Description
These Super Easy Ham and Egg Cups are a perfect protein-packed breakfast or brunch option that combines savory ham, melted cheddar cheese, and baked eggs, all conveniently cooked in a muffin pan for quick serving and easy cleanup. Customize the yolk consistency by adjusting the baking time for a delicious, handheld meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham and Egg Cups Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 12 slices of ham (standard thickness sliced deli ham, trimmed if needed)
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (freshly grated preferred)
- 12 large eggs
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the right temperature by the time you’re ready to bake.
- Prepare Muffin Pan: Spray each cup of a 12-cup muffin pan thoroughly with cooking spray to prevent sticking; set the pan aside.
- Line with Ham: Place one slice of ham into each muffin cup, pressing it gently to form a cup shape that will hold the eggs and cheese. Trim the ham if it is too large to fit comfortably in the cup.
- Add Cheese: Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon of shredded cheddar cheese over the ham in each cup, distributing evenly to layer the flavor.
- Add the Eggs: Crack one large egg into each ham-lined cup on top of the cheese. Be careful to keep the yolks intact if desired.
- Season: Lightly season each egg with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste for enhanced flavor.
- Bake: Place the muffin pan in the preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Baking for 12 minutes yields runny yolks, while baking closer to 15 minutes produces fully set yolks similar to hard boiled eggs.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the pan from the oven and sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the egg cups for a burst of color and freshness. Use a large spoon to carefully lift each ham and egg cup from the pan and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use a standard 12-cup muffin pan for easy assembly and portion control.
- Coating the muffin pan with cooking spray is essential to prevent the egg cups from sticking; butter or oils like extra virgin olive, canola, or coconut oil can be used as alternatives.
- Standard thickness sliced deli ham works best as it holds the shape and ingredients inside; very thin ham slices tend to be too fragile.
- Freshly shredded cheddar cheese melts creamily compared to pre-shredded varieties, which often contain anti-caking agents reducing creaminess.
- Adjust egg cooking time to your preference: 12 minutes for runny yolks, 15 minutes for firmer yolks.
- Ham flavors like smoky tavern ham, baked ham, or honey ham all complement this recipe well, so choose your favorite.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ham and egg cup
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 185 mg
