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slice of ham and swiss strata on a white plate with a green salad, gold fork and the rest of the breakfast casserole in a 9x13 behind it

Make-Ahead Ham and Swiss Strata

This super simple and utterly delectable breakfast casserole is the savory equivalent of bread pudding. Assemble the night before your brunch and make your morning a breeze.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Resting Time 8 hours
Total Time 9 hours 10 minutes
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American, Fusion
Servings 12
Calories 327 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 6 Croissants cubed
  • 2 C Swiss Cheese grated
  • 2 C Ham cubed
  • 2-3 Green Onions sliced, green and white parts both
  • 8 Eggs preferably organic and humane certified
  • 2 C Milk or half n half
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
  • 1 teaspoon Cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • Kosher Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoon Butter to dot before baking, optional

Instructions
 

  • Cube croissants, slice green onions and set up mise en place.
  • Beat together 8 eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add in your milk or half n' half and beat well. Add in your additional flavorings - in this case, mustard, spices, kosher salt and pepper.
  • First, place your base layer of croissant (or bread) cubes in the bottom of the casserole dish. Top with shredded cheese, then ham and green onions.
    Finally, pour the custard mix over top of everything. Pour slowly and carefully to ensure that the layers remain even.
    Use a spoon or spatula to gently press down any pieces that appear dry. It's fine if they poke back up - once they have a little liquid in there, the process should continue during the resting phase.
    Cover the assembled strata with a piece of tinfoil and pop it in the refrigerator to rest overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350F. Once the oven hits 350F, pull your assembled casserole from the fridge and pop it straight in the oven (keeping the foil top) on the middle rack.
    Bake for about 30 minutes, then pull off the foil and return it to the oven. Bake for another 30 minutes uncovered, until the internal temperature hits 165F.
    Allow the strata to rest for 5-10 minutes, then slice and serve. Enjoy!

Notes

  • No croissants? No problem! Opt for enriched breads like brioche, challah or burger buns instead.
  • Rest at least 4 hours prior to baking, and up to overnight.
  • For serving, feel free to add a fried egg over the top or a sauce on the bottom (e.g. bechamel) to make things a little fancier. A side salad offers a bit of acidity to cut through the richness, but is not required.
  • As long as the bread/croissant, milk, egg and cheese ratio remain the same, you can make this strata in any flavor profile you want. Read the blog post for easy customization ideas! 

Nutrition

Calories: 327kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 17gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 168mgSodium: 526mgPotassium: 220mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 727IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 218mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Cheap, Comforting, Easy, Special Occasion
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!