The Best Ham and Cheese Frittata (Ham and Cheese Crustless Quiche)

Ham and cheese frittata is an Italian version of a crustless quiche. This easy breakfast or brunch main dish feeds a crowd and is perfect for a holiday brunch gathering or any weekend morning!

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Mornings in our house are a bit of a struggle.

Not a single one of us is a morning person. 

So there’s almost no way you’ll find us making something complicated in the morning.

Not even for a special occasion like Easter or Christmas.

But this ham and cheese frittata is so simple to make that we can effortlessly get it into the oven and have a special feeling breakfast on the table without breaking a sweat.

What is a frittata?

A frittata is basically a baked Italian omlette. So essentially, this is a crustless ham and cheese quiche. It makes the perfect breakfast for people that don’t want to mess around with a pie crust first thing in the morning or anyone looking for a low carb alternative to a quiche.

Ham and Cheese Frittata Ingredients and Kitchen Tools

To make this ham and cheese frittata you’ll need:

• Eggs– Go for large eggs here. Don’t use egg substitute.
• Heavy cream– You could sub half and half in a pinch, but I wouldn’t use a lower fat dairy product. The heavy cream adds richness and makes the dish super silky. You won’t get that with lower fat milk.
• Ham– This is a great way to use leftover ham from dinner. We used leftover ham with a honey glaze. Of course if you don’t have any ham leftovers, you could always chop up some deli ham.
• Cheese– We used shredded cheddar for this, but swiss or gruyere would also be lovely in it.
• Aromatics– A small onion chopped and a clove or two of pressed garlic provide a ton of flavor.
• Salt and Pepper– Just to taste. 
• Olive oil– Use enough to cover the bottom of a cast iron skillet with a thin layer of oil.

You’ll also need the following kitchen tools:

• 8 inch cast iron skillet
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Cutting board and knife
• Garlic press

How to Make in a Cast Iron Skillet

1. Chop the ham and onion.
   

   Crack the eggs after you chop the ham and onion

   Dice the onion and chop the ham into roughly equal sized cubes. Remove any fatty piece of ham and discard. 

2. Whisk everything together.
   

   Fold in the Ham and Cheese

   Once you’ve chopped the ham and the onion, set it aside. Crack the eggs into the mixing bowl and whisk in the cream, salt and pepper and pressed garlic. Once that’s all combined, fold in the chopped ham and shredded cheese.

3. Bake.
   

   Pour the egg mixture into a prepared cast iron skillet

   Pour enough olive oil into the bottom of your 8″ cast iron skillet to coat the bottom of the skillet. Then, pour the egg mixture into the skillet. Bake it at 350 for 3o minutes. The eggs should be set. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes prior to cutting and serving. Enjoy!

Do you add water or milk to a frittata?

For the love of all things good, do not add water.

I can’t stress this enough.

Adding water will result in a runny, watery frittata.

If you must, add milk and make sure it is whole milk- not skim.

Better yet? Stick to the heavy cream and treat yo’self to a silky, rich breakfast casserole.

How can you tell when a frittata is done?

That can be a little tricky, but I got you boo.

Give your cast iron skillet a little shake.

If the center of your frittata doesn’t jiggle and the edges are golden brown, it’s done!

Can you freeze a ham and cheese frittata?

Yes! 

Not only can you make this ahead of time, but you can freeze it so you can have it ready to go as a meal anytime. (It makes a great freezer breakfast if you are having a baby and planning freezer meals!)

To freeze it, cut frittata pieces and put them on a cookie sheet. Put the cookie sheet in the freezer for about 20-30 minutes before you transfer the pieces to an airtight container or a freezer bag.

Then, store the frittata in the freezer until ready to eat. Reheat by putting the frozen frittata on a cookie sheet and baking in a 275 degree oven for 20 minutes or until warmed through.

Tips and Tricks

• If you want to make this prep super easy for yourself, chop the onion and the ham the night before you make it and store it covered in the fridge. Then just pull it out when you are ready to assemble the frittata.
• Don’t have leftover ham to use? Chopping deli ham is fine.
• Adjust the amount of garlic to suit your taste.
• Feel free to use whatever cheese you like.

Serving and Storing

This is a meal in and of itself. However, if you want to fill it out more, you could serve this with breakfast potatoes or hashbrowns. For a lighter side, some fresh fruit works well. If you want to have this for brunch or dinner, it pair well with asparagus or a side salad.

To store leftovers, let the frittata cool and cover it tightly. Refrigerate for up to 3 days and reheat in the oven until warmed through.

Other Breakfast Recipes

Looking for other yummy breakfast ideas? Try these:

• Cheesy asparagus frittata– A vegetarian alternative to this ham and cheese frittata 
• Easy French Toast Casserole
• Baked Blueberry Pancake
• The Best Fluffy Waffle Recipe

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