Italian Bacon Tomato Chicken Strata Recipes

BACON, TOMATO AND CHEESE STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Spray 8x8-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet, reserving 2 tablespoons of the drippings in skillet. Drain bacon on paper towels; set aside. Add onions and mushrooms to drippings in skillet; cook and stir 5 minutes, or until onions are crisp-tender. Crumble bacon. Add to vegetable mixture in skillet along with the diced tomatoes; mix well.
• Layer 4 slices of bread, half of the vegetable mixture and 3/4 cup of the cheese in prepared dish. Repeat layers. Beat eggs, milk, mustard, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper in medium bowl with wire whisk until well blended. Pour evenly over ingredients in dish; press bread gently into egg mixture. Let stand 10 minutes.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cut into 6 pieces to serve.

MAKE-AHEAD CHEDDAR, BACON, AND TOMATO STRATA

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• Whisk milk, eggs, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper together in a bowl until well combined.
• Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and arrange 1/2 of the bread cubes in the bottom.
• 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.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• 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.

ITALIAN BACON, TOMATO & CHICKEN STRATA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a lrg skillet, cook bacon over med-heat, drain on paper towels & set aside.
• Keeping a little bacon fat in the pan, add chicken, saute till cooked through & set aside.
• Cover the bottom of a 13x9 in baking dish w/focaccia slices. Cover bread w/tomato slices & then bacon. Cut chicken into thin slices & lay over the bacon. Top w/more focaccia.
• In a lrg bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, salt & pepper. Pour mixture over strata & sprinkle top w/cheese.
• Bake 35-45 min till cheese has melted & strata feels firm to the touch. Cut into 8 squares & serve hot.
• NOTE: Altho not mentioned, I assume this could be prepared the nite b4 intended to serve. I think it would make a great brunch or luncheon dish or work as well for a dinner meal when served w/an Italian salad of your choice. Enjoy!