Name: Spinach and Sausage Strata
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 cups Grainy Whole Wheat Bread, sliced into 1-inch cubes; 12 Eggs; 2 cups Milk, I have used both 1% or whole, and both work well; 2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard; 20 oz Frozen Spinach, squeezed to remove water*; 1 Red Onion, diced and sautéed; 12 ounces Sausage, cooked and crumbled, I prefer organic Italian turkey sausage; 2.5 cup Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, grated

This is one of my favorite dishes for a super easy winter brunch. It is basically a savory bread pudding loaded with spinach, sausage, and cheese with a crispy crouton-like top. The strata is assembled the day before, allowing for a leisurely morning while it bakes. Oh, and it is a great use for leftover soon-to-be-stale bread. I pre-cut my bread ends and store them in the freezer until there are enough to make the strata. The recipe is loosely based on a spinach strata recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I doubled the spinach (no one complained), added turkey sausage, swapped out the white bread for a whole wheat bread with seeds and grains for extra texture, and used my family’s favorite extra sharp white cheddar.

Spinach and Sausage Strata

Yield: 8 people

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

A delicious and hearty make-ahead family favorite for breakfast or brunch!

Ingredients

6 cups Grainy Whole Wheat Bread, sliced into 1-inch cubes
12 Eggs
2 cups Milk, I have used both 1% or whole, and both work well
2 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
20 oz Frozen Spinach, squeezed to remove water*
1 Red Onion, diced and sautéed
12 ounces Sausage, cooked and crumbled, I prefer organic Italian turkey sausage
2.5 cup Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, grated

Instructions

The day or night before:

In a large bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, and mustard until combined.
Add bread cubes, spinach, sautéed onions, cooked sausage, and cheese. Stir until combined
Transfer to a buttered casserole dish
Cover and refrigerate overnight, up to 24 hours.

The next day:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F
Remove the strata from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature
Bake for 50 minutes, or until fully cooked. Strata will appear puffed, the center will no longer jiggle, and the top will be toasted and resemble croutons
Let cool for 10 minutes prior to serving

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 8
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 513

Serve with a salad for a delicious, easy brunch with friends. Recipe serves 8.

*Note: Spinach is a vegetable that I choose to purchase organic. Read more on pesticides and produce.

healthy brunch spinach sausage strata — This spinach and sausage strata transforms leftover whole grain bread into a crispy and cheesey brunch dish.

Nutrition information (per serving, assuming 1% milk):

513 calories
2 g added sugar (from the bread)
3 g fiber (from the spinach, bread, and onion)
32 g protein (from the cheese, egg and sausage)