutral-flavored vegetable oil like soybean or canola.
• Apples: Sliced apples bake over the top of the casserole for a lightly sweet touch. Use any kind of baking apples here.
• Cinnamon sugar: Balance the savory pork sausage with a little sweetness—like a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
• Maple syrup: Serve slices of pancake casserole with maple syrup. For the best flavor, skip the imitation stuff and choose pure maple syrup made in a sugar house.

Editor’s Tip: Make your own cinnamon sugar for this recipe. Blend 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1/4 cup of ground cinnamon. Mix and store at room temperature in an airtight dish.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the sausage

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Crumble the pork sausage into a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook and stir the sausage, breaking up any large clumps, for about five to seven minutes until no pink remains.

Drain off the excess grease and set the cooked sausage aside.

Step 2: Make the batter

Mix together the baking mix, milk, eggs and oil until the mixture is smooth. Stir the cooked sausage into the batter.

Step 3: Assemble the casserole

Pour the sausage-batter mixture into a greased 13×9-inch baking dish. Layer the sliced apples evenly over the top of the batter, then sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the apples.

Step 4: Bake

Slide the baking dish into the oven and bake the casserole for 30 to 45 minutes; it should be set and lightly browned on top. Serve with maple syrup drizzled over the top or served on the side.

Editor’s Tip: Give the casserole a few minutes to cool before slicing it.

Recipe Variations

• Top the casserole with other fruit: Instead of apples, top the casserole with thin slices of pear, nectarine, peach or plum. Sprinkle blueberries over the top or add sliced strawberries or pineapple.
• Use bacon instead of sausage: Omit the sausage. Instead, cook up one pound of bacon strips until it’s crispy. Drain off the grease, dice the bacon and add it to the batter.
• Sprinkle on cheese: Sprinkle 1/2 to one cup of shredded cheddar or Swiss cheese over the batter before adding the apples. Omit the cinnamon sugar.
• Use spicy sausage: Pick up spicy bulk pork sausage instead of mild for some heat in every bite.
• Top with honey or flavored syrup: Instead of maple syrup, drizzle slices with regular honey, hot honey or fruit syrups like blueberry and strawberry.

How to Store Pancake Casserole

Let this breakfast casserole cool, then cover the baking dish tightly. (Or transfer slices to resealable containers.) Store pancake casserole in the fridge for up to five days.

Can you freeze pancake casserole?

Yes! To freeze pancake casserole, prepare and bake as directed in a foil baking pan. Let it cool completely, then wrap the pan tightly with foil. Store pancake casserole in the freezer for up to three months.

How do you reheat pancake casserole?

Pancake casserole can be reheated in a covered dish in a 350° oven for 20 to 25 minutes until it’s warmed through. Slices of pancake casserole can also be gently reheated in the microwave in 30-second bursts. For frozen pancake casserole, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Can you make pancake casserole ahead of time?

Yes, which means a pancake casserole breakfast is an easy choice for overnight guests or kids’ sleepovers. Follow the steps to cook the sausage and assemble the casserole. Cover the baking dish tightly and refrigerate it for several hours or overnight. The next day, remove the casserole from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature while you preheat the oven to 350°. Bake it as directed, though you may need to increase the bake time by a few minutes. The casserole is done when a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Pancake Casserole Tips

How do restaurants make such good pancakes?

The secret ingredient to fluffy restaurant pancakes is buttermilk. It has a tangy flavor and most importantly, acidic buttermilk works with the baking soda in the dry mixture to make lighter and fluffier pancakes. Give it a try! Simply substitute buttermilk for the regular milk in this pancake casserole recipe.

Are Bisquick and pancake mix the same?

Baking/biscuit mixes, whether homemade or from brands like Bisquick or Krusteaz, are a blend of flour, baking powder, salt and vegetable shortening or oil. Pancake mixes also contain flour, baking powder and salt, but they include sugar as well. In a pinch, it’s generally OK to substitute one for the other, although dishes made with pancake mix will be more sweet.

What can you serve with pancake casserole?

Serve slices of this pancake sausage casserole with other breakfast staples like fried or scrambled eggs, toast, whole fruit or fruit salad. For toppings, go for maple syrup, honey, fruit sauce and extra cinnamon sugar for sprinkling.