Name: Strata Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 295 min
Ingredients: 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)

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With buttery layers of bread, ham, cheese, and egg, this strata recipe is great for brunches, holidays, or a yummy family breakfast!!

This strata recipe is a favorite breakfast casserole – perfect for weekends, brunches, and holiday mornings!! Other favorites include our Biscuits and Gravy Casserole and Breakfast Casserole.

Close up image of Breakfast Strata in a casserole dish.

We Love Strata!

But what is it? This strata recipe comes from a family friend. It’s an easy breakfast recipe. The dish gets the name “strata” because it is made up of layers that oftentimes consist of bread, eggs, and cheese. Meats and even vegetables are sometimes included.

Why we love it!

Easy. It’s prepped in only 10 minutes!
Overnight casserole. Just layer the casserole and let it sit (usually overnight) for an easy morning.
Feeds a crowd. Casseroles are all great for feeding the masses.

It’s right up there with our Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole.

Ingredients

white bread – 12 slices of white bread equal about 12 ounces. You can use a similar amount of challah, brioche, french bread, or sourdough bread.
cooked ham – or use cooked crumbled bacon, cooked sausage pieces, or make it meatless.
cheese – I like Monterrey Jack cheese and cheddar cheese but use your favorite cheese such as Swiss cheese, Monterrey jack, Colby jack cheese. Prepackaged cheese doesn’t melt quite as well as shredding it yourself.
eggs
butter
milk

Pro Tip!

The milk should be at room temperature before adding the melted butter. Otherwise, the butter will harden up into little flakes or droplets instead of mixing with the other two ingredients – we definitely don’t want that!

Cubed bread topped with ham cubes and shredded cheese.

A Quick Prep!

PREP. Grease a 9×13 baking dish.
ASSEMBLE. Layer half the bread cubes, half of each of the cheeses, and then half the ham into your pan. Repeat layers.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, milk, and melted butter in a bowl. Pour the egg mixture over layers.
CHILL. Refrigerate, covered, overnight, or at least for 4 hours.
BAKE. Bake at 350°F, 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.

Recipe Tips

The breakfast strata is pretty easy to customize using some of your favorite flavors and foods.

Veggies. Add flavor, texture, and color with some chopped bell peppers, asparagus, broccoli florets, tomatoes, mushrooms, scallions, baby spinach, or onions.
Flavor. Sprinkle on some spices and season it to taste using garlic salt, black pepper, thyme, cayenne pepper, or paprika.
Serving suggestions. Try serving this with a Yogurt Parfait Board or Fruit Salad.

Storing Info

Make ahead of time. Make this recipe up to 24 hours in advance.
STORE. Cover the leftover breakfast casserole with ham or divide it into an airtight container and store it in the fridge for 3-4 days.
FREEZE. To freeze the whole pan, cool then cover it tightly with plastic and again with foil. Divide leftovers into individual containers. Freeze the strata for 2-3 months.
To reheat, let it thaw. Small portions can be heated in the microwave while larger portions should be heated in the oven. Watch the cook time and bake until warm.

Close up of strata recipe baked in a casserole dish.

For More Breakfast Casseroles:

Cheesy Breakfast Casserole

45 mins

Eggs Benedict Casserole

55 mins

Cheesy Breakfast Potato Casserole

40 mins

Recipe Video

Sausage Breakfast Casserole

22 mins

Recipe Video

4.96 from 75 votes

Strata Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna

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

Cook: 45

Chill Time: 4

Total: 4 55

Equipment

9×13 baking dish

Ingredients

▢ 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.

Strata Recipe

We Love Strata!