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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

  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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No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and I’ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeño, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeño if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeño, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5–7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggies—and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! 🌿
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joe’s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommé gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joe’s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ½ cup consommé)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
¾ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
¼ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ½ cup birria consommé, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommé if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommé if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes 🙃
Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. 
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To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
⅓ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if you’d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!
FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦 No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and I’ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeño, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeño if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeño, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5–7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggies—and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! 🌿
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joe’s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommé gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joe’s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ½ cup consommé)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
¾ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
¼ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ½ cup birria consommé, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommé if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommé if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes 🙃
Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
⅓ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if you’d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!
FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦 No ice cream mak FROZEN BISCOFF ICE CREAM BARS 🤎🍦

No ice cream maker needed! These are layers of Biscoff cookies filled with the creamiest homemade no-churn Biscoff ice cream and an extra swirl of cookie butter through the center.

Easy to make and perfect for summer

Comment ICE CREAM and I’ll send you the full recipe!

Save this for an easy summer dessert and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more simple, family-friendly recipes.
Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it Just out here doing my little tasks and calling it a day.
Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce T Peruvian-style chicken with creamy green sauce 

The chicken is smoky, garlicky and grilled until juicy, but the creamy cilantro green sauce is what really makes this recipe. I could put it on just about everything.

I kept the heat family-friendly by using just one seeded jalapeño, but you can always leave some of the seeds in or add another jalapeño if you like things spicy. Serve it with rice, grilled corn, potatoes or veggies for an easy summer dinner the whole family will love.

For the chicken:

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the creamy green sauce:

1 packed cup fresh cilantro
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 small jalapeño, seeds removed
1 garlic clove
Juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp grated parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp honey
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper

Whisk together the olive oil, garlic, lime juice, vinegar and seasonings. Add the chicken and toss until well coated. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Add all of the green sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and add another squeeze of lime or pinch of salt if needed. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Grill the chicken over medium-high heat for about 5–7 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until cooked through to 165°F. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slice and drizzle generously with the creamy green sauce.

Serve with rice, grilled corn, avocado, roasted potatoes or your favorite veggies—and definitely keep extra green sauce on the side.

Save this easy chicken dinner for later, share it with someone who needs new weeknight dinner ideas, and follow @gina_gibson_cooks for more easy, family-friendly recipes! 🌿
CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN Rich and cheesy, perfect com CHEESY BIRRIA RAMEN

Rich and cheesy, perfect  comfort food mashup I. 

I used our favorite @momofukugoods noodles, Trader Joe’s birria, and plenty of cheese. The birria consommé gets mixed right into the creamy cheese sauce, so you get that birria flavor in every bite. Finish it with onion, cilantro and plenty of lime. 

3 packages Momofuku noodles
1 package Trader Joe’s Beef Birria, cooked and shredded (reserve ½ cup consommé)
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces cream cheese
¾ cup milk
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup shredded Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella
1 ramen seasoning packet
¼ teaspoon cumin
Diced white onion, chopped cilantro, and lime wedges for serving

Cook the ramen noodles, then drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in the pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds.

Add the cream cheese, milk, ½ cup birria consommé, ramen seasoning, and cumin. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Reduce the heat to low and add the Monterey Jack mozarella cheese. Stir until melted.

Add the cooked ramen noodles and shredded birria beef and toss until everything is coated in the cheesy birria sauce. Add another splash of consommé if needed to loosen it up.

Top with diced onion, cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and extra consommé if you like.

Make sure to SAVE this one and FOLLOW along for more recipes 🙃
Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. I Summer hosting doesn’t have to be complicated. 
I kept this backyard dinner simple with crispy chicken sandwiches that were a HUGE hit! I lightly coated chicken tenders in @lafishyfry Louisiana Fish Fry Brand Seasoned Chicken Fry, fried them until perfectly golden, then piled them onto toasted buns with sliced cheddar and peppery arugula tossed in @Tessemaes Spicy Dill dressing. So simple, so good.
To round out the spread, I set out @powerupsnacks Power Up Premium Trail Mix for an easy snack, @sourpunchcandy Sour Punch Bites for a sweet treat, and served everything on @SOLOcup cups and plates, which made cleanup so easy.
#Tessemaes #LAFishFry #SOLOBoldHold #SourPunchXBabbleBox #PowerUp
No-bake peanut butter pie. Creamy peanut butter No-bake peanut butter pie. 

Creamy peanut butter filling, a chocolate cookie crust, and absolutely no oven required. 

For the crust:
16 Oreo-style cookies
4 tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup creamy peanut butter
⅓ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
6 ounces Cool Whip, thawed

Optional toppings:
Melted chocolate, crushed Oreo cookies, chopped peanut butter cups, or chopped peanuts.

Pulse the cookies into fine crumbs and mix with the melted butter. Press into a small pie dish and refrigerate while you make the filling.

Beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until light and creamy. Gently fold in the Cool Whip until everything is combined.

Spread the filling into the crust, smooth the top, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours, or overnight for the best texture.

Before serving, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with crushed Oreo cookies if you’d like.

Save this one for your next summer get-together!

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