How to make a scrumptious breakfast or brunch frittata filled with spinach, ham, rich cheeses, and fresh veggies.
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While breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, not everyone wakes up ready for a challenge first thing in the morning. Whether it is the beginning of a busy weekday of errands, school, and sports or a weekend morning of trying to catch a few extra minutes of snooze time, most of us busy parents are looking for breakfast options that are easy, filling, healthy, and somewhat quick to make. This is where the wondrous and delicious frittata steps in to take your mornings from chaos to smooth sailing. One of my favorite frittata recipes to make is this mouth-wateringly delicious Spinach and Ham Frittata filled with fresh veggies, creamy cheeses and smoky ham!
Though this frittata recipe is a great option for a simple yet flavor-packed breakfast, it can also be the main dish for any brunch occasion you can think of! From baby showers to Easter brunch, this spinach and ham frittata is an easy way to feed a hungry crowd of family, friends, and loved ones. Plus, the ingredients in this healthy-eating dish can easily be swapped out to fit anyone’s flavor preferences. Whatever your morning battles may be, an easy breakfast does not have to be one of them.
Kitchen Tools for Frittata Perfection
First, start your breakfast adventure by rounding up the tools you will need for this little kitchen project. Luckily, you do not need a lot of cookware or extravagant tools for frittata-making. It’s an overall easy and minimal-hassle way to cook up a delicious homemade breakfast.
Frittata-making Kitchen Tools:
Fresh Frittata Ingredients
After you round up the cookware it’s time to gather the flavorful and fresh ingredients to make your frittata. First, I will list the ingredients that I used specifically for this spinach and ham frittata recipe. Then, I will go over a few ingredient substitutions that you can consider experimenting with to try out a wide variety of different flavor combinations. Besides breakfast casseroles, the frittata is one of the most diverse breakfast recipes out there that you can make.
Ingredients for this Spinach and Ham Frittata:
- 8 eggs
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ tsp salt (optional but highly suggested)
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- 5 cups baby spinach
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup purple onion- thinly sliced
- 1 cup mushrooms– sliced
- 1 cup ham– cubed
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese– shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese– shredded
Garnish:
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
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Frittata Ingredient Substitutions
One of my favorite things about making yummy breakfast frittatas is that the ingredients can be swapped out however you like. Whether you want to change it up based on your own preferences or to fit a party or brunch theme. Here are a few ingredient substitutions you could make:
- Swap the cubed ham for some chopped, cooked bacon or ground sausage.
- For easy bacon prep try out some Oven-Baked Bacon.
- For a healthier alternative you could make this without the meat and opt for a veggie frittata instead.
- I like to use shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, but cheddar, swiss, feta, and gouda are also great for adding a rich, cheesy flavor.
- Get creative and experiment with the veggies however you please! Try it with
- halved cherry tomatoes or sun-dried tomatoes
- sauteed peppers
- green onions (cooked in or garnished with)
- Olives
- chopped asparagus
- artichoke hearts
- cooked broccoli
- Try this recipe topped with fresh sliced avocado, chopped fresh tomatoes, or your favorite salsa.
- Make this recipe with your favorite spices or fresh herbs like basil, parsley, dill, or chives.
- For a quicker alternative, you can opt for canned or frozen veggies instead but I recommend using fresh ingredients for optimum fresh flavors.
How to Make a Deliciously Satisfying Frittata
Once the cookware and frittata ingredients have been gathered up, it is time to whip up some breakfast magic. To make this kitchen project quicker and easier in the morning you can do most of the prep work the night before. By that I mean to go ahead and get the veggies and meat sliced and diced. You can also go ahead and portion them out if you want but it is not necessary. For extra ease in the morning, you might also consider sauteing the veggies and storing them in the fridge overnight to make it easier to just quickly whip this dish together.
Mixing, Making, and Baking this Breakfast Frittata:
- Start by moving an oven rack to the middle of the oven. Then, preheat the oven to 325°F.
- While the oven is preheating, chop and slice your veggies and meat if you have not done this already.
- Next, in a medium-sized glass mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, salt, and pepper by using the blending whisk.
- Then, in a nonstick frying skillet, heat up 1tbsp of olive oil. Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Next, saute the red onions until they are softened. Then, add in the baby spinach leaves and cook until they’re wilted down.
- After the veggies are sauteed and ready to go, use a pastry brush to grease the bottom and sides of the 12-inch cast iron skillet with olive oil.
- Then, transfer the cooked onions, spinach, and mushrooms to the greased skillet.
- Next, spread the cubed ham (or breakfast meat of your choosing) evenly over the other frittata ingredients.
- Now, pour the egg mixture over the ham and cooked vegetables and top with those mouth-watering mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
- Bake the frittata for about 20-25 minutes, or until the middle of the frittata is fully cooked.
- Then, let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Finally, garnish the spinach and ham frittata with the chopped fresh cilantro, serve, and enjoy
Frittata Fun For Breakfast, Brunch, or Dinner!
Another beautiful thing about frittatas is that you can make them for any meal of the day, any special event, or as an easy breakfast to prepare you and your family for a busy day. Whether you’re hosting a brunch or thinking about cooking breakfast for dinner, this spinach and ham frittata is an easy and satisfying breakfast dish to fill up a crowd of hungry bellies.
For the ultimate brunch experience pair this egg-cellent dish with:
Occasions to make this delectable frittata recipe for:
- A baby shower brunch
- A gal-pal brunch
- Easter brunch
- An early or mid-day wedding shower or engagement party
- As a special breakfast treat on Mother’s Day or Father’s Day
- This recipe is awesome to make on cold winter days to warm up your household.
- As a quick and easy weekday or weekend breakfast to prep for a busy day out having fun or juggling the kids’ sports activities.
Whatever the occasion, this spinach and ham frittata is perfect for making a healthy and simple yet deliciously filling breakfast, brunch, or even dinner! The savory eggs and smoky meat flavors pair so well with the taste of fresh veggies and rich cheeses that everyone is guaranteed to leave the table with a full belly and a smile from ear to ear.
Spinach and Ham Frittata
Ingredients
- 8 eggs
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ tsp salt optional
- ¼ tsp ground pepper
- 5 cups baby spinach
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup purple onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced
- 1 cup ham cubed
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese shredded
Garnish
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro shopped
Instructions
- Set an oven rack to the middle. Preheat oven to 325°F.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, salt, and pepper.
- In a nonstick skillet heat 1tbsp of olive oil. Add mushrooms and cook additional 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Sautee onions till softened. Add spinach and cook until wilted down.
- With a pastry brush, grease the bottom and sides of the cast iron skillet with olive oil. Transfer to skillet cooked onions, spinach, and mushrooms.
- Spread cubed ham evenly over other ingredients.
- Pour egg mixture over the vegetables. Top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the middle of the frittata is fully cooked.
- Let it cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve.
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