Hearty homemade breakfasts bring the family together and start the day off on a pleasant, positive note. An ideal breakfast consists of a variety of healthful foods, such as protein, dairy, whole grains and fruits or vegetables. One way to incorporate many of these foods into a single dish is by making a breakfast strata. A breakfast strata is a layered dish containing eggs, bread, cheese and other items such as meat and veggies. These easy breakfast strata recipes will help you whip up a nourishing breakfast any day of the week.
Make-Ahead Breakfast Strata
This breakfast strata recipe is perfect for weekday breakfasts or brunch when guests are invited, as you can do most of the work the night before. Day old bread works great in this recipe, and you can add or substitute any cheese and vegetables you have on hand.
Ingredients
10 slices bread
1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped
2 cups Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cups ham, diced
8 eggs
2 cups milk
Directions
Grease a 9×13 baking dish. Tear five slices of bread into small pieces and spread in the bottom of the dish. Spread peppers and mushrooms over the bread. Top the vegetables with one cup of cheese. Tear the remaining bread into pieces and spread into another layer. Top with ham, onion and cheese. Beat eggs and milk together and pour over the layers in the pan. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours. When ready to serve, preheat oven to 350 F. Bake with foil on for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10 to 15 minutes until golden.
Low Carb Breakfast Strata
If you are watching your carb intake, you can still enjoy a breakfast strata. This breakfast strata recipe omits bread but is bursting with flavor, thanks to the savory sausage, salty feta cheese and flavorful veggies. For a spicy kick, add a small can of diced green chilies.
Ingredients
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 large green bell pepper, chopped
1-2 tsp. olive oil
1 cup crumbled feta
1 pound breakfast sausage
3 scallions, sliced
18 eggs
Pepper to taste
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 F. Spray 9X13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add mushrooms and sauté until softened, about four minutes. Spread mushrooms in bottom of baking dish. Sauté bell peppers until softened, about five minutes. Layer peppers over mushrooms. Crumble feta cheese over top of mushroom-pepper mixture. Crumble sausage in the cooking pan and brown over medium heat. Spread browned sausage in a layer over the feta cheese. Sprinkles scallions over the sausage. Beat eggs with black pepper. Pour over ingredients in the baking dish. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the breakfast strata is firmly set and golden brown.
Crockpot Breakfast Strata
Set up your slow cooker the night before and this breakfast strata recipe will be ready and waiting when you awaken in the morning. Experiment with different varieties of cheese and meats to come up with even more breakfast strata recipes for your crockpot.
Ingredients
8 ounces French or Italian bread, cubed
8 ounces chopped ham
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
2 tablespoons onion powder
6 eggs
3 1/4 cups half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
Directions
Coat the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Cut bread into cubes. Layer half in the bottom of the crockpot. Layer ham over the bread. Top ham with 1/2 cup of cheese. Sprinkle with one tablespoon onion powder. Spread the remaining bread into another layer. Mix the eggs, salt, pepper and hot sauce in a large mixing bowl. Beat well and pour into crockpot. Sprinkle with remaining onion powder. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cook on low for three hours. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Breakfast strata recipes refrigerate and reheat well. Store in single servings and reheat in the microwave for a quick and healthy breakfast any time.
