When I think of breakfast, I think of eggs. I have been making the egg frittata for YEARS, and every week when I make a huge pan, it serves my needs so well. My taste buds dance, and my stomach is satisfied and nourished. This egg frittata is fluffy and packed with flavor and freshness. I make this spicy egg frittata at all times of the year. My family adores it, and we often make it when we have a gathering of people for brunch. This crowd-pleaser breakfast dish is Whole30 and is perfect for meal prep and anything in between.
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What is a frittata?
There is a lot of discrepancy between egg frittatas, egg casseroles, quiches, and egg stratas. Below I have broken down their differences in a simple and over-generalized way.
Egg frittata: An egg frittata is traditionally made with little to no cream (often just a little bit of milk). It is a two-step process that begins on the stove and then transfers to the oven. Sausage and vegetables are sauteed on the stovetop before the eggs are poured over in a pan to bake to perfection.
Egg casserole (aka an egg bake): A custard-based egg mixture is mixed with various vegetables, cheese, and meats, then baked all at once. Typically a thicker version of a frittata with more add-ins. The eggs act as a binding agent rather than the main dish itself.
Quiche: Typically made with a pie crust, a custard-based egg mixture is poured over ingredients like bacon, cheddar, and herbs.
Strata: A savory bread pudding, typically prepared with eggs, potatoes, sausage, and cheese. A more dense and filling dish.
What do I need to create this egg frittata?
This spicy egg frittata uses simple ingredients that can all be modified and swapped for whatever makes more sense for you. I always use what I have and make the rest work. Below is the ingredient list and some swap ideas!
- Whole eggs (duh!)
- Almond milk (any dairy or non-dairy milk works here. See my notes for details*)
- Salt (flAAvorrr)
- 1 package of spicy breakfast sausage (9 oz of Whole30-approved breakfast sausage. If you are not aiming for a Whole30 meal, use whatever fully-cooked sausage is desired!)
- Olive oil
- Bell pepper (I like red or orange. This also can be subbed for a zucchini)
- Spinach (or any leafy green)
- Optional: a sweet yellow onion (this boosts flavor, but if you want to make your morning a little easier, use onion powder)
- Spices: garlic powder, onion powder*, oregano, Italian seasoning, and (optional) cayenne pepper.
Can I make this recipe in advance?
Absolutely! My favorite thing about this recipe is that you can pre-cook your vegetables and sausage in advance. Oftentimes, I saute my pepper, sausage, and onion (along with the spices) the night before. I place the ingredients into a 9×13 glass pan, then in the morning, the only thing left to do is to pour the eggs and milk right over. It is a super simple and forgiving recipe. Sometimes when I know I will be short of time n the morning, I will pour the eggs over the sauteed ingredients and then place them in the refrigerator overnight; that will work too.
Spicy Egg Frittata
Ingredients
- 18 whole eggs
- ¾ cup almond milk see notes for alternatives*
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 package fully cooked, spice breakfast sausage cut into coin shapes
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 whole bell pepper can sub substituted for cubed zucchini
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder only if not using sautéed onion
- ½ sweet yellow onion chopped finely
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper optional*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9×13 inch cast pan or oil and cast iron skillet. See notes below*.
- First, sauté the bell pepper, onion, and breakfast sausage with olive oil on medium heat in a large saucepan.
- After about 10 minutes, the sausage should be browned. Add the garlic powder, onion powder (if using), oregano, Italian seasoning, and cayenne pepper.
- Once the spices are fully coating the add-ins, remove the pan for heat. Pour the sausage mixture into a greased pan.
- Next, whisk together the eggs and milk in a mixing bowl. Add the salt and black pepper. Do not over-whisk, but make sure the egg yolks are broken and the mixture is homogenous.
- Pour the egg mixture over the sausage mixture into the pan.
- Bake your frittata for 45 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving! The frittata can be in the refrigerator for about 1 week. Microwave for 1 minute to reheat.
Notes
Let me know how this recipe turned out for you below and what changes you made!
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