Preheat the oven to 350°F then grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside.

Preheat a large pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the breakfast sausage and cook for 7-10 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks, until fully browned. Remove from heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, add the pancake mix, milk, eggs, melted butter, maple syrup, hot sauce, and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Mix well until the pancake mix is fully incorporated. If the batter looks too runny, add ½ cup more pancake mix.

Add the cooked sausage to the batter and gently fold until evenly incorporated.

Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese evenly over the top and drizzle lightly with maple syrup.

Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, then continue baking for 15-20 minutes, or until fully cooked and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cook time may vary depending on your oven.

Let cool for about 10 minutes, then slice and serve warm with additional maple syrup, if desired.