Cooking for a crowd can be tricky when you’re using something as popular as eggs because everyone likes there’s a little differently. But not to worry, our shirred eggs recipe is an easy solution, beloved by many.
You can create a base for the dish with your favorite vegetables, crack an egg on top, and sprinkle it with cheese. Then you just pop it in the oven, and let the magic happen.
After 10 minutes of baking, the dish comes out with a gorgeous custard-like consistency; both creamy and tasty.
The beauty of shirred eggs is that you can customize the recipe with any leftovers in your fridge. This is a delicious way to use things up – the only limit is your imagination.
What Are Shirred Eggs?
Shirred eggs, or oeufs en cocotte in French, are eggs that are baked in a flat-bottom dish or a ramenkin. Typically, the eggs are cooked simply with butter and cream but there are a lot of variations depending on your preference.
Some common add-ins include fish or meat, which adds protein and flavors the egg nicely. This way you can make the dish suitable for lunch or dinner.
Another way to serve this egg is to top it with croutons or cheese, then garnish with herbs for a quick breakfast. The possibilities are endless, and you can modify the shirred eggs recipe with anything available in the pantry.
Is Our Recipe Healthy?
Packed with fresh ingredients and calculated the nutritional value carefully, our shirred eggs are relatively healthy.
Thanks to spinach, onions, and tomatoes, each serving of this shirred egg recipe contains 2.7 grams of fiber, which is 11 percent of the recommended daily intake of fiber. High-fiber foods can offer some impressive health benefits such as reducing cholesterol and increasing digestive health.
Calories
One serving of our shirred eggs made following our recipe yields about 175 calories. You can serve it with some toasts for breakfast or side it along with the main dish for weeknight dinner.
Also, discover the best way to poach an egg and how to boil eggs on a stove to expand your egg cooking skills. Or bring your A-game to the table with these healthy scotch eggs and our simple egg curry recipe.
What Goes with Shirred Eggs
Basic shirred eggs are made with eggs cracked in a dish, then topped with cheese and baked until the whites are firm and the yolks are still soft. Adding extra ingredients to the recipe is a simple way to boost flavor and improve the nutritional profile.
1. Ham
There are two ways you can use ham in the recipe. Chop the ham and top the eggs with it or tuck ham into the ramenkins which creates a nest for eggs, tomatoes, and cheese.
Ham doesn’t only act as a salty element to the shirred eggs but also gives the dish a more complex and intense flavor. Eggs, cheese, and ham fuel you with plenty of protein, making the dish a nutritious breakfast idea.
2. Bacon
Shirred eggs often require minimal ingredients, and this variation is not an exception. You can layer bacon in the filling or simply top it on each serving.
Protip: Before baking the eggs, you can add a teaspoon of cream or grated cheese on top of each one. This creates a creamy blanket and helps to keep the egg yolks runny.
For more delicious eggs, check out our 40+ eggs recipes.
How Long Does It Last?
Fresh shirred eggs can last up to 2 hours at room temperature. To store them in the fridge, place the eggs in airtight containers or zip-lock bags. This way helps the dish stay for up to 3 days.
Can You Freeze It?
Yes, you can. To store them properly, let your shirred eggs fully cool before wrapping them individually in plastic wrap. Then place the eggs in a zip-lock bag or an airtight container. Shirred eggs can last in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Whenever you are carving a hot, fulfilling breakfast, simply reheat them in the oven or microwave and serve with toast.
You can find other ways to cook eggs with this simple egg drop soup and our healthy egg muffins. Or go with our options for minimalists: a recipe for egg salad, and the best way to make sunny side up eggs.
Shirred Eggs Recipe
Required less than 30 minutes and minimal effort, our shirred eggs recipe is an interesting way to elevate your regular ingredients in the kitchen.
- cook TIME 20 mins
- prep TIME 5 mins
- total TIME 25 mins
- COURSE Side Dish
- CUISINE French
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 177 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 4 medium eggs
- 8 oz spinach
- 4 oz mushroom
- 2 oz onion
- 1 oz bread
- 1/2 tsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup homemade tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted chicken broth
- 0.5 oz parmesan cheese
- 0.5 oz feta cheese
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp cilantro
INSTRUCTIONS
Bring a pot of water to a boil and blanch 8 oz spinach. Then transfer the veggie to an iced bath.
Squeeze well to remove water. Cut spinach into small pieces.
Dice 1 oz bread. Then season with 1/2 tsp olive oil, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and 1/4 tsp thyme. Bake at 300F in 8 minutes.
In a nonstick skillet, stir fry 2 oz onion with 1/4 tbsp of butter over medium heat. When the onion becomes translucent, add 4 oz mushrooms to the skillet. Stir occasionally until the mushrooms release their juices and the juice evaporates completely.
Then add spinach, 1/3 cup tomato sauce, 1/2 cup chicken broth, and 0.5 oz parmesan to the skillet. Cook for another 2 minutes.
Brush the bottom of 4 ramekins with 1/4 tbsp of butter. Divide vegetables and put equal amounts in each ramekin.
Crack an egg on top of each ramekin, sprinkle with 0.5 oz feta cheese.
Bake at 400°F in 10 minutes.
Garnish with croutons, pepper, and cilantro.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary ConsultantLuna Regina
Writer, AuthorLizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD
Nutrition Reviewer- Randy K.Great flavor, perfect for for an easy weekend egg breakfast!
- Kayliann SullivanDelicious recipe for shirred eggs.