I always love to serve a fluffy breakfast strata Christmas morning because you can make it a day in advance and pop it in the oven when you are ready to eat.

This overnight breakfast strata is always a hit. The great thing is that you can adjust the recipe based on who you are serving and what you have in the fridge. In other words, if you don’t like meat, you can modify this recipe by adding all sorts of veggies.

Think of this breakfast egg casserole as the ideal base for a fluffy strata with any addition you need.

Make it on Christmas Eve after dinner, then let it chill overnight and bake it Christmas morning! You want it to sit in the refrigerator, so the custard really soaks up into the bread and all the flavors come together.

Easy overnight breakfast strata

This make-ahead breakfast strata is one of those recipes you'll turn to again and again. Assemble it the night before, let the bread soak up the rich egg custard overnight, and simply bake it in the morning. It's perfect for holiday breakfasts, brunches, baby showers, or when you have overnight guests.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 20

Course: Breakfast

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

Base
1 loaf about 10–12 cups day-old French bread or sourdough, cut into 1-inch cubes
8 large eggs
2½ cups whole milk
1 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Cheese
2 cups shredded cheese choose one or a combination
Sharp cheddar
Gruyère
Swiss
Monterey Jack
Mozzarella
Pepper Jack
Mix-Ins Choose 2–3
Meats
1 cup cooked breakfast sausage
1 cup diced ham
8 slices cooked bacon crumbled
Chorizo
Turkey sausage
Vegetables
Sautéed spinach
Mushrooms
Bell peppers
Green onions
Caramelized onions
Broccoli florets
Asparagus
Roasted tomatoes
Zucchini
Fresh Herbs
Chives
Parsley
Thyme
Basil

Method

1. Prepare the Baking Dish
Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
2. Layer the Ingredients
Spread half of the bread cubes in the dish.
Top with:
Repeat the layers.
3. Make the Custard
Whisk together:
Pour evenly over the casserole, gently pressing the bread down so it absorbs the custard.
4. Refrigerate
Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
5. Bake
Remove from the refrigerator while the oven preheats to 350°F (175°C).
Bake uncovered for 50–60 minutes, until the center is set and the top is golden brown.
Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Half the meatHalf the vegetablesHalf the cheeseEggsMilkHalf-and-halfDijon mustardGarlic powderOnion powderSaltPepper

Notes

1. Prepare the Baking Dish

Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.

2. Layer the Ingredients

Spread half of the bread cubes in the dish.

Top with:

Half the meat
Half the vegetables
Half the cheese

Repeat the layers.

3. Make the Custard

Whisk together:

Eggs
Milk
Half-and-half
Dijon mustard
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Salt
Pepper

Pour evenly over the casserole, gently pressing the bread down so it absorbs the custard.

4. Refrigerate

Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.

5. Bake

Remove from the refrigerator while the oven preheats to 350°F (175°C).

Bake uncovered for 50–60 minutes, until the center is set and the top is golden brown.

Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Some ingredients you can add to your fluffy breakfast strata:

Get creative friends! You can substitute bread with croissants, bagels or gluten free bread of any kind.
If your family loves meat then load the dish with sausage and bacon. If you are like me I like to add some veggies then add cheese and bacon to boot.

Add sautéed onions and mushrooms – or not up to you
Play with the herbs and add your favorites
Add broccoli or spinach
Switch up the cheeses, or use all cheddar

This recipe goes well with Latvian Piragi, recipe here.
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If you are looking for a light and refreshing dessert for a brunch, check out this super easy to make lemon pie.

Easy (Versatile) Overnight Breakfast Strata