Easy Cheese Overnight Italian Strata: An easy and delicious Italian Strata recipe with pancetta, gruyere, and parmesan cheese. Soak leftover bread in eggs and milk, then bake!
Here’s my latest obsession: Overnight Strata.
I have been on such a leftover bread kick lately! It started with the Greek Panzanella. Then there was the Costa Rican Bread Pudding.
Now, it’s all about the Strata Italian.
This just pure brilliance. Essentially, you throw your leftover cut-up bread into a baking dish along with some goodies (pancetta and cheese, anyone?), then soak it in eggs and milk overnight. Throw it in the oven the next morning and you’re in carb-egg-cheese Italian breakfast strata heaven.
It comes out all bubbly and brown with those wonderful crispy-crunchy edge pieces that the husband and I fight over.
This is so perfect for breakfast or brunch when you have overnight guests, but it also works well for lunch and dinner.
If you’re feeling really crazy you could make a strata in individual muffin tins and pack them to go! Alas, I only thought of that idea just now so I’ll have to settle for cutting myself a big piece and slapping it down on a plate.
I find that this overnight breakfast strata recipe tastes best if you serve it using a hodgepodge of mismatched serving pieces, utensils, and plates.
Okay, not really, but I don’t have any other excuse for the haphazardness of my kitchen.
Just trust me on this overnight strata recipe. Go forth and make it!
Easy Cheesy Overnight Italian Strata Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 4 oz. thinly sliced pancetta - coarsely chopped
- 1 small onion - chopped
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 8 c. cubed Italian bread - from a 1-pound loaf
- 2 c. coarsely grated Gruyère cheese
- 1/2 c. finely grated Parmesan
- 3 c. whole milk
- 10 large eggs
Instructions
- Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and sauté pancetta until crisp. Remove and set aside. Add the olive oil to the pan and let heat for 30 seconds. Add the onions and garlic, then sauté for five minutes. Turn off the heat and set aside.
- Spread one third of the bread cubes in a well-buttered 3-quart baking dish. Top with one-third of pancetta, one-third of onion mixture and one-third of each cheese. Repeat layering twice with remaining bread, pancetta, onions and cheese.
- Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour evenly over the strata, then cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 8 hours or up to one day.
- The next day, let it stand at room temperature while preheating the oven to 350°F. Bake uncovered 45 to 55 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
NOTES
Nutrition
I will DEFINITELY make this! The recipe and photos, at first, made it appear to be a bit complicated and time consuming, but the video put it all into perspective. You were a natural in front of the camera! I agree with the comment of one of your many readers…You could be the next Food Network Star! Perhaps, for convenience, you could insert a link to the video on this recipe page for your fans. Also, just so you know, I’m certain I speak for all of us who subscribe to your blog, that we appreciates your efforts to provide us with simple and delicious recipes we can make in our own kitchens without a lot of fancy and expensive equipment. I always look forward to your emails. Keep it up! Larry
Thank you so much, Larry!! It’s so nice to get positive feedback 🙂 I’m going to put a link to the video in the Strata post right away – can’t believe I didn’t think about that! Thanks for reading, it really means a lot to me!
Love stratas – have been making one for Christmas morning for about 30 years now
It’s the perfect breakfast dish for company! If I ever start a bed and breakfast, it will be allll stratas 🙂
I love stratas. It makes it easy to cook for a number of people. They can be used for main dishes as well. BUT the best part is that they microwave wonderfully if you are lucky enough to have leftovers.
Such a good point, Carol!!
Love the dishes that do all the work overnight so that deliciousness awaits you in the morning! Pinned this girl, can’t wait to try it. Beautiful pics!
I’m such a sucker for overnight dishes, too, Krista! Thank you for the compliment 🙂
So great that this is chilled overnight! Then it’s so easy for the morning. It looks so comforting and delicious too!
Thanks, Laura! It really was a rib-sticking breakfast. Heaven, I tell you!