BYOB: Apple, Onion & Sausage Casserole
One of my favorite ways to socialize with friends/family over great food is what I like to call a BYOB: Bring Your Own Brunch event.
Invite your friends over, or pick a great picnic spot, and let everyone bring a dish of their choice. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love an excuse for some mid-day socializing (…and mimosa drinking), along with the chance to eat a delicious spread of all of your favorite breakfast AND lunch foods to choose from?
My go-to dish for occasions like this, is a family recipe that I would help my mom make for special Sunday brunch growing up–Apple, Onion & Sausage Casserole.
I’ve adapted the original to make a more Simply Savor-friendly version to help trim down extra fat and calories (and ultimately your waistline) without trimming back on taste.
What I love about this recipe is the unforgettable and unique flavor contrasts of sweet and savory, with subtle hints of salt and spice. It never fails to keep people going back for seconds!
APPLE, ONION & SAUSAGE CASSEROLE (Serves 6-8)
Can be made vegetarian**
Ingredients:
2 packages (12 ozs. each) sausage of your choice–chicken/turkey/pork/veggie (for a little spicy kick add a “hot” flavor to the mix!)
3 large Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, and sliced 1/8″ thick)
3 yellow onions (peeled and sliced in 1/8″ thick circles)
1/4 cup brown sugar (or sweetener of choice)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
Directions:
Step 1: In pan, cook crumbled sausage of your choice. With slotted spoon, remove meat from pan and set aside in casserole dish
Step 2: Peel and slice granny smith apples
Step 3: Sauté sliced apples 5-7 minutes in the juice from the same pan used before. Remove apples with slotted spoon and add to casserole dish with meat
Step 4: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In same pan, cook onions and stir until coated with juice. Add brown sugar, salt and pepper to onions; cook ~10 minutes on low/medium heat (until browned)
I think those caramelized onions deserve a close up don’t you? 
Step 5: Mix sausage, apples and onion together in a 2-quart casserole dish. Bake for 35-45 minutes at 350 degree (until apples are tender)
Another great thing about this dish? It can be prepared the day before! Just keep it refrigerated overnight. On the day of the event, make sure to bring the casserole to room temperature before baking in the oven.
Enjoy!
Questions for you:
What’s your favorite BRUNCH food?
What’s your favorite way to socialize over FOOD?
That looks fantastic! What a great combination and paired with a mimosa, how can you go wrong?
Great brunch idea girlie! I actually made something very similar, the other night: acorn squash, pear & onion au gratin with a butter/walnut topping!
http://cookinfanatic.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/vogue-squash/
I love a good omelet for brunch yummm!
And I love socializing over a nice dinner with some good wine – fave!
yum that au gratin sounds delish!
What a good idea! I need to do this with my friends. The casserole looks yummy- I’d love to try this with the fake meaty crumbles! My favorite brunch food is any kind of baked fruit dish! Or pancakes
I am all over that casserole – sans the onions. My husband and I are probably the only two people on the planet that hate onions!
I love making a baby spinach and goat cheese quiche, with crushed red peppers to give it a kick!
loove the spinach and goat cheese combo. never tried making quiche before but that sounds awesome!
Looks delicious…LOVE the onion/apple combo! Need to try that. My favorite brunch food? BAGELS! Really who am I kidding, they’re one of my favorite anytime foods…!
I just found your blog and LOVE it! That recipe looks so good. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Pam!
Yum, that looks so good! I love carmelized onions…its the only way I eat an onion! My favorite brunch food is definitely eggs benedict or really good belgium waffles with lots of toppings…maple syrup, fruit, cream! Yum!! Happy Tuesday!
My favorite brunh foods are bloody mary’s, and fritatas. Yum! I like to socialize with food with things like wine, appetizers and cheese, that are easy to stand around and talk with others.
That looks so good! I like how you use the same pan, too. Less clean-up is always a plus! I never was a fan of the sweet and savory combo but now I’m lovin’ it. Great recipe as usual, Kristen!
My fave brunch food would have to be a giant omelette (egg whites) with roasted potatoes. Or, belgian waffles
That casserole looks delish! I would never have thought to put those foods together, but as I think about it, I think it would actually be delicious!
My favorite brunch item is baked french toast. Now I will be thinking about it all afternoon, LOL.
Favorite way to socialize with food? That is a tough one… I would have to say having some friends over and just having a bunch of different appetizers- OR- having friends over for ‘make your own pizza’.
that meal looks amazing!!! I love love sweet onions on savory food!
favorite brunch food = stir-fry rice (my western friends like me prepare it for them)
favorite way to socialize with food = potluck!
Looks great! I love pot-lucks so a BYOB sounds like my kind of event! I love French toast and have had a French toast casserole recipe bookmarked forever…if I ever host a brunch, it’s on the menu!
ooh French toast casserole sounds to die for! let me know if you make it!
Oooh this looks good! Brunch is my favorite meal
Kristen! This looks TDF (tooo dieeeeeee forrrrrr)… I have Rosh Hashana dinner with my family this weekend, and I’m thinking of trying this out!
Have a great day!
Sarah
ooh thats great! let me know how you like it!
Bring your own Brunch is such a cute idea for getting together with friends! My favorite bunch is spinach quiche. My mom made this all the time when growing up and I too have altered the recipe to make it more healthy friendly! I like to socialize with wine and a few good appetizers. It makes it fun and easy finger food (which helps not getting anything on you, LOL)
What a yummy looking caserole! My fave brunch food is pancakes. I try to keep them healthy though, with fruit for sweetness and not too much syrup :O).
My fav. brunch food? That’s actually a hard one to decide, as there are so many great options! But if I had to choose I would probably go for a yummy healthy homemade muffin with some jam on the side.
I saw this on Twitter at first and I thought you were having a tailgate! Not only did you trick me, I’m filled with envy now over your gas stove.
Favorite brunch item? Something w/ eggs. I’m a sucker for poached eggs and soaking up the yolk with a slice of toasted baguette!
I like this idea, apples and onions go well together. Brunch – I love a fruit and yogurt plate .
I love finding new recipes to try, Diana is right I would never have thought to put those two together! Thanks Kristen, you make some great dishes.
looks good1 and i just love the caramelised onions.. only thing is that i’m not that patient.. lol..
French toast! i just love them, but have to control myself..
Mmmm, onions and apples are such a delicious combo! Happy Fall!
This looks yummy – my hubby will love it! I’m gonna try it this wknd! Like your blog too!:)
thanks jessica! please let me know how you like it!