If you have ever wondered how to make a frittata, this quick and easy recipe will show you all the details. The ingredients include eggs, ham, broccoli, pepper jack, and cheddar cheese, but you can easily customize this versatile frittata recipe using all kinds of veggies, meats, and cheese. Serve it for breakfast, or any time of day. It's perfect for meal prep, as it will last you for days and freezes and reheats well! This 30-minute ONE-PAN savory breakfast is keto, low-carb, gluten-free, and protein-rich.
The easiest frittata recipe
This frittata takes only 30 minutes from start to finish and requires one cooking pan. Everything is baked in the oven, no need to turn on the stovetop. The cleanup is minimal. Use a 10-inch or 12-inch cast-iron skillet for best results, or an oven-safe, high-sided, shallow baking dish of a similar diameter. There is no need to overcomplicate this recipe, it's pretty much: 1) beat the eggs with heavy cream or milk; 2) add veggies, meat, and cheese to the buttered cast iron skillet and top with the egg mixture; 3) Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. That's it! Your frittata is ready! Serve it for breakfast or any time of the day!
Why you'll love it
- Perfect for meal prep. You can refrigerate frittata for up to 7 days. It also freezes well and reheats well. It's a great make-ahead recipe for breakfast and brunch that will save you a lot of time.
- Easy to customize. What I love the most about this breakfast recipe is that it's very versatile and you can customize it with all kinds of vegetables, cheese, and meat. Make it with ham, sausage, bacon, prosciutto, or no meat at all.
- Nutrition-wise, frittata is keto, low-carb, gluten-free, and protein-rich.
What is frittata?
Frittata is an Italian dish showcasing eggs, vegetables, meats, and cheeses. It's pretty much a crustless quiche but with a denser texture. It's most popular as breakfast or brunch, even though it can be served any time of day, for lunch or dinner. Even though it's similar to an omelette, there are several important differences.
- First, the eggs are beaten longer than for a regular omelette to create a fluffier and lighter texture.
- Second, the additional ingredients (such as vegetables and meats) are combined with the beaten egg mixture while the eggs are still raw.
- Third, usually, frittata is baked in the oven, or at least finished in the oven.
The ingredients
- Eggs. This is a rather large frittata made in a 12-inch cast iron skillet, so I used 8 eggs.
- Heavy cream is whisked together with eggs. You can also use half-and-half or whole milk.
- Ham. I used savory uncured ham.
- Broccoli. I used 3 cups of chopped fresh broccoli. No stems, just florets.
- Pepper jack cheese adds flavor, creaminess, and spiciness.
- Cheddar cheese also adds a ton of flavor as well as a rich yellow color to the frittata. I used sharp Cheddar for the most intense flavor.
- Butter is used to grease the cast iron skillet.
How to make frittata
Below are step-by-step photos and an overview of the instructions. For the complete recipe scroll down to the recipe card.
1) Preheat oven to 375 F and grease the bottom and sides of the cast iron skillet with butter.
2) In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, and salt until fluffy. Add shredded Cheddar cheese and stir to combine.
3) Add chopped broccoli and chopped ham to a buttered cast iron skillet.
4) Pour the egg and cheddar cheese mixture over the veggies and ham.
5) Top evenly with shredded pepper jack cheese.
6) Bake for 20 minutes until the frittata is no longer wobbly in the center.
What kind of pan to use
A 10-inch or 12-inch cast iron skillet is the ideal choice. It's large, high-sided, oven-safe, and perfect for the oven as it conducts heat evenly. Once removed from the oven, it keeps warm for a long time if you want to serve your frittata right away. The cast-iron skillet also makes a stunning presentation.
Which vegetables to add to frittata?
- Cruciferous vegetables, such as chopped broccoli, cauliflower, or shaved Brussels sprouts. You don't need to precook these veggies.
- Leafy greens, such as spinach, kale, or arugula. Quickly cook these vegetables in the microwave oven to wilt them and reduce in volume before adding them to the frittata.
- Tomatoes. Chop up fresh tomatoes. Use cherry or grape tomatoes (each sliced in half) of different colors for presentation.
- Cooked veggies. Add cooked mushrooms, bell peppers, asparagus, onions, and garlic.
- Potatoes. Add chopped cooked regular potatoes, sweet potatoes, or yams.
What kind of meat can you add?
Frittata can be customized with so many variations. Here are the types of meat you can use:
- Ham
- Cooked bacon
- Cooked sausage
- Prosciutto
- Pepperoni
- Cooked chicken
What kind of cheese can you add?
- Hard cheeses, such as Parmesan, Pepper Jack, Cheddar, Gruyere, or Cotija.
- Soft cheeses, such as Feta, goat cheese, or fresh mozzarella.
How do you know when frittata is done?
Bake it in the preheated oven at 375 F for about 20 minutes until it's no longer wobbly in the center. Do not overbake. Remove it from the oven immediately as it will continue cooking in the residual heat once it's out of the oven.
Storage and reheating tips
- Fridge. Cool the frittata and store it in an air-tight container or freezer bag, refrigerated, for up to 7 days.
- Freezer. Freeze it in an air-tight container or freezer bag for up to 2 months.
- How to reheat. Reheat in the microwave oven for about 1 minute. It should be enough, otherwise, reheat longer in 30-second increments.
- Perfect for making ahead. This is a great recipe for meal prep as it keeps well refrigerated and frozen. It thaws well and reheats well.
Frittata toppings
Serve frittata warm as is, or elevate it with these toppings:
- Extra cheese. When reheating the frittata, top it with more shredded Pepper Jack cheese and reheat it with the cheese on top so that it melts.
- Salsa. Serve your favorite salsa or Pico de Gallo with it.
- Bacon bits are a great topping.
- Vegetables and fresh herbs. This includes sliced avocado, chopped green onions, chives, or parsley. Add those for flavor and presentation.
Other breakfast recipes
- Breakfast Egg Muffins with Bacon and Spinach
- Dutch Baby Pancake with Honey-Lemon Strawberries, Blueberries, and Pecans
- Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns and Broccoli
- Blueberry Banana Bread
- Southwestern Breakfast Casserole with Sausage and Eggs
Frittata (30-Minute, ONE-PAN recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 8 eggs
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 3 cups broccoli no stems, just florets, chopped
- 7 oz ham cooked, chopped
- 4 oz pepper jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the cast iron skillet and place it in the oven.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, and salt until fluffy. Add shredded Cheddar cheese and stir to combine.
- Using an oven mitt, remove the cast iron skillet from the oven and roll it carefully from side to side to evenly butter the dish with melted butter.
- Add chopped broccoli and chopped ham to a buttered cast iron skillet.
- Pour the egg and cheddar cheese mixture over the broccoli and ham.
- Top evenly with shredded pepper jack cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes until the frittata is no longer wobbly in the center.
- Transfer the frittata to a wire rack, and let it rest for 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Very good! I have a 10 inch cast iron so I used 7 eggs,one eggwhite and cooked it at 365. Not sure if lower temp worked better because of the size or my oven is too hot
Made this for Christmas morning and it was easy and delicious! My only issue is why the recipe says it serves 10? There were only four of us and we ate the whole thing! I don't think that was excessive, considering that 4 servings is only 2 eggs and 1.75 oz ham per person, plus some cheese and broccoli. I don't know how this recipe would serve 10.
Made it with cooked sausage, as that is what I had on hand. Yummy!!
Can you use egg whites instead of the eggs
I tried this recipe. It was very easy to follow.I used deli turkey instead of ham. It turned out very well except I thought there was too much meat. With the next try, I might put in less meat and also use a small chopped onion.
Thank you for trying this recipe! So glad you liked it. Just use less meat next time! I have a meat-loving husband so I used a lot! 🙂
Looking forward to this recipe!
I hope you try it out!