Perfect for leisurely weekend breakfast or a weeknight meal, this savoury Spinach Parmesan Bread Pudding is flavoured with lots of Parmesan cheese, loaded with spinach, roasted red peppers and topped with crispy pancetta.

parmesan pancetta bread pudding in cast iron skillet

This savoury bread pudding is definitely what I want to wake up to on a lazy, winter weekend. It has a ton of flavour, comes together easily and is the perfect way to use up bread that’s a wee bit stale. And if you’re a “breakfast-for-dinner” lover, needless to say, this would be a great weeknight meal, too.

In addition to lots of spinach, I added some jarred roasted red peppers, both for colour and flavour. Lots of Parmesan flavours the egg/milk mixture and of course, there’s that crispy pancetta on top.

While this bread pudding does take some time in the oven, it comes together quickly into one large bowl, where everything is tossed together before being poured into an oven-proof skillet or baking dish. You’ll have time to enjoy that 2nd cup of coffee while it cooks!

Ingredients and Substitutions

Bread – any bread will work here, as long as it is slightly stale. Sourdough is especially nice.

Pancetta – deli sliced rounds of pancetta work perfectly. You can also use prosciutto or regular bacon. Omit the meat for a meatless option.

Parmesan – I’ve used Parmesan cheese here, but you could easily use any shredded cheese you have or enjoy.

Spinach – baby spinach is a great addition to this savoury bred pudding, but you can replace it with kale or arugula, if you like.

Roasted Red Peppers – jarred roasted red peppers are the easy choice here, or you can roast off your own red peppers, as well. For a change of flavour, replace the roasted red peppers with sun dried tomatoes.

Recipe Tips

If your bread pudding is done and your pancetta isn’t quite crispy enough, pop it under the broiler for a few minutes to finish.

If you find yourself with some stale bread anytime, simply cube it up and freeze it. Then you’ll be ready to whip up a savoury bread pudding anytime! (Thaw in the freezer bag on the counter over-night before using).

Like a little heat with your breakfast? Add a splash of Sriracha to the egg mixture!

pancetta parmesan bread pudding in cast iron skillet

parmesan pancetta bread pudding in cast iron skillet

Get the Recipe: Spinach Parmesan Bread Pudding

This savoury Parmesan Pancetta Bread Pudding is flavoured with lots of Parmesan cheese, loaded with spinach, roasted red peppers and topped with crispy pancetta.
5 stars from 4 ratings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 3 cups chopped fresh spinach or baby spinach
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated, plus more for topping
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 8 cups country style white bread, slightly stale and cut into 1-inch pieces)
  • 1/4-1/3 cup jarred roasted red peppers, diced
  • 6 thin slices pancetta rounds, (Italian bacon)

Instructions
 

  • Pre-heat oven to 350° F.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet on the stove-top over medium heat (If using a cast-iron or other oven-proof skillet, just use the one you will eventually bake it in, to avoid dirtying another pan). Add garlic, red pepper flakes and spinach. Stir and cook just until spinach starts to wilt, about 1 minute. Remove mixture to a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, 1/2 cup of Parmesan, salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • To the large bowl with the spinach, add the bread cubes and roasted red peppers. Toss to combine. Pour egg/milk mixture into bowl and toss until all the bread cubes are well coated. Pour the mixture into your oven-proof skillet or 1 1/2 quart baking dish and distribute with a spoon until somewhat level. Top with about 2 Tablespoons of additional Parmesan, then the pancetta rounds.
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes, or until puffed, set in the middle and golden brown. (If pancetta is not quite crispy enough for your taste, simply pop under the broiler for a few minutes to finish).
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Main Course
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 322kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 195mg, Sodium: 1002mg, Potassium: 340mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 1914IU, Vitamin C: 7mg, Calcium: 348mg, Iron: 3mg
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