Description
These Super Easy Ham and Egg Cups are a perfect protein-packed breakfast or brunch option. Made by lining muffin cups with slices of ham, adding shredded cheddar cheese, and cracking an egg into each cup, they are baked to perfection in just 15 minutes. Customize the yolk consistency by adjusting the baking time, then finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a deliciously simple and savory start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Ham and Egg Cups
- Cooking spray, for greasing the muffin pan
- 12 slices of ham (standard thickness deli ham, trimmed if necessary to fit the muffin cups)
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (preferably freshly grated for better melting)
- 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’s hot and ready for baking the egg cups.
- Prepare Muffin Pan: Spray the cups of a 12-cup muffin pan thoroughly with cooking spray to prevent sticking, or alternatively grease with butter or oil.
- Line with Ham: Place one slice of ham in each muffin cup, trimming if needed so it fits neatly and forms a cup shape to hold the cheese and egg.
- Add Cheese: Spoon about 1 tablespoon of shredded cheddar cheese on top of the ham in each cup, spreading evenly as a flavorful base layer.
- Crack Eggs: Carefully crack one large egg into each ham-lined cup, keeping the yolk intact for the desired texture.
- Season: Sprinkle kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper over the eggs to taste, enhancing the flavor.
- Bake: Place the muffin pan in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Bake closer to 12 minutes if you prefer runny yolks or up to 15 minutes for firmer, hard-cooked yolks.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the muffin pan from the oven, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for color and freshness, then use a large spoon to gently lift out the ham and egg cups. Serve immediately.
Notes
- A standard 12-cup muffin pan makes assembling and baking the ham and egg cups quick and easy.
- Greasing the muffin pan well is essential to prevent sticking when removing the cups. Cooking spray is effective, but butter, olive oil, canola oil, or coconut oil also work well.
- Use standard thickness sliced deli ham for best structural support in the cups. Thinly sliced ham may be too fragile. Smoky tavern, baked, or honey ham are good flavor choices.
- Freshly grated cheese melts better and creates a creamier texture compared to pre-shredded cheese coated with anti-clumping agents.
- Adjust cooking time to control the yolk consistency: 12 minutes for runny yolks, up to 15 minutes for yolks that are fully set like hard boiled eggs.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 185mg
