Sausage Strata: the effortless breakfast recipe for a tasty sausage cheese strata

Sausage strata is an easy, tasty breakfast recipe to feed a crowd. Crisp on the outside and super tender on the inside, it's a savory dish rich thanks to cheese and sausages.

Super easy to make, just whip up all the ingredients in a casserole and bake until golden brown. You can even make it the night before and pop it in the oven the next morning as we did.

This sausage strata recipe is a very good option when choosing a dish that everyone likes and that is ready in no time, especially during the holidays. It has the shape of a cake or lasagna which makes it very convenient when serving it. Customize this recipe by adding your favorite ingredients such as veggies, or extra proteins.

What is a Strata?

The strata is a typical layered egg casserole that's usually enjoyed in the morning or at brunch. Also known as breakfast strata or breakfast casserole, it is a very popular recipe in the United States since the early 1900s.

It is similar to a bread pudding, but much more flavorful and savory. Best of all, you can customize it to your own taste.

Sausage Strata Variations

You can replace cheddar cheese with another melting cheese of your choice such as mozzarella, fontina, gouda, gruyère.

You can add also other proteins. Ham, bacon, turkey or even tofu are great options.

If you want to make your sausage strata a little bit more green, you can add your favorite vegetables. Try a version with bell peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, spinach, or kale.

Can you make a Strata ahead of time?

Yes! You can make the batter the night before and then bake the strata the next day. Simply cover it while rests overnight.

Tips for making the Best Breakfast Strata

Use a crusty bread or sour dough loaf for this recipe, especially if you are planning to make the strata sit overnight. A softer bread will be too soggy if you let it soak for more than 3 hours.

Whole milk is perfect for making a strata. Do not use another one otherwise more liquid than necessary may leak out during cooking, causing the layer at the bottom of the casserole to get soggy.

How to store Sausage Strata

You can store sausage strata in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Can you freeze Sausage Strata?

Yes! You can freeze a whole strata when it's baked for up to 2 months. Before freezing, wrap it with one or two layers of foil.

Cover and reheat it frozen in the oven for about 30 minutes or until warm enough. If you have frozen strata in individual portions, you can also reheat them in the microwave for about 3-5 minutes.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Cut the slices into pieces of bread. Place it into a baking sheet. Cook the bread for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cut the sausage into pieces, add the sausage and cook for 5 minutes in a pan over medium-high heat. When they are soft but crispy. Remove from the fire.

With a blender by hand, add the milk, cream, eggs, mustard, salt and spices in a very large bowl until completely mixed. Grease a casserole dish with butter. Place the bread on the bottom.

Top with the sausages and the milk mixture. Let stand for at least 12 hours. When the bread has absorbed the liquid, sprinkle with the grated cheddar cheese.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until inflated and firm in the center. Remove from the oven. Let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.