If itโs healthy grab-and-go morning fuel youโre after, try these easy breakfast egg muffins. As delicious as a frittata but in hand-held form, these protein-packed breakfast bites are naturally gluten free and low-carb. The best part is you can make a batch at the beginning of the week, and reheat as needed.
One reader, Susan, commented: โIโve made similar recipes, but these are the best. Each time my husband ate one, he talked about how good and fluffy they wereโฆ They really puffed up in the oven. So very good. โ โ โ โ โ โ
Another reader, Michelle, commented: โI, too, have tried other recipes and then found this one. It is SO much better than the others!โฆ An easy breakfast and full of good protein. โ โ โ โ โ โ
Do you meal prep? I try to when I can, but life usually gets in the way. When I have time (and my act together!), I usually bake a batch of chicken meatballs, breakfast cookies, and todayโs egg muffins. That way we have a lunch option, plus a couple healthy breakfast/snack options on hand.
Todayโs egg muffins keep really well, and just like when you make a breakfast casserole or frittata, you can customize the flavor by choosing different add-ins. Make the spinach and pepper version in the recipe card below, try the ham and cheese version detailed in the recipe Notes, or mix things up to discover your own favorite version!
Youโll Love These Egg Muffins Because:
- Quick & easy meal prep recipe that makes for quicker and easier breakfasts all week
- Protein-packed, healthy, gluten-free, and low-carb breakfast or snack
- Perfect for busy mornings
- Easier than quiche and mini quicheโฆ no messing with pie crust!
- Baked in a standard 12-count muffin pan (no fancy kitchen tools required)
- These mighty muffins get your vegetables in first thing, a powerful start to the day!
How to Make the Best Egg Muffins (Trust Me, I Tested!)
- 8 Large Eggs: The foundation of these mini frittatas/muffins.
- 1/3 Cup Milk: Whole milk makes for the best texture, but itโs a small amount, so itโs not a big deal to use low-fat or nondairy milk instead. You can also use half-and-half for a creamier texture. In test batches without milk, the muffins tasted dry.
- Seasonings: Salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder are the flavor enhancers!
- Add-Ins: I included bell peppers, tomatoes, and spinach in the recipe below, but you can choose whatever vegetables you like. I also have a ham and cheese version detailed in the recipe Notes.
- Cheese: Use whatever type of cheese you enjoy best with eggs. My favorite is crumbled feta, followed closely by shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Start by whisking the eggs, milk, and seasonings together in a bowl. I like to use a mixing bowl with a pour spout. Whatever vegetables/cooked meats youโre using as add-ins, chop them up pretty finely.
Make sure you spray the muffin pan really well with nonstick spray. In an early round of testing, I brushed the muffin cups with olive oil, and the egg muffins stuck to the panโฆ what a nightmare to clean!
Divide the add-ins among the 12 muffin cups. It ends up being about 2โ3 Tablespoons of add-ins in each. Sprinkle the cheese over each one. Then pour the egg mixture on top.
See below: spinach, pepper, tomato, + feta version on the left and ham + cheddar version on the right.
The egg muffins take about 20 minutes to bake. Expect them to rise up really tall while they bake, like a soufflรฉ, and look kind of uneven and wonky. Embrace the wonkiness; I promise itโs ok. ๐ The egg muffins deflate as they cool.
Egg Muffin Flavors
- Spinach, Tomato, Pepper, Feta: In the recipe card below.
- Ham & Cheddar Egg Muffins: Replace the bell peppers, tomatoes, and spinach with 1 and 1/2 cups (225g or 6 oz.) of cooked ham (small-diced) and 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or chives. Replace the feta cheese with shredded sharp cheddar cheese. All instructions remain the same.
- Other Add-ins and Cheeses: Use about 1 and 1/2 cups (around 225g) add-ins + 3/4 cup cheese total. The version included in the recipe card uses about 2 cups, but I donโt really count spinach because it hardly takes up any room! Favorite add-ins include cooked meats (or plant-based alternatives) like chopped/crumbled sausage, bacon, or chicken. Or try mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, cooked corn, cooked potato, and/or cooked broccoli. You can mix any of these together to total around 1 and 1/2 cups. Favorite cheeses include white cheddar, pepper jack, smoked gouda, and crumbled goat cheese.
Storage Tips
- Refrigerating: Once the egg muffins are completely cool, transfer them to a food storage container(s), cover tightly, and refrigerate. Egg muffins can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. These are the food storage containers I have, which are microwave-, oven-, dishwasher-, AND freezer-safe.
- Freezing: For longer storage, make sure your container is freezer-safe, and freeze the egg muffins for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, and follow the reheating instructions below. Or skip thawing and microwave for 1โ2 minutes, or until warmed through.
Reheating Instructions:
- Microwave: Wrap or cover egg muffins with a damp paper towel and microwave for 20โ30 seconds, or until warmed through. (Donโt overheat, or they will taste rubbery.)
- Oven: Bake, covered, in a 350ยฐF (177ยฐC) oven for 5โ10 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Air Fryer: Air fry at 375ยฐF (191ยฐC) for 3โ4 minutes, or until warmed throughout.
What to Serve With Egg Muffins
These breakfast bites are egg-cellent on their own, or alongside fresh fruit or a smoothie. I also love them served with salsa and avocado, or sprinkled with chopped parsley and chives, grated parmesan cheese, or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
If youโre planning to serve these egg muffins as part of a bigger meal like a brunch, they pair nicely with ham and potato casserole, baked cream cheese French toast casserole, a Dutch baby pancake, whole wheat waffles or whole wheat pancakes, and cinnamon rolls. (Well, I can make a case for cinnamon rolls to go with pretty much anything.)
Like omelets and scrambled eggs, the muffins will obviously be moist and spongy. But they shouldnโt be soggy and overly wet. If youโre experiencing this, you may have added too many add-ins, or the muffins were underbaked.
Yes, absolutely. For mini egg muffins, chop your vegetables/add-ins even finer and use a mini muffin pan. Use the same oven temperature, but reduce the bake time to about 10 minutes.
This is completely normal and expected. Cheesecake and chocolate soufflรฉ, both egg-heavy items, deflate when cooling, too. Thatโs because whisked eggs have a lot of air bubbles. They expand in the oven, and then when the temperature drops, the baked item drops as well. This is also true for egg muffins.
Breakfast Egg Muffins (Frittata Muffins)
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
If itโs healthy grab-and-go morning fuel youโre after, try these easy breakfast egg muffins. Have fun using different add-ins and cheeses, and see recipe Notes for make-ahead, freezing, and reheating details.
Ingredients
- 8 large eggs
- 1/3 cup (80ml) whole milk or half-and-half (or nondairy milk)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 cup (120g) finely chopped bell pepper (any color)
- 1/2 cup (75g) finely chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup (15g) finely chopped fresh spinach (or kale)
- 3/4 cup (100g) crumbled feta cheese
- optional for garnish: chopped parsley or chives, grated parmesan cheese, or red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ยฐF (191ยฐC). Spray a 12-count muffin pan generously with nonstick spray. I donโt recommend using muffin liners, but if youโd like to, spray them generously with nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, preferably one with a pour spout, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder just until combined. Try not to over-mix, or too much air will be incorporated. You will have about 2 cups.
- Spoon the chopped bell pepper, spinach, and/or other add-ins into each greased muffin cupโabout 2 Tablespoons in each. Spoon 1 Tablespoon of cheese on top of each.
- Pour the egg mixture into each muffin cup, filling about 3/4 full (just over the top of the add-ins and cheese).
- Bake for 18โ20 minutes or until puffy and golden brown around the edges. The muffins rise up tall while baking, and donโt be alarmed if they are rising unevenlyโthatโs ok.
- Remove from the oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes. The muffins deflate as they cool.
- Remove the egg muffins from the pan, and either serve immediately, or cool completely and store in the refrigerator or freezer (see Notes). Add optional garnishes when serving, if desired.
Notes
- Make Ahead Instructions: You can prepare the egg mixture (step 2), cover, and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before using. You can also assemble the egg muffins through step 4, loosely cover and refrigerate overnight, and then bake in the morning. Though I will say that you have best results (texture and taste) if you prepare the mixture and bake the muffins right away.
- Storage & Reheating Instructions: Cover leftover egg muffins and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Microwave: Wrap or cover egg muffins with a damp paper towel and microwave for 20โ30 seconds, or until warmed through. (Donโt overheat, or they will taste rubbery.) Oven: Bake, covered, in a 350ยฐF (177ยฐC) oven for 5โ10 minutes, or until warmed through. Air Fryer: Air fry at 375ยฐF (191ยฐC) for 3โ4 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Freezing Instructions: Cool baked egg muffins completely, transfer to a freezer-safe container, and cover tightly. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator, and follow the reheating instructions in the Note above. Or skip thawing and microwave for 1โ2 minutes, or until warmed throughout.
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Mixing Bowls With Pour Spout | Whisk | 12-count Muffin Pan | Storage Container Set
- Egg Whites Only? I donโt recommend using only egg whites because you will lose a lot of richness and flavor that the yolks provide. If youโd like to try it, I suggest using 2 whole eggs and 6 egg whites.
- Milk: Whole milk or half-and-half provide the best taste and texture, but you can substitute lower-fat or nondairy milk in a pinch. Using heavy cream makes for a creamier texture.
- Ham & Cheddar Egg Muffins: Replace the bell peppers, tomatoes, and spinach with 1 and 1/2 cups (225g or 6 oz.) of finely cubed cooked ham and 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley or chives (or you can skip the parsley/chives if desired). Replace the feta cheese with shredded sharp cheddar cheese. All instructions remain the same.
- Other Add-ins and Cheeses: Use about 1 and 1/2 cups (around 225g) add-ins + 3/4 cup cheese total. The version above uses about 2 cups, but I donโt really count spinach because it hardly takes up any room! Favorite add-ins include cooked meats (or plant-based alternatives) like chopped/crumbled sausage, bacon, or chicken. Or try mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, cooked corn, cooked potato, and/or cooked broccoli. You can mix any of these together to total around 1 and 1/2 cups. Favorite cheeses include white cheddar, pepper jack, smoked gouda, and crumbled goat cheese.
- Mini Egg Muffins: For mini egg muffins, chop your vegetables/add-ins even finer and use a generously greased mini muffin pan. Use the same oven temperature, but reduce the bake time to about 10 minutes.
- Can I use this as a frittata or bake in a casserole dish? You certainly can, but Iโm unsure of the best bake time. For best results, I recommend trying my frittata recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 muffins
- Calories: 159
- Sugar: 2.8 g
- Sodium: 372.7 mg
- Fat: 10.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 3.9 g
- Protein: 11.9 g
- Cholesterol: 265 mg
Reader Comments and Reviews
Would ground turkey/chicken work with these? If so, would it be best to cook the meat before adding it to the mixture or add it raw/let it cook with everything else in the oven? LOVE all of your recipes btw ๐
Hi Taylor, absolutely! Cook the meat before adding it!
These muffins were great. I will be making them again. I hope to make them a little less watery. Any tips? I used Spinish and tomatos if that makes a difference. Thanks
Hi Liz, be sure to squeeze out as much excess moisture as possible from your veggies. You also might try just a minute or two longer in the oven next time.
Love all your recipes.
Hello! Iโd like to make these dairy free. Is it necessary to put cheese in the muffins? Thank you!
Hi Ellen, you can omit the cheese if you wish. Enjoy!
These egg muffins are now on repeat in my kitchen! So delicious!! Followed the recipe as written and then added mushrooms. When they came out of the oven, sprinkled with some gourmet, store brand, parmesan cheese in a jar (LOL). Perfect to eat on my way to work. Love that they are low carb, low fat (I only eat one), and delicious! Keep them in the freezer, heat for one minute in the microwave and enjoy it on the way to work.
I made these for brunch with friends today and they were delicious! Came out perfect, so easy. My only complaint is they were so good that I have no leftovers for breakfast tomorrow . Thanks for another winning recipe Sally!
I made these muffins with a little cooked sausage and cheddar cheese instead of feta and baked in a stainless steel pan. Pros: no need to cook the veggies first. Cons: with the amount of liquid between the tomatoes and the milk it ended up tasting watery and flavorless. It totally destroyed my stainless steel pan. I would make it again with the following adjustments: increase the salt and spices, decrease the liquid to 1/8 cup, and bake it in glass pan or stainless steel skillet to save my muffin pans.
Hi Laura, Iโm sorry to hear you were disappointed in this recipe. You were using a stainless steel muffin pan? Did you grease it before adding the egg mixture? I ask because we usually use nonstick muffin pans. You may have better luck with a cast-iron skillet, like we use for this frittata recipe.
How could I alter this recipe to use apples, cinnamon, and walnuts instead of savory ingredients?
You might enjoy this recipe for applesauce muffins or this one for healthy apple muffins instead. You can include walnuts in either of those.
Hi, this looks so good! Quick question before I try it. Should I pre-cook veggies before I make โ or will baking cook them enough. Iโm thinking mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes. Thanks!
Hi Christine, we donโt pre-cook the veggies here, but you certainly can!
Could you tell me how long to cook them in an air fryer rather than oven and setting and temperature please.
Can I I use just egg whites out of a carton?
Hi Mercedes, we donโt recommend using only egg whites because you will lose a lot of richness and flavor that the yolks provide. If youโd like to try it, we suggest using 2 whole eggs and 6 egg whites.