Gluten-Free Chicken Spinach Strata
Make-ahead gluten-free strata layered with cubed bread, thawed spinach, cooked chicken, and dairy-free cheese. Eggs and milk substitute soak the bread overnight. Bake covered then uncovered until golden. Freezer-friendly for busy mornings.
Ingredients
- 8 cups gluten-free French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
- 10 ounce frozen spinach, thawed, excess moisture squeezed out
- 2 cups cooked chicken, choppeddiced ham1:1meat
saltier, requires reduced salt in egg mixture
- 1 cup dairy-free mozzarella-style cheese, shreddeddairy-free cheddar1:1dairy-free
melts well
- 7 eggs
- 1 ½ cups unsweetened dairy-free milk substituteunsweetened oat milk1:1dairy-freevegan
mild flavor
- ¼ cups dairy-free parmesan substitute
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried marjoram
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ cups roasted red pepper, diced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely minced
Instructions
- 1
Spread half the gluten-free bread cubes in an oiled 9x13 inch baking pan.
- 2
Layer with thawed spinach, cooked chicken, and half the dairy-free cheese substitute.
- 3
Top with remaining bread cubes and remaining cheese substitute.
- 4
Whisk together eggs, dairy-free milk substitute, dairy-free parmesan substitute, marjoram, salt, and pepper.
- 5
Pour egg mixture over bread, covering completely.
- 6
Sprinkle roasted red peppers and fresh parsley on top.
- 7
Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes to allow egg to soak into bread.
- 8
Bake covered with foil at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
- 9
Remove foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes until golden on top.
Tips
For freezing: cover tightly after chilling and freeze unbaked. Thaw completely before baking.
Squeeze out as much moisture as possible from thawed spinach to prevent a soggy strata.
Substitute ham or bacon for chicken if preferred.
Good to Know
Cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Freezer version keeps up to 2 months when tightly covered.
Prepare through chilling step. Refrigerate up to 2 days before baking, or freeze unbaked for up to 2 months. Thaw completely before baking.
Serve warm directly from baking dish. Pairs well with fresh fruit or a green salad.
Common Mistakes
Do not skip squeezing moisture from spinach to avoid a watery, soggy strata.
Do not underbake; bake uncovered until top is visibly golden to ensure eggs are fully set.
Do not skip the 30-minute chill; the soak is essential for proper texture and egg absorption.
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
mild flavor
melts well
General Alternatives
saltier, requires reduced salt in egg mixture
smokier flavor