This easy egg bites recipe gives you a yummy handheld breakfast option packed with protein and easy to customize. Skip the drive-thru and meal prep a batch for the week!
For busy mornings, a grab-and-go breakfast is where it’s at.
But many of those quick and easy breakfast recipes are high in carbs and sugar and don’t have nearly enough protein.
Does a high-protein breakfast that’s easy to eat on the go exist? Is it a breakfast unicorn?
I’m happy to report that this homemade egg bites recipe is high in protein, easy to eat, and amazingly delicious!
HOMEMADE EGG BITES RECIPE
Aside from being a handheld version of my favorite Cottage Cheese and Eggs breakfast, these homemade egg bites are also:
- Quick and easy to make. You’re less than 30 minutes away from breakfast! And no special equipment needed! (I’m not about to go get a sous vide machine just for egg bites!)
- Cheaper. Whether you’re a fan of the recipe for Starbucks egg bites or you stock up in the freezer section at Costco, you can make egg bites at home for far less money.
- Customizable. Add meat, use a different cheese, throw in some chopped veggies – you choose!
- Better for you. With less sodium and preservatives, homemade egg bites are a great breakfast option. Plus, eggs are an excellent source of essential amino acids!
- Freezer-friendly. Once you learn how to make egg bites, you can make a big batch and freeze extras for an easy breakfast in the future.
- Really yummy!
COPYCAT RECIPE FOR STARBUCKS EGG BITES INGREDIENTS
You only need 6 ingredients for egg bites with cottage cheese.
- Eggs. You can have egg bites without eggs!
- Egg Whites. Using a mixture of whole eggs and egg whites helps lower the fat and cholesterol while still giving you plenty of rich, savory flavor.
- Cottage Cheese. The not-so-secret ingredient adds creaminess and tang to the egg bites.
- Cheddar Cheese. Shredded sharp cheddar is my go-to for egg bites, but experiment with what you have on hand. Parmesan, Gouda, or Gruyere cheese would also be tasty.
- Salt and Black Pepper. Simple seasonings are all you need for egg bites, but you can add a bit of garlic powder or fresh herbs if you’d like.
- Green Onions (optional). Thinly sliced green onions make a pretty and flavorful garnish.
- Bacon (optional). Bacon bits, chopped bacon, or chopped ham can be added for additional protein and flavor. Or see below for more flavor variations!
HOW TO MAKE EGG BITES WITH COTTAGE CHEESE
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
Step 2. Combine whole eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, cheddar, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Step 3. Pour the egg mixture into the muffin tin cups, filling each cup about halfway full.
Step 4. Sprinkle the egg bites with green onions and bacon bits, if using.
Step 5. Bake the egg bites with cottage cheese for 18-22 minutes, until they are slightly firm to the touch in the center.
Step 6. Let egg bites cool before removing from the pan.
Store egg bites in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheat in the microwave or oven. If frozen, two minutes in the microwave gives me the perfect texture!
EGG BITES STARBUCKS RECIPE COPYCAT TIPS
- You’ll need either a non-stick muffin tin, a silicone muffin pan, or silicone muffin cups. The egg bites recipe will stick to a regular muffin tin, even if you use cooking spray.
- You can try to use paper muffin liners, but I’ve found that egg bite recipes stick to those as well, and it can be a pain to peel them off.
- If you want to add additional mix-ins to the egg bites recipe, be sure they are fully cooked first, since they won’t cook through in the time it takes the eggs to cook in the oven. Cook your meats and sauté your veggies!
- Add any mix-ins to the muffin pans and pour the egg mixture over the top. If you add them to the blender mixture, they won’t pour out evenly into the muffin pan.
VARIATIONS FOR EGG BITE RECIPES
This is a delicious basic egg bites recipe, but you can add all sorts of yummy things to make your egg bites even better.
- Meat Lovers Egg Bites. Add chopped ham, bacon, crumbled Breakfast Sausage, or even Ground Beef Taco Meat.
- Denver Omelet Egg Bites. Add diced ham, chopped onions, green peppers, and shredded cheese.
- Egg White Bites. Make a copycat Starbucks egg bites recipe of their egg white version using all egg whites and adding chopped red peppers, fresh spinach, and Monterey Jack and feta cheese.
SERVE EGG BITES RECIPE WITH
Egg bites are a great breakfast option for on-the-go, but if you have time to sit down, try them alongside these:
MACRO-FRIENDLY EGG BITES RECIPE
This basic recipe for egg bites with cottage cheese gets its calories mainly from protein and fat – they’re a great breakfast option if you’re trying to eat low-carb!
To boost the protein even more, add any of these to the egg bites recipe:
- Collagen – 1 Tablespoon of unflavored collagen will boost the protein by 6g. Blend 1-2 Tablespoons in with the rest of the egg bite ingredients. (I like this brand.)
- Include some of the meat options listed above.
- Add vegetables that are higher in protein. Spinach, peas, broccoli florets, or asparagus would each boost the protein, or chop them small and add them all for a spring vegetable quiche flavored egg bite. Stick to about 1 cup total of your choice of veggies.
If you prefer to keep your egg bites simple, you can also serve them with a side of bacon or Breakfast Sausage or a yummy Homemade Protein Shake!
COTTAGE CHEESE EGG BITES FAQS
How do you get egg bites to stay fluffy?
Part of what gives egg bites a fluffy texture is incorporating air. Blending the ingredients does this perfectly! The cottage cheese also melts into the egg bites as they cook, so they turn out soft and creamy.
What goes well in egg bites recipes?
Anything you would put in a breakfast scramble! The key is to make sure you chop any toppings into small, even pieces and to cook everything ahead of time.
Can you make egg bites in the Instapot?
You can make egg bites in the Instant Pot, and they even make a silicone insert for egg bites. I haven’t tried that method, so I’m not sure on the cooking time, but it might be worth experimenting if you already have the tools to do so!
MORE DELICIOUS BREAKFAST RECIPES WITH EGGS
Egg Bites Recipe
This easy egg bites recipe gives you a yummy handheld breakfast option packed with protein and easy to customize. Skip the drive-thru and meal prep a batch for the week!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 12 egg bites 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
- Combine whole eggs, egg whites, cottage cheese, cheddar, salt, and black pepper in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Pour the egg mixture into the muffin tin cups, filling each cup about halfway full.
- Sprinkle the egg bites with green onions and bacon bits, if using.
- Bake the egg bites with cottage cheese for 18-22 minutes, until they are slightly firm to the touch in the center.
- Let egg bites cool before removing from the pan.
Notes
- You’ll need either a non-stick muffin tin, a silicone muffin pan, or silicone muffin cups. The egg bites recipe will stick to a regular muffin tin even if you use cooking spray.
- You can try to use paper muffin liners, but I’ve found that egg bite recipes stick to those as well, and it can be a pain to peel them off.
- If you want to add additional mix-ins to the egg bites recipe, be sure they are fully cooked first, since they won’t cook through in the time it takes the eggs to cook in the oven. Cook your meats and sauté your veggies!
- Add any mix-ins to the muffin pans and pour the egg mixture over the top. If you add them to the blender mixture, they won’t pour out evenly into the muffin pan.
