Breakfast Strata

Name: Breakfast Strata
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 tbsp. butter; 1 lb. ground Italian sausage; 10 large eggs; 2 c. whole milk; Kosher salt; Freshly ground black pepper; 4 c. cubed bread; 1 1/2 c. shredded Fontina, divided; 1 c. frozen spinach, defrosted, drained, and chopped; 1 c. sliced baby Bella mushrooms; 1 c. halved grape tomatoes; 1/4 c. torn basil, for garnish

By Lena AbrahamUpdated: Dec 12, 2023

3 Ratings

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breakfast casserole in a white baking dish with italian sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach

PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

If you ask us, breakfast casseroles are the best way to serve a brunch crowd. If you’re looking for the ultimate—loaded with Italian sausage, cheese, veggies, and bread—then this breakfast strata is it. It’s hearty enough to keep everyone satisfied, and is just as great as breakfast-for-dinner as it is to start your day. Plus, it’s endlessly versatile—just like the classic frittata, a breakfast strata shines as an adaptable breakfast dish. Keep reading on for how to ace it:

What is a breakfast strata?
Think of your favorite breakfast casserole, but always with a base of eggs and bread—that’s a breakfast strata. Our recipe uses ground Italian sausage, shredded cheese, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and cubed bread. We recommend using a sturdy loaf of bread for this recipe—sourdough is one of our favorites. The best thing about a breakfast strata? It’s endlessly versatile.

Breakfast strata variations:
There are countless ways to adapt this breakfast dish. Leave out the Italian sausage if you’re looking to make this vegetarian, or swap it out for bacon or ham. Swap out the cheese for your favorite variety (shredded cheddar would be a great choice), or mix up the veggies: add onions, peppers, or anything your heart desires.

Make it ahead:
This is a perfect dish to make ahead of time to serve your brunch crowd. Simply prepare it up until baking, cover with foil, then place in the fridge and bake when ready to serve.

Made this recipe? Let us know how it went in the comments below!

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Yields:: 8 serving(s)
Prep Time:: 20 mins
Total Time:: 1 hr 20 mins
Cal/Serv:: 444

Ingredients

1 tbsp.
butter
1 lb.
ground Italian sausage
10
large eggs
2 c.
whole milk
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 c.
cubed bread
1 1/2 c.
shredded Fontina, divided
1 c.
frozen spinach, defrosted, drained, and chopped
1 c.
sliced baby Bella mushrooms
1 c.
halved grape tomatoes
1/4 c.
torn basil, for garnish

Directions

1. Step 1Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 9"-x-13" baking dish with butter. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add sausage and cook, breaking up large pieces with a spoon, until golden, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
2. Step 2In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and milk and season with salt and pepper. Gently fold in bread, 1 cup cheese, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and cooked sausage.
3. Step 3Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake 50 to 55 minutes, until cheese is golden and no liquid remains. Garnish with basil before serving.