Spinach Mushroom Strata is a savory, comforting dish that’s perfect for brunch, lunch, or dinner. This casserole-style dish combines layers of sautéed spinach, earthy mushrooms, and hearty bread, all bound together with a rich, creamy custard. The result is a flavorful and satisfying meal that is both nourishing and easy to prepare. With its combination of vegetables, bread, and eggs, it’s a great way to incorporate more greens into your diet while enjoying a hearty, filling dish.
The base of this strata is made with day-old bread, which soaks up the creamy custard mixture made from eggs, milk (or a dairy-free alternative), and seasonings. The bread becomes soft and fluffy, but still maintains some texture, allowing the dish to hold together well. The spinach and mushrooms are sautéed together until tender, then layered with the bread and custard, creating a beautiful balance of flavors and textures.
Sautéing the mushrooms and spinach beforehand ensures that excess moisture is removed, so the strata doesn’t become soggy. The earthy flavors of the mushrooms complement the mild bitterness of the spinach, creating a savory combination that works beautifully in this dish. You can add additional seasonings such as garlic, thyme, or nutmeg for an extra burst of flavor. For a creamy finish, a sprinkle of cheese, such as mozzarella or Parmesan, can be added to the top before baking, creating a delicious, golden-brown crust.
Spinach Mushroom Strata is a great make-ahead dish, as it can be assembled the night before and baked the next morning. This makes it an ideal option for a busy brunch or holiday breakfast. It’s also flexible, add your favorite herbs or swap the spinach for kale, or try adding other vegetables like bell peppers or onions.
Whether you’re hosting a brunch, enjoying a quiet weekend morning, or looking for a simple weeknight dinner, Spinach Mushroom Strata is a satisfying, savory dish that will fill your home with delicious aromas. It’s a perfect way to enjoy vegetables in a warm, comforting, and crowd-pleasing form.
Ingredients
- 10 oz spinach chopped, fresh
- 8 oz mushrooms sliced
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 2 cups milk whole or 2%
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese shredded
- 8 cups bread cubed – stale bread works best
- 6 eggs large, beaten
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper ground
- 2 tbsp butter for greasing the baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter.
- In a large skillet, cook the mushrooms and onions over medium heat until they are soft and the onions are translucent.
- Add the chopped spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted. Remove from heat.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, salt, and pepper.
- Layer half of the bread cubes in the bottom of the greased baking dish.
- Top with half of the spinach mixture and half of the cheese.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining bread, spinach mixture, and cheese.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the top of the strata.
- Let the dish sit for about 10 minutes to allow the bread to soak up the liquid.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the mixture is set.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes before serving.
I followed the recipe exactly but mine did not rise. Why? Did I do something wrong?
Sometimes it could be the type of bread you used. Stale bread is important for absorbency. Maybe that was the issue? Don’t give up!
Maybe your eggs weren’t fresh enough? Or you didn’t let it sit long enough? Just trying to help.
I messed up and bought fresh bread instead of stale… whoops! Still turned out pretty good but not as good as the one my mom used to make.
I’m skeptical of strata because it can be dry, but this one is rich. Heavy cream + cheddar is doing the heavy lifting. Would absolutely make again.
Yumm! Wouldn’t think spinach could taste this good!!!
I dunno, spinach just seems like it wouldn’t be that good mixed with all that stuff. Just sounds weird.
Right?! I’m always surprised by how good spinach can be in recipes. This strata is amazing!
Not sure about this. Mushrooms and spinach?! Really? It’s weird.
Followed the recipe, but it didn’t puff up like I thought it would… confused
Maybe your bread wasn’t stale enough? Fresh bread doesn’t soak up as much liquid. Just a thought!
I’m sorry it didn’t work out like you wanted! Sometimes the oven temp can be off. Did you check it with a thermometer?
I mean, it was okay, but I thought the bread was too soggy. Maybe let it sit longer?
I did not like spinach so I just used broccoli instead & it turned out fine. Little bit different but good!
I followed it pretty closely. Mine was a touch salty (maybe because I used salted cheese), but overall it was a big hit. Would make again.
Easy to make and delicious! My whole family loved it!
I’m glad to hear it was a hit! This dish looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it myself. Thank you for sharing!
Looks nice, but I wonder if kids will really eat spinach. Mine usually won’t touch anything green!
I love strata but mine came out a little soggy. I think I used too fresh bread (didn’t have stale), and I also crowded the layers. Still tasted good though.
Not sure about this. The idea is good but even with the cheese, it was too bland for my taste. Needs something extra! 🤔
Yummm! I added some bacon and it was a hit! Who doesn’t love bacon?
Bacon makes everything better! Love that you added it. Can’t wait to try your version!
I dunno, bacon seems like too much for a veggie dish. But if you like it, that’s cool I guess.
This recipe was delicious! I made it for brunch and everybody loved it.
Too many eggs!!! I could barely taste anything else. 😠
Wow! This strata is bomb! Can’t believe it’s so simple and tasty!
I wanted to love this, but the bread was too soggy for my taste. Maybe I did something wrong?
I think the bread needs to be stale to avoid sogginess. Did you use fresh bread? It could make a difference!
Soggy? More like a custard! I find it amazing. Maybe next time try less liquid?
Pretty good! But I think it need more cheese. Cheese is life, right? 😂
I added some garlic and it turned out fantastic! Who needs recipes when you can experiment?
I don’t cook with heavy cream much, so I subbed half-and-half. It still worked, just less rich. Still good though!
Yummy! Perfect for brunch, everyone loved it. Will make again!
So glad to hear you enjoyed it! It’s one of my favorites too. Perfect for a lazy Sunday morning!
Tried it but mine was a little soggy even though I baked the full 45 min. I think my bread cubes weren’t stale enough—next time I’ll toast them first.
Is this even a real recipe? It sounds complicated! How do you make bread not soggy? 🤔
Looks delicious! Just use stale bread and let it soak. It’ll help not be soggy! 🤗
The cooking time was off, it took me almost an hour. Maybe my oven is slow? Idk.
It’s okayish. A bit too cheesy for my taste. Can I reduce the cheese?
I think using cheddar is weird, what about feta? That’s better.
This tasted pretty bland for me. I might be missing something—pepper? more salt?—because the recipe as written just didn’t pop.
Yum! I used garlic instead of onion cause my husband don’t like onions. Still turned out great!
Sounds delicious! I’m also not a fan of onions. Glad it worked with garlic instead. I’ll try it your way!
Garlic? Really? I dunno, onions are part of the recipe. You might be missing out.
Never thought I’d eat so much spinach in my life! But this was really tasty, even my kids liked it!
This reads like a ‘dump everything in’ kind of recipe… but honestly the layering + egg mixture makes it legit. I added garlic and it was even better.
This is the best breakfast dish ever! My whole family loved it! So flavorful.
I totally agree! This dish has so much flavor and the texture is perfect. I also added some garlic and it was amazing!
Seems kinda weird to put bread and spinach together… idk about this. Might try it but not too excited.
Super easy meal prep. I made it ahead and baked it the next day—still tasted fresh. Great for a brunch situation.
Lol, called this ‘Dinosaur food’ for my kids! They were not impressed, but adults loved it. Best for grown-up tastes.
Not gonna lie, 8 cups bread is a lot. I had to cube a whole loaf and it was messy. But the texture ended up perfect—custardy, not bread-y.
Haha yeah 8 cups sounds like a ton. But you’re right—once it soaks up all that custardy egg/milk, it stops being “bread” and turns into strata magic.
This was fantastic! The flavors were amazing and it disappeared in no time at my brunch.
I don’t like spinach, so I replaced it with kale. Not nearly as good. Stick to spinach!
Why is it called strata? It’s just a fancy casserole if you ask me. My grandma made them too! 😅
I guess you’re right, it does sound kinda posh! But it’s delicious, don’t knock it till you try! 😄
I added some red pepper flakes for a kick, it was so good! Try it!
This turned out amazing! My family loved it, especially my kids who usually don’t eat spinach. Definitely a keeper! 👍
I made this with whole wheat bread instead of stale and it was still so good! Thanks for the recipe! 🥳