Quick Strata

Quick strata recipe

The Spruce / Victoria Heydt

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 8 servings

Perfect for breakfast, lunch, brunch or even dinner, this savory bread pudding goes together fast and is packed with flavor.

Using eggs, bread, and cheese as a base also makes it relatively inexpensive. Experiment with other breads and/or cheeses for taste variations. The strata can also be baked in a rectangular glass baking dish rather than pie plates if you prefer.

This recipe is included in "Southern Living: The Half-Hour Hostess," from Rebecca Kracke Gordon.

Ingredients

  • 7 ciabatta bread slices (3/4-inch thick)
  • 5 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup onion (pre-chopped, frozen or refrigerated)
  • 8 ounces Mexican four-cheese blend (shredded)
  • 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese (shredded)
  • 1 (4.5 ounce) can chopped green chilies (drained)
  • 1 (2-ounce) jar diced pimiento (drained)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for quick strata
    The Spruce / Victoria Heydt
  2. Tear the bread into bite-size pieces to equal 6 cups, firmly packed. 

    Tear bread up
    The Spruce / Victoria Heydt
  3. Combine the eggs, whipping cream, half-and-half, onion, Mexican cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, chilies, and pimiento in a large bowl.

    Combine eggs
    The Spruce / Victoria Heydt
  4. Gently stir in the bread pieces.

    Gently stir in pieces
    The Spruce / Victoria Heydt
  5. Pour the bread mixture into lightly greased 9-inch-deep pie plates. 

    Pour bread mixture into pan
    The Spruce / Victoria Heydt
  6. Bake at 425 F for 20 to 22 minutes or until browned and set. Serve immediately.

    Strata baked
    The Spruce / Victoria Heydt

Recipe Tips

  • Fry up some crisp bacon or Canadian bacon, add hash browns, and toasted English muffins or whole wheat bread. Add some seasonal fruit salad on the side, fresh-squeezed orange juice and rich, steaming coffee, espresso or lattes.
  • If it's brunch, serve mimosas or bloody marys instead of juice for a little glam and substitute a vegetable casserole for the fruit salad if you'd like a bit more heft.
  • If you are serving these savory strata for dinner, keep the bacon or Canadian bacon on the menu. Substitute a rich, cheesy potato casserole for the hash browns and add a green vegetable like steamed green beans or broccoli with simple salt-and-pepper seasoning so the vegetable doesn't compete with the main dish.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
417 Calories
23g Fat
28g Carbs
23g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 417
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 23g 30%
Saturated Fat 14g 68%
Cholesterol 170mg 57%
Sodium 655mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Protein 23g
Calcium 475mg 37%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)