Ina Garten Breakfast Strata is made with crispy baguette or sourdough bread, bacon, onion, garlic, fresh spinach, parmesan cheese, eggs, milk, salt, ground mustard, and black pepper. This easy Breakfast Strata recipe creates a delicious breakfast that takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to prepare and can serve up to 8 people.
🧡 Why You’ll Love This Breakfast Strata Recipe:
- Easy to Prepare: This recipe is straightforward and doesn’t require advanced cooking skills, making it perfect for anyone.
- Great for Feeding a Crowd: With generous portions, this strata is ideal for brunches or family gatherings, ensuring everyone gets a satisfying meal.
- Make-Ahead Convenience: You can prepare this dish the night before, allowing you to simply bake it in the morning and enjoy a stress-free breakfast.
- Balanced Flavors: The combination of crispy bacon, savory cheese, fresh spinach, and flavorful seasonings creates a deliciously balanced dish.
- Customizable: You can easily modify the ingredients to suit your preferences, such as using different types of cheese or adding extra vegetables.
🧅 Ina Garten Breakfast Strata Ingredients
- 8 cups (about a 12-ounce loaf) cubed bread (big chunks of a crispy baguette or sourdough loaf)
- 8 slices of uncooked bacon
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 3 packed cups fresh chopped spinach
- 1 and 1/2 cups shredded parmesan cheese
- 9 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- Optional garnish: fresh ground black pepper, flaky sea salt, and/or extra parmesan cheese
🥘 How To Make Ina Garten Breakfast Strata
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Grease a baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Layer the Bread: Put the cubed bread in the dish in one layer.
- Cook the Bacon: Cook the bacon in a pan until crispy, then chop it and put it on top of the bread.
- Cook the Vegetables: In the same pan, cook the onion until soft. Add garlic and spinach, and cook until the spinach wilts. Put this mixture on top of the bread and bacon.
- Add the Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded parmesan cheese over everything.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, ground mustard, and black pepper. Pour this mixture over the cheese.
- Refrigerate: Cover the dish and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat the Oven: Take the casserole out of the fridge and let it sit for 15 minutes at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 375°F (191°C).
- Bake the Casserole: Bake the casserole uncovered for 20 minutes. Then cover it with foil and bake for an additional 30-35 minutes until it’s browned and puffy.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh ground black pepper, flaky sea salt, and/or extra parmesan cheese if desired.
💭 Recipe Tips:
- Use Stale Bread: Using slightly stale bread helps it absorb the egg mixture better, giving you a more flavorful and cohesive strata.
- Cook Bacon Until Crispy: Make sure the bacon is crispy before adding it to the dish. This prevents it from becoming soggy during baking and adds a nice crunch to the strata.
- Press Down the Bread: After pouring the egg mixture over the bread and cheese, press down on the bread to ensure it is fully soaked. This helps to evenly distribute the liquid throughout the dish.
- Bake Until Firm and Puffy: Keep an eye on the strata during the final baking stage. It should be firm and puffy with a golden-brown top. If it jiggles in the center, it needs more baking time.
🌭 What To Serve With Breakfast Strata?
This Tasty Breakfast Strata goes well with fresh fruit salad, roasted potatoes, green salad, or yogurt parfait. You can also serve it with toast, sausages, hash browns, or a smoothie for a filling and tasty breakfast.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Breakfast Strata?
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Wrap the strata tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
🥵 To Reheat Leftovers Breakfast Strata?
- In The Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the strata in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
- In The Microwave: Place a portion of the strata on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes until warm.
- In The Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the strata in the air fryer basket and cook for 5-7 minutes until heated through.
FAQ’S:
Can I Use A Different Type Of Bread?
Yes, you can use any sturdy bread like French bread or ciabatta. Just make sure it’s slightly stale for the best texture.
What Can I Use Instead Of Bacon?
You can substitute bacon with cooked sausage, ham, or even a vegetarian option like mushrooms.
Can I Use Frozen Spinach?
Yes, but make sure to thaw and squeeze out excess water from the spinach before using it.
How Can I Tell If The Strata Is Done?
The strata is done when it is firm, puffed up, and golden brown on top. A knife inserted into the center should come out clean.
Why Is My Strata Soggy?
This could be due to using too much liquid or not allowing enough time for the bread to soak. Ensure you follow the recipe measurements and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Why Is My Strata Falling Apart?
This could be due to not pressing down the bread after adding the egg mixture or cutting it too soon after baking. Allow it to cool slightly before serving.
Ina Garten Breakfast Strata Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 278
- Total Fat: 14g
- Saturated fat: 6 g
- Polyunsaturated fat: 2g
- Monounsaturated fat: 5g
- Cholesterol:225mg
- Sodium: 946mg
- Carbohydrates: 15g
More Ina Garten Recipes:
- Ina Garten Overnight Breakfast Casserole
- Ina Garten Cacio E Pepe Eggs
- Ina Garten Granola Bars
- Ina Garten Mini Frittata
Ina Garten Breakfast Strata
Description
Ina Garten Breakfast Strata is made with crispy baguette or sourdough bread, bacon, onion, garlic, fresh spinach, parmesan cheese, eggs, milk, salt, ground mustard, and black pepper. This easy Breakfast Strata recipe creates a delicious breakfast that takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to prepare and can serve up to 8 people.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the Baking Dish: Grease a baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Layer the Bread: Put the cubed bread in the dish in one layer.
- Cook the Bacon: Cook the bacon in a pan until crispy, then chop it and put it on top of the bread.
- Cook the Vegetables: In the same pan, cook the onion until soft. Add garlic and spinach, and cook until the spinach wilts. Put this mixture on top of the bread and bacon.
- Add the Cheese: Sprinkle the shredded parmesan cheese over everything.
- Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, ground mustard, and black pepper. Pour this mixture over the cheese.
- Refrigerate: Cover the dish and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat the Oven: Take the casserole out of the fridge and let it sit for 15 minutes at room temperature. Preheat the oven to 375°F (191°C).
- Bake the Casserole: Bake the casserole uncovered for 20 minutes. Then cover it with foil and bake for an additional 30-35 minutes until it’s browned and puffy.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh ground black pepper, flaky sea salt, and/or extra parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Use Stale Bread: Using slightly stale bread helps it absorb the egg mixture better, giving you a more flavorful and cohesive strata.
- Cook Bacon Until Crispy: Make sure the bacon is crispy before adding it to the dish. This prevents it from becoming soggy during baking and adds a nice crunch to the strata.
- Press Down the Bread: After pouring the egg mixture over the bread and cheese, press down on the bread to ensure it is fully soaked. This helps to evenly distribute the liquid throughout the dish.
- Bake Until Firm and Puffy: Keep an eye on the strata during the final baking stage. It should be firm and puffy with a golden-brown top. If it jiggles in the center, it needs more baking time.