All your favorite breakfast staples come together in an easy to make Sausage and Apple Breakfast Strata. Perfect for breakfast or brunch and it can even be made the night before.
This delicious egg and bread based strata is full of savory and sweet flavor and satisfying texturesโthe perfect breakfast or brunch for family, friends, holidays, or all of the above. It has become quite a tradition in our home to make this yummy dish when we have company and want to gather for a fun breakfast together. Make this breakfast of champions and kick cold cereal out of the strata-sphere (see what we did there?).
This rich strata combines the flavors and textures of savory maple sausage, fresh sage, sweet apple, eggs, and sharp Parmesan cheese. But it isnโt just delicious, sweet and savory, itโs also a perfectly satisfying way to start your day. This is a great dish to serve family or friends for a breakfast or brunch get-together, especially over a vacation or holiday. You can also make it the night before, so your morning can be spent visiting instead of cooking.
What is a breakfast strata?
A strata is an egg-based breakfast casserole, much like a quiche or a frittata, that has a bread-based element to it. In this recipe we use English muffins as our bread element, but you could also use croissants, bagels, or a crusty sourdough baguette.
Can I use dried sage in Sausage and Apple Breakfast Sausage?
Yes. Fresh is best, but two teaspoons of dried sage will work in place of the fresh sage in this recipe.
What kind of sausage should I use?
We recommend using a ground maple sausage because it has amazing flavor, but a mild Italian sausage or a country-style sausage will work as well. If you can’t find a ground sausage you like, or you simply prefer a sausage in a casing, you can make adjustments to this recipe to accommodate whole sausage as well. You’ll want to cook the sausage and then slice it.
What kind of apple should I use?
There are hundreds of varieties of apples so it can be hard to know which to purchase. There are a number of commonly sold apples that are great for baking. Green apples like Granny Smith provide a nice tart flavor and are great for baking. Other yellow and red varieties that are good for baking include Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Gala, Braeburn, Jonathan, Fuji, and Pink Lady.
Can I use milk instead of half and half?
No. Plain milk doesnโt have enough fat to blend correctly with this dish. If you donโt have or canโt get half and half, you can mix one cup of milk with one cup of heavy cream.
Make Ahead Instructions:
This recipe can easily be made ahead the night before and store in the refrigerator. Simply follow all instructions and compile the entire recipe. Instead of baking, cover the dish with plastic wrap, overnight, and bake it in the morning as directed. This is a great way to prepare for a hassle-free morning.
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
This breakfast casserole is best eaten fresh. However, you can always store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave in 30 second increments until warmed through.
If youโre looking for other amazing breakfast recipes, here are some others we love:
- One Pan Breakfast Bake
- Gingerbread Pancakes
- Sheepherderโs Breakfast
- Best French Toast Ever
- Simple Sausage Gravy
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and weโve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
who would have thought that an egg dish with apples would be good. It was a little difficult to find maple sausage but found at BJ’s. Unlike some egg casseroles this was very light where others tend to be dense. Although it will not be my go to recipe I look forward to making it again for a brunch.
This is our favorite breakfast casserole of all time! The flavors all work together perfectly. It has been our Christmas morning go-to for several years now!
I made this recipe for a gathering yesterday. It was GREAT!! I prepped it the night before, and baked it in the morning. I used dried sage….. And I might add another apple. I would definitely make it again!
This is amazing!! Wouldn’t have thought of making something like this and using these flavour combinations but it works really well. Couldn’t find provolone so used mozzarella and it worked just fine.
Haven’t even baked it yet and the fragrance is making my mouth water . Baking tomorrow for brunch.
My family LOVED this, Rachel! My goal was to make this one afternoon so that I could freeze for breakfast on the go, but I ended up just serving it that evening along with a salad for dinner! It was delicious and everyone had seconds. I did have a little left over for breakfast the next day, but I will definitely be making again. Love your recipes, I can always depend on them being delicious. Thanks for the videos, they help a lot!!
How many servings does this make?
It serves about 8.