This Quick & Easy Pasta Strata Recipe is a healthy twist on a traditional favorite. Adding chickpea and lentil pasta to the dish and eliminating the bread gives you a healthy dose of protein and fiber without sacrificing those delicious flavors.
Everyone loves an easy strata over the holidays, right? It’s especially handy when you’ve got a houseful of guests and don’t want to be busy at the stove instead of spending precious family and friend time.
This dish can be prepared the night before and assembled in the morning for an easy and nutritious breakfast.
This is another dish that you can get creative with:
- Use Chickapea Pasta shells, spirals or penne
- Some red peppers and mushrooms would be delicious with this if that’s your thing
- You can use sausage, ground chicken or pork or leave it out entirely and have a vegetarian strata
- Use your favorite cheese if you’re not all about cheddar . Parmesan would work very well.
- Use your favorite tomato based sauced – marinara, arrabiata, garlic and basil or totally turn the tables and go alfredo!
This is why I love to cook because you can let your imagination take over. It doesn’t need to be precise (most times) and you can discover your creative genius in the kitchen using all your favorite ingredients.
It’s as easy as layering pasta/cheesy beef tomato sauce/more pasta/egg mixture – Presto! This will be on your breakfast table!
I have lots of blogger friends who cook with Chickapea Pasta as well and here are some of the healthy dishes being created in their kitchens these days:
- Baked Eggplant Parmesan (Gluten-Free) | Vitamin Sunshine
- 25 Ways to Stuff Your Veggies | Peas and Crayons
- One Bowl Gingerbread Waffles | Flavor the Moments
Share your holiday and every day creations with me on Instagram by tagging @simplyfreshdinners and using the hashtag #simplyfreshdinners so I can see what you’re doing in your kitchen too. Cheers!
Quick & Easy Pasta Strata Recipe
This Quick & Easy Pasta Strata Recipe is a healthy twist on a traditional favorite. Adding chickpea and lentil pasta to the dish and eliminating the bread gives you a healthy dose of protein and fiber without sacrificing those delicious flavors.
- 1 pound Chickapea Pasta (spirals, shells or penne)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 cups marinara sauce (I use Uncle Steve's Italian Sauces)
- 1 cup fresh parsley/chopped
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 cup spinach, chopped
- 5 eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 green onions, chopped (or fresh chives)
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Preheat oven to 375 F
Cook pasta al dente. (a couple minutes less than package instructions)
-
Heat oil in large pan, saute garlic and onion for 3-4 minutes until onion is soft and translucent. Add ground beef and cook until browned.
Drain extra fat from the pan.
-
Add tomato sauce and half of fresh herbs, and salt and pepper to taste; cooking for 5 minutes before removing from heat. Add cheese and spinach, mixing well.
-
Combine eggs, milk, remaining fresh herbs and salt and pepper to taste.
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Into a 9 x 11 inch baking dish layer:
Half of the pasta
Cheesy Tomato Beef Mixture
Remaining half of pasta
Egg Mixture
-
Bake 45-50 minutes. Remove and let sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Top with green onions or chives and serve.
- Use Chickapea Pasta shells, spirals or penne
- Some red peppers and mushrooms would be delicious with this if that’s your thing
- You can use sausage, ground chicken or pork or leave it out entirely and have a vegetarian strata
- Use your favorite cheese if you’re not all about cheddar . Parmesan would work very well.
- Use your favorite tomato based sauced – marinara, arrabiata, garlic and basil or totally turn the tables and go alfredo!
21 Comments
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine
December 20, 2017 at 8:42 amSo creative… and delicious! I love Chickapea and know it would be a great addition to a casserole like this — fantastic gluten free alternative!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine recently posted…Mini Shrimp Tostadas with Pomegranate Salsa
Robyn
December 20, 2017 at 9:13 amThanks, MIchelle. Our friend, Kim at Chickapea suggested this yummy dish. I loved making it.
Your shrimp tostadas are making me so hungry!!!
Robyn recently posted…Quick & Easy Pasta Strata Recipe
Taylor
December 20, 2017 at 8:45 amRobyn this looks amazing!!! I could totally use something quick and easy like this to throw together over the holidays!
Robyn
December 20, 2017 at 9:14 amThanks so much, Taylor. It will keep everyone fed till dinner, lol. The less time we have to spend in the kitchen during the holidays, the better.
Robyn recently posted…Quick & Easy Pasta Strata Recipe
Mahy
December 20, 2017 at 9:11 amoh what a genius idea!! I love strata’s but never had them with pasta!! And you put two layers of pasta at the bottom and top of your dish–YUM!! Holiday Brunch goals !! 🙂
Robyn
December 20, 2017 at 9:15 amKim came up with this idea, Mahy 🙂
I loved the idea and had fun experimenting to see which way was the most delicious!
Robyn recently posted…Quick & Easy Pasta Strata Recipe
John/Kitchen Riffs
December 20, 2017 at 10:49 amWow, this looks SO GOOD! Terrific photos. And the recipe? To die for. 🙂 Thanks! And Happy Holidays!
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Robyn
December 20, 2017 at 11:08 amThanks so much, John. I’m looking forward to making it again over the holidays. Merry Christmas!
Robyn recently posted…Quick & Easy Pasta Strata Recipe
nocrumbsleft
December 20, 2017 at 11:11 amWow this look absolutely incredible!
nocrumbsleft recently posted…Spicy Cauliflower Soup
marcie
December 20, 2017 at 11:26 amRobyn you’re so smart to come up with this! I would love a strata with Chickapea Pasta even more than with bread, and I love all of the goodness you’ve packed in here. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and thank you for linking up to my gingerbread waffles! 🙂
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Sarah | Well and Full
December 20, 2017 at 11:27 amWould you believe I’ve never made strata?? I need to fix this situation immediately!! Especially with this awesome recipe, I love the vegetarian options! 😀
Chris Scheuer
December 20, 2017 at 11:27 amWhat a great idea Robyn, I would have never thought to make a pasta strata! Love all your variations too! I can definitely see this beyond breakfast.
Chris Scheuer recently posted…Easy Molasses Ginger Cookies
Tania Sheff
December 20, 2017 at 12:16 pmThis Pasta Strata looks incredible! My mom makes this dish pretty often, but I would love to try your healthier version, Robyn. Will make it this weekend. Thanks!
Tania Sheff recently posted…Ricotta Crepe Cake
Sherri @ Watch Learn Eat
December 20, 2017 at 12:49 pmOMG Robyn! This looks sooooo amazing! I can’t tell you how much I have been dying to try the Chickapea pasta but none of the stores in my area sell it yet! I was hesitant about ordering online because you have to commit to a six-pack; however, at the same time, I can’t imagine I wouldn’t like it enough to make six boxes of it. I think I’m going to go for it! Your many beautiful recipes using this pasta are tempting me! 🙂 Happy Holidays to you and your family!
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Kristen
December 20, 2017 at 2:17 pmWhat a delicious dish! I’ve never thought to use pasta in strata before but it’s a brilliant idea. We absolutely love Chickapea Pasta and I know it would be perfect in this dish.
GiGi Eats
December 20, 2017 at 4:29 pmHeyyyyy good lookin’ how you doing?! Where’s your favorite place you like to hang out? The kitchen? Oh yeah, me too… So wanna hang out in my kitchen some time? Oh really, well great, what’s your number hot stuff?!
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Izzy @ She Likes Food
December 20, 2017 at 10:22 pmI’ve never actually had a strata before but I love the idea of a breakfast casserole that can be made the night before! That’s so awesome that you added the chickpea pasta to this dish! I love it! 🙂
Diane Wilkins
December 21, 2017 at 2:37 amJust made this on the recommendation of a friend who saw the recipe on your site. It was absolutely delicious – didn’t change a thing!
Regina
December 22, 2017 at 1:15 amI am a HUGE fan of breakfast casserole for Christmas! But you are taking it to the next level. I know especially my daughter would be over the moon having pasta for breakfast 😀
Regina recently posted…Healthy Gingerbread Cookies – gluten free, paleo VIDEO
Carla Patterson
December 29, 2017 at 2:44 pmWow, that’s really quite quick to prepare – thanks a lot for sharing it with us ^^ Seems like I may have find time to prepare something tasty tomorrow, you are saving my day! Cheers
Daycare Near Stafford VA
September 26, 2018 at 1:06 amPasta lovers this one is for you