This Easy Biscuits and Gravy Bake transforms a classic Southern breakfast into a hearty, crowd-pleasing casserole that’s perfect for busy mornings or weekend brunches. With layers of crispy tater tots, flaky biscuits, savory sausage gravy, and melty cheese, this comfort food mashup delivers all your breakfast favorites in one delicious dish that comes together in under an hour.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- All-In-One Breakfast: Combines everyone’s breakfast favorites—biscuits, gravy, eggs, and tater tots—in a single, satisfying dish.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Perfect for meal prep or holiday mornings when you want something substantial without the last-minute fuss.
- Customizable: The basic recipe is fantastic as is, but you can easily adapt it to suit your family’s preferences or what you have on hand.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This dish bridges the gap between breakfast and dinner, making it ideal for feeding a hungry crowd any time of day.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Buttermilk biscuits: Pre-baked biscuits provide the perfect pillowy texture and save you time. You can use homemade or store-bought—just make sure they’re fully baked and cooled before assembling.
- Ground pork: The foundation of any good country gravy, adding rich, savory flavor. Choose a medium-fat content for the best flavor without excessive grease.
- Seasonings (salt, garlic powder, black pepper): These enhance the meat’s natural flavors without overpowering the dish.
- Country gravy mix: This shortcut ingredient ensures fool-proof, perfectly seasoned gravy every time. It’s a time-saver that doesn’t sacrifice flavor.
- Whole milk: Creates a rich, creamy gravy. The fat content helps the gravy achieve that silky texture we all love.
- Tater tots: Forms a crispy, potato-y base that adds wonderful texture contrast. They’ll soak up some of the flavors while maintaining their structure.
- Eggs: Acts as a binding agent that helps hold everything together while adding protein and richness.
- Cheddar cheese: Melts into a gooey, delicious layer that brings everything together. Use freshly shredded for best melting.
- Parsley: Adds a pop of color and fresh flavor to balance the richness of the dish.
Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Variations
Meat Variations
Swap the ground pork for ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option, or use crumbled breakfast sausage for extra flavor. Vegetarians can substitute plant-based ground “meat” or simply add more veggies.
Cheese Options
Try pepper jack for a spicy kick, smoked gouda for depth, or a mix of cheddar and monterey jack for the ultimate cheese pull.
Biscuit Alternatives
No buttermilk biscuits? Use crescent rolls, frozen biscuits, or even cubed bread for a bread pudding-like texture.
Veggie Add-ins
Add sautéed bell peppers and onions to the gravy, or mix in some spinach for a nutritional boost without changing the comfort food appeal.
How to Make Easy Biscuits and Gravy Bake
Step 1: Prepare the Sausage Gravy
Brown the ground pork in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Season with salt, garlic powder, and pepper while cooking. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon until it’s fully cooked through and no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
Step 2: Make the Gravy
Sprinkle the country gravy mix evenly over the cooked pork, stirring to coat all the meat. While stirring constantly (this prevents lumps!), slowly pour in the milk. Continue stirring as you bring the mixture to a simmer, then cook until nicely thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat once it reaches your desired consistency.
Step 3: Prepare for Assembly
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Spray an 8×8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer across the bottom of the dish.
Step 4: Layer the Ingredients
Place the quartered biscuit pieces evenly over the tater tots, distributing them throughout the dish. Pour the beaten eggs over the biscuits, allowing them to soak in slightly. Next, spoon the warm sausage gravy over everything, making sure to cover all the biscuit pieces. Finish by sprinkling the shredded cheddar cheese evenly across the top.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until everything is hot and bubbly. During the last few minutes of baking, remove the foil to allow the cheese to melt completely and get slightly golden. The dish is ready when the eggs are set and the cheese is melted.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley for color and a touch of freshness. Slice into portions and serve while still warm.
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Pre-cook the tater tots: For extra crispiness, bake the tater tots for about 10 minutes before adding them to the casserole dish.
- Temperature matters: Make sure your gravy has cooled slightly before pouring it over the eggs to prevent them from cooking prematurely.
- Cheese strategy: Reserve about 1/4 cup of the cheese to sprinkle on after removing the foil for that perfect golden-brown top.
- Rest before serving: Allow the casserole to rest for about 5 minutes after baking. This helps everything set properly and makes serving neater.
- Season confidently: Taste your sausage gravy before assembling the casserole. The gravy carries the primary flavor, so make sure it’s well-seasoned.
How to Serve
Breakfast or Brunch
Serve with fresh fruit or a light side salad for a complete meal. A small dollop of sour cream or hot sauce on top gives everyone options to customize.
Dinner Option
Pair with steamed green vegetables like broccoli or green beans to balance the richness. A simple spinach salad with vinaigrette makes a perfect accompaniment.
Holiday Morning
For special occasions, set up a small topping bar with extra cheese, chopped green onions, diced tomatoes, and hot sauce so everyone can dress up their portion.
Make Ahead and Storage
Make Ahead
You can assemble this casserole the night before, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Add an extra 5-10 minutes to the baking time if cooking from cold. Alternatively, prepare the sausage gravy up to 2 days ahead and store separately until assembly.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors actually meld and improve overnight, making for fantastic next-day eating.
Freezing
This casserole freezes beautifully after baking. Cool completely, then wrap individual portions in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating
Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. For the best texture, reheat larger portions in a 350°F oven for about 15-20 minutes, covering with foil to prevent drying out.
FAQs
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Can I use homemade biscuits instead of pre-baked ones?
Absolutely! Homemade biscuits will work beautifully in this recipe. Just make sure they’re fully baked and cooled before cutting them into quarters. The texture may be slightly different but equally delicious – and many would argue even better with homemade biscuits.
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What can I substitute for the country gravy mix?
If you prefer to skip the packet mix, you can make a quick homemade country gravy. After cooking the meat, add 3 tablespoons of flour directly to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes. Then slowly whisk in 2 cups of milk along with 1/4 teaspoon each of onion powder and sage, continuing to stir until thickened.
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Can I make this without meat for a vegetarian version?
Definitely! For a vegetarian version, omit the pork and use vegetable broth with the gravy mix. You can add sautéed mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers to give the gravy body and flavor. Add a bit more seasoning to compensate for the flavor the meat would have provided.
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My family doesn’t like tater tots. What can I use instead?
If tater tots aren’t a family favorite, you have several options. Try using hash browns, shredded potatoes, or even a layer of grits as your base. Each will provide a different texture but will still complement the other flavors in the dish wonderfully.
Final Thoughts
This Easy Biscuits and Gravy Bake transforms a beloved Southern classic into a convenient, crowd-pleasing dish that’s greater than the sum of its parts. The combination of crispy tots, pillowy biscuits, savory gravy, and melty cheese creates the ultimate comfort food experience that works for any meal of the day. Whether you’re hosting brunch, need a hearty family dinner, or want to meal prep for busy mornings, this recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort. Give it a try – your breakfast table will never be the same!
Print
Easy Biscuits and Gravy Bake Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Easy Biscuits and Gravy Bake is a hearty and comforting breakfast casserole featuring layers of flaky buttermilk biscuits, savory sausage gravy, crispy tater tots, fluffy eggs, and melted cheddar cheese, all baked together for a crowd-pleasing morning dish.
Ingredients
Biscuits
- 4 buttermilk biscuits, baked, cooled, and cut into quarters
Sausage Gravy
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 packet (1.25 ounces) country gravy mix
- 2 cups (490 g) whole milk
Base Layer
- 44 frozen tater tots, or enough to fill the bottom of your baking dish
Egg Mixture
- 4 large eggs, beaten
Toppings
- 1 cup (113 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded
- parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Pork Sausage: To a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, add the ground pork. Season with kosher salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up the meat as it cooks, for about 8-10 minutes, or until no longer pink. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Make the Gravy: Sprinkle the country gravy mix evenly over the cooked pork, stirring to coat. While stirring constantly, slowly pour in the whole milk. Bring to a simmer and cook until the mixture thickens, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray an 8×8-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Assemble the Casserole: Line the bottom of the prepared baking dish with frozen tater tots to form an even layer. Place the biscuit quarters evenly over the tater tots. Pour the beaten eggs evenly over the biscuits. Then, top with the prepared country sausage gravy and spread it evenly. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the entire casserole.
- Bake: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. In the last few minutes of baking, remove the foil to allow the cheese to melt and brown slightly.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve hot for a delicious breakfast or brunch meal.
Notes
- You can prepare the sausage gravy in advance to save time in the morning.
- Substitute ground turkey or chicken for pork if desired.
- To make it spicier, add red pepper flakes to the sausage.
- Use any cheese you prefer, or combine multiple types for extra flavor.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated as needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 sixth of bake
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1080mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 170mg
