Holding On, Letting Go, and Honoring Christmas Morning After Loss
Some recipes carry more than flavor.
They carry stories.
They carry people.
They carry the weight of memories that refuse to fade — especially at Christmas.
This Spicy Sausage Breakfast Casserole has always been one of those recipes for our family. It wasn’t just something we made on Christmas morning. It was Quintin’s favorite — so much so that every year, when I asked what he wanted for Christmas breakfast, his answer never changed.
“This,” he’d say.
The same casserole.
Every single year.
There was comfort in that predictability. He was a simple man. Comfort in knowing that while so much of life felt busy and chaotic, Christmas morning would smell like coffee brewing, sausage sizzling, and this casserole baking in the oven while the kids hovered nearby, impatient and excited.
Now, Christmas mornings look different.
And yet — this casserole still shows up.
Because grief has a way of teaching us that not everything has to be released in order to move forward. Some things are meant to be held close, even when it hurts.
Christmas After Loss: Learning What to Hold and What to Release
In my post “Christmas After Loss: Learning to Let Go, Hold On, and Create New Traditions as a Grieving Mama,”
I shared how this season has forced me to navigate something I never wanted to learn: how to carry grief and gratitude at the same time.
After losing my husband, Christmas didn’t just feel different — it felt disorienting.
Traditions that once brought joy suddenly felt heavy. Some were too painful to repeat the same way. Others felt too sacred to abandon. Just like this Spicy Sausage Breakfast Casserole we also hold true to our kids favorite simple Christmas Punch and our fun game of Saran Ball.
I realized something important in that season:
Not every tradition needs to be treated the same.
Some traditions are tied to absence so tightly that they need to be gently released or reshaped. But others — like this breakfast casserole — continue to bring connection, comfort, and a sense of normalcy for my kids.
This casserole became one of the traditions we chose to hold on to.
Not because we’re pretending things haven’t changed — they have.
But because love doesn’t disappear when someone is gone. It finds new ways to show up.
A Breakfast That Still Tells His Story
Every Christmas morning, my boys ask for this casserole.
They ask for it because it reminds them of their dad.
Because it tastes like childhood.
Because it feels familiar in a season that can feel emotionally unpredictable.
When I make it, I’m not just feeding hungry kids. I’m honoring the man who loved this meal enough to request it every Christmas. I’m keeping his presence alive in a tangible way — one that doesn’t require a lot of words.
There’s something sacred about that.
The smell alone brings back memories of Christmases past — standing side by side in the kitchen, coffee mugs in hand, laughing about how early the kids woke up, planning the day ahead.
Some memories ache.
Some warm my heart.
Most do both at the same time.
And that’s okay.
Because grief and gratitude really can sit at the same table.
Quintin’s Favorite Spicy Sausage Breakfast Casserole
This casserole is hearty, flavorful, and perfect for feeding a crowd — especially on Christmas morning when everyone seems to wake up starving.
It’s also forgiving, flexible, and easy to prep ahead, which makes it ideal for mamas who want to be present instead of stressed.
Ingredients :Spicy Sausage Breakfast Casserole
- 12 eggs
- ½ Tbsp onion powder
- ½ Tbsp garlic powder
- ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 lb breakfast sausage
- 1 lb spicy sausage
- 1 bag Simply Southwest Potatoes
- 2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar or a Mexican blend)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage and spicy sausage until fully browned, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Spread the Simply Southwest Potatoes evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Layer the cooked sausage evenly over the potatoes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, onion powder, garlic powder, and heavy whipping cream until well combined.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and potatoes.
- Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded cheese over the top.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for 25–35 minutes, or until the center is set and a knife inserted comes out clean.
- Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Make-Ahead Tip
This casserole can be assembled the night before, covered, and refrigerated overnight. In the morning, simply bake — adding an extra 5–10 minutes if needed since it’s going into the oven cold.
Making Space for Something New
While this casserole is firmly rooted in the past — in love, memory, and tradition — Christmas after loss has also taught me that holding on doesn’t mean refusing to grow.
Alongside this familiar breakfast, I’m also making something new this year: Punch Down Cinnamon Rolls.
My girls asked for them.
They’re not the traditional rolled and sliced cinnamon rolls. Instead, they’re a simplified, no-roll version that delivers all the cinnamon-sugar goodness without the extra steps — perfect for busy mornings or when emotional energy feels limited.
And honestly? They’re just as amazing.
Adding these rolls to our Christmas morning table feels symbolic in the best way. The casserole honors where we’ve been. The cinnamon rolls represent where we’re going.
Both belong.
Holding On Without Getting Stuck
One of the biggest lessons I shared in “Christmas After Loss” is that healing doesn’t require us to erase the past.
We’re allowed to keep the traditions that still bring connection.
We’re allowed to let go of the ones that no longer serve us.
And we’re allowed to create new ones — even while grieving.
This breakfast table is a reflection of that truth.
A casserole requested by my boys because it reminds them of their dad.
Cinnamon rolls requested by my girls because they’re excited about something new.
A mama standing in the middle, doing her best to honor both.
This is what Christmas looks like now.
Not perfect.
Not painless.
But meaningful.
If You’re Walking Through Christmas After Loss
If you’re finding yourself torn between wanting to hold on and feeling pressure to “move on,” I hope this encourages you.
You don’t have to choose one or the other.
You can bake the recipe your husband loved.
You can start a new tradition your kids ask for.
You can grieve deeply and still create moments of joy.
Love doesn’t disappear when someone is gone.
It shows up in casseroles, in cinnamon rolls, in quiet mornings filled with memories and faith.
And if you’re looking for more encouragement, I share more about navigating this season — the letting go, the holding on, and the brave work of creating new traditions — in my post “Christmas After Loss: Learning to Let Go, Hold On, and Create New Traditions as a Grieving Mama.”
You’re not alone in this season.
And whatever traditions you choose to carry forward — they matter.
🤍
Spicy Sausage Breakfast Casserole: Video Tutorial
For those of you who would love a visual step-by-step tutorial here is one for you!
Spicy Sausage Breakfast Casserole: SIDE IDEA
We love to serve traditional home made cinnamon rolls along side this Christmas Spicy Sausage Breakfast Casserole, however in a pinch this year so we are doing some amazing Punch Down Cinnamon Rolls
Crazy Busy Mama Tip
PUNCH DOWN CINNAMON ROLLS
are great when you are in a pinch and want the flavor of the traditional cinnamon rolls
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Mama, If you give this recipe a try and love it, I’d be thrilled if you could leave a comment and a 5-star rating below! Your feedback not only makes my day but also helps me understand what kinds of recipes you'd like to see more of.
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More Easy Christmas Recipes
If you love this Spicy Sausage Breakfast Casserole, be sure to check out these other easy CHRISTMAS recipes that will add fun and flavor to every meal.
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Spicy Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 eggs
- 1/2 TBSP onion powder
- 1/2 Tbsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 lb breakfast sausage
- 1 lb spicy breakfast sausage
- 16 oz shredded hashbrowns refrigerated
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the breakfast sausage and spicy sausage until fully browned, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Spread the hash browns we love shredded Simply Southwest Potatoes evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Layer the cooked sausage evenly over the potatoes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, onion powder, garlic powder, and heavy whipping cream until well combined.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage and potatoes.
- Sprinkle 2 cups of shredded cheese over the top.Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.Remove foil and continue baking for 25–35 minutes, or until the center is set and a knife inserted comes out clean.
- Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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