Egg Bites offer a convenient, handheld breakfast option that packs the protein in a convenient form. The first time I tried egg bites was Costco’s version, and later I found the Starbucks version. They were both good, but I found them to lack sufficient add-ins and to be expensive for what they were. Given the simple ingredient list, I decided to make these myself.
These are also great menu items that can be prepared in advance and stored for later use. They offer a great source of quality protein and healthy ingredients that are surprisingly good when retrieved from your fridge or freezer. They can be easily customized to include a wide variety of mix-ins and toppings, satisfying any breakfast craving.
My favorite version (below) is made with extra-crispy bacon bits and Gruyère cheese. These are similar in taste to the Starbucks version. But you can mix and match an array of cheeses, proteins, and veggies.
Proteins like cubed ham and breakfast sausage are a good and tasty choice. You can also use almost any type of cheese, such as cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, mozzarella, or Parmesan. I’ve also considered using a thick layer of Parmesan cheese as a topping to achieve a crunchy crust. The vegetable options are also vast. Some favorites include green onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, and fire-roasted tomatoes.
Pro Tip: Use a nonstick silicone muffin pan. This was the first recipe I used my new silicone muffin pan from Target. I was pleasantly surprised that something actually worked as advertised.
About the Bacon
I use Costco’s extra-thick applewood bacon. I cook the bacon in the oven at 400 degrees and check for doneness. I like the bacon extra crispy, so I remove the excess oil from the pan and return it to the oven for an additional 6-8 minutes. I’m looking for the bacon edges to be right on the cusp of burnt.
Storage
I haven’t tried storing these in the freezer yet – I’m not sure how that will work out – but the fridge is fine because they are so good that they usually don’t last long. I store them in a glass food container, and they don’t last till the end of the workweek.
Ingredients:
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup grated gruyère cheese
- 1/4 cup bacon bits
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon green onions, chopped
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly spray silicone muffin pan with cooking spray.
- Use a blender to blend the eggs, cottage cheese, gruyère cheese, salt, and pepper until well incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and gently mix in the bacon bits and green onions (save a few bits of bacon and green onion for topping).
- Divide the egg mixture evenly into the muffin pan, filling each cup about halfway. Top with remaining bacon and green onion.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until muffins are firm to the touch in the center.
- When you remove the muffin pan from the oven. Rest the egg bites for 5-10 minutes before removing them from the pan.
In a busy world, always searching for time-saving conveniences, these tasty morsels tick a lot of boxes for convenience and healthy homemade goodness.