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Breakfast Strata

January 4, 2024 by Gina +

Toasted bread, breakfast sausage, cheese, and eggs. What more could you need for a breakfast? I will also add that it can easily be made ahead and it loaded with protein. What a great way to start the day.

Jump to Recipe

Every Christmas morning I host all our family for presents and breakfast. Breakfast includes a bagel bar and some type of baked egg dish. This year we went with this strata and it’s been on repeat ever since. I like to make one over the weekend and then heat it as needed during the week. I also like to top mine with a couple of fried eggs when I’m having leftovers. It is so flavorful and easy to make while also being healthy and hearty.

For the base, I like to use sourdough. Any hearty bread will do. It’s going to be soaking up eggs and milk so you don’t want something too soft. For the sausage, I like to keep it lighter with Italian-style turkey sausage. We love the flavor! I also add oregano and thyme which makes my family think this tastes like breakfast stuffing. I add milk, cottage cheese, and cheddar cheese which adds loads more protein to this dish. You can also add some veggies, I like to add defrosted frozen spinach, for some fiber. Hearty, healthy, easy to meal prep, and delicious.


Ingredients needed for the Breakfast Strata

  • 1 lb Italian-style turkey sausage
  • 3 packed cups of cubed bread (something hearty like sourdough, about 4-5 pieces)
  • 1 cup Good Culture cottage cheese
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup frozen spinach, defrosted, and as much liquid as you can squeeze out
  • 6 large eggs
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar

How to Make the Breakfast Strata

  • Preheat oven to 325.
  • In a large oven-safe skillet, toast the bread over medium-high heat with olive oil.  Season with a little salt.  Remove then brown the sausage in the pan. 
  • While that’s cooking, whisk the eggs, milk, cottage cheese, and seasoning, including a good pinch of salt and pepper. 
  • When the sausage is done cooking, remove from heat.  Stir in bread cubes then pour the egg over.  Push it all down to get the bread covered.  Bake at 320 for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until cooked through and the tops of the bread are slightly crispy.  Leftovers are great with a fried egg on top!

What’s to love about this breakfast strata

  • This is a hearty and healthy breakfast that packs loads of protein to keep you satisfied.
  • It can be prepped ahead of time for easy reheating during the week.
  • It’s savory, cheesy, and full of flavor.

More recipes you will like…

  • Oat Flour Waffles
  • Cottage Cheese Pancakes
  • Creamy Polenta with Herbed Mushrooms

Tips & FAQ for the Breakfast Strata

What kind of sausage can we use:

I like using Italian-style turkey sausage because it’s full of flavor but lower in fat and calories. You can use whatever sausage you like.

Can we make these ahead of time?

Yes, this is a great meal to prep ahead. You can prep it at night and then bake the next morning. Or bake it and reheat it. I love having leftovers with a fried egg on top. Heat 10 minutes at 320


Breakfast Strata

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Breakfast
Calories: 334
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb Ground sausage – I like turkey Italian style
  • 3 cups cubed bread (sourdough) packed tight
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup frozen spinach, defrosted then all the liquid squeezed out
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese more if you want to sprinkle some on top
  • salt & pepper

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 325.
  2. In a large oven-safe skillet, toast the bread over medium-high heat with olive oil.  Season with a little salt.  Remove then brown the sausage in the pan. 
  3. While that’s cooking, whisk the eggs, milk, cottage cheese, and seasoning, including a good pinch of salt and pepper. 
  4. When the sausage is done cooking, remove from heat.  Stir in bread cubes then pour the egg over.  Push it all down to get the bread covered. 
  5. Bake at 320 for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until cooked through and the tops of the bread are slightly crispy.  Leftovers are great with a fried egg on top!

Nutrition

Serving: 6gCalories: 334kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 28gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 246mgSodium: 1063mgPotassium: 430mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 3643IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 233mgIron: 9mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Recipes

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  1. 12 Sausage, Corn & Hash Brown Breakfast Casseroles Everyone Will Love – Foodie Haven says:
    June 15, 2025 at 10:34 am

    […] © Gina Gibson […]

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Follow along for easy, family-friendly meals 🤍

Crispy bacon, juicy chicken, melted mozzarella, creamy avocado, and all layered onto a toasted sandwich roll. It’s simple, high protein, and so good for lunch or an easy dinner.

Ingredients:
2 slices bacon
1 small chicken breast, pounded thin
All-purpose chicken seasoning
Freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Sandwich roll
Mayonnaise
1/2 avocado, mashed with salt
Lettuce
Tomato

Directions:
Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy, then remove and set aside. Remove some of the grease from the pan.

Season a thinly pounded chicken breast generously with chicken seasoning and cook in the same pan until golden and cooked through. Once flipped, top with freshly grated mozzarella and let melt.

Spread mayonnaise onto one side of a sandwich roll and mashed salted avocado onto the other side.

Layer with bacon, cheesy chicken, lettuce, and tomato.

Save this easy sandwich recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos Follow al Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos
Follow along for easy, family-friendly dinners 🤍

These healthy chicken Caesar smashburger tacos are one of my favorite easy high-protein dinners lately. Crispy seasoned chicken pressed onto tortillas, topped with Caesar salad and Parmesan. They’re quick, flavorful, and so good for busy nights.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground chicken
8 mini tortillas
Salt Pepper Garlic powder
chopped Romaine lettuce
Caesar dressing
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Press a thin layer of ground chicken onto each tortilla and season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place chicken side down onto a hot skillet and cook for about 4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Flip and cook the tortilla side for another 2 to 3 minutes until slightly crispy.
Great and Parmesan on top of the chicken. Honey.

Toss chopped romaine with Caesar dressing. Top each taco with the Caesar salad mixture and more parm.

These are crispy, high protein, and so easy to make.

Save this easy dinner recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑 All the High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑

All the cozy stuffed pepper flavors but turned into a creamy cheesy skillet pasta that’s so easy for weeknights

Ingredients

12 oz pasta 
1 lb ground Italian chicken sausage or sausage of choice 
1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion diced
3 bell peppers diced
3 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1½ cups marinara sauce
1 cup blended 
¾ cup mozzarella cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese
2 cups spinach

Instructions

cook pasta until al dente

brown sausage and cook peppers and onion until soft. Add to pasta. 

Blend the cottage cheese and marinara 

Stir the blended sauce and seasoning into the beverage and pasta mixture. 

add pasta spinach and cheese and stir until creamy
If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakf If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakfast burrito at home… this is the one.

Crispy hashbrown, bacon, creamy avocado, and a soft cheesy egg layer, all wrapped up and toasted until golden. It’s simple, filling, and always a hit.

How to make it
Cook 1 hashbrown patty until crispy
Cook 2 slices of bacon, then remove and leave a little fat in the pan
Whisk 2 eggs and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading thin
Top with cheese and keep the eggs soft (don’t overcook)
Fold into a rectangle and set aside

Assemble:
Mash 1/2 avocado with a little salt and mix with chopped bacon
Spread onto a warmed bun buntortilla
Add chopped hashbrown and the egg
Fold the sides in, then roll tightly

Tips:
Don’t overfill and make sure everything is tucked in well
Place seam side down in a pan to crisp the tortilla

Serve with hot sauce and you’re done

Save this one for later and follow for more easy meal ideas
One of my favorite things to order out. The Hills One of my favorite things to order out.

The Hillstone Dip Duo dupe. Smoky chipotle pimento cheese, fresh guac, salty tortilla chips… it’s dangerously good and PERFECT for Cinco de Mayo or any gathering. 

For the chipotle pimento cheese dip, mix together 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup softened whipped cream cheese, 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons diced pimentos, 1 chipotle peppers in adobo (or half if you like it less Smokey)  plus a little adobo sauce, 1 tablespoon finely grated yellow onion, and Lawry’s seasoned salt to taste. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors can meld together.  Let all your cheeses come to room temperature so they can blend easier.

For the guacamole, mash together 2 ripe avocados with finely diced onion, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and salt to taste.

Serve both dips side by side with salty tortilla chips @masa_chips

Save this Hillstone dip duo dupe for your next party, game day, or Cinco de Mayo spread
POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyo POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyone will eat. 

These high protein breakfast biscuits have been on repeat in my house. They’re easy, meal prep-friendly, and perfect for busy mornings when you need something you can just grab and go.

They’re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese. 

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.

These are high protein, freezer-friendly, and perfect for meal prep breakfasts 🙌
Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich Follow along Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich

Follow along for easy, family-friendly meals 🤍

Crispy bacon, juicy chicken, melted mozzarella, creamy avocado, and all layered onto a toasted sandwich roll. It’s simple, high protein, and so good for lunch or an easy dinner.

Ingredients:
2 slices bacon
1 small chicken breast, pounded thin
All-purpose chicken seasoning
Freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Sandwich roll
Mayonnaise
1/2 avocado, mashed with salt
Lettuce
Tomato

Directions:
Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy, then remove and set aside. Remove some of the grease from the pan.

Season a thinly pounded chicken breast generously with chicken seasoning and cook in the same pan until golden and cooked through. Once flipped, top with freshly grated mozzarella and let melt.

Spread mayonnaise onto one side of a sandwich roll and mashed salted avocado onto the other side.

Layer with bacon, cheesy chicken, lettuce, and tomato.

Save this easy sandwich recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos Follow al Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos
Follow along for easy, family-friendly dinners 🤍

These healthy chicken Caesar smashburger tacos are one of my favorite easy high-protein dinners lately. Crispy seasoned chicken pressed onto tortillas, topped with Caesar salad and Parmesan. They’re quick, flavorful, and so good for busy nights.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground chicken
8 mini tortillas
Salt Pepper Garlic powder
chopped Romaine lettuce
Caesar dressing
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Press a thin layer of ground chicken onto each tortilla and season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place chicken side down onto a hot skillet and cook for about 4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Flip and cook the tortilla side for another 2 to 3 minutes until slightly crispy.
Great and Parmesan on top of the chicken. Honey.

Toss chopped romaine with Caesar dressing. Top each taco with the Caesar salad mixture and more parm.

These are crispy, high protein, and so easy to make.

Save this easy dinner recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑 All the High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑

All the cozy stuffed pepper flavors but turned into a creamy cheesy skillet pasta that’s so easy for weeknights

Ingredients

12 oz pasta 
1 lb ground Italian chicken sausage or sausage of choice 
1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion diced
3 bell peppers diced
3 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1½ cups marinara sauce
1 cup blended 
¾ cup mozzarella cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese
2 cups spinach

Instructions

cook pasta until al dente

brown sausage and cook peppers and onion until soft. Add to pasta. 

Blend the cottage cheese and marinara 

Stir the blended sauce and seasoning into the beverage and pasta mixture. 

add pasta spinach and cheese and stir until creamy
If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakf If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakfast burrito at home… this is the one.

Crispy hashbrown, bacon, creamy avocado, and a soft cheesy egg layer, all wrapped up and toasted until golden. It’s simple, filling, and always a hit.

How to make it
Cook 1 hashbrown patty until crispy
Cook 2 slices of bacon, then remove and leave a little fat in the pan
Whisk 2 eggs and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading thin
Top with cheese and keep the eggs soft (don’t overcook)
Fold into a rectangle and set aside

Assemble:
Mash 1/2 avocado with a little salt and mix with chopped bacon
Spread onto a warmed bun buntortilla
Add chopped hashbrown and the egg
Fold the sides in, then roll tightly

Tips:
Don’t overfill and make sure everything is tucked in well
Place seam side down in a pan to crisp the tortilla

Serve with hot sauce and you’re done

Save this one for later and follow for more easy meal ideas
One of my favorite things to order out. The Hills One of my favorite things to order out.

The Hillstone Dip Duo dupe. Smoky chipotle pimento cheese, fresh guac, salty tortilla chips… it’s dangerously good and PERFECT for Cinco de Mayo or any gathering. 

For the chipotle pimento cheese dip, mix together 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup softened whipped cream cheese, 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons diced pimentos, 1 chipotle peppers in adobo (or half if you like it less Smokey)  plus a little adobo sauce, 1 tablespoon finely grated yellow onion, and Lawry’s seasoned salt to taste. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors can meld together.  Let all your cheeses come to room temperature so they can blend easier.

For the guacamole, mash together 2 ripe avocados with finely diced onion, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and salt to taste.

Serve both dips side by side with salty tortilla chips @masa_chips

Save this Hillstone dip duo dupe for your next party, game day, or Cinco de Mayo spread
POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyo POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyone will eat. 

These high protein breakfast biscuits have been on repeat in my house. They’re easy, meal prep-friendly, and perfect for busy mornings when you need something you can just grab and go.

They’re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese. 

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.

These are high protein, freezer-friendly, and perfect for meal prep breakfasts 🙌
Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich Follow along Easy Chicken Bacon Avocado Sandwich

Follow along for easy, family-friendly meals 🤍

Crispy bacon, juicy chicken, melted mozzarella, creamy avocado, and all layered onto a toasted sandwich roll. It’s simple, high protein, and so good for lunch or an easy dinner.

Ingredients:
2 slices bacon
1 small chicken breast, pounded thin
All-purpose chicken seasoning
Freshly grated mozzarella cheese
Sandwich roll
Mayonnaise
1/2 avocado, mashed with salt
Lettuce
Tomato

Directions:
Cook the bacon in a skillet until crispy, then remove and set aside. Remove some of the grease from the pan.

Season a thinly pounded chicken breast generously with chicken seasoning and cook in the same pan until golden and cooked through. Once flipped, top with freshly grated mozzarella and let melt.

Spread mayonnaise onto one side of a sandwich roll and mashed salted avocado onto the other side.

Layer with bacon, cheesy chicken, lettuce, and tomato.

Save this easy sandwich recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos Follow al Healthy Chicken Caesar Smashburger Tacos
Follow along for easy, family-friendly dinners 🤍

These healthy chicken Caesar smashburger tacos are one of my favorite easy high-protein dinners lately. Crispy seasoned chicken pressed onto tortillas, topped with Caesar salad and Parmesan. They’re quick, flavorful, and so good for busy nights.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground chicken
8 mini tortillas
Salt Pepper Garlic powder
chopped Romaine lettuce
Caesar dressing
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Press a thin layer of ground chicken onto each tortilla and season generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Place chicken side down onto a hot skillet and cook for about 4 minutes until golden and cooked through. Flip and cook the tortilla side for another 2 to 3 minutes until slightly crispy.
Great and Parmesan on top of the chicken. Honey.

Toss chopped romaine with Caesar dressing. Top each taco with the Caesar salad mixture and more parm.

These are crispy, high protein, and so easy to make.

Save this easy dinner recipe for later and follow for more quick meal ideas.
High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑 All the High protein stuffed bell pepper pasta 🍝🫑

All the cozy stuffed pepper flavors but turned into a creamy cheesy skillet pasta that’s so easy for weeknights

Ingredients

12 oz pasta 
1 lb ground Italian chicken sausage or sausage of choice 
1 tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion diced
3 bell peppers diced
3 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1½ cups marinara sauce
1 cup blended 
¾ cup mozzarella cheese
¼ cup parmesan cheese
2 cups spinach

Instructions

cook pasta until al dente

brown sausage and cook peppers and onion until soft. Add to pasta. 

Blend the cottage cheese and marinara 

Stir the blended sauce and seasoning into the beverage and pasta mixture. 

add pasta spinach and cheese and stir until creamy
If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakf If you’ve been trying to make a really good breakfast burrito at home… this is the one.

Crispy hashbrown, bacon, creamy avocado, and a soft cheesy egg layer, all wrapped up and toasted until golden. It’s simple, filling, and always a hit.

How to make it
Cook 1 hashbrown patty until crispy
Cook 2 slices of bacon, then remove and leave a little fat in the pan
Whisk 2 eggs and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading thin
Top with cheese and keep the eggs soft (don’t overcook)
Fold into a rectangle and set aside

Assemble:
Mash 1/2 avocado with a little salt and mix with chopped bacon
Spread onto a warmed bun buntortilla
Add chopped hashbrown and the egg
Fold the sides in, then roll tightly

Tips:
Don’t overfill and make sure everything is tucked in well
Place seam side down in a pan to crisp the tortilla

Serve with hot sauce and you’re done

Save this one for later and follow for more easy meal ideas
One of my favorite things to order out. The Hills One of my favorite things to order out.

The Hillstone Dip Duo dupe. Smoky chipotle pimento cheese, fresh guac, salty tortilla chips… it’s dangerously good and PERFECT for Cinco de Mayo or any gathering. 

For the chipotle pimento cheese dip, mix together 1 cup freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Monterey Jack cheese, 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup softened whipped cream cheese, 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt, 2 tablespoons diced pimentos, 1 chipotle peppers in adobo (or half if you like it less Smokey)  plus a little adobo sauce, 1 tablespoon finely grated yellow onion, and Lawry’s seasoned salt to taste. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving so the flavors can meld together.  Let all your cheeses come to room temperature so they can blend easier.

For the guacamole, mash together 2 ripe avocados with finely diced onion, cilantro, fresh lime juice, and salt to taste.

Serve both dips side by side with salty tortilla chips @masa_chips

Save this Hillstone dip duo dupe for your next party, game day, or Cinco de Mayo spread
POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyo POV: you need a high-protein breakfast that everyone will eat. 

These high protein breakfast biscuits have been on repeat in my house. They’re easy, meal prep-friendly, and perfect for busy mornings when you need something you can just grab and go.

They’re packed with protein from eggs, sausage, cottage cheese, and cheese. 

Ingredients:
1 lb breakfast sausage
4 eggs (scrambled)
1 egg (mixed in)
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup low-fat shredded cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt + pepper

Cook the breakfast sausage in a skillet until browned. Push to one side and scramble 4 eggs.

Add sausage + eggs to a bowl with 1 more egg, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, flour, baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.

Scoop with a 2 tbsp scoop onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Bake at 375°F for about 18 minutes, or until golden. Makes about 15 biscuits.

These are high protein, freezer-friendly, and perfect for meal prep breakfasts 🙌

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