Rita's Eggs Strata

Rating: 4.53 stars
60 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 37
  • 4 star values: 19
  • 3 star values: 3
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0

This is a wonderful recipe for a special occasion Brunch or Breakfast. Passed on to my by a dear friend, this has been a Christmas Morning tradition in my home for almost 10 years.

By Kandi Byrd

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Recipe Summary

prep:
30 mins
cook:
1 hr
total:
1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
12
Yield:
12 servings
Nutrition Info
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Ingredients

12
Original recipe yields 12 servings
The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

Directions

  • Spread butter onto one side of each slice of bread. Cut into quarters. Lay half of the bread, butter side down, in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with half of the Cheddar cheese and half of the Monterey Jack. Layer the remaining bread over the cheese, and top with the other halves of the cheeses.

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  • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, and milk. Stir in the brown sugar, salt, pepper, cayenne, onion powder, mustard powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the cheese and bread. Cover, and refrigerate at least 6 hours, preferably overnight.

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Bake the strata uncovered for 1 hour in the preheated oven. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Slice and garnish with fresh parsley.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:
458 calories; protein 24g 48% DV; carbohydrates 15.8g 5% DV; fat 33.4g 51% DV; cholesterol 213.7mg 71% DV; sodium 910.3mg 36% DV. Full Nutrition
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Reviews (53)

Read More Reviews

Most helpful positive review

chefjudge
Rating: 5 stars
04/25/2005
Just Fabulous. I wasn't sure where the recipe was going with the worchestershire sauce and all that savory stuff but boy oh boy this comes together to make a dish that is very tasty and classier than all those Sunday brunch easy-cheesy egg creations. I will keep this close at hand for future reference YUM! Be sure and use a firm bread I didnt have any stale bread so i just left mine out for a couple hours to dry out. The thing I liked about this is that you make it the night before (or longer) and it lets you make other wonderful fresh things to go with it a great helper for that spectacular brunch you are planning. Read More
Helpful
(85)

Most helpful critical review

Suzy
Rating: 3 stars
12/23/2006
This had a good flavor but needed work so I am giving it 3 stars. I recommend more butter using french bread and putting a cover on until the last 15 minutes so that the cheese doesn't burn. You will need more than 1 hour to cook this. I also recommend adding meats or vegetables like ham sauteed spinach or mushrooms that have been pressed to remove water. The savoury flavor is a 5 though. Read More
Helpful
(60)
60 Ratings
  • 5 star values: 37
  • 4 star values: 19
  • 3 star values: 3
  • 2 star values: 1
  • 1 star values: 0
Reviews:
Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest
chefjudge
Rating: 5 stars
04/25/2005
Just Fabulous. I wasn't sure where the recipe was going with the worchestershire sauce and all that savory stuff but boy oh boy this comes together to make a dish that is very tasty and classier than all those Sunday brunch easy-cheesy egg creations. I will keep this close at hand for future reference YUM! Be sure and use a firm bread I didnt have any stale bread so i just left mine out for a couple hours to dry out. The thing I liked about this is that you make it the night before (or longer) and it lets you make other wonderful fresh things to go with it a great helper for that spectacular brunch you are planning. Read More
Helpful
(85)
Suzy
Rating: 3 stars
12/23/2006
This had a good flavor but needed work so I am giving it 3 stars. I recommend more butter using french bread and putting a cover on until the last 15 minutes so that the cheese doesn't burn. You will need more than 1 hour to cook this. I also recommend adding meats or vegetables like ham sauteed spinach or mushrooms that have been pressed to remove water. The savoury flavor is a 5 though. Read More
Helpful
(60)
JCLONGACRE
Rating: 5 stars
12/24/2004
This was an excellent choice for breakfast the morning I graduated from Washington State University. I had all my family and friends over and the feedback was incredible! My Mom and I loved it so much we are making it again now for Christmas morning breakfast. We did make a small change by splitting the recipe in half making one have the way Rita would and in the other half we added sausage. EXCELLENT RECIPE....HIGHLY RECCOMMEND!!! Read More
Helpful
(52)
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Katherine Wright
Rating: 5 stars
12/30/2007
I've made several of these breakfast type casseroles for special occassions ove the years an this is by far the best. It's filling and fluffy at the same time! I followed the directions as written and it worked well. I get lots of requests for this recipe (from young and old alike). Read More
Helpful
(38)
Sherri
Rating: 5 stars
02/10/2008
Delicious! I wanted to make this in my large casserole dish (a little bigger than 9X13) so I used 12 slices of bread and 2 more eggs. I also added 1 1/2 cups of chopped ham and 1 cup of chopped onion layered like the other ingredients. It was the perfect amount for the dish. I also cut the crusts off before baking - maybe not necessary but I wanted it to look elegant. It took a lot longer to bake than 1 hour but I had two in the oven at the same time (2 hrs. total bake time). I did loosely cover it with foil for the first hour and the browning was just right. Everyone loved it and I will definitely be making this again. Read More
Helpful
(31)
David Griggs
Rating: 5 stars
10/14/2008
I had a Strata recipe for an 8x8 dish but needed more (didn't want to double my recipe for some reason). Rita's Eggs Strata is THE STRATA for an 8-1/2 x 13 dish. But alas every chef has to mess with perfection.... I added 1 pound of browned breakfast sausage to which was added 1/2 medium chopped onion and 1/2 medium chopped green bell pepper - and a small can of drained mushrooms.... mmmmmm. The additions are not necessary... but I believe toasting your bread first (don't just rely on day old being dry enough) is the key to a great quality strata with just the right consistency. This was the best strata I ever made... and was twice as nice the next day. Read More
Helpful
(19)
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JODI
Rating: 5 stars
12/31/2006
Served this to my husband and picky stepchildren Christmas morning. Everyone loved it! This will become a tradition in our home for Christmas morning. I added chopped ham mushrooms and green pepper although it would have been delicious without also. Read More
Helpful
(17)
RobbieA
Rating: 5 stars
01/11/2006
This is an awesome recipe. Your diners will always ask for seconds. I added some chopped ham on the first layer plus some chopped green onions (and deleted the onion powder). SO GOOD! Read More
Helpful
(13)
Lynda
Rating: 5 stars
12/07/2006
I made this for a large group and got great reviews on it. I added ham green peppers mushrooms & green onion to mine & baked 15 minutes longer to make sure it wasn't runny. This recipe is a keeper! Read More
Helpful
(9)
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