Strata Recipe

This layered strata recipe preps in 10 minutes then chills overnight for a no-fuss brunch, holiday, or yummy family breakfast!!

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A Favorite Layered Breakfast

Bread, eggs, and cheese – this strata recipe has everything you need for breakfast all in one savory dish!

This particular layered casserole comes from a family friend and we have been making it for YEARS! Our version includes ham for an even more delicious flavor.

Because it chills overnight, it’s our go-to make-ahead breakfast casserole. We love to prep it and pop it in the oven for weekends, brunches, and of course holidays (a great way to use leftover holiday ham). It’s a no-fuss breakfast favorite that’s packed with flavor!

Ingredients

PREP TIME: 10 minutes

CHILL TIME: 4 hours

COOK TIME: 45 minutes

• 12 slices white bread – about 12 ounces. Try challah, brioche, French Bread, or Sourdough Bread. Slightly stale bread works best to absorb the egg custard.
• 2 cups cooked ham – or cooked crumbled bacon, cooked sausage pieces, or make it meatless
• 2 cups shredded monterrey jack cheese
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese – or swiss cheese, monterrey jack, or colby jack cheese (Pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as well.)
• 6 large eggs – room temperature
• 3 cups milk – Must be room temperature otherwise the butter will harden into little flakes or droplets instead of incorporating smoothly.
• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

How to Make Breakfast Strata

1. PREP. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
2. ASSEMBLE. Layer 6 slices bread cubes, 1 cup monterey jack cheese, 1 cup cheddar cheese, 1 cup cubed ham into the pan. Repeat layers.
   • In a separate bowl, whisk 6 eggs, 3 cups milk, and ½ cup melted butter in a bowl. Pour the egg mixture over the layers.
3. CHILL. Refrigerate, covered, overnight, or at least for 2 hours.
4. BAKE. Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes. No need to cover it, but if the top is browning too quickly tent it with a piece of foil.

Complete The Meal

Side Dishes

Fruit Salad Recipe

1 hr 20 mins

Yogurt Parfait

5 mins

French Toast Muffins

35 mins

Fluffy Pancakes

25 mins

Drinks

Orange Juice Smoothie

5 mins

Fruit Smoothie

5 mins

Orange Julius

5 mins

Blueberry Smoothie

10 mins

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22 mins

Cheesy Breakfast Casserole

45 mins

Eggs Benedict Casserole

55 mins

Potato Egg Casserole

40 mins

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4.96 from 75 votes

Strata Recipe

By: Kristyn Merkley

This layered strata recipe preps in 10 minutes then chills overnight for a no-fuss brunch, holiday, or yummy family breakfast!!

Servings: 8

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 45 minutes mins

Chill Time: 4 hours hrs

Total: 4 hours hrs 55 minutes mins

Equipment

• 9×13 baking dish

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 12 slices white bread, cut into 1-inch squares
• ▢ 2 cups monterrey jack cheese, shredded
• ▢ 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• ▢ 2 cups cooked cubed ham
• ▢ 6 large eggs, room temperature
• ▢ 3 cups milk, room temperature
• ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

Instructions 

• Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
• Layer half of the bread cubes on the bottom of the baking dish, followed by 1 cup Monterrey jack cheese, 1 cup cheddar cheese, and 1 cup ham. Repeat layers once more.
• In a medium bowl, mix eggs, milk, and melted butter in a bowl. Pour over layers.
• Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or ideally overnight.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Bake the strata covered with aluminum foil for 20 minutes, then uncover and continue baking for an additional 25-30 minutes. This will help it cook more evenly without overbaking the top.

Video

Notes

Perfect prep. Use room-temperature milk or the butter will harden into little flakes or droplets instead of mixing in smoothly.

Make ahead. This recipe is at its best when made ahead and refrigerated overnight before baking, so making it ahead of time is encouraged.

Store leftovers in an airtight container(s) in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 639kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 36g, Fat: 43g, Saturated Fat: 23g, Cholesterol: 249mg, Sodium: 1395mg, Potassium: 420mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 1155IU, Calcium: 572mg, Iron: 2.8mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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