Easy Breakfast Strata Recipe

family-friendly strata

Let's talk about the star of the morning - Broccoli, Ham, and Cheddar Strata!

Are you looking for a dish to make with your leftover holiday ham? Look no further! This breakfast strata recipe is a must-try.

It's warm, satisfying, and flavorful - like an edible hug. Not only does this recipe make a ton of food, but it also tastes just as good the next day.

That makes it perfect for making the night before a road trip! It's a great breakfast to ensure you and your family eat a full meal before hitting the road. When traveling, it's tempting to rush through breakfast or lunch before you leave, but the meal you eat before you depart is one of the most important.

Serving your kids a full meal that consists of protein and healthy fat can help alleviate their snack cravings, at least for a little while.

Ensure a hassle-free travel experience by packing these top 10 easy travel snacks for your next trip.

Don't let hunger pangs ruin your journey. Grab these snacks and enjoy the ride without worrying about food.

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Broccoli, Ham & Cheddar Breakfast Casserole (Strata)

Serves 4 

Prep Time: 15 minutes 

Inactive Prep Time: 8 hrs + 30-40 minutes of baking

Total Time: 8 hrs 45-55 minutes

Note: This recipe needs to be started the night before

Feel free to swap out veggies, meat, and cheese for any variations you like or have on hand! Just keep the bread, milk, and egg ratio the same, so everything sticks together.  

Ingredients

1 tbsp butter, for greasing the pan

6 slices of stale bread (I used brioche), cut into 1 ½ inch cubes - if you don’t have stale bread, cube it up and leave it uncovered on the counter for a few hours, or pop it into the oven 200F for an hour

1 cup frozen broccoli, thawed and cut into bite-size florets 

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

8 oz smoked ham, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 small red pepper, cut into 1-inch cubes 

5 large eggs

1 1/2 cups milk 

1 tbsp dijon mustard or ½ tsp dry mustard powder, optional but adds an excellent depth of flavor

Salt & pepper, to taste 

Instructions

To prepare for baking, start by greasing a 9x9 baking dish with butter and set it aside. Combine stale bread cubes, broccoli, cheddar cheese, ham, and red pepper in a large mixing bowl. Then, pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Whisk together eggs, milk, mustard (if using), salt and pepper using the same mixing bowl. Pour this mixture over the bread cubes and shake the pan. Press the bread cubes slightly to ensure they sit somewhat in the liquid. After that, cover the dish and refrigerate overnight.

When you are ready to bake, remove the dish from the fridge while you preheat your oven to 350F. Uncover the dish once the stove is hot and bake it for 30-40 minutes or until the bread is golden and puffed. Finally, slice and serve the dish while it is still warm.

Make the most of your breakfast and then hop over to my blog for some mouth-watering, family-friendly recipes that you won't be able to resist!