Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins are fluffy inside, with golden cheese crust on top and are perfect for meal prep!
Wondering what other ways you can spruce up your morning eggs? Check out these quinoa egg muffins, cottage cheese egg bites or Instant Pot egg bites.
These broccoli cheese egg muffins are so versatile they are perfect for everyone!
From a post workout snack and an easy make ahead breakfast, to toddler meals and special occasion brunches. There’s always a place for them and best of all, they’re ridiculously easy to make.
Like a little portable frittata!
This recipe calls for broccoli and cheese, mozzarella or a really good sharp cheddar is usually my favorite.
However, you can add whatever veggies you’ve got in the fridge and whatever cheese your family likes.
This recipe is a perfect contender for a leftover quinoa or a total fridge cleanout.
Why You’ll Love These Egg Muffins
Below are just a few reasons why I love them for breakfast, lunch, or snack!
- Freezer friendly: I like to make a couple of batches and freeze some for later. This way I know I’ve got something to grab and go during my morning rush.
- Packed with nutrients: Low in carbs and packed with protein, omega 3s, vitamins, and minerals to keep me going until my next meal.
- Customizable: A great way to use up leftover veggies. You can even make a few different varieties in one batch!
- Great texture and flavor: The extra egg whites keep them nice and fluffy, while the quinoa helps to ground them with added substance. So much goodness in one little egg cup!
Ingredients Needed and Notes
Take my recipe and run with it! Get creative with what you add to yours.
- Large eggs & egg whites: I find using both gives it the perfect consistency. Moisture and richness, but also with a light and fluffy texture.
- Cottage cheese: You can also use ricotta or crumbled feta cheese if you’d prefer. Cottage cheese has a lot of protein, however, feta delivers a saltier flavor.
- Shredded cheese: Any kind you like. Mozzarella is always nice, as is cheddar, Swiss, gruyere, or Parmesan.
- Seasoning: Onion or garlic powder, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes are all you need for flavoring.
- Cooked quinoa: High in fiber and antioxidants, you can make this ahead of time and speed things up even more.
- Veggies: Raw broccoli coarsely chopped. To reduce waste, you can use the stalk as well as the florets if you’d like.
- Fresh herbs: Green onion and parsley add a nice mild pungency to the broccoli egg muffins with cheese.
How to Make Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
- Whisk eggs and add cottage cheese. Crack your eggs into a large mixing bowl and whisk those along with the egg whites for 30 seconds. Add in the cottage cheese and all the seasoning and stir to combine.
- Throw in your veggies. Last, you’ll want to toss in the quinoa, veggies, herbs, and green onions. Mix everything to combine.
- Fill the muffin pan. Grab your prepared muffin tin which should have muffin liners as well as cooking spray if you don’t have a silicone muffin tin. Fill each groove with the egg mixture about 3/4 full. Sprinkle each one with extra shredded cheese if you’d like and bake for 20 minutes in preheated oven at 350 degrees F.
- Optional broil. If you want a little more golden crust on top, place it under the broiler until golden brown.
- Allow them to cool for about 10 minutes at least. These can be served hot or cold!
Variations and Substitutions
- Broccoli will be perfectly tender but still have a bite to it. You can also use snap peas, asparagus, sauteed mushrooms, or bell pepper.
- Fresh herbs add a ton of flavor. I used parsley and green onion but dill would be amazing too.
- Replace cottage cheese with 1/4 cup of salty briny feta or mild goat cheese.
- Add some extra protein like diced ham, cricpy baked bacon, shredded chicken, or Italian sausage.
Tips for Best Results
- Keep them from sticking. Egg muffins stick no matter what kind of magic non-stick pan you’ve got. Also, not to mention, cooking with Teflon cookware that has a non-stick coating isn’t exactly healthy. Make sure you use either a silicone muffin pan or line it with unbleached parchment muffin liners and use a cooking spray like Misto.
- Egg whites are a bonus. Egg yolks are full of nutrients like vitamin B, folate, carotenoids, protein, and Omega-3 fats. The addition of egg whites can help lighten it up and increase the fluffy texture, but it’s not necessary. It’s up to you!
- Chop your veggies small. To be able to get enough of the veggies, cheese, and seasoning in every bite, you want to make everything small enough to fit. You also want to make sure it’s not overpowering the egg, so that it ends up being more veggies than eggs!
Storage Tips
- To store: Egg muffins keep fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days for an entire week of healthy grab-and-go breakfasts. I like to use glass containers just because the chemicals from plastic containers can leak into your food.
- To freeze: Completely cool muffins, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Thaw: On the counter for 2-3 hours or in the fridge overnight. You can also defrost in a microwave for a few minutes, depending on your microwave, and check muffins often.
- To reheat: Use a toaster oven, a regular oven at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes, or a quick zap in the microwave.
FAQs
How do you cook quinoa?
Here is how to cook quinoa. Combine 1 cup dry and unrinsed quinoa, 2 cups cold water and pinch of salt in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, cover and cook 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
Can I omit the quinoa?
I think you can but I haven’t tried. You might also have to bake the muffins a bit longer so they set. Please let me know if you do.
Do I have to cook broccoli?
No. Broccoli is chopped.
Can I use only egg whites?
Sure. Total amount will be 2 1/4 cups egg whites. Omit the eggs.
More Healthy Egg Recipes to Try
- Crustless broccoli quiche
- Cottage cheese egg muffins
- Healthy breakfast sandwich
- Healthy frittata
- Healthy breakfast casserole
- Air fryer frittata
- Hard boiled eggs
- Egg white bites recipe
Be sure to browse these 30 healthy egg recipes as well.
Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins
Broccoli Cheese Egg Muffins are fluffy inside, with golden cheese crust on top and are perfect for meal prep!
Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups egg whites
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese or 1/4 cup crumbled feta
- 1/4 cup any melting cheese shredded
- 1 tbsp onion or garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 2 cups broccoli coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup parsley or dill finely chopped
- 2 green onion sprigs finely chopped
- Cooking spray I use Misto
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place unbleached muffin liners into a 12 muffin tin and spray with cooking spray. Alternatively, you could use silicone muffin tin.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and egg whites for 30 seconds. Add cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, onion or garlic powder, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and stir to combine. Add quinoa, broccoli, parsley and green onions, and mix.
- Fill each muffin with egg mixture 3/4 full and sprinkle with extra mozzarella cheese on top (optional). Bake for 20 minutes and then broil until golden brown crust appears (optional).
- Remove from the oven and let cool about 10 minutes. Serve hot or cold.
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in microwave for easy breakfast on-the-go or a snack.
- Freeze: In an airtight container for up to 3 months. Defrost in a microwave or thaw on a counter.
- Here is how to cook quinoa: Combine 1 cup dry and unrinsed quinoa, 2 cups cold water and pinch of salt in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, cover and cook 12 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork. You can also make Instant Pot quinoa.
- Use all eggs: 9 large eggs in total and omit egg whites.
- Use all egg whites: Total amount will be 2 1/4 cups. Omit the eggs.
Nutrition
Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 199mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g
Did you make this recipe?Mention @ifoodreal or tag #ifoodreal!
Do you cook the broccoli before putting it in the mix? Or do you put it in raw and it bakes enough in the oven?
No, you put it in raw. It will still have a bit of a crunch.
I made these for the 93 year old woman that I help. I have been concerned about her nutrition, and she loves these muffins! She can grab one and not worry about cooking… I would include a picture of how beautiful they are, but I am better in the kitchen than I am with this technology?
I had leftover quinoa and made these egg muffins. Extremely delicious!
I’ve had this recipe bookmarked for some months now and I regret not trying it earlier (Just made my first batch!) I’m a busy graduate student with early morning classes and rotations. I’m also a girl who loves eggs for breakfast to carry me through the day, but sometimes sleeping for 10 more minutes is more tempting. This is the perfect way to grab-n-go some nutrients in the morning! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Who doesn’t like to sleep in extra 10 minutes?! Totally understood. Glad you like these. All the best to you in your studies!
Hi: This sounds like a great recipe that I would like to try. Just a little confused, do you use mini muffin pans or regular cupcake/muffin pans? thanks so much
Regular 12 muffin tin. 🙂
Does “1 tbsp onion (garlic) powder” mean onion and/or garlic for a total of 1 tbsp? or 1 tbsp of both?
1 tbsp either garlic or onion powder. Whatever you have on hand.:)
Meant to ask – what do i substitute for cheese to thicken/bind? Or are eggs enough?
I think eggs would be enough. Cheese is more for flavour. You can add a tbsp of ground flaxseed to be safe.
Hi there, curious how YOU cook the quinoa? Before putting in recipe.
Thanks so much,L.
OK. I cook this way: 1 cup quinoa, 2 cups water, pinch of salt, bring to a boil, cover, cook 12 minutes, remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes, fluff with a fork.
Love that I can make this ahead! Also, could not find regular quinoa at the store, but found some “ready to serve” organic “Minute” quinoa that comes in 1 cup size servings. It takes 4 of the “ready to serve” containers to equal 1 cup of uncooked quinoa (1 cup uncooked quinoa swells to 4 cups cooked quinoa). It’s a great shortcut since you just open the containers and dump in the contents. Warning: be sure to get the “red and white“ quinoa and not the “brown rice and quinoa“ like “someone” did. ?. It still tasted good (two of the 4 cups had the brown rice), but the texture was a little “different”. I plan to make these again the “right” way.
Two other thoughts. My batch made 24 muffins. Maybe it depends on the size of your muffin tins. I don’t like hot spices, but I added the red pepper flakes anyway since it was such a small amount. It added a little extra punch of flavor without being too hot for this wimp.
Sorry, I’m still confused about the egg whites. Is it 1.5 cups of egg whites or 1 egg white + 1/2 cup of egg whites? These look great and want to make sure I’ve got it right.
1.5 cups. I will fix it, it does sound confusing.
Is that 1 cup of dry quinoa cooked, or one cup of cooked quinoa?
Cooked quinoa.
how do you cook the quinoa?
1:2 ratio quinoa to water with a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, cover and cook for 12-15 mins on low. Let stand 5 minutes and fluff with a fork.
What about the broccoli? Do I have to cook it first too? Thanx!
No.