There's something truly cozy about waking up to a golden, flaky braid filled with savory sausage and melty cheese. That’s exactly why I’m excited to share this Breakfast Sausage Braid Recipe—it’s not only delicious but a real showstopper for your morning table.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
This Breakfast Sausage Braid Recipe is one of those recipes I turn to when I want something comforting yet impressive without a fuss. Its perfect balance of flaky pastry and hearty filling makes mornings extra special, whether it's a weekend treat or a holiday brunch.
- Simple but Stunning: The braided presentation turns basic pizza dough and sausage into a centerpiece dish that looks like you spent hours in the kitchen.
- Flavor Packed: Savory sausage, fluffy scrambled eggs, crisp bell peppers, and sharp cheddar combine to satisfy every craving.
- Hands-On but Easy: It’s fun to assemble and surprisingly forgiving for novice bakers or busy mornings.
- Customizable: You can easily swap the sausage or cheese to fit your family's tastes or dietary preferences.
Ingredients & Why They Work
All the ingredients in this Breakfast Sausage Braid Recipe come together to create layers of texture and flavor. The base uses refrigerated pizza dough for that irresistible flaky, golden crust, while the filling blends protein and veggies for a balanced bite.
- Refrigerated pizza dough: Convenient and already perfectly risen, it browns beautifully to give you that bakery-quality crust with minimal effort.
- Ground breakfast sausage: A classic breakfast staple; cooking it beforehand prevents sogginess and ensures every bite is flavorful.
- Eggs: The eggs add fluffiness and richness to the filling, binding all the flavors together.
- Milk: Adds creaminess to the scrambled eggs so they stay tender inside the braid.
- Black pepper: Just a touch to brighten the egg filling with subtle warmth.
- Red bell pepper: Adds a pop of color and a slight sweet crunch that contrasts with the savory sausage.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Melts perfectly over the eggs and sausage, giving you that gooey, cheesy goodness that pulls everything together.
- Melted butter: Brushed on after baking for a shiny, rich finish and an extra buttery aroma.
Make It Your Way
I love tweaking this recipe depending on the season or what I have in the fridge. You can absolutely make this Breakfast Sausage Braid Recipe your own by swapping ingredients or adding extras for that personal touch.
- Variation: Sometimes I swap out the regular sausage for spicy chorizo for a little kick, and it totally changes the vibe — but in a good way!
- Vegetarian option: Use a plant-based breakfast sausage and add more veggies like mushrooms or spinach, and you’ve still got a hearty braid everyone will enjoy.
- Cheese swap: I’ve tried pepper jack or gouda instead of cheddar, and both bring a lovely twist on the flavor.
- Add herbs: Fresh herbs like chives or parsley sprinkled in with the eggs brighten the whole filling and add freshness.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Breakfast Sausage Braid Recipe
Step 1: Prepare a Comforting Base
First things first — preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. I always make sure the pizza dough is at room temperature before unrolling because cold dough can be tougher and tear easily. Once it’s ready, press it gently into a nice rectangular shape. This gives you a perfect canvas for the braid.
Step 2: Cook the Sausage and Start the Eggs
Cook your breakfast sausage in a skillet, breaking it into crumbles as it browns. Make sure it's fully cooked but not dried out—that juicy texture is key to a good filling. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, black pepper, and diced red bell pepper. Pour this egg mixture into a hot skillet and scramble until just cooked through. Don’t overcook; you want fluffy, moist scrambled eggs nestled in the braid.
Step 3: Assemble the Braid
Sprinkle the cooked sausage down the middle third of the pizza dough rectangle. Next, layer your scrambled eggs over the sausage, followed by a generous sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut strips about 1 inch wide down both sides of the dough, making 12 to 15 cuts on each side. Then comes the fun part — folding! Fold the strips over the filling, alternating sides to create a beautiful braided effect. Take your time here — it’s easier than it looks!
Step 4: Bake Until Golden
Pop your braid into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until the dough is golden brown and crispy on top. I like to keep an eye out around the 18-minute mark to make sure it doesn’t overbake — you want that perfect balance of crustiness and softness inside.
Step 5: Finish with Butter and Serve Warm
The final touch? Brush the braid with melted butter right after it comes out of the oven. This simple step adds a lovely shine and a rich, buttery aroma that’ll have everyone eager to dig in. Serve warm and watch this disappear at your breakfast table.
Top Tip
After making this Breakfast Sausage Braid Recipe several times, I’ve learned a few tricks that really make a difference — and I’m excited to share them so you can get that perfect result too!
- Keep dough warm: Cold dough is tough to stretch and braid. Let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes before unrolling.
- Cook sausage thoroughly: Pre-cook sausage until nicely browned and no pink remains to avoid soggy dough later.
- Scramble eggs gently: Cook eggs just until set but still soft; they’ll finish cooking a bit in the oven and stay moist.
- Braid loosely but securely: Don't overstretch strips — a relaxed braid prevents tearing but keeps filling contained.
How to Serve Breakfast Sausage Braid Recipe
Garnishes
I usually sprinkle chopped fresh chives or a little paprika on top for a pop of color and fresh flavor. Sometimes a drizzle of maple syrup on the side adds a lovely sweet contrast to the savory braid — it’s surprisingly delightful!
Side Dishes
Pair this braid with crispy hash browns or fresh fruit salad for a well-rounded breakfast. A simple mixed green salad with vinaigrette also balances out the richness if you’re serving this for a brunch crowd.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve placed mini Breakfast Sausage Braids on a large serving platter surrounded by fresh herbs and small bowls of dipping sauces like spicy mustard or salsa. It feels festive and invites everyone to grab a piece and celebrate together.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover braid wrapped tightly in aluminum foil or an airtight container in the fridge. It stays fresh for up to 3 days, making for an easy breakfast or snack the next morning.
Freezing
This recipe freezes wonderfully! After baking and cooling completely, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil before freezing. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the oven for about 10 minutes to refresh that crisp crust.
Reheating
To reheat, I pop the braid in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes until warmed through and the crust is crisp again. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep that flaky texture intact.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! You can assemble the braid the night before, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and keep it refrigerated. In the morning, just bake it fresh for the best texture and flavor.
Pork breakfast sausage is traditional and delicious, but you can use turkey sausage or plant-based alternatives to suit your dietary needs or preferences. Just be sure to cook the sausage fully before assembling.
Definitely! Diced onions, mushrooms, spinach, or even jalapeños all make tasty additions. Just sauté any raw veggies first to remove excess moisture before adding to the braid.
Pre-cooking the sausage and scrambling the eggs before assembling keeps extra moisture out of the dough. Also, using parchment paper and proper oven temperature helps the crust bake crisp rather than soggy.
Final Thoughts
This Breakfast Sausage Braid Recipe has become a little weekend tradition in my kitchen — the way the flaky dough wraps around those flavorful layers just feels like a warm hug on a plate. Whether you serve it for breakfast, brunch, or even a casual dinner, I’m sure you’ll find it’s as comforting to make as it is to eat. Give it a try and share the joy of this easy, tasty braid with your friends and family—I promise it won’t be around for long!
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Breakfast Sausage Braid Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Breakfast Braid is a delicious and visually appealing morning dish featuring a flaky pizza dough braided around a savory filling of cooked breakfast sausage, scrambled eggs with red bell pepper, and melted cheddar cheese. It’s perfect for a special breakfast or brunch, combining hearty flavors with a comforting, golden crust.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 10-ounce tube refrigerated pizza dough
Filling
- 12 ounces ground breakfast sausage (cooked and crumbled)
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup diced red bell pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Topping
- 2 tablespoons butter (melted)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Prepare the dough base. Unroll the refrigerated pizza dough onto the parchment paper and gently press it into a rectangle shape large enough to encase the filling.
- Add the sausage. Evenly sprinkle the cooked and crumbled breakfast sausage down the center one-third of the dough rectangle to create the base layer of the filling.
- Make the egg mixture. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, black pepper, and diced red bell pepper until combined well.
- Cook the scrambled eggs. Pour the egg mixture into a hot skillet and scramble until fully cooked but still moist, then remove from heat.
- Assemble the filling. Evenly sprinkle the scrambled eggs over the sausage layer on the dough, followed by an even layer of shredded cheddar cheese on top of the eggs.
- Cut the dough for braiding. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut 12 to 15 strips on each side of the dough, stopping at the edge of the filling to create even strips for folding.
- Braid the dough. Starting at one end, fold the dough strips over the filling, alternating sides to create a braided pattern that fully encloses the filling.
- Bake the braid. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the braid for 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and cooked through.
- Brush with butter and serve. Once baked, remove the braid from the oven and immediately brush the top with melted butter for added flavor and shine. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use fully cooked and crumbled breakfast sausage to avoid excess grease inside the braid.
- You can substitute cheddar cheese with your favorite melty cheese, such as mozzarella or pepper jack, for a different flavor.
- Feel free to add other veggies like diced onions or spinach to the egg mixture for extra nutrition.
- For an easier fold, chill the dough slightly before braiding to prevent tearing.
- This braid is great for make-ahead breakfasts; simply reheat slices in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 478 kcal
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 940 mg
- Fat: 31 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 173 mg
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