This hearty breakfast strata combines Italian sausage, fresh vegetables, and crusty bread into a delicious make-ahead breakfast casserole that's perfect for feeding a crowd.
A breakfast strata is the ultimate brunch casserole, bringing together all your favorite breakfast ingredients in one delicious dish. Think of it as a savory bread pudding meets frittata – cubes of crusty bread soaked in an egg custard, layered with Italian sausage, vegetables, and plenty of cheese.
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🗝️ Recipe's key points
- This dish strata can be assembled the night before and baked in the morning, making it the perfect make-ahead dish for busy mornings!
- The mix of Italian sausage, fresh vegetables, and melted Fontina cheese makes a filling dish. It is enough to feed a crowd of hungry guests.
- This recipe uses classic Italian ingredients. You can easily change it with different meats, cheeses, and vegetables. This way, it can match your family's tastes.
- Like traditional Italian casseroles, this dish tastes better the next day. The flavors have time to blend together.
This breakfast strata recipe uses classic Italian ingredients. It includes ground Italian sausage, fresh basil, and Fontina cheese. This gives a Mediterranean twist to the traditional breakfast casserole.
🛒 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
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- Bread - is the base of the strata. Use day-old bread for the best results.
- Italian sausage - adds flavor and makes the dish hearty.
- Eggs - bind everything together.
- Whole milk - makes the strata creamy and rich.
- Fontina cheese - melts beautifully and has great flavor.
- Spinach - adds color and nutrition.
- Baby Bella mushrooms - give a nice earthy taste.
- Grape tomatoes - brighten up the dish.
- Basil - for garnish and fresh flavor.
- Butter - for greasing the pan.
- Salt and pepper - season to taste.
🗒 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter. Add the Italian sausage to a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles.
- Cook the sausage until browned (about 7 minutes). Set aside to cool.
- Break the eggs into a large bowl.
- Add milk, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the eggs.
- Whisk together the egg mixture until smooth.
- Gently fold the cubed bread, 1 cup of Fontina cheese, spinach, and mushrooms into the egg mixture.
- Add the tomatoes and cooled sausage and stir gently to combine.
- Pour everything into your prepared baking dish.
- Top with the remaining ½ cup of cheese.
- Bake for 50-55 minutes, until the cheese is golden brown and no liquid remains.
🥫 Storage
Store leftover breakfast strata in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat single servings in the microwave until hot. Cover a larger portion with foil and heat in the oven at 350°F until warm.
While you can freeze breakfast strata for up to 2 months, the texture may change slightly when thawed. If freezing, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
This breakfast strata is perfect for entertaining since you can prepare it the night before. Assemble everything up to the baking step, cover tightly with foil, and refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, remove from the fridge while your oven preheats, then bake as directed. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time if cooking straight from the refrigerator.
📚 Variations
- Extra Protein: Add crispy bacon pieces along with the Italian sausage for an even heartier breakfast strata. You can also use ham or turkey sausage instead of Italian sausage.
- Reduced Fat: Make this breakfast strata lighter by using turkey sausage and low-fat milk. You can also reduce the amount of cheese or use part-skim varieties.
- Vegetarian: Skip the sausage altogether and add extra vegetables like bell peppers, onions, or zucchini. You might want to sauté the vegetables first for better flavor.
- Cheese Options: Fontina adds an Italian touch to this strata. You can also use sharp cheddar, mozzarella, or Swiss cheese. Try mixing two different kinds of cheese for a more complex flavor.
- Different Bread: Though we love sourdough in this recipe, you can use any sturdy bread you have on hand. French bread, Italian bread, or even whole grain bread work well - just make sure it's a day old.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- For best texture, use day-old bread. Fresh bread can make your breakfast strata too mushy.
- Be sure to drain the defrosted spinach really well. Extra moisture can make your strata soggy.
- Let the sausage cool slightly before adding it to the egg mixture. If it's too hot, it might start cooking the eggs.
- When layering the strata, make sure all the bread gets coated in the egg mixture. Dry spots won't have the right texture.
- If baking right after assembly, let the mixture sit for at least an hour to allow the bread to soak up the egg mixture.
- Cover the strata with foil if the top starts browning too quickly during baking.
- Let the strata rest for 5-10 minutes after baking. This makes it easier to serve and helps it hold its shape better.
🤔 FAQs
While both are egg-based dishes, a strata always includes layers of bread as a key ingredient. A breakfast casserole might use potatoes, grits, or no starch at all as its base.
Strata means "layers" in Italian. This breakfast dish gets its name because it's made with layers of bread, eggs, cheese, and other ingredients.
While it doesn't have to sit overnight, letting it rest allows the bread to soak up the egg mixture completely. An hour is the minimum, but overnight creates the best texture.
Yes, you can freeze a baked egg strata for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely, wrap it well, and store it in an airtight container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Yes, you can freeze this strata before baking. Assemble it, cover tightly with foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before baking according to the recipe instructions.
📗 Related Recipes
Looking for more easy, savory breakfast dishes? You'll love these!
- Breakfast Enchiladas
- Smoked Salmon Breakfast Casserole
- Spicy Eggs In Purgatory - Italian Dish Uova Piccante In Purgatorio
- How To Make A Frittata Perfectly Every Time With Variations
- Cheddar Cheese Muffins
- Old-World Cabbage Bake with Mozzarella and Love
🍽 What to serve with Breakfast Strata
I enjoy serving this breakfast strata recipe with a fresh fruit salad on the side. The sweetness balances the savory Italian flavors perfectly.
When I'm hosting a bigger brunch, I'll add some crispy hash browns and warm pastries to the table.
And of course, don't forget the coffee! A hot pot of coffee or a selection of juices makes this breakfast complete.
🔪 All Our Way recommends the following
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You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- 9x13-inch baking dish - for assembling and baking the strata
- Large skillet - we use this for cooking the sausage
- Large mixing bowl - for combining the egg mixture
- Whisk - for beating the eggs and milk together
- Measuring cups and spoons - for accurate measurements
- Sharp knife and cutting board - for chopping vegetables and bread
- Wooden spoon - for breaking up the sausage while cooking
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
Ecco (There you have it)! This Italian Sausage Breakfast Strata isn't just a recipe; it's a little holiday gift for your busy mornings. Imagine sipping your coffee while the strata bakes, filling your kitchen with the most inviting aroma. Then, when you serve it, watch the smiles as everyone digs into those hearty, cheesy layers. It's dishes like this that make holiday gatherings even more special. So, whether you're hosting family or treating yourself, this casserole is a guaranteed hit.
Now, let's roll up our maniche (sleeves), start cooking, and enjoy sharing this comfort food masterpiece with everyone at our table. Buon Appetito!
Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.
📖 Recipe
Wake Up to Flavor: Italian Sausage Breakfast Strata
Equipment Needed
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 ½ c. shredded Fontina divided
- 1 c. frozen spinach defrosted, drained, and chopped
- 1 c. sliced baby Bella mushrooms
- 1 c. halved grape tomatoes
- ¼ c. torn basil for garnish
Instructions
- Step 1 Preheat 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.
- Step 2 In 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.
- Step 3 Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with remaining ½ cup cheese and bake 50 to 55 minutes, until cheese is golden and no liquid remains. Garnish with basil before serving.
Notes
- For the best texture, use day-old bread. Fresh bread can make your breakfast strata too mushy.
- Be sure to drain the defrosted spinach well. Extra moisture can make your strata soggy.
- Let the sausage cool slightly before adding it to the egg mixture. If it's too hot, it might start cooking the eggs.
- When layering the strata, ensure all the bread is coated in the egg mixture. Dry spots won't have the right texture.
- If baking right after assembly, let the mixture sit for at least an hour to allow the bread to soak up the egg mixture.
- Cover the strata with foil if the top starts browning too quickly during baking.
- Let the strata rest for 5-10 minutes after baking. This makes it easier to serve and helps it hold its shape better.
Nutrition
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