How to Make a Frittata on Your Stovetop (2024)

Once you realize that a frittata isn’t the same as an omelet, they aren’t really that hard to comprehend: Eggs for a crowd, made in a skillet. If you know how to make a frittata, you know it's customizable, and well within reach for even the most amateur of home cooks. The only complicated thing is figuring out where the hell to put the “T’s” when spelling it.

If you don't know how to make one, welcome to the club. Frittatas are traditionally started on the stove and finished in the same skillet in the oven, but sometimes we just want life to be simpler, without the whole pre-heating ordeal. That’s why we’re giving you a step-by-step run-through of our stovetop frittata, because at the end of the day, we’re all just human beings sharing the same frittata experience.

Chop It Up

First things first, when you’re picking your ingredients to add into your frittata, make sure you chop them small. Not microscopic, but small enough that they won’t disrupt the even cooking of the eggs. Think dice-size. You know, the cubes with dots on each of the six sides.

The Right Materials

Start your frittata in an oiled non-stick skillet. You need a non-stick skillet for this, since we’ll be flipping this thing all around. No buts. No exceptions. You’ll also need a silicon spatula. Pour your mix of eggs and fillers into the skillet, heated over medium heat. A good ratio to keep the egg-to-pan relationship manageable is eight eggs for a medium-sized pan.

Spread the Wealth

Once the eggs start to cook, you should start pushing the curds to the middle of the skillet, lifting the flat surface on the bottom and letting the raw, liquid eggs move to the outside. This ensures that all of the eggs in the pan cook at the same rate. Do this frequently. Your eggs will appreciate it.

The First Flip

Now we have to flip the eggs, so the other side can cook. Here’s an important tip: Don’t flip your eggs until they’re mostly cooked on the first side. This isn’t an even split. We want to cook 85% of the eggs initially, and then flip them to finish off the last bit. Flipping the eggs requires a plate and some confidence. Place the plate face-down on top of the skillet, and flip the two, so that the frittata falls onto the plate. When you remove the skillet, you’ll see the browned underside of frittata.

The Re-Entry

There will be a little bit of loose egg that gets lost in the flip and re-entry (because it’s not 100% cooked), but that’s just part of the process. Re-oil the skillet, and slide the frittata off of the plate and back into the skillet, finishing off the last 15% of the eggs. Once you turn off the heat, let your frittata rest in the skillet for a minute before taking it out.

The Flip and Slice

You’ve made it to the final flip. Put whatever you’re going to serve this on (we like a cutting board) on top of the skillet, and turn the whole thing over. Remove the skillet, slice up your perfectly-set, marvelously-browned frittata, and have yourself a day.

Want to see the whole thing go down? Here's the full frittata recipe:

How to Make a Frittata on Your Stovetop (1)

You can put whatever you want in it, and you don’t even need to turn on your oven.

View Recipe

How to Make a Frittata on Your Stovetop (2024)

FAQs

How to cook a frittata without burning the bottom? ›

Too much time on the stovetop, or too high of a flame, and the frittata will easily get too much color or burn on the bottom. Follow this tip: Cook the frittata on the stovetop, keeping the heat at medium-low to low, just until the edges have set, which takes about a few minutes.

How do you know when to flip a frittata? ›

Here's an important tip: Don't flip your eggs until they're mostly cooked on the first side. This isn't an even split. We want to cook 85% of the eggs initially, and then flip them to finish off the last bit.

What kind of cheese is best for frittata? ›

For a standard 12-egg frittata, stir in about one cup (shred it first). Want to top the eggs with cheese, too? Shoot for ¼ to ½ cup more. If it's an oozing texture you're after, pick cheeses that have superior melting quality: "This is your cheddar, gruyère, and fontina," says Perry.

What is the best pan for frittata? ›

The best choice for making frittatas, cast iron skillets can safely go from stovetop to oven, and they conduct heat well and evenly. Seasoning a cast-iron pan gives it a non-stick quality, so a well-seasoned skillet will result in the easiest slicing & serving.

How do I know when my frittata is done? ›

Cook the frittata in the oven just until the centre is no longer wobbly and the edges are golden-brown. If still unsure, place a knife into the centre of the frittata. If raw eggs run out, keep cooking. You want the eggs to be just set as the frittata will keep cooking while it's standing.

How do you keep frittata fluffy? ›

Tips for Fluffy Eggs

You can add up to 1/2 cup per dozen eggs. Don't overcook! Overcooking eggs makes them rubbery. When you remove the Frittata from the oven, it will continue to cook, especially if you are using cast iron, which retains heat well.

Why is the middle of my frittata not cooking? ›

If the center is still liquid, you've got to cook longer. If it's almost set, cook the frittata a few more minutes, then remove it. As long as the frittata is still in the hot pan, it will continue to cook. That's why it's important to pull the dish from the oven as soon as it reaches that "set" stage.

How do you keep a frittata from sticking to the pan? ›

Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add olive oil to grease – this will stop frittata from sticking. Add frittata mixture to the pan.

How to easily flip a frittata? ›

Working over a sink or garbage can, place a large overturned flat plate or lid on top of skillet, set hand on top (using a dish towel if you are sensitive to heat), and, in one very quick motion, invert frittata onto it.

Do you add milk to frittata? ›

Frittatas are incredibly simple. For every six large eggs, you'll want to mix in ¼ cup of milk or cream, ¼ cup of cheese, and about 3 cups of meat or vegetables. The small amount of milk and cheese keeps the eggs soft and creamy and the meat and vegetables give you endless options.

What goes well with frittata? ›

Classic sides for a frittata include a fresh green salad, fruit salad, crispy potatoes and/or some fresh bread, scones or toast. Bacon, ham or sausage are also popular side dishes. In Italy and Spain, frittata is often cooled to room temperature and served as a snack or antipasti.

When making a frittata, which ingredient should be pre-cooked prior to adding it to the egg mixture? ›

Tough vegetables like potatoes, squash and onions need to be pre-cooked since they will not have time enough to soften before the eggs are done. Raw meats such as bacon and sausage also need more time and heat to cook through safely, so get them prepped before your other ingredients.

Should frittata be brown on top? ›

One rule of thumb is when the top is golden brown the inside is overdone. You can achieve the golden brown top by shredding cheese on the top of your fully cooked frittata and place it under a broiler for just a few minutes.

What makes a frittata so different from an omelet? ›

While it's similar to an omelet, crustless quiche, and Spanish tortilla, the way a frittata is cooked is what sets it apart. Frittatas are generally thicker than omelets. A frittata is made with the exact same ingredients as an omelet, but here, the milk, or more preferably, cream, is crucial.

What is the main difference between a quiche and frittata? ›

Origin: Frittata is an Italian dish whereas quiche is a French dish. Crust: A quiche has crust while a frittata does not. Sometimes, quiche is baked without crust. Base Ingredients: While both frittatas and quiches are made with eggs, quiche is made with an egg custard, which also includes cream or milk.

How do you keep eggs from burning at the bottom? ›

You might think that frying an egg requires as much heat as possible, but what this actually does is cook the bottom too quickly whilst the white at the top stays runny. What you want to aim for is a medium-lowheat so that you get a little bubbling as soon as the egg hits the pan, without burning it.

How do you keep the bottom of pastry from burning? ›

A baker's best friend is parchment paper.

How do you make an omelette without burning the bottom? ›

Use a rubber spatula to gently move the eggs around in the bottom of the pan while the edges of the eggs set up. This allows the eggs to cook and get fluffy without the bottom layer browning. This step only takes a minute or so, but it's important.

Why is my frittata soggy on the bottom? ›

If your frittata turned out soggy, it's because you used uncooked mix-ins. According to Bon Appétit, many common frittata ingredients like tomatoes, mushrooms, and zucchini have a high moisture content, and that means they seep water when cooked.

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