Bacon and Egg Breakfast Strata

Nothing starts a day like a bacon and egg breakfast strata. Laced with maple syrup, this heavenly combination of bacon and eggs, cheese and pistachios, is a great way to start the day!

It’s not every day I plan ahead and make breakfast the day before, but I couldn’t resist this breakfast strata.

I felt the need to spoil Alex a bit and since I knew he’d be departing soon I decided to make a nice leisurely breakfast.

After all, breakfast is the best way to start the day!

This sort of French toast with bacon strata, is made extra luscious with the addition of pistachios and cheese.

Imagine ordering French toast with bacon on the side. That’s kind of what this is except all in one bite.

Recently I checked out a book from the library that is loaded with maple syrup recipes, because well, it is a book on maple syrup.

If you love maple syrup as much as I do the Maple Syrup Cookbook is for you.

That’s where I found this super simple, loaded with bacon and cheese plus pistachios breakfast strata recipe.

Perfect for the holidays, this overnight casserole also has a touch of sage and who doesn’t love sage in the fall?

And wouldn’t you know, my lawn guy cut mine down. I do miss fresh herbs in the fall and my sage was doing quite nicely due to our warm fall weather.

Well, at least I had it available when I made this, because I really don’t like buying those little packages at the grocery!

But enough on sage… This simple breakfast casserole with bacon received a thumbs up from me and the men in the house.

It’s a basic strata recipe, meaning it’s a layered casserole of bread, eggs and cheese.

Nothing wrong with that combo in my book!

I took a few liberties with this overnight breakfast casserole, by using Trader Joes maple streusel bread.

This bread also makes great toast and French toast, but in this bread breakfast casserole loaded with maple syrup, I decided to up the maple quotient.

How could I not?

How do you make a breakfast strata?

This casserole begins with lots of crisp fried bacon. You do love bacon, don’t you?

That’s like the hardest part of the recipe, so I think you’ve got this!

From there it’s a matter of making the liquid mixture by combining cream, milk, maple syrup, the eggs and the seasonings.

Place your bread in the pan, sprinkle with half of the bacon, cheese and nuts. Then do this one more time.

Pour your egg  mixture over, cover with plastic wrap paced directly onto the strata. Press down to make sure your bread is submerged. If it isn’t, feel free to add a bit more milk, until it barely covers the bread.

What kind of bread can you use in a strata?

Though I used the maple streusel bread, challah, soft white or wheat would also work well.

How do you know when your breakfast strata is done?

Well, the cheese on top should be melted. The egg mixture should be set and not jiggly and the outside should be golden around the edges.

What to serve with a breakfast strata?

Keep it simple. A beautiful fruit salad would be divine but this would also work well with a simple green salad.

Because a strata is made with bread, a muffin or toast or a biscuit might be overkill!

This bacon egg casserole is savory and salty and a tad sweet. However making this with challah bread, instead of the maple streusel bread makes it less so.

In that case you may even want a drizzle of maple syrup on the top!

Fresh ground black pepper? Absolutely! It helps bring out the flavors of the maple and the contrast between the two is incredible!

Don’t be afraid to jazz up your seasonings, but sage really works well with this.

And cheese? This breakfast strata would be awesome and turn out creamier with a dollop of goat cheese through-out the middle. Or try Havarti, Swiss or Fontina. Yo can’t go wrong.

Though this is called a breakfast strata, it would also make a great dinner if you happen to love brinner like I do.

And if you have leftovers, they heats up well in the microwave or in the oven. Just cover so they don’t dry out.

I love a good breakfast strata recipe as evidenced by how many I’ve made. Honestly, it surprised me!

The bagel version is awesome, loaded with smoked salmon and everything bagels, and the salami strata with wine is very popular.

I know spring and summer are now ahead of us, but this artichoke strata is divine as is this summer basil pesto strata.

Check all of them out, because you can’t go wrong!

And don’t forget-if you don’t want to do a strata, one can never go wrong with a cinnamon roll!

Happy breakfast, brunch, brinner, supper everyone!

Need a Few More?

Mexican Overnight Casserole

Very Popular Reuben Strata

French Toast Strata with Pecan Praline Sauce

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