Cheesy Breakfast Strata Roast Tomatoes (Printable Version)
Savory bread pudding layered with sharp cheddar, Gruyère, eggs, and sweet roasted cherry tomatoes for a comforting morning meal.
# What You Need:
→ Bread and Dairy
01 - 8 cups day-old crusty bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
03 - 1 cup grated Gruyère or Swiss cheese
04 - 6 large eggs
05 - 2 cups whole milk
06 - 1 cup heavy cream
→ Vegetables
07 - 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
09 - 2 cups fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Flavorings & Seasonings
10 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
13 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
14 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives or parsley, chopped
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss cherry tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, a pinch of salt, and pepper. Spread on the baking sheet, cut side up, and roast for 15 minutes until softened and caramelized. Set aside.
02 - Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
03 - Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion for 3–4 minutes until translucent. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
05 - Add bread cubes to the bowl and toss gently to coat evenly. Stir in sautéed onion and spinach, cheddar, and Gruyère until well distributed.
06 - Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Arrange roasted cherry tomatoes evenly over the top.
07 - Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes to set the custard.
08 - Remove foil and bake for another 20–25 minutes, until golden brown and set throughout.
09 - Let cool for 10 minutes to allow the strata to set. Sprinkle with fresh chives or parsley and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You can assemble it the night before and just pop it in the oven
- The roasted tomatoes become sweet and jammy, cutting through all that rich cheese
- It feeds six people with almost zero active cooking time in the morning
02 -
- The strata needs at least 30 minutes of covered baking to set properly before you uncover it
- Letting it rest for 10 minutes after baking makes serving much cleaner
- Day-old bread is non-negotiable, fresh bread will turn into a gummy mess
03 -
- Press the bread down gently into the custard to ensure even soaking
- If the top is browning too fast, tent loosely with foil