How To Make A Frittata For One

Learn how to make a "frittata for one" with our simple ratio of ingredients. Easy to customize, a frittata is perfect for any meal.

A frittata is an egg dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It can be packed with just about any ingredient, including leftovers.

Scroll down to see our Spinach and Bacon Frittata For One, as well as popular frittata variations.

What Is A Frittata?

A frittata is an Italian dish that features eggs, cream, and other ingredients that are cooked slowly in a skillet and then finished under the broiler.

Think of a frittata as a low-carb, crustless quiche. Unlike omelets, where mostly cooked eggs are folded around mostly cooked vegetables, a frittata involves pouring uncooked eggs over vegetables, meats, and cheese in a pan.

Why This Recipe Works

• A frittata is simple and easy to make. It isn't complicated at all. The method described here is what consistently works for me. It's how I make a frittata but feel free to make tweaks as you see fit.
• A frittata makes use of leftovers like roasted potatoes, fresh tomatoes, or cooked sausage from breakfast.
• It's hearty and incredibly delicious.
• Frittatas are everything you love about a quiche without the fuss of a crust.

The Frittata Ratio

So, how do you make a frittata without using a recipe? The answer is by using a ratio.

For a single serving frittata, use 2 large eggs and 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. From there, add in roughly ¼ cup to ½-cup of vegetables, ⅛ to ¼-cup of cheese, and 2-ounces of a protein (optional). If you want to make a meatless frittata, feel free to add in more vegetables.

The most important part of this ratio is the eggs to cream. From there you can slightly tweak the amounts of the other ingredients.

Use this ratio for a frittata cooked in a 6-inch or 6.5-inch cast iron or oven-safe skillet.

If you'd like to make a large frittata in a 10-inch oven-safe skillet, use this ratio: For every 6 eggs, use ¼ cup of heavy cream, 2 cups total of vegetables and/or protein, and 1 cup of shredded cheese.

A Single Serving Frittata Recipe

Using our formula we've created an incredibly delicious single serving Spinach and Bacon Frittata that's every bit as delicious as it is easy to make.

Ingredients

Ingredient Notes

• Eggs: Use 2 large eggs.
• Heavy cream: I highly recommend using 2 tablespoons of heavy cream because it makes the frittata more like a creamy custard. If necessary, you can use half and half or whole milk instead. If you'd like to make a dairy free frittata, use full-fat coconut milk but you will notice a slight change in flavor
• Dried thyme: I love the flavor of thyme in this frittata recipe but you can use basil, oregano, or herbes de Provence instead. Use ¼ teaspoon of any of these herbs.
• Salt and black pepper: Use ⅛ of a teaspoon of salt and ⅛ of a teaspoon of pepper for flavor.
• Bacon: Use 1 strip of bacon.
• Onions and garlic: ¼ cup of chopped onions and 1 garlic clove add so much flavor to a frittata. Definitely don't leave them out.
• Spinach: Use ¼ of fresh spinach.
• Cheese: I use ⅛ of a cup of shredded cheddar cheese in our frittata recipe. You can use just about any good melting cheese in a frittata. You might like to use swiss, gouda, gruyere, provolone, or mozzarella instead.

See below for ways to use leftover ingredients.

How To Make A Frittata

See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

1. Heat broiler to low. Whisk together eggs, cream, thyme, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl. Set the bowl aside.
2. Place a 6.5-inch cast-iron skillet, or a non-stick oven-safe pan, over medium-high heat and cook the bacon until brown and crispy, about 4 minutes.
3. Add the chopped onions and garlic and cook, stirring frequently until the onions are soft, about 2 minutes.
4. Stir in the spinach and cook until it begins to wilt, about 1 minute.
5. Stir the cheese into the bowl containing the eggs and cream and then pour the mixture into the skillet with bacon and vegetables. Cook until the eggs are set on the bottom but the top remains slightly runny, about 5 minutes.
6. Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil until the eggs are set, about 3 minutes.

Expert Tips

• Use the right pan for the job: The very best pan to use for a frittata is a cast-iron skillet. If you don't have one, an oven-safe skillet will work too.
• Cook the add-ins: Fully cook the onions, garlic, and spinach because you don't want them to release moisture into the eggs. Keep this in mind if you are adding other vegetables like mushrooms and tomatoes. Cook them first so that they don't water down the eggs.
• Don't overbake: A good frittata should have the texture of a custard. If using a cast-iron skillet, the frittata will continue to bake after you remove it from the oven because cast iron retains heat so well. It takes just 3-4 minutes under the broiler to set. To check to see if your frittata is done, insert a toothpick into the center. When the toothpick comes out clean, you're good to go.
• Watch your frittata closely: The ingredients cook in the skillet very quickly so you'll need to have all of your ingredients handy when you begin cooking. Since the frittata takes only 3 minutes under the broiler to fully cook, you'll need to keep a close eye on it during that time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Make Ahead Instructions

A frittata can be enjoyed immediately or warm. To make a frittata ahead simply follow the instructions to bake your frittata, and then let it cool before covering it in plastic wrap and storing it in the refrigerator up to 4 days ahead of time. Remove the plastic wrap and either reheat in an oven preheated to 350 F until warmed through or in the microwave.

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this spinach and bacon frittata recipe, you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

• Eggs: Eggs Benedict, Cheesy Baked Eggs, Mini Red Velvet Cake, Pasta Carbonara
• Heavy cream: Tortelloni Soup, Chicken and Rice Casserole, Panna Cotta, Alfredo Sauce
• Dried thyme: Mini Meatloaf, Clam Chowder, Seafood Gumbo, Ratatouille
• Bacon: Twice Baked Potato, White Bean Soup, Cobb Salad, Zuppa Toscana
• Onions: Turkey Cutlet, Chicken Stew, Steak Fajitas, Chicken Tagine
• Garlic: Lemon Garlic Chicken, Bruschetta, Sautéed Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes
• Spinach: Spinach Manicotti, Spinach and Orzo Salad, Green Smoothie, Pork Stir Fry
• Cheddar cheese: Breakfast Casserole, Macaroni and Cheese, Hamburger Casserole, Beef Enchiladas

Variations

The best thing about a frittata is how versatile it is. Here are a few easy combinations to inspire you. The ingredient amounts listed here are for a single serving frittata cooked in a 6.5-inch skillet.

• Creole Frittata: Follow this frittata recipe but use 2 ounces of diced Andouille sausage instead of bacon, and replace the spinach with the "holy trinity" - 1 tablespoon of chopped green bell peppers, 1 tablespoon of chopped onions, and 1 clove of garlic. If desired, add ¼ cup of cheese to the egg mixture, pour over the sausage and vegetables. Cook until the eggs are set on the bottom but the top remains slightly runny, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil until the eggs are set, about 3 minutes.
• Vegetable Frittata: Make the frittata base (2 tablespoons of cream, 2 eggs, and seasonings). Heat ½ teaspoon of olive oil in the skillet. Sauté ¼ cup diced zucchini, ¼ cup of chopped tomatoes, and 2 tablespoons of chopped onions until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add ⅛ cup of shredded cheese to the egg mixture and pour over the vegetables. Next, pour the mixture into the skillet with the vegetables. Cook until the eggs are set on the bottom but the top remains slightly runny, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil on low until the eggs are set, about 3 minutes.
• Sausage and Pepper Frittata: Make the frittata base. Cook 2 ounces of Italian sausage until browned, about 3 minutes, add ½ cup chopped onions and ¼ cup chopped red peppers and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes. Add ¼ cup of shredded cheese to the egg mixture and pour over the sausage and vegetables. Cook until the eggs are set on the bottom but the top remains slightly runny, about 5 minutes. Transfer the skillet to the oven and broil until the eggs are set, about 3 minutes.

Serving Suggestions

A mini frittata can be a meal in itself. However, if you'd like to serve a side dish with it, here are a few ideas:

• Jello Salad
• Chicken Salad
• French Bread
• Roasted Carrots
• Buttered Noodles

If you’ve tried this easy spinach and bacon frittata recipe, created your own frittata combination, or tried any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.