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Million Dollar McGriddle Breakfast Casserole

This easy McGriddle breakfast casserole has everything you love about the classic breakfast sandwich—fluffy pancakes, savory sausage, egg, sharp cheddar and plenty of maple flavor—all baked into one ridiculously good breakfast casserole. Cottage cheese keeps it tender and adds a little extra protein, while vanilla bean paste is my secret ingredient that makes the whole thing taste extra special.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Author: natasha

Ingredients

  • 1 pound sage-flavored breakfast sausage
  • 1 cup Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup plus more for serving
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease an 8x8-inch baking pan and set aside.
  • Add the sage breakfast sausage to a skillet over medium heat. Cook, breaking it into crumbles, until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the 2 eggs, 3/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 1 tablespoon brown sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste.
  • Add 1 cup Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix and stir just until combined.
  • Fold in the cooked sausage and 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, making sure everything is evenly distributed.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared 8x8-inch baking pan and spread it into an even layer.
  • Bake at 375°F for 25–30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Let the casserole cool for about 5 minutes, then slice into squares and serve warm with extra maple syrup drizzled over the top.

Notes

The sage sausage + maple syrup combination is what really gives this that McGriddle flavor, so I wouldn't swap the sausage if you can help it. The cottage cheese melts right into the casserole and keeps everything moist and tender—you really don't taste it.
And don't skip the vanilla bean paste! Between that, the maple syrup and the little bit of brown sugar, you get that sweet pancake flavor against the salty sausage and sharp cheddar.
Keep an eye on it toward the 25-minute mark. You want those browned edges and a completely set center, but you don't want to over bake it and lose that soft, moist McGriddle-like texture.
Basically, if a McGriddle and a breakfast casserole had a baby, this would be it. And I'm standing by Million Dollar McGriddle Casserole because regular McGriddle casserole simply isn't giving this enough credit.