Vegetarian Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 4 cups frozen hash brown potatoes , thawed
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion , chopped
• 0.25 teaspoons dried thyme
• 0.25 teaspoons salt
• 0.13 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 4 ounces vegetarian sausage
• 1 medium bell pepper , chopped
• 1 cup chopped mushrooms
• 4 large eggs
• 2 large egg whites
• 1.5 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 0.25 teaspoons hot sauce
• 1 medium tomato , sliced
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9 1/2-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.

2. 2

   Press hash browns into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared dish. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3. 3

   Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned and crisp all over, 35 to 45 minutes. Note that the top edges will brown very quickly and become very dark; you can cut that away it it becomes too dark.

4. 4

   When the hash browns are baking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft and translucent, 5 to 10 minutes. Add thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook for 1 minute. Add sausage; cook and stir until crumbly and brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add bell pepper and mushrooms; cook until mushrooms are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain any excess liquid from the skillet.

5. 5

   Remove hash browns from the oven. Scoop veggie mixture on top.

6. 6

   Combine 4 eggs and 2 egg whites in a bowl with Cheddar cheese and hot sauce. Mix until eggs just come together without being frothy. Pour over veggie mixture and spread evenly.

7. 7

   Return to the oven and bake until eggs are just set, 10 to 12 minutes.

8. 8

   Remove from the oven and spread sliced tomato over top. Lightly season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with parsley. Return to the oven for 1 minute.

9. 9

   Slide a spatula around the edges and slice into 8 pieces. Serve hot.