Make-Ahead Cheddar, Bacon, and Tomato Strata

Easy to make ahead, chill overnight, and bake in the morning, this strata is full of flavor thanks to Cheddar, bacon, and tomatoes.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 383 Calories

Ingredients

• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 ¼ cups milk
• 3 slices bacon
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
• 6 large eggs
• cooking spray
• ¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil
• ¾ teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 cup vertically sliced onion
• 8 cups cubed Italian bread, divided
• 12 (1/2 inch thick) slices tomato, seeds removed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

Step 2

Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in the skillet. Crumble when cool enough to handle.

Step 3

Add onion to drippings in the skillet; saute for 4 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Remove from heat; combine onion mixture and bacon.

Step 4

Whisk milk, eggs, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper together in a bowl until well combined.

Step 5

Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and arrange 1/2 of the bread cubes in the bottom.

Step 6

Top bread cubes with 2/3 cup Cheddar cheese, 1/2 of the onion mixture, and 6 tomato slices. Pour 1/2 of the milk mixture over tomatoes. Top with remaining bread cubes and 2/3 cup Cheddar. Top with remaining onion mixture, tomato slices, and milk mixture. Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.

Step 7

Bake strata in the preheated oven, uncovered, for 55 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining Cheddar cheese and bake until cheese melts, an additional 5 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.