Italian Morning Strata Casserole
Italian Morning Strata Casserole layers crusty bread with spiced Italian sausage, tender spinach, and creamy fontina bound in a rich egg custard. Each slice is fluffy yet hearty, with herb notes of oregano, thyme, and rosemary and a gentle cayenne warmth. Perfect for a weekend brunch, holiday breakfast, or make-ahead crowd-pleaser.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook1 hr 30 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
- 1
Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and spread them in a single layer on the work surface; leave uncovered overnight to go stale.
- 2
Add olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat, then add the sausage. Cook, crumbling it with a spatula, for a few minutes until it just begins to brown. Add the onions, a large pinch of salt, black pepper, cayenne, oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Cook, stirring, until the onions soften and begin to turn translucent.
- 3
Transfer the mixture to a bowl, then spoon about 1 tablespoon of the rendered sausage fat back into the pan; return the pan to medium-high heat.
- 4
Add the spinach and cook, tossing with tongs, until it is just barely wilted and bright green. Transfer to a strainer to cool. Squeeze out any excess water and chop before using, or use scissors to snip into small pieces.
- 5
Whisk the eggs with salt until the yolks are incorporated into the whites. Whisk in the milk and set aside.
- 6
Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with olive oil. Cover the bottom with a single tight layer of the stale bread cubes. Evenly top with about 60% of the sausage mixture, then layer on 60% of the spinach, and scatter half the cheese over the top.
- 7
Add another layer of bread cubes on top, pressing down lightly with your hands to flatten. Top the bread with the remaining sausage and spinach. Ladle the egg and milk mixture evenly over the casserole. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- 8
Wrap tightly and refrigerate overnight.
- 9
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- 10
Bake the strata in the preheated oven until the top is lightly browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center reaches 150 degrees F (66 degrees C), about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- 11
Let the strata rest for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
- Calories 535.19 kcal High
- Protein 33.6 g Good Source
- Carbs 36.62 g Moderate
- Total Fat 28.34 g High
- Saturated Fat 11.38 g High
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source
- Cholesterol 330.09 mg High
- Sodium 1091.14 mg High
- Fiber 2.75 g Low Source
- Sugar 9.38 g Moderate
- Added Sugar 0.0 g Low Source
- Calcium 425.67 mg Good Source
- Iron 5.02 mg Good Source
- Potassium 250.99 mg Low Source
- Vitamin A 288.36 mcg_rae Good Source
- Vitamin C 16.02 mg Moderate
- Vitamin D 6.01 mcg Good Source
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Italian Morning Strata Casserole is an Italian breakfast recipe made with 14 ingredients. It takes about 2 hrs, serves 8, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Baby Spinach, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, and Dried Oregano. Each serving provides about 535.19 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Italian Morning Strata Casserole?
- It is an Italian casserole recipe made with 14 ingredients, usually served for breakfast or dinner or lunch.
- What is Italian Morning Strata Casserole made of?
- The main ingredients are Baby Spinach, Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Dried Oregano, Dried Rosemary. The full list of 14 is above.
- What goes well with Italian Morning Strata Casserole?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Italian Morning Strata Casserole?
- About 2 hrs in total: 30 mins to prepare and 1 hr 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 535.19 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Italian Morning Strata Casserole easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 11 steps.
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