Let’s talk about a classic breakfast favorite: the strata! It’s fluffy, custardy, and perfect for feeding a group of hungry folks. Packed with Italian bread, sautéed veggies, ground breakfast sausage, and mixed with a tasty egg custard, this dish is a winner!
Breakfast strata is an awesome breakfast casserole that’s great for a lazy weekend brunch or for preparing ahead for a quick weekday meal.
Usually, it’s a mix of bread, eggs, milk, cheese, and whatever else you fancy tossing in there. Our version gets its savory kick from sautéed veggies and breakfast sausage. Yum!
Classic Breakfast Strata
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground breakfast sausage or chorizo, or sofrito
- 1 medium white onion minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 8 oz. Bella mushrooms roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 10 oz. fresh spinach
- 12 large eggs
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups milk any kind
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 loaf Italian bread ripped (~9 cups)
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese divided
- 1.5 cups shredded gruyere cheese divided
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add the breakfast sausage and cook until partially done. Remove the sausage from the pan, leaving the drippings.
- Saute the onion in the sausage drippings until soft. Add mushrooms, olive oil, and cook for 5 more minutes. Then, add garlic and spinach, cooking until wilted.
- Whisk eggs, heavy cream, and milk in a bowl.
- Spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish and add ripped bread pieces. Add cooked veggies, sausage, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1 cup gruyere cheese, salt, pepper, and toss.
- Pour egg mixture over the ingredients and press down gently.
- Refrigerate the strata overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350ºF, toss strata, and bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 30 minutes.
- Add remaining cheese on top and bake until golden brown.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Chorizo adds spice to the strata.
- You can use more milk instead of heavy cream.
- Any artisan-style bread works.
- Fluff the strata before baking for a fluffy result.