This air fryer breakfast casserole recipe is the perfect recipe for meal prepping. It’s packed with protein and nutritious vegetables to fuel your morning!
For so long, I swore the Instant Pot was the best thing to happen to the kitchen. After buying an air fryer in early 2023, I’m not so sure. I still love my InstantPot, but there is no denying the air fryer is my new best friend. If you are new to cooking, the learning curve for the air fryer is not at all steep. I’m looking at you, Instant Pot!
You can use the air fryer for just about anything, from breakfast casseroles to short ribs. It’s a great way to mix things up in the kitchen.
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Why I Love the Air Fryer for Fitness Enthusiasts
Eating healthy is a difficult thing to sustain. Even the most dedicated fitness enthusiasts find craving a chocolate chip cookie too hard to resist. The air fryer gives you a new way to cook the things you’re already eating while making them taste so much better. I’m not saying your air-fried chicken will taste as good as fried chicken. That would be lying. But it is a nice break from the same old baked boneless skinless chicken breast.
The best part about the air fryer is how affordable they are. You can pick up a great air fryer for around $90.
So, if you need to get your macros in but aren’t a great cook, the air fryer will help. And one of the easiest meals to start with is breakfast.
This Easy Breakfast Casserole Recipe is Perfect for Meal Prep
Breakfast is one of the most challenging meals to meal prep. But it’s one of the meals we should prepare ahead of time. If you’re like me and every morning is the start to a busy weekday, making a healthy breakfast often takes a backseat to getting out the door on time.
Pre-prepared meals like this delicious air fryer breakfast casserole make busy mornings less hectic. This egg casserole only takes a minute to reheat and will give you all the protein and nutrients you need. A filling, protein-packed breakfast is the perfect way to start the day.
Recipe Video
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What’s in This Hearty Air Fryer Breakfast Casserole?
The great thing about this recipe is with a few simple ingredients you can have a great tasting breakfast. There is plenty of room for customization to make this your own.
Eggs: You will need eight large eggs for four servings. A large egg has about six grams of protein. Eggs contain a ton of vitamins and nutrients like Vitamin A, Folate, Phosphorous, and Selenium.
Potatoes: No breakfast is complete without some kind of potato. I prefer cubed russet potatoes, but you can use any potato you like. You could even use hash browns or tater tots. Potatoes are a delicious source of vitamin c, potassium, and fiber.
Ground Pork Breakfast Sausage: I prefer sausage for this recipe to ground meat though ground meat works well too. I recommend getting your sausage fresh from the butcher. It tastes better and doesn’t come with the preservatives like the pre-packaged stuff.
Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes are a great option to add some color and sweetness to this recipe. Fresh tomatoes (full-sized) work well too.
Green onions: The green onions add a savory flavor to this dish. Separate the white bottoms and the green tops. Include the white bottoms in the mix and garnish the casserole with the green tops.
Fresh Spinach: I love using spinach because it has a ton of nutrients and it’s easy to add to almost anything.
Cheddar Cheese: The cheese really makes this dish. You’ll need a little cheese for the mix and a little to top off the dish after it’s cooked.
Optional Ingredients
Red Onion: A little bit of onion goes a long way in this recipe.
Seasoning: Black pepper, sea salt, garlic powder, a dash of hot sauce, and smoked paprika give this recipe added flavor.
Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack, Monterey jack, or Colby cheese will all taste great with this dish.
Other Ideas: Fresh herbs, sour cream, avocado slices, or salsa all compliment this recipe.
Substitutions
Russet Potatoes: White potatoes or sweet potatoes.
Pork Sausage: Chicken sausage, diced ham, bacon, ground beef, ground turkey.
Spinach: Frozen spinach or kale.
Olive Oil: Coconut oil, avocado oil, or cooking spray.
How to Make Air Fryer Breakfast Casserole
Step 1
The first thing you need to do is prepare the fresh ingredients. Start by cutting the potato into small cubes. Then, thinly slice the cherry tomato. Slice the green onions separating the white bottoms from the green tops. Crack the eggs in a large mixing bowl, beat until the yolk and whites are combined.
Step 2
Grease a baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
Add the cubed potatoes to the dish. Place the dish in your air fryer and set to 400°F. Cook the potatoes for five minutes. Unlike a traditional casserole, we will cook this casserole in stages.
Step 3
Remove the baking dish from the air fryer and add the pound of ground sausage. Place the dish back in the air fryer and cook for five minutes at 400°F.
Step 4
After the breakfast sausage cooks for five minutes, remove the dish from the air fryer and add the sliced cherry tomatoes, fresh spinach, and the white bottoms of the green onion. Place the dish back in the air fryer and repeat the process of cooking for five minutes at 400°F.
Step 5
After five minutes, remove the dish from the air fryer. Pour the egg mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle half the cheese into the dish. Stir the ingredients. Then, place the dish back in the air fryer. Cook for 20 minutes at 400°F.
Note: Baking time may differ depending on the depth of your baking dish. I am using a deep dish here. If you have a thin baking dish, start with 10 minutes at 400°F, then increase the time by five minutes until the egg solidifies.
Step 6
Remove the dish from the air fryer. Ensure the egg has solidified. If it is still runny, place it back in the air fryer for another five minutes. If the egg has solidified, sprinkle cheese over the top of the casserole. Place back in the air fryer for the final five minutes at 400°F.
Step 7
Let cool for five minutes before serving. Then, serve topped with the tops of the green onion.
Recipe FAQ
What to serve with air fryer breakfast casserole
All of your favorite breakfast foods will work well with this easy recipe. Since the casserole is savory, I like to pair it with something sweet, like fresh fruit. You could also serve it with greek yogurt, oats, toast, or crispy bacon.
How to store this make-ahead breakfast casserole
Any airtight container will do. After you make the casserole, enjoy the first serving, then store the rest in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How to re-heat this easy breakfast recipe
I do not recommend re-heating the whole casserole at once. The best way to reheat it is one serving at a time. Reheat in the oven or microwave for the best flavor and texture. For the oven, bake it at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. For the microwave, cook in increments of 20 seconds until it reaches your desired level of warmness.
If you enjoyed this casserole recipe you might also like this one: How to Make the Best Chicken Burrito Casserole Recipe
Recipe Card
Air Fryer Breakfast Casserole
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 Russet potatoes
- 8 eggs
- 1/4 lb breakfast sausage
- 1/2 cup cherry tomato
- 1/4 cup Green onions
- 1/2 cup spinach
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the fresh ingredients. Cut the potato into small cubes. Slice the cherry tomato. Slice the green onions separating the white bottoms from the green tops. Crack the eggs in a large mixing bowl, beat until the yolk and whites are combined.
- Grease a baking dish olive oil or cooking spray. Add the cubed potatoes. Place the dish in your air fryer and set to 400°F. Cook the potatoes for five minutes.
- Remove the baking dish from the air fryer and add the ground sausage. Place back in the air fryer and cook for five minutes at 400°F.
- After the breakfast sausage cooks for five minutes, remove the dish from the air fryer and add the sliced cherry tomatoes, fresh spinach, and the white bottoms of the green onion. Place the dish back in the air fryer and cook for five minutes at 400°F.
- After five minutes, remove the dish from the air fryer. Pour the eggs into the baking dish. Sprinkle half the cheese into the dish. Stir the ingredients. Place the dish back in the air fryer. Cook for 20 minutes at 400°F. Baking time may differ depending on your baking dish. If you have a thin baking dish, start with 10 minutes at 400°F, then increase the time by five minutes until the egg solidifies.
- Remove the dish from the air fryer. Ensure the egg has solidified. If it is still runny, place it back in the air fryer for another five minutes. If the egg has solidified, sprinkle cheese over the top of the casserole. Place back in the air fryer for the final five minutes at 400°F.
- Let cool for five minutes before serving. Then, serve topped with the tops of the green onion.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Buck is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT), & UESCA Run Coach. He is the founder of Outdoor Muscle, a veteran-owned company dedicated to providing endurance athletes and adventure seekers the resources they need to achieve their fitness goals.
