Name: Make-Ahead Cheddar, Bacon, and Tomato Strata
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: Bacon - 3 slices; Vertically sliced onion - 1 cup; Garlic, minced - 2 cloves; Milk - 2 ¼ cups; Eggs - 6 large; Thinly sliced fresh basil - ¼ cup; Chopped fresh thyme - ¾ teaspoon; Salt - ¼ teaspoon; Ground black pepper - ¼ teaspoon; Cooking spray - ¼ teaspoon; Cubed Italian bread, divided - 8 cups; Shredded Cheddar cheese, divided - 2 cups; Tomato, seeds removed - 12 (1/2 inch thick) slices

Ingredients for - Make-Ahead Cheddar, Bacon, and Tomato Strata

1. Bacon 3 slices

2. Vertically sliced onion 1 cup

3. Garlic, minced 2 cloves

4. Milk 2 ¼ cups

5. Eggs 6 large

6. Thinly sliced fresh basil ¼ cup

7. Chopped fresh thyme ¾ teaspoon

8. Salt ¼ teaspoon

9. Ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon

10. Cooking spray ¼ teaspoon

11. Cubed Italian bread, divided 8 cups

12. Shredded Cheddar cheese, divided 2 cups

13. Tomato, seeds removed 12 (1/2 inch thick) slices

How to cook deliciously - Make-Ahead Cheddar, Bacon, and Tomato Strata

1 . Stage

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.

2 . Stage

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.

3 . Stage

Whisk milk, eggs, basil, thyme, salt, and pepper together in a bowl until well combined.

4 . Stage

Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and arrange 1/2 of the bread cubes in the bottom.

5 . Stage

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.

6 . Stage

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

7 . Stage

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.