Name: Slow-Cooker Classic Strata with Sausage
Total time: 4 h
Ingredients: 8 ounces bulk breakfast sausage; 1 onion , chopped fine; 1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 2 garlic cloves , minced; 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried; 14 ounces french or Italian bread , cut into 1/2-inch pieces (12 cups), staled overnight; 6 ounces sharp cheddar cheese , shredded (1 1/2 cups); 2 1/2 cups half-and-half; 9 large eggs; Salt and pepper; 2 tablespoons minced fresh chives

Why This Recipe Works

We wanted a savory and rich-tasting strata with a balanced, well-seasoned filling, a foolproof technique, and lots of ways to vary the basic recipe to keep things interesting. The key to producing the perfect strata with great texture was using stale bread pieces. We also found that the trick to a surefire strata was using the slow cooker's gentle low heat setting, which ensured a silky-smooth custard. To prevent uneven cooking and to make the strata easy to remove and serve, we placed a foil collar and sling in the slow cooker before building the strata.

Before You Begin

If you don't have stale bread in hand, you can dry out fresh bread pieces by baking them on a rimmed baking sheet in a 225-degree oven for about 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. You will need an oval slow cooker for this recipe. This strata is great served right out of the slow cooker, or it can be transferred to a serving dish for a more impressive presentation.

Instructions

Line slow cooker with aluminum foil collar, then press 2 large sheets of foil into slow cooker perpendicular to one another, with extra foil hanging over edges. Lightly coat prepared slow cooker with vegetable oil spray.

Microwave sausage, onion, oil, garlic, and thyme in bowl, stirring and breaking up meat with wooden spoon occasionally, until sausage is no longer pink, 6 to 8 minutes.

Spread half of stale bread into prepared slow cooker, then sprinkle with half of sausage mixture and ½ cup cheddar. Repeat layering with remaining stale bread, remaining sausage mixture, and remaining 1 cup cheddar. Whisk half-and-half, eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper together in bowl, then pour mixture evenly over bread. Press gently on bread to submerge. Cover and cook until center of strata is set, 3 to 4 hours on low.

Turn off slow cooker and let strata cool, covered, for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chives and serve.