Breakfast Strata
A make-ahead, layered breakfast casserole with bread, cheese, eggs, and savory fillings.Perfect for brunch, holidays, or busy mornings.Easy to customize with meats, vegetables, and spices.Bakes into a golden, fluffy, and flavorful dish everyone loves.
Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed French bread or sourdough
- 1 pound breakfast sausage, bacon, or ham
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 cup chopped bell peppers or spinach
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Swiss or mozzarella
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried mustard (optional)
Instructions
- Cook sausage, bacon, or ham in a skillet. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté onions and peppers until soft. Add spinach if using.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer half the bread cubes in the dish.
- Add half the meat, vegetables, and cheese.
- Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.
- Whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and mustard.
- Pour egg mixture evenly over the layers.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 45–55 minutes or until golden and set.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Day-old bread works best for the perfect texture.
- Mixing cheese varieties adds deeper flavor.
- Use a mix of vegetables for color and nutrients.
- Allowing the strata to rest ensures clean slices.
- Sausage gives the richest flavor, but ham is a great lighter option.