Leek & Sausage Brunch Bake

This is the kind of breakfast you make when people are staying over — especially when you want something that feels thoughtful, a little elevated, and doesn’t require heroics before coffee. So easy and reheats beautifully.
I fell in love with casseroles in the Midwest, but this is a more refined take on the classic breakfast version everyone makes. Same comfort. More depth of flavor.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb breakfast sausage
  • 1 can crescent rolls
  • 1 large leek sliced and washed well
  • 1 –2 shallots finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 7 –8 large eggs
  • About 1½ cups dairy total
  • half-and-half, or a half-and-half / milk mix
  • Cheese 1½–2 cups total, choose one:
Gruyère version:
  • Gruyère ⅓ cheddar (creamier, more classic)
Asiago version:
  • cheddar ⅓ Asiago (sharper, firmer — needs the cheddar for melt)
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Ground mustard
  • Nutmeg
  • Onion powder
  • Salt & black pepper

Method
 

  1. Brown the sausage until cooked through, then chop it a bit finer so it distributes evenly throughout the bake. Set aside.
  2. Press the crescent rolls into a well-buttered baking dish, sealing seams. Pre-bake for about 5 minutes — just enough to set the base.
  3. Slice the leek, give it a thorough soak, and drain well. Cook the leek and shallot slowly in butter until soft, fragrant, and just sweet. No browning.
  4. Remove the crescent base from the oven. Layer the sausage evenly, followed by the leek-shallot mixture, then the freshly shredded cheese.
  5. Whisk the custard.
  6. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, dairy, a splash of Worcestershire, a pinch of ground mustard, nutmeg, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
  7. Pour the custard over everything. Bake at 350°F until just set and lightly golden — about 30 minutes in my oven.

Notes

Leaks: I know they’re a less utilized ingredient so a few notes on them. Trim off the dark green tops and root end of the leek, halve lengthwise, then slice into half-moons. Soak the slices in cold water, swish gently to release any grit, lift out, and drain well. Cook slowly in butter with the shallot until soft, fragrant, and just sweet — no browning.

Let’s do this properly.

Recipes and notes worth coming back to.

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