Breakfast Casserole – Strata
A hearty, layered casserole dish made with bread, eggs, cheese, and various fillings, such as vegetables, meats, or herbs. The ingredients are soaked in an egg mixture and baked until golden and fluffy. Perfect for feeding a crowd, this versatile and flavorful option is perfect for brunches, holidays, or make-ahead breakfasts. We loved this one from our Via de Cristo weekends.
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Equipment
- 1 13 by 9-inch baking dish
- 1 Non-stick cooking spray
Ingredients
- 1 lbs pork sausage
- 6 slices white bread
- 8 oz cheddar cheese shredded
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 tsp dry mustard powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt (or 1/2 tsp table salt)
- ½ tsp seasoned pepper Janes Crazy Pepper
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350˚F.
- Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat, stirring frequently, until browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes; drain well on paper towels.
- Cut and discard the crusts from the bread. Cut the slices in half, and arrange in a single layer in the prepared baking dish, cutting pieces to fit as necessary to cover the bottom of the dish.
- Sprinkle with the sausage (or ham) and cheese.
- Drizzle the maple syrup over the entire surface as evenly as possible.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, mustard, salt, and seasoned pepper; carefully pour the mixture over the cheese.
- Bake casserole until set and golden, about 40 minutes.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
You can use diced ham instead of sausage.
Don’t use any bacon, as it overpowers the entire dish. It’s painful but true. (I teared up a bit writing this part because “everything is better with bacon,” but not this time.)
I often make this the night before and store it in the fridge (covered) to cook in the morning. Due to the fridge’s cold, you might need to add up to 10 minutes of cooking time.
Nutrition
Calories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 16gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 160mgSodium: 675mgPotassium: 226mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 442IUVitamin C: 0.3mgVitamin D: 2µgVitamin E: 1mgCalcium: 230mgIron: 1mgZinc: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
