How to Make a Frittata (2024)

Eggs 101 How to Make a Frittata (1)

A frittata - derived from the Italian word fritta, meaning to fry - is an extremely versatile dish. It’s fancy enough for fine-dining, hearty enough for breakfast and is the perfect way to use up leftovers from last night’s dinner. Combine that with the fact that you can make one for a whole family in about 10 minutes, it’s pretty clear the frittata is a must for any chef, amateur or otherwise.

The frittata is very similar to an omelette, the basic difference is the filling is mixed in with the egg instead of folded. Mostly cooked in the skillet, frittatas are finished in the oven, resulting in a puffy, slightly browned top.

Things You'll Need

  • An oven-safe pan such as a cast iron skillet
  • A bit of cream
  • 4-5 eggs
  • Any other ingredients you’d like in your fritatta
  • An oven

Instructions

  1. Step 1

    How to Make a Frittata (2)

    Preheat your oven to “broil.” Whisk together the eggs and cream until smooth. Be careful not to over-beat the eggs, as it can cause the albumen to toughen. At the same time, make sure that your filling ingredients are cooked, warm and any liquid is drained.

  2. Step 2

    How to Make a Frittata (3)

    Mix together all of your ingredients with the eggs, saving any cheese until the end.

  3. Step 3

    How to Make a Frittata (4)

    Grease your pan with butter or cooking spray. Pour the mixture into a pan over low heat, and begin moving the cooked egg away from the edges, creating large curds, much like you would with an omelette.

  4. Step 4

    How to Make a Frittata (5)

    When the bottom is cooked, the centre will still be slightly runny. At this point, sprinkle the cheese on top and place under the broiler for 2-3 minutes or until the top is set.

  5. Step 5

    How to Make a Frittata (6)

    Using a rubber spatula, loosen the frittata from the edges. Place a cutting board over top of the pan and invert to turn out the frittata. Let it sit for 2-3 minutes, then cut into slices and serve warm.

    Of course, what you get out of a frittata depends on what you put in. If you’re looking for a bit of inspiration, try our Zesty Eggplant Frittata, or our Baked Parma Ham, Pesto and Ricotta Frittata.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a frittata?

A frittata is an Italian-style egg dish that is similar to an omelette or a quiche without the crust. It is usually cooked in a skillet on the stovetop or in the oven and is flavoured by a variety of different ingredients.

What are some common fillings for a frittata?

A frittata can include a variety of ingredients. Consider roasted or pan-fried vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or tomatoes; cheeses like feta, mozzarella, cheddar; or add meat or seafood like bacon, sausage, ham, shrimp or crab. You can also add herbs, spices or other seasonings to add extra flavour to your base. If you're looking for inspiration, check out our Frittata ideas page.

Can a frittata be served cold?

A frittata can be served hot out of the oven, at room temperature or cold out of the fridge for a quick breakfast on the go. It's a perfect main dish for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, and can be enjoyed on its own or with a side of fruit, a salad, or some bread. You can also cut a frittata into small squares and serve it as a party appetizer.

How is a frittata different from an omelette?

A frittata is different from an omelette in several ways. Unlike an omelette, a frittata is typically made by cooking the eggs and fillings together in a skillet, rather than folding the eggs over the filling as in an omelette or baking them in a crust as in a quiche. This gives the frittata a more rustic, open-faced appearance.

How do you know when a frittata is done?

When the frittata is ready, the eggs should be set and have a nice golden-brown hue on the bottom. To check if the frittata is done, use a knife or spatula to gently lift up the edges and peek underneath. The eggs should be cooked through, not runny and a knife should come out clean when inserted into the centre. You can also give the skillet a gentle shake to determine if it is done; a runny frittata will jiggle when you shake the skillet.

Can a frittata be made ahead of time?

Frittatas are perfect for meal prepping since they can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. Just cook the eggs and ingredients according to the recipe, then let the frittata cool completely. Once it’s cooled, place it in a sealed, reusable container and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days. To serve, gently heat it in a skillet over medium heat until it’s warmed up, or pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or simply serve it at room temperature.

Can a frittata be frozen?

A frittata can also be frozen in a pinch, although the texture of the eggs may change slightly after being frozen and thawed.

To freeze a frittata, allow it to cool completely after cooking, then place it on a cookie sheet in the freezer until frozen through. Then, place it in an airtight container and return to the freezer for up to 3 months.

To thaw out the frittata, pop the slices onto a baking tray and cook them in an oven heated to 275°F (135°C) for 20 minutes. If you have some extra time, let it defrost in the fridge for the night and cook it on the stovetop in a pan over medium heat until it's warmed through.

What are some common flavour combinations for a frittata?

A frittata is an incredibly versatile dish that allows for endless flavour combinations. Have fun experimenting and discovering the tastes you like best. Some common combinations include:

  • Spinach, feta, and tomato
  • Mushroom, bacon, and cheddar
  • Asparagus, goat cheese, and red onion
  • Zucchini, basil, and Parmesan
  • Broccoli, bacon, and Swiss cheese

If you need some creative meal ideas, take a look at our Frittata Recipe section.

How to Make a Frittata (2024)

FAQs

What is the frittata formula? ›

The Frittata Formula

Frittatas are incredibly simple. For every six large eggs, you'll want to mix in ¼ cup of milk or cream, ¼ cup of cheese, and about 3 cups of meat or vegetables. The small amount of milk and cheese keeps the eggs soft and creamy and the meat and vegetables give you endless options.

When determining how many eggs to use in a frittata generally? ›

The egg to dairy ratio: If you are making a smaller frittata use 6 eggs and 1/4 cup of dairy, and if you are making a larger frittata use 12 eggs and 1/2 cup of dairy. You can use milk, sour cream, yogurt, milk kefir, or any other form of dairy you have on hand - just make sure it is full fat.

How do I know when my frittata is done? ›

Cook the frittata in the oven just until the centre is no longer wobbly and the edges are golden-brown. If still unsure, place a knife into the centre of the frittata. If raw eggs run out, keep cooking. You want the eggs to be just set as the frittata will keep cooking while it's standing.

Should I add milk to my frittata? ›

Adding a bit of dairy, whether it's cream or thick yogurt, is essential for getting the moisture and creaminess of the frittata just right. For every dozen eggs, use a half cup of dairy. It can be cream, whole milk, sour cream, yogurt, crème fraîche, even cottage cheese.

Why is my frittata still runny in the middle? ›

One reason your frittata is soggy, is that an ingredient you used had water or other liquid that was released when cooking the frittata. One solution, is to drain all ingredients first before mixing, or to reheat the ingredients seperately, until the liquid is removed.

What kind of pan is best for frittata? ›

Use a cast-iron skillet.

The best choice for making frittatas, cast iron skillets can safely go from stovetop to oven, and they conduct heat well and evenly. Seasoning a cast-iron pan gives it a non-stick quality, so a well-seasoned skillet will result in the easiest slicing & serving.

What size pan is best for frittata? ›

It's important to pull it from the oven before it's completely finished. The size of your pan is important- general rule of thumb- a 12 egg frittata should ideally be cooked in a 11-inch pan, a 6 egg frittata should be cooked in a 9-inch pan.

When making a frittata, which ingredient should be pre-cooked prior to adding it to the egg mixture? ›

Tough vegetables like potatoes, squash and onions need to be pre-cooked since they will not have time enough to soften before the eggs are done. Raw meats such as bacon and sausage also need more time and heat to cook through safely, so get them prepped before your other ingredients.

Why did my frittata turn grey? ›

The longer you cook an egg, the more likely it is to form a green coating on the yolk. Submerging an egg in ice water immediately stops the cooking. The green-gray color (and the whiff of sulfur smell that often accompanies it) comes from the reaction of iron in the egg yolk and sulfur in the egg white.

How jiggly should a frittata be? ›

When you pour in your eggs, let the frittata set for a couple of minutes on the stovetop. Then keep an eye on it when it's in the oven, and take it out when it's still a touch jiggly—not quite creme brulee-level jiggly, but when the top is a still a tiny bit shaky, get that frittata out of the oven and serve it warm.

Does frittata always have potatoes? ›

While there may or may not be additional ingredients, such as cubed potato, such ingredients are combined with the beaten egg mixture while the eggs are still raw rather than being laid over the mostly cooked egg mixture before it is folded, as in an omelette.

How long does homemade frittata last? ›

When you refrigerate cooked eggs, they'll stay good to eat for three to four days, so you can easily make a frittata (or two) during Sunday meal prep, slice and pack it up, and enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner almost all week long. In fact, frittatas are so foolproof, you don't even need a recipe to make one.

Do you have to flip a frittata? ›

Some cook the egg dish entirely on the stovetop, while others finish it in the oven. Here's the thing: The stovetop-only approach requires you to flip the giant, still-runny egg pancake in the skillet.

How to prevent frittata from deflating? ›

When dealing with serving frittatas at room temperature or chilled, make sure that you let it cool slowly -- you need to make sure that the proteins get a chance to set up before the air bubbles shrink significantly.

How to stop frittata sticking? ›

Add olive oil to grease – this will stop frittata from sticking. Add frittata mixture to the pan.

What is a frittata made of? ›

A frittata is an Italian egg dish similar to an open-faced omelet where a whisked egg mixture is filled with vegetables or other ingredients in a skillet on the stovetop, then finished in the oven or under the broiler until lightly golden brown.

What makes a frittata so different from an omelet? ›

That's because a frittata is essentially a custard filled with any vegetables, herbs, cheese, meat and even pasta of your choosing, that is then cooked in a frying pan. Whereas an omelet's filling is just sprinkled on top of the egg, the frittata's additions need to be mixed in with the egg and cream before cooking.

Can you make eggs with formula? ›

Prep and cook:

Mix egg with breast milk or formula and whisk until well combined. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat and add egg mixture. Cook, stirring often with a spatula, until eggs are scrambled and completely cooked through. Chop into tiny bits and serve to your baby.

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