This spinach frittata is light, fluffy and filled with freshly grated parmesan cheese. There’s practically no meal a frittata isn’t good for, and this one is no exception!
When it comes to breakfast, it’s hard to think of a better option than frittatas. With eggs as their base, they’re protein-packed and incredibly filling, and you can add any type of vegetable you like to them.
This one takes the classic approach of using baby spinach and freshly grated parmesan cheese, along with the essential but simple flavoring agents of garlic and shallots.
The result is an incredibly light and fluffy bake that’s not only an excellent breakfast choice but also a great brunch, lunch or light dinner option. I’ve spent enough solo nights to know the simplicity of a frittata dinner like this.
Ingredients needed to make a spinach frittata
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Shallot or onion
- Garlic
- Eggs
- Milk
- Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Baby spinach
Aromatics
The shallot and garlic are sautéed first in the olive oil to mellow out their flavors and soften before baking with the eggs. Use freshly minced garlic if you can rather than pre-minced jarred garlic. The fresh stuff tastes so much better, and in a simple recipe like this, the difference is pronounced.
Fresh herbs can also be a great way to add flavor easily. Basil, thyme and oregano would go well with the spinach and parmesan in this recipe.
Vegetables
Bagged baby spinach already pre-washed and ready to use is a hard-to-beat convenience, but you can use fresh spinach if preferred. In fact, any other leafy green is easily swapped in for the spinach in this frittata recipe. Collard greens, kale and Swiss chard are all good options.
But leafy greens aren’t the only option. This Thanksgiving frittata uses pre-cooked winter squash and mushrooms. These frittata bites illustrate how easily almost any type of leftovers can be turned into a frittata recipe.
Cheese
A frittata without cheese is hardly worth eating. Freshly grated parmesan is a solid choice that always pairs well with eggs. Other good options include goat, feta, cheddar, mozzarella or Gruyere. Pairing two cheeses together is also a great choice. Dollops of goat cheese would be delicious on top of this spinach frittata.
Eggs
As the main ingredient, choose high-quality eggs with golden yolks for the best-tasting frittata. Pasture-raised eggs will provide the most delicious and nutritious option.
How to make this spinach frittata recipe
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Pour the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet (make sure the handle is not wood) or pot on the stove-top over medium heat. Once hot, add the shallots and sauté for a few minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic to the pan and cook for another minute or so until fragrant. Turn off the heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together until beaten. Add the grated cheese, salt, pepper and cooked shallot mixture from the pan. Stir to combine, then fold in the baby spinach.
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tip
Folding the spinach into the eggs without cooking it in the pan first leaves lovely pronounced layers of spinach in the finished frittata.
Pour the egg mixture back into the skillet and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes until the center is set and the frittata is nice and puffy.
Optionally — you can broil the frittata for the last minute of cooking for a golden brown crust.
Using an oven mitt, remove from the oven, let cool for at least 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tip
Use a rubber spatula to loosen the edges of the frittata before slicing and serving for clean pieces.
What’s the best type of skillet to use for a frittata?
Cast iron skillets or pots are the best choice for making frittatas. They can safely go from stove-top to oven and are excellent at even heat conduction.
A well-seasoned cast-iron pan is naturally non-stick, so removing the frittata from the pan is not an issue.
What’s the difference between a quiche and a frittata?
A frittata is essentially a crustless quiche. Other than that slight distinction, the two dishes are pretty similar. They’re both egg-based recipes mixed with milk or heavy cream, baked in the oven to which you can add veggies, cheeses or other fillings.
Omelets are typically single-serving dishes, whereas quiches and frittatas are meant to be shared.
The key to a fluffy spinach frittata
There are two essential things to take heed of for a fluffy frittata:
- Don’t forget to add milk or cream — Just a tiny amount of dairy helps to create that light and fluffy texture frittatas are known for.
- Don’t overbake it — Remove the frittata from the oven when the center is just set. Cooking past this point will dry out the eggs and deflate the whole dish.
Can frittatas be frozen?
We don’t suggest it. This recipe doesn’t freeze very well, as the texture gets a bit funky with defrosting. Try our homemade breakfast hot pockets if you’re looking for a breakfast or brunch recipe that freezes well.
Storing and reheating leftovers
Frittata recipes are great for leftovers. Making a big frittata for breakfast all week is an easy way to meal-prep for the week. Store any leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
The frittata can be reheated in the microwave on a medium-power setting in 30-second intervals. If you enjoy cold dishes, frittatas are excellent eaten cold as well.
Other egg dishes to try:
Kale feta egg bake — This easy recipe is a favorite for quick and easy dinners or weekend breakfasts.
Cheesy potato breakfast casserole — Name a better brunch option than this casserole filled with potatoes, cheese, turkey sausage and aromatics.
Slow cooker summer frittata — A completely hands-off recipe that’s great for summer-time brunches, this frittata uses zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, basil and prosciutto for a filling start to the day.
Spinach Frittata
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 shallots, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk, any kind
- ½ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 5 ounces baby spinach, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Pour olive oil into a 10 inch cast iron or oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the shallots and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook an additional minute until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Whisk the eggs and milk together in a large bowl. Add the parmesan, salt, pepper, cooked shallots and garlic and stir together.
- Add the spinach to the egg mixture in batches and stir until combined. Pour the frittata mixture into the skillet and bake in the oven for about 25 minutes until the frittata is puffy and the middle is set.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I’m willing to barter IT services for this delicious food….
Looks sooo delish!! Looks almost like a pizza and making me really hungry :)
That is one good looking frittata :)
all i can say is wow!! that looks incredible and I love that you used collards- such a fantastic green.
omg that must’ve hurt so bad!
Never tried a frittata… Yours looks quite tasty… I fancy one tonight for dinner now , but I’ll swap the collard greens for spinach to try.
Ok I love literally everything that comes out of your kitchen! Dodgy jokes included! Haha! :) Fab deal on the eggs as well! Definitely WINNING!
Ooh also meant to say… have a good trip! Hope the traveling part passes as quickly as possible!
LOVE eggs and goat cheese together!!
love your blog! i interviewed a dietitian on mine today and thought you might be interested in checking it out here https://closetvanity.com/2011/08/03/take-5-with-ayla-withee-registered-dietitian-eat-simply/ can’t wait to try your frittata-i’m a HUGE fan of goat cheese!
That looks sooo good!! And easy, too…will definitely have to try it :)