20 Frittata and Strata Recipes Just Right for Brunch or Dinner
What unites the delicious frittata and it's bready casserole counterpart, the strata, is the mighty egg. Both stratas and frittatas are incredibly versatile dishes, and we think they're just the thing for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner.
You've likely heard of a frittata, and while everyone has their favorite recipe, we think the perfect rendition is one with zucchini and provolone, as shown here. Whatever ingredients you choose, every frittata is a dish of Italian origins that resembles a round, open-faced omelet or crustless quiche. The frittata is the ultimate "everything but the kitchen sink" recipe, where eggs and the various nubs of cheese and ends of veggies or meat are all you need to make something fabulous. Frittatas also make a mighty fine blank canvas for displaying beautiful in-season produce all year round, be it sliced heirloom tomatoes or earthy sautéed mushrooms.
While not as quick as an egg scramble, frittatas still come together quite fast for those occasions where you're wanting something prettier and sliceable. If you have eggs, 20 minutes, and a good nonstick skillet, then you can have an easy and delicious lunch or dinner using nothing but leftovers and forgotten produce!
Where a frittata is the last-minute hero of mealtime, a strata could be more aptly described as the calculated general. Right at home in the casserole family, a strata at its simplest is a mixture of stale bread, eggs, and cheese, though we like to think of that as a starting point—mix-ins like crumbled sausage or bacon, sautéed greens, and leftover cooked veggies like mushrooms will make wonderful additions and help add interest and texture.
Stratas are a natural candidate for assembling the night before—the more time you give the egg mixture to soak into the bread, the more custard-like the final texture will turn out. Then, come morning, all you'll need to do is turn your oven on and bake it, making stratas the perfect anchor dish for an easy brunch or for a holiday morning. A bonus: Because stratas are so dense, they will stay warm on the counter for at least an hour, so they're great to put out for guests who prefer to graze.
So, whether you flip through this collection of recipes and get inspired to make an elegant frittata for lunch, or you're finally ready to put that old baguette in your freezer to use in a strata, learn to speak their language by following a few of these recipes at first, then forge your own path with whatever ingredients you have on hand.
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Vegetable Frittata with Roasted Potatoes and Garlic
A great way to use up the leftover roasted potatoes from the night before, this frittata uses the "more the merrier" approach when it comes to its vegetable additions.
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Spinach-Bacon Frittata
While this dairy-free frittata is loaded with enough vitamin-rich spinach to earn Popeye's approval, the handful of crumbled bacon thrown in keeps it indulgent enough for Sunday brunch, too.
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French Toast Bread Pudding
Are you new to making strata, or do you just want something simple and classic? This savory cheese-and-herb riff is the basic-but-delicious version you're looking for.
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Blistered Green-Bean and Corn Frittata
This farm-fresh frittata will put your seasonal produce to work but requires very little effort from you—making it the perfect lunch or dinner choice for a long summer day meant for lazing.
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Ham, Zucchini, and Gruyere Frittata
Another summer stunner, this eggy main meal comes together super-fast—in under 30 minutes!—thanks to quick-cooking zucchini and ham from the deli. Enjoy it as a light lunch with a side salad, or make it on Sunday for a grab-and-go breakfast all week long.
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Swiss Chard Frittata with Rye Berries
For a superfood slam dunk, try this stunning frittata for size. Rye Berries—which are the whole-grain form of rye wheat—add nutrition and heft to an egg mixture that also packs a whopping eight ounces of Swiss chard.
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Jewish Deli Strata
Inspired by bagels and lox, this fun little casserole combines rye bread, smoked salmon, dill, and capers with eggs and Havarti cheese for a brunch-ready bake you don't even need to leave the house for.
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Spinach Frittata Bites
If you're attending a potluck brunch or making afternoon appetizers, this recipe fills the quota for something small and sturdy that will look great on a platter. Naturally gluten-free, and delicious at room temperature, these bites are an easy crowd-pleaser—just don't forget to serve them with toothpicks and a garlicky aioli.
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Ham and Cheese Strata
Generous amounts of Dijon mustard and smoked paprika boost the eggy custard of this strata recipe, while diced ham, sharp cheddar, and sliced scallions provide a simple and kid-friendly flavor profile. The best part about this breakfast casserole is that you can assemble it the night before—come morning, just pop it in the oven and let it do its thing.
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Mushroom and Scallion Frittata
It's not just summer produce that gets to have all the fun in frittatas—perfecting your frittata technique will reap benefits for you all year long. Case in point: this wintry rendition that leans on flavorful shiitake mushrooms, tender scallions, and nutty Parmesan.
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Pasta and Cheese Frittata
Leave it to the Italians to come up with an ingenious way to use leftover cooked pasta! This recipe will revive your day-old noodles into something new, fresh, and fun.
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Pizza Frittata
Not to be outdone by its pasta-based counterpart, this pizza-themed frittata evokes all of the flavors of your favorite pie. Just serve with garlic bread on the side for a morning "dinner-for-breakfast" meal.
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Spinach and Cheddar Strata
This elegant egg bake earns instant presentation points for its mini portions—it's all baked in individual ramekins. Most strata recipes serve crowds of up to 12, but this delicious recipe serves just four, making it worth the bookmark for when you're feeding a smaller group.
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Frittata Hash Sandwich
Have eggs for lunch and use your freshly-made frittata as sandwich filling. It's great on toasted brioche and topped with all the usual fixings.
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Tomato Pesto Frittata
A technicolored summer standout, this frittata pops with the flavors of heirloom tomatoes and basil pesto. Trot it out for your next brunch and prepare to lap up the compliments.
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Sausage and Swiss Chard Strata
Hearty and homey are the words that come to mind when it comes to this cozy make-ahead casserole. Crumbled Italian sausage and tender Swiss chard make excellent window dressing to the rich egg custard and gruyère mixture.
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Mushroom, Cheddar, and Toast Frittata
Is it a frittata or a strata? This recipe straddles the line but we promise you this: You'll probably forget the question altogether after you take a bite.
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Mexican Frittata
A spicy store-bought salsa kicks the flavors of this vegetable frittata into high-gear, without leveling up on difficulty.
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Spinach and Fontina Strata
In this cheesy challah-based bake, melty and mild fontina brings the richness, while fresh baby spinach adds nutrition in spades.