Shirred Eggs
Shirred Eggs, also known as Baked Eggs is a simple dish made with just four ingredients. This makes a perfect breakfast or quick and easy dinner!
What are Shirred Eggs?
Shirred Eggs are eggs baked in a flat bottom dish with a combination of butter, heavy cream, and parmesan. Often you will see this dish sprinkled with fresh herbs, flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper. The name Shirred Eggs comes from the traditional dish in which these eggs were prepared called a shirrer. Now, a ramekin is most often used and happens to work perfectly to make this creamy egg dish!
Ingredients for Shirred Eggs
As always, this is a quick overview of the ingredients you will need for this recipe. To get the complete, printable recipe just keep scrolling. To make these baked eggs you will need:
- Eggs: I use size large eggs for this recipe. If you use another size the same method will work, just be mindful your cooking times may be different.
- Butter: salted or unsalted butter will do. I always use salted, but if you use unsalted just remember to season your eggs well.
- Heavy Cream: for this dish only heavy cream will do, I do not suggest an alternative such as whole milk or a dairy free alternative.
- Parmesan: use a good quality cheese such as aged Parmesan Reggiano
How to Make Shirred Eggs
This egg dish may seem difficult, but it is truly a cinch to make. You only need to follow a few basic steps for the perfect egg dish, and I’ve documented the entire process below. Remember, you can easily adjust the recipe to serve as few or as many people as needed!
Butter the Ramekins
Instead of just spraying the ramekins with cooking spray generously rub butter across the bottom and sides of the dish. Remember, this step is two fold. You want to properly prepare the dish so that the eggs do not stick. But this step also greatly increases the flavor. These eggs are cooking a combination of butter, heavy cream and parmesan, so don’t skip this step!
Crack Eggs into Dish
Carefully crack two eggs right into the ramekin, and be sure not to break the yolks.
Heavy Cream and Parmesan
Slowly pour the heavy cream into the dish, but be sure not to pour it over the yolks. pour it around the yolks, over the egg whites. Next, sprinkle the parmesan into the dish making sure to avoid the yolks.
Bake
Place the ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Place the eggs in the oven at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. Remember the cooking time may vary depending on the depth of your dish, the size of your eggs, the oven, and the altitude. Remove the eggs from the oven when the whites have set but the yolks are still runny.
Serve
These easy-baked eggs are great with crusty bread and traditional breakfast dishes like this potato hash, air fryer bacon or sausage. It also makes a great light dinner or brunch! You can serve this dish with:
- Simple Arugula Salad: this salad with brown butter dressing is a dream when paired with these creamy baked eggs.
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad: this salad is comprised of ultra thinly sliced Brussels sprouts, dried fruits and nuts.
- Italian Baked Mushrooms: a perfect side that goes with everything.
Storage and Reheating
The best part of this dish is when the eggs are fresh from the oven and the parmesan is perfectly melted and the yolks are runny. This is not a dish that is great for meal prep. I do not suggest making this dish ahead, as it will not store well and will not reheat the same. If you would like some other breakfast recipes that are meal prep friendly I would try these recipes:
- Bacon Cheddar Chaffles: a great whole breakfast as it contains eggs and bacon in a convenient grab and go form.
- Sausage Egg and Cheese Bites: a simple 6 ingredient breakfast recipe that happens to be low carb!
- Egg Bites: bacon and gruyere bites that are cooked low and slow so they are ultra flavorful!
Recipe Tips
- Ingredients: this recipe has four basic ingredients, the quality of the ingredients matters!
- Ramekins: remember the size of the ramekin matters. If you use a larger or smaller dish the cooking time will change.
- Additional Ingredients: while not traditional you can add ingredients to customize this dish. Some great add-in options are pesto, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, pancetta,
- Season: remember, add fresh herbs, salt, and pepper to taste!
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Shirred Eggs
Ingredients
- 4 6 ounce ramekins
- 1 tablespoon butter for greasing, you may not use all of it
- 8 large eggs
- 8 tablespoons heavy cream 1/2 cup
- 6 tablespoons parmesan about 1/3 cup
- 4 tablespoons fresh herbs or chives chopped optional
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease four 6 ounce ramekins liberally with the butter. You may or may not use all of it, just make sure the base and sides of the ramekin are coated well.
- Carefully crack two eggs into each dish, be sure not to break the yolk.
- Add two tablespoons heavy cream and 1 1/2 tablespoon parmesan into each dish (do not cover the yolks).
- Bake the eggs 12-15 minutes until the whites are set and the yolks are runny.
- Remove the eggs from the oven and sprinkle with 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh herbs, salt and pepper.
Cooking times may vary, watch the dish closely.
Notes
Nutrition
