Italian Sausage Egg Casserole

This is a great recipe that I took to our church potluck for Easter this year. It was pretty easy to make & made for a quick breakfast on weekday mornings.

Italian Sausage Egg Casserole

prep time:30 min

start to finish:10 hr

makes:12 servings

12	oz lean Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
1	medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1	medium red bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)
2	cloves garlic, finely chopped
1	box (9 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained
4	cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes (from 30-oz bag), thawed
2	cups reduced-fat Italian cheese blend (8 oz)
2	tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
12	eggs
3/4	cup fat-free (skim) milk
1	teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/2	teaspoon salt
1/2	teaspoon pepper

1.	Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
2.	In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook sausage over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally and breaking up sausage with spoon, until no longer pink; drain if necessary. Add onion and bell pepper; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes longer or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in spinach.
3.	In baking dish, mix cooked sausage mixture, potatoes and cheeses. In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk, basil, salt and pepper until blended. Pour over mixture in baking dish. Cover; refrigerate 8 hours or overnight but no longer than 24 hours.
4.	Heat oven to 350°F. Bake covered 1 hour. Uncover; bake 15 to 20 minutes longer or until center is set. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Nutritional Information: 1 Serving: Calories 280 (Calories from Fat 110); Total Fat 12g (Saturated Fat 4g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol235mg; Sodium 630mg; Total Carbohydrate 24g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 4g); Protein 19g % Daily Value*: Vitamin A 45%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 25%; Iron 10% Exchanges: 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 1/2 Vegetable; 2 1/2Medium-Fat Meat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 1/2 MyPyramid Servings: 1/2 c Dairy, 1 oz-equivalents Meat & Beans, 1/2 c Vegetables