Egg Bites Recipe – High-Protein, Fluffy & Easy to Make
This Egg Bites Recipe easily recreates the Starbucks favorite at home! This easy breakfast fits a high protein, low-carb diet with one cheesy secret ingredient.
We love a high-protein breakfast, and these cottage cheese egg bites always hit the spot! I wanted to recreate the popular Starbucks egg bites recipe, but I don’t have the time or equipment to sous vide at home. Instead, I found that I could get that creamy, cheesy texture by baking these in a simple water bath!
By skipping the coffee shop, you leave out the starches they usually include and can easily adjust these to your own preferences. The rich gruyere cheese, tart cottage cheese, and creamy eggs come together for an amazingly decadent texture you will love! It’s the perfect low-carb, gluten-free, high-protein recipe that you can make ahead of time!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Egg Recipe
These are a go-to snack food in my house. Here are some reasons why you’ll love this recipe.
- Filling. These egg bites have a nice amount of protein so they’ll keep you full for longer.
- Super easy to make. This recipe only has 4 ingredients (plus salt and pepper). It takes just 10 minutes of prep time. I know Starbucks uses the French sous vide method, but we get that great texture even easier by using a water bath.
- Classic flavors. It’s hard to beat the combination of bacon, eggs, and cheese. This combination is kid-friendly and pleases a crowd.
What You’ll Need
Here are all the ingredients you need to make this rich egg bite recipe. For the exact amounts of each ingredient, scroll to the printable recipe card.
- Eggs – Size large. These provide tons of protein. I have not tried commercial substitutes, but I imagine those would work as well.
- Cottage cheese – This adds protein, flavor, and a great texture. You could replace this with full-fat Greek yogurt, ricotta cheese, or sour cream if you prefer.
- Bacon – Cooked and crumbled. This adds more protein and tastes amazing. Replace with diced ham, crumbled breakfast sausage, meat-free bacon substitutes, or chopped bell peppers if you want.
- Shredded gruyère cheese – This is the cheese that Starbucks uses for theirs, and it provides a rich, nutty, salty flavor. You could swap with mozzarella, pepper jack, or sharp cheddar cheese if you like.
- Salt and Pepper – Be sure to use freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt for the best flavor.
Get the Recipe: Egg Bites
Ingredients
- 7 large eggs
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 3/4 cup cooked and chopped bacon
- 3/4 cup shredded gruyere cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325F.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and the cottage cheese until well combined.
- Fold in the bacon and the shredded cheese, then add salt and pepper to taste.
- Spoon the mixture into a 24-count silicone muffin tin until 3/4 full.
- Add about an inch of water to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Place the silicone muffin tin inside the baking dish so the eggs can cook slowly in a water bath.
- Cook the egg bites for 25-30 minutes, until the eggs are cooked through.
Notes
- If you do not have a 9×13-inch baking pan that the muffin tin will set inside, you can fill a casserole dish with an inch of water and place it on the bottom rack of the oven. Then cook the egg bites on the middle or top rack.
- You can blend the eggs and cottage cheese in a blender until smooth if you dislike the texture of cottage cheese curds.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days, or in the freezer for 3 months. Reheat in a 350F oven for 5-10 minutes, or in a microwave on 80% power in 20-second increments.
Egg Bites Recipe
Here’s how to make these melty egg bites. They couldn’t be easier!
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 325F.
- Mix the wet ingredients. Add the eggs and cottage cheese to a mixing bowl, and whisk until combined.
- Add the rest of the ingredients. Fold in the bacon and the gruyere cheese, then season with salt and pepper.
- Portion the batter. Spoon the batter into a muffin tray or silicone muffin tins until they’re about ¾ full.
- Make a water bath. Put about an inch of water in a 9×13-inch baking dish. This will help the eggs cook evenly, and keep them moist.
- Add the egg bites. Put the muffin tins into the water bath.
- Bake. Put the baking dish in the oven and bake until the eggs are cooked through. This should take 25-30 minutes.
Tips and Variations
Here are a few tricks and variations for making these cheese snacks.
- Be careful folding the bacon and cheese. When folding the mix-ins into the egg mixture, work carefully. The batter can become too dense and tough if you are heavy-handed or too brisk.
- Don’t overcook. Your egg bites will keep cooking as they cool after you remove them from the oven. They should be set but still soft when you take them out.
- Blend the mixture if you prefer it creamy. I enjoy having the curds from the cottage cheese in this dish, but they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. If you would rather the egg bites be smoother, then you can blend the cottage cheese and eggs in the blender until they’re a smooth consistency.
- Use cooking spray. If you are using a silicone muffin pan, you likely don’t need this as the egg bites pop out easily. Metal trays may give you a little more trouble, so I recommend greasing the muffin cups.
- Add your own seasonings. I like to keep it simple, but you can add more seasonings and herbs to make it your own! Ingredients like fresh garlic, parsley, basil, paprika, chili powder, and chives would all be great in this recipe. Just add them at the same time as the bacon and gruyere cheese.
- TIP: Starbucks actually includes a little hot sauce in their version. I left it out so these would be kid-friendly, but feel free to add a bit to your preference!
- Try different mix-ins. Different meats, cheeses, and veggies can all be substituted as long as they are finely chopped (and meats should already be cooked). Starbucks egg bites already come in two other varieties you can recreate:
- Kale and Mushroom version: Remove the bacon and gruyere cheese. Use Monterey Jack cheese, then add 3/4 (total) of finely chopped kale and mushrooms
- Egg White and Roasted Red Pepper version: Replace each egg with 2 egg whites. Use Monterey Jack cheese instead of gruyere. Instead of 3/4 cup bacon, use 3/4 cup of chopped, roasted red peppers.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftovers will last for 4 days in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. If you want to serve them warm, heat them in the microwave on 80% power in 20-second increments. Or you can warm them up in a 350F oven for 5 minutes.
Can I Freeze Egg Bites?
Definitely! Make an extra batch to keep in the freezer where they’ll last for 3 months if stored in an airtight container. You can reheat them directly from the freezer in the oven, though they’ll need an additional 2-3 minutes.
great for ham and Cheddar egg bites too. just sub the meat and cheese
Have you ever tried these in an air fryer?
Hello,
I was wondering if when making the egg bites you use regular sized muffing tins or the mini ones. Also, can cream cheese be substituted for the cottage cheese?
Thank you
Hi Christy, this is a standard, regular size 12 count muffin tin. Cream cheese can be used, but it doesn’t blend quite as easily. You will need to let it come to room temperature before using in this recipe. I hope you enjoy!