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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

Trackbacks

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Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you cook the egg thin in the pan and let the bagel halves press right into it — no sliding eggs, no mess. 

Lightly toast the bagel. Whisk the eggs with a little salt and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading it thin. When the egg is almost cooked through, place the two bagel halves on top, pressing gently — this holds the egg in place and keeps it from sliding out. Flip the pan so the bagel side is down and the egg side is up onto a plate. Add your toppings, fold any extra egg over the top, and close the sandwich.

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Another winner from @TestKitchen, where every recipe is tested to make sure it works at home. And at under 45 minutes, this one is definitely going into my weeknight rotation.
 
Want to try it? Comment RECIPE and I’ll send you a link to trial America’s Test Kitchen and get the recipe. You can also find the link in my bio.

And be sure to give @TestKitchen a follow for more tested, reliable recipes!
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Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.
This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything you want from a fall bake — a soft, spiced crumb, juicy apples, a cinnamon swirl running through the center, and a buttery crumb topping on top.

Comment “APPLE” and I’ll send you the full recipe!
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Comment “MEATBALL” and I’ll send you the full recipe!
Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you cook the egg thin in the pan and let the bagel halves press right into it — no sliding eggs, no mess. 

Lightly toast the bagel. Whisk the eggs with a little salt and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading it thin. When the egg is almost cooked through, place the two bagel halves on top, pressing gently — this holds the egg in place and keeps it from sliding out. Flip the pan so the bagel side is down and the egg side is up onto a plate. Add your toppings, fold any extra egg over the top, and close the sandwich.

Use a low carb or regular bagel, both work great. I love bagels from @westernbagel
Save this sandwich — your fall grilled cheese. Bu Save this sandwich — your fall grilled cheese.

Buttery, golden sourdough stuffed with melty brie, sharp white cheddar, jammy caramelized onions, and crisp apple slices. It’s creamy, sweet, tangy, and toasted to perfection.

Use sourdough or whatever bread you love, and make extra caramelized onions — you’ll want them again tomorrow.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad This is exactly th Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad

This is exactly the kind of dinner I want during the week—crispy chicken, plenty of sauce, and melted cheese, without making dinner more complicated than it needs to be.

Another winner from @TestKitchen, where every recipe is tested to make sure it works at home. And at under 45 minutes, this one is definitely going into my weeknight rotation.
 
Want to try it? Comment RECIPE and I’ll send you a link to trial America’s Test Kitchen and get the recipe. You can also find the link in my bio.

And be sure to give @TestKitchen a follow for more tested, reliable recipes!
This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite w This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite ways to switch up lunch this time of year. Sweet apple, crunchy celery, and a lightened-up dressing come together for something that’s fresh, filling, and way better than the usual mayo-heavy version. Serve it on a bed of lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers. Make sure you’re following @gina_gibson_cooks for more recipes. 

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.

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