Description

This Sausage Breakfast Strata is a savory, comforting dish perfect for breakfast or brunch gatherings. Made with fluffy bread cubes, sausage, onions, eggs, and cheddar cheese soaked in a rich custard mixture, this strata delivers a medley of flavors in every bite. Easy to prepare ahead of time, it’s an ideal make-ahead meal that bakes to golden perfection, giving everyone a satisfying start to their day.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Bread and Sausage Mixture

27 ounces sandwich bread (King’s Hawaiian preferred, crusts removed, cut into 1-inch cubes)
1 pound ground breakfast sausage (e.g., Jimmy Dean brand)
1/3 cup 100% pure maple syrup
4 tablespoons salted butter
4 sprigs fresh thyme
1 yellow onion, chopped (about 3/4 to 1 cup)
1 tablespoon garlic paste
8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (plus optional 1/2 cup for extra topping, if desired)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

Custard Mixture

6 large eggs
2 cups half & half
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

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Instructions

Prepare the Baking Dish
Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and set it aside. Remove the crust from the bread and cut it into 1-inch cubes. Discard the end pieces of the bread. Add the cubed bread to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
Cook the Sausage
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground breakfast sausage until no longer pink. Then, pour in the maple syrup and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the cooked sausage to the mixing bowl with the bread.
Prepare the Onion Mixture
Reduce the skillet heat to medium and melt the salted butter. Add the fresh thyme sprigs and chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the garlic paste and cook for 1 more minute, stirring to avoid burning. Remove the thyme sprigs and transfer the mixture to the mixing bowl.
Combine Bread Mixture
Add the shredded cheddar cheese and chopped parsley to the mixing bowl with the bread, sausage, and onion mixture. Stir and toss gently to combine, then transfer the mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Press the mixture down gently so it is evenly distributed.
Make the Custard
In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, half & half, sea salt, and black pepper. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the prepared bread mixture in the pan.
Refrigerate the Strata
Cover the baking dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to allow the bread and ingredients to soak in the custard.
Bake the Strata
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the strata for 40–50 minutes until it puffs up slightly and the top turns golden brown.
Serve
Slice the strata and serve immediately. For an extra touch of sweetness, drizzle additional maple syrup on top if desired.

Notes

You can substitute bacon for sausage, if preferred, to change up the flavor.
Feel free to use any soft bread like Brioche or Country White in place of King’s Hawaiian.
Make-ahead friendly: Prep the entire dish the night before and simply bake it the next morning.
Let the strata sit for a few minutes after removing it from the oven to make slicing easier.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 315
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 520mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 11g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 21g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 12g
Cholesterol: 125mg