Today’s post is sponsored by Milk Life. Hooray for milk!
We! Love! Milk!
And we love breakfast casseroles.
This one is loaded with little golden flecks of potato, chili-spiced turkey that resembles sausage but healthier, fluffy eggs, milk, garlic-sauteed-spinach, and a handful of cheese – so there just is no other word but love. ❤️
You know when you find a brunch or breakfast recipe that just sings its song to you so nicely that you just can’t help but want to get up in the morning? How it’s borderline inappropriate but secretly awesome that you would even WANT to wake up solely for a food? That’s this.
I mean, maybe I’m being too obvious here. Maybe it goes without saying bcz I’ve never known creamy potatoes, garlicky spinach, spicy turkey, and a few handfuls of cheese to do anything other than sing me a superhappy morning song.
Bjork has been getting on kicks with healthy eating habits lately (more vegetables, more protein, no sugar, that kind of thing) whereas somehow I’ve been more likely get on kicks with just food in general (more breakfasts, more cheese at breakfast, more brunches, and a few more breakfasts). But him being on these kicks has been actually kind of amazing for me in that convicting-amazing kind of way because lately I see him eating all this protein and then realize that gosh, maybe I should be eating more protein.
I mean, like, should I be eating more protein? And does this have protein in it? Yeah, I’m pretty sure I need more protein.
Bjork is on to something with the protein thing because protein at breakfast helps start your day with energy and focus which is MUCH NEEDED round these parts to avoid the shiny objects that tempt me all day (well hi again, Facebook) – plus proteiny breakfasts like this one can help you stay fuller longer so you’re more likely to stick to a healthy eating routine. Win! 🎉 Experts now recommend getting 25-30 grams of protein at every meal including breakfast, and I can truly say that I do notice a difference in how I feel throughout the morning when I am intentional about not sugar-bombing my life with some of the usual breakfast suspects like pancakes and cinnamon rolls and… I’ll stop.
But as if you needed any of that as motivation for this egg potato cheese spinach situation. I officially promise to right in this moment to never make/post food that is nutritious without actually being good-tasting, okay? I ate it, I loved it, I felt good that it was in line with my morning health goals, but friends. This is just good.
I have a few ideas for when you could make this:
- tomorrow morning: it’s quick! prep the stuff ahead of time and just keep it in the fridge till the next morning!
- tomorrow night: BRINNER IS A REAL THING THAT YOU NEED.
- day before Thanksgiving: bonus healthy person points that you can then redeem during the holiday meal. Just an idea.
- the morning of Black Friday: pre-or-post shopping depending on what level of extreme you are.
- the morning of the first snow: this is the moment where I pause to say how much I love Minnesota
- Christmas Eve morning: because what the heck does a person even make on Christmas Eve morning?
- Post-Christmas: time to protein-up for the healthy new year.
General message being that I hope sometimes very soon (!) you enjoy a happy breakfast with this breakfast casserole, an 8 ounce glass of milk (adds an extra 8g protein like a boss), a coffee for the vibes, and the snuggliest blanket. If you have a fireplace to round out this scene, you win at life.
Creamy Spinach and Potato Breakfast Casserole
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: serves 3-4 1x
Description
Breakfast Casserole with sausage, eggs, potatoes, spinach, and cheese! Super easy recipe that’s ready in 30 minutes and high in protein.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onions
- 8 ounces raw 99% lean ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup fat free milk
- 2/3 cup grated raw potatoes, without skin
- 1/2 cup shredded low moisture Mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a small 3-cup casserole dish or ovenproof skillet with nonstick spray.
- Turkey: Heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add the onions and saute for 5 minutes or until soft and fragrant. Add the turkey, chili powder, and onion powder. Brown the meat until fully cooked and crumbled. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Spinach: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and reduce the heat to medium low. Add the garlic and sage. Saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the spinach and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
- Eggs: In a mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and milk. Add the cooked turkey, spinach, potatoes, and Mozzarella cheese. Stir until combined. Transfer to the casserole dish. Top with the Parmesan cheese.
- Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the casserole springs back when touched. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: breakfast casserole, spinach and potato breakfast casserole, spinach casserole
Today’s post has been sponsored by Milk Life. 🐄
I have a friend who is very ill and is dairy free. Any thoughts on how to make this dairy free.?
Hi, Eileen! We haven’t tried this before, but you can try using dairy-free milk (like almond milk) and vegan / dairy-free cheese. Hope this helps!
If I wanted to make this into a freezer meal, ahead of having a baby, would I just make it fully the normal way or cook a bit less?
And then after freezing, what would be the best way to reheat – do I need to thaw first, or can I just reheat? And how do you suppose would be best? Microwave? Oven/toaster oven?
Thanks!
Hi Ali! Great question. We haven’t tried out this casserole as a freezer meal, so it’s hard to say. It may work to prep the casserole and freeze it unbaked. Then, thaw overnight before baking. If you give it a try, we’d love to hear back!
This had good flavor but was watery from the liquid that seeped out of the spinach and potatoes. I was hesitant because it wasn’t in the instructions to squeeze the excess water out of the spinach and the shredded potatoes but the recipes here usually don’t fail me, so I went ahead. Good flavor just don’t like the watery aspect.
Love this recipe!
Hi! Love your blog and have done so many of your recipe. I’m looking to make this one for a big family brunch and am wondering if you think doubling the quantities and using a bigger dish would affect the result. You did mention it was made for a small dish in previous comments. Although I have much faith in this recipe and am sure that it will be devoured way too fast if I make only one batch. Thanks for your advice.
This looks so hearty and yummy and comforting!
This was great, I doubled it so that I didn’t have to figure out what to do with the other half pound of ground turkey. Doubled, it was perfect for a 9×13 casserole dish. My husband and I enjoyed it for several days of breakfast. 🙂
Has anyone that asked about ‘assembling the night before and baking the next day’ tried it? I would love to hear how it went.
I know this is an old recipe, but I was wondering if the nutrition facts were for the whole casserole or per serving. I’m trying to find some low carb/low sugar options to add to my diet due to gestational diabetes. Thanks!
i Love this creamy spinach and potato breakfast Dish .. thanks for sharing …
Love this recipe! Is it something where the egg mixture can be made the night before and then baked in the morning?
I am thinking about making this fir a girls weekend. Can I make ahead, bake and freeze to reheat the morning of our trip? What do you think?
We’ve never tried freezing this one so can’t say! Definitely worth a try though!
Great recipe! Can you please tell me how do you cook the potato before adding them in the eggs? or should we keep it raw? Couldn’t find it in the recipe. Thanks!
I made this last week and it was simple, delicious and made my week so easy (just had to re-heat a portion each morning post gym/pre-work). I will be looking for more recipes like this on your blog! Going to try the sausage potato pie this week!! Going to choose one of the two to bring to a brunch with friends this weekend!
Could you use the hashbrown potatoes that are already grated.
Yes, that would be fine as well!
This turned out sooo great in spite of the fact thatI only had montery jack cheese!
Thanks for a keeper!
Glad to hear it!
I can’t wait to give this a try!
Just to clarify, are you supposed to do anything to the potatoes before you mix them all together and bake?
Hi Marissa! You should peel the skin and grate them. Enjoy!
Do you think I could make this an overnight casserole? So I can just pop it in the oven for whenever my brunch guests arrive? OH and I plan on doubling the recipe too!
Hi Mira! We haven’t tried it with this specific breakfast casserole, but have had good success prepping almost any other breakfast casserole the night before and then baking in the morning. Should work fine!
would you be able to make this the night before (not all the way cooked but all ready for the oven) in a double portion for a brunch??
Oh man. I have nearly all of these ingredients in my house right now. I think we’re having breakfast for dinner, tonight. Brinner FTW!
Kristin, quick question. Can I assemble this casserole the night before or do I need to bake it and then reheat it the next morning? Thanks.
Hi, Dolores! Although I haven’t tried it with this specific breakfast casserole, I have had good success prepping almost any other breakfast casserole the night before and then baking in the morning. I think it would work fine! 🙂
I made this once already and absolutely loved it! I’m wondering if anyone has tried it with sweet potato?
Oops! Just spotted the potatoes are added with the eggs-thx will try this week!
Looks great! Going to make this! Where are the potatoes added? Cook in pan with onions? Or throw in at end with eggs? thx!
Yesssss! Brinner is the BEST! In college, a few of my girlfriends and I would eat breakfast all day long. Pancakes, French toast, yogurt and granola and fruit parfaits, quiche, hash browns, crêpes (sweet or savory — who cares??), donuts… The list goes on and on. I could definitely see adding this to our list — all of that cheeeeeeese!! Yum!
Awesome! Hope you like it, Amy! 🙂