Ham and Cheese Frittata with Asparagus

This cast iron skillet Ham and Cheese Frittata is great for breakfast or dinner! It's an Italian egg recipe made with asparagus and spinach.

A Ham Cheese Frittata is an easy meal that can be served any time of the day and is a great way to use up holiday leftovers. This version is made with asparagus, spinach, and cheddar cheese.

A frittata is a great recipe to add to your culinary arsenal. It's super versatile; You can prepare them with any combination of vegetables, meat, cheese. As long as one of the ingredients is eggs. Eggs are what make a frittata a frittata.

A frittata is an Italian dish that loosely translates to 'fried'. One of the best qualities of a frittata is that it can be eaten either hot or cold for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even as a midnight snack.

It will be equally delicious whether you eat it at 6 AM or 6 PM. A frittata is perfect served for brunch with something sweet like pancakes or a savory side like a light salad.

The ham gives this frittata a decadent quality that is balanced by the addition of green vegetables like asparagus and spinach. I love to add some sharp cheddar cheese to make it extra tasty.

Jump to:

• Which Vegetables Are Best In A Frittata?
• Ingredients For Ham and Cheese Frittata
• How To Make A Ham and Cheese Frittata
• What Is The Best Pan For A Frittata?
• Is It Best To Add Milk Or Water To A Frittata?
• How Long Does It Take To Bake A Frittata?
• How To Tell When A Frittata Is Done
• What To Serve With A Ham and Cheese Frittata
• Can It Be Made The Day Ahead?
• How Long Does A Frittata Last?
• Can It Be Frozen?
• Ham and Cheese Frittata with Asparagus

Which Vegetables Are Best In A Frittata?

There is really no 'wrong' way to make a frittata. You can add just about anything to them. The eggs act as sort of a blank canvas that can be flavored any way you like.

A frittata can be a great 'clean out the fridge' recipe made with any veggies you've got laying around in there.

Vegetables like broccoli, mushrooms, bell peppers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, asparagus, and zucchini are all great choices when it comes to frittatas. You can't go wrong by adding fresh greens like spinach, kale, arugula, or Swiss chard.

I find that a bit of garlic, shallots, onions, or green onions work great when it comes to adding a bit of flavor to a frittata.

I would suggest sticking to vegetables with a lower water content and not overloading it with extra ingredients, as this can make a frittata watery after it has baked. Fresh vegetables are recommend over frozen ones, as frozen vegetables have a higher water content.

It's generally best to add vegetables that have been roasted or sautéed in a skillet, as this results in the best flavor and texture.

Ingredients For Ham and Cheese Frittata

Here's what you'll need to make it.

• 2 cloves Garlic
• 4 Green Onions
• 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil (split)
• ½ lb. Asparagus (chopped)
• ½ lb. Diced Ham (equals 2 cups)
• 2 packed cups Fresh Spinach (chopped)
• 10 Eggs
• ⅓ cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 1 cup shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese (or cheese of choice)
• ¼ tsp. each Kosher Salt and Pepper (split)

How To Make A Ham and Cheese Frittata

A frittata starts the cooking process on the stove top and then baked in the oven. The ingredients are sautéed in a skillet before combined with the egg mixture. This helps them to caramelize and creates optimal flavor.

Salty meats like ham, bacon, and sausage are sautéed first, which helps to draw out the fat and results in more flavor. The garlic, onions, and veggies are then sautéed in the same skillet.

All of the ingredients are allowed to cool slightly before topped with the egg mixture and transferred to the oven to be baked.

1. The first step is to mince 2 cloves of garlic and cut the bottom portion of 4 green onions into slices (you can sub ½ an onion or 1 shallot if you like). Slice the green portions of the onions and reserve for garnish.
2. Trim the woody bottom portions from ½ lb. of asparagus and discard. Chop the remaining portions of asparagus.
3. Chop 2 packed cups of fresh spinach.
4. Dice ½ lb. ham into small cubes.
5. Grate 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese (or cheese of choice).
6. Heat a cast iron skillet to medium/high. Add 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Once the olive oil is heated, add the diced ham. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the ham from the skillet and set aside. Feel free to drain any extra fat if you like.
7. Add 1 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet, along with 2 cups of chopped asparagus and ⅛ tsp. each kosher salt and pepper. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
8. Add the minced garlic and green onions. Sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes, stirring often.
9. Remove the skillet from the heat.

What Is The Best Pan For A Frittata?

A cast iron skillet is the best pan when it comes to making a frittata. It's safe for use on the stove top and in the oven. I love to use a 10 inch cast iron skillet when making this recipe.

Using a sufficient amount of oil will help to prevent the frittata from sticking to the pan as it bakes. Make sure that the cast iron skillet used to make this frittata is well-seasoned, as this will yield the best results.

A Few Tips

• You can use any kind of pre-cooked ham you like when making this frittata. Ham steak or leftover holiday roasted ham are great choices.
• Feel free to use any kind of cheese you like. Cheddar, Gruyere, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Havarti, Gouda, or Fontina are perfect because they all melt nicely when cooked.
• Any variety of onion or shallots may be used in place of green onions. I would recommend using only half a regular onion, so that it doesn't overpower the other ingredients.

Is It Best To Add Milk Or Water To A Frittata?

The egg mixture may be prepared while the ham and asparagus are sautéed on the stove top.

It's best to use a full fat dairy when making a frittata, as this results in the best flavor and texture. I find that heavy whipping cream gives it a slightly decadent quality and results in a frittata that is light and fluffy.

1. To make the egg mixture, add 10 eggs to a large mixing bowl.
2. Add ⅓ cup heavy whipping cream to the eggs, along with ⅛ tsp. each kosher salt and pepper. Whisk until completely combined.
3. Add the 2 packed cups of chopped spinach and 1 cup of grated cheese. Stir all of these ingredients together until combined.

How Long Does It Take To Bake A Frittata?

Once the ham, asparagus, and egg mixture are ready, it's time to combine all of the ingredients in the cast iron skillet.

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Add the diced ham back to the skillet along with the asparagus. Arrange the ingredients evenly in the skillet.
3. Pour the egg mixture over the top and shake the pan a bit, so that the eggs cover all of the ingredients and coat them evenly.
4. Place the cast iron skillet in the oven and bake for 24-25 minutes.

How To Tell When A Frittata Is Done

It's important to cook a frittata properly, so that it is not over or undercooked when ready to serve.

A frittata that is undercooked may be runny and watery and one that is overcooked can be dry, flat, and rubbery.

The optimal texture for a frittata is light and fluffy. A frittata will puff up a bit as it bakes and deflate slightly when removed from the oven to cool.

I find that 24-25 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect when cooking a frittata. It's important to note that cooking times may vary slightly.

The edges will become slightly golden brown when finished and the center should no longer be jiggly if you shake the pan. Once all of the eggs in the middle have set, it's time to remove it from the oven.

The eggs will continue to cook a bit after removed from the oven. I recommend allowing the frittata to cool for 5 minutes after removing the skillet from the oven.

This allows the whole thing to 'set' and for the eggs to 'pull away' from the skillet a bit, making the frittata easier to cut and less likely to stick to the pan.

What To Serve With A Ham and Cheese Frittata

Once it has cooled for a bit, run a knife along the edges of the skillet to loosen the frittata. Cut it into slices and serve.

Garnish the frittata with the sliced green onions for extra color and flavor.

Frittatas are a meal that can be served any time of the day.

If you're looking for some brunch or breakfast items to serve with this frittata I love a stack of banana pancakes, pumpkin waffles, cardamom French toast, or a blueberry buckle.

It's great with some savory cheese scones or buttermilk biscuits.

For lunch, it's perfect with a side salad like this minty pea salad, pickled beet salad, balsamic green bean salad, or marinated tomato salad.

If you're serving it for dinner, it's great paired with roasted vegetables like herb roasted potatoes, garlic green beans, Mediterranean roasted cauliflower, or maple Dijon Brussels sprouts.

Can It Be Made The Day Ahead?

Yes, a frittata may be prepared the day ahead and stored in the fridge.

Feel free to serve cold, or place the skillet in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook just until heated through.

How Long Does A Frittata Last?

This Ham and Cheese Frittata should last 2-3 days stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Be sure to allow it to cool completely before transferring to the fridge for storage.

It can be eaten cold or reheated. You can reheat it in the microwave or by putting it back in the oven until heated through.

Can It Be Frozen?

Yes, a frittata can be frozen, but it's best to cut it into slices and freeze them individually.

How To Freeze

1. Cut the cooled frittata into slices and wrap each slice individually with plastic wrap.
2. Place the wrapped slices into a heavy-duty freezer bag, label with the date, and freeze up to 3 months.

How To Thaw

1. Transfer as many slices as you like to the fridge a few hours before serving to thaw.
2. Once thawed, it can be eaten cold or reheated.

Looking for more leftover ham recipes? Check out this Instant Pot Split Pea Soup, and Healthy Ham and Potato Soup!

If you like asparagus you'll love this Asparagus with Prosciutto, Asparagus Broccoli Soup, or this Skillet Shrimp and Spring Vegetables!

Love eggs? Check out these recipes!

• Southwest Sweet Potato Frittata
• Mustard Egg Salad
• Ham and Cheese Egg Cups
• Lemon Dill Egg Salad
• Spanish Potato Salad

Looking For More Egg Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Pizza

Mexican Crustless Quiche

Leftover Easter Eggs Sandwich