This easy breakfast strata is a hearty, wholesome breakfast that can be assembled the night before!
Bread, sausage, and veggies are soaked overnight in a cheesy egg and cream mixture and then baked until fluffy and fragrant!
This is the perfect way to feed a crowd or delight company in the morning.
Ingredients and Variations
Make this easy breakfast strata recipe for a flavorful, filling and satisfying meal first thing in the morning. It’s so versatile, use up leftover meat, cheese, or veggies to create a new recipe every time!
Sausage – Breakfast sausage links, ground pork sausage, or sliced summer sausage are all yummy meats to start the day with! Cooked bacon crumbles and ham are also delicious additions.
Bread – The best bread for breakfast strata is a little on the stale side so it stays firmer even after its soaked up all the milk and eggs, but any bread will do, even a gluten-free variety. Leftover biscuits, hamburger buns and broken up pieces of cornbread are great, too! Dry out slices of bread by placing them in a warm oven for about 3 hours or leaving them on the counter overnight.
Custard – Large eggs, a carton of liquid eggs, or all egg whites will work. Switch out the cream and half-and-half for any non-dairy beverage, although it might not bake up like a custard.
Vegetables – A can of drained tomatoes will work if fresh aren’t available. Chopped spinach, bell peppers, and sliced mushrooms
Cheese – Sharp cheddar has a robust flavor that really blends everything together, but any single or combination of cheeses will work. Try Swiss with Monterey Jack, feta crumbles, or parmesan!
Variations – Tater tots, hash browns, sliced potatoes, or diced potatoes can be used as a foundation layer for breakfast strata. Zest up breakfast strata with sausage with a few shakes of homemade Cajun seasoning or a savory Italian herb mix if fresh rosemary isn’t available.
How to Make Breakfast Strata
Breakfast strata with sausage is the perfect prep-ahead dish for breakfast or brunch!
- Cook sausage and onion in oil until the sausage is fully cooked, as per recipe below.
- Line greased casserole dish with bread slices or chunks of bread.
- Sprinkle meat mixture and tomatoes evenly over the bread.
- Sprinkle 2/3 cups cheese over top, cover with remaining slices of bread, then remaining cheese.
- Whisk both milks, eggs, and seasonings together and pour over the strata. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Bake until eggs are set and the top is golden brown.
Recipe Tips
- Assemble breakfast strata with sausage up to two days before baking, simply keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- Take the strata out of the fridge to take the chill off while the oven is preheating.
- Place the casserole under the broiler for about 3 minutes for a crispier cheese topping.
Serving and Storing Breakfast Strata
This hearty breakfast strata easily stands all by itself, served hot or cold. But it is also delicious with a leaf salad for brunch or even as a light dinner! And can be served with homemade cinnamon rolls and berry smoothies for a breakfast or brunch buffet.
Keep leftover breakfast strata with sausage covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat portions in the microwave.
Freeze an unbaked strata in an airtight container (make sure it’s level so the liquids don’t spill out). Thaw for an hour before baking.
Freeze a baked and fully cooled strata by first lining the casserole dish with aluminum foil. This allows the frozen casserole to be easily lifted out, wrapped in plastic wrap, and placed back in the freezer. The casserole dish can then be used for another purpose!
Thaw frozen cooked strata overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the microwave, or covered with foil in a low temperature oven.
More Breakfast Casseroles To Try!
Did you try this recipe for Breakfast Strata with Sausage? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!
Breakfast Strata with Sausage
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces sausage sliced
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion chopped
- 1 baguette cut into ½ inch thick slices (preferably 2 days old, or if fresh, cut and lightly toasted) or other bread slices
- 2 tomatoes cut into slices and each slice quartered
- 4 cups old cheddar cheese grated, divided
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups half and half cream
- 8 eggs
- 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Butter a 9×13 baking dish.
- In a medium skillet, heat olive oil to medium low heat, then add sausage and onions. Cook until sausage is no longer pink and onions are translucent (approximately 13-15 minutes).
- Line bottom of baking dish with bread slices (about half of baguette). Scoop sausage mixture from pan and sprinkle evenly over bread (discard extra oil in pan). Place tomatoes evenly over sausage mixture. Sprinkle with ⅔ of the grated cheese and cover with bread slices (You may have a small amount of bread remaining. Reserve for another use). Sprinkle remaining cheese over the bread.
- In a large bowl or measuring cup, whisk together cream, half and half, eggs, rosemary, and pepper. Slowly pour egg mixture over bread, working to cover each top piece with egg mixture.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes (or overnight).*
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350˚F. Bake for 40 minutes or until browned and cooked through. Rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information does not include optional ingredients or garnish and is an estimate. It may change based on actual ingredients and cooking methods used.
©Our Zesty Life. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Like our recipes?
Follow us on Pinterest!
PIN this Breakfast Strata with Sausage recipe!
Adapted from Oprah
