Zucchini and Cheddar Frittata
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Filled with heaps of shredded zucchini and extra-sharp cheddar, this zucchini frittata is good for brunch, dinner, or anytime in between.
I always love the idea of a frittata. Within 30 minutes, you can whip up a meal that makes good use of any leftover veggies, meat, or hunks of cheese hiding out in the fridge. But for all their perks, frittatas can often be a bit “meh” — for the same calories, give me a slice of quiche any day! This zucchini frittata, however, is what a frittata should be: packed with flavor, creamy, and delicate, almost like a crustless quiche. There are three secrets to success: 1) squeeze as much water as possible out of the zucchini; 2) add some heavy cream and lots of cheese to the egg mixture; and 3) bake the frittata in a low-temperature oven, instead of the traditional stovetop-to-broiler method, so the eggs cook gently into a custard without scrambling.
Ingredients For zucchini frittata
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by grating the zucchini by hand or in a food processor. It’s best to use small zucchini, as they contain less water. 
Once grated, place the zucchini on several layers of paper towels and squeeze out as much water as possible. Depending on how much water is in the zucchini, you may need to repeat this step.
Next, melt a few tablespoons of butter in a 10-inch cast iron or oven-proof nonstick pan.
Add the shallots, zucchini, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, until the zucchini is tender and cooked down.
Meanwhile, combine the eggs, remaining salt, pepper and heavy cream in a large bowl.
Whisk to combine.
Add the cooked zucchini and grated cheese to the egg mixture and stir.
Pour the frittata mixture back into the pan.
Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until just set.
Serve the frittata warm or room temperature.
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Zucchini & Cheddar Frittata
Filled with heaps of shredded zucchini and extra-sharp cheddar, this zucchini frittata is good for brunch, dinner, or anytime in between.
Ingredients
- 1 pound zucchini (about 2 small zucchini)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup finely chopped shallots, from 1-2 shallots
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 8 large eggs
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1¼ cup (5 oz) shredded Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Using a food processor or box grater, grate the zucchini. Place the grated zucchini on top of several layers of paper towels and wring dry. If necessary, repeat 1 to 2 times to remove any excess moisture.
- In a 10-inch cast iron or ovenproof nonstick skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the shallot, zucchini, and ½ teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until the moisture evaporates and the zucchini is tender, 7 to 8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, a heaping ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
- Add the cooked zucchini and grated cheese to the egg mixture and stir to combine. Pour the frittata mixture into the pan (no need to wash it), then place in the oven and bake until set, 25 to 30 minutes. Immediately place a dish towel or oven mitt over the pan handle after you remove it from the oven; it's easy to forget that it's hot and burn your hand.
- Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked frittata can be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove the frittata from the freezer about 24 hours prior to serving and reheat it in the microwave or, covered with foil, in a 300°F oven until hot in the center.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (4 servings)
- Calories: 460
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated fat: 20 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Sugar: 5 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23g
- Sodium: 681 mg
- Cholesterol: 458 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Another winner Jennifer! I made this for dinner tonight and served it with a slice of toasted homemade beer bread that I made this morning and some cucumbers, tomatoes and asparagus. The frittata flavor was wonderful!
The frittata was yummy – will serve it for breakfast when we have overnight guests. But what are the small chopped green things on the top? Attractive for sure but a missing herb?
Glad you liked it, Mary. I don’t add any additional herbs to this, so I suspect that the green you’re referring to is either the bits of zucchini or scallions.
do you have other frittata recipes
your recipes are easy and inspiring
Glad you like the recipes, Robin! I don’t have any other frittata recipes, but I have a number of quiches and stratas that may appeal to you. You can find them here.
Hi, Jenn. Do you think this can be made in a cast iron skillet? If so, should I reduce the oven temperature?
Hi Liesel, I think it will work without making any adjustments. Hope you enjoy it!
Jenn, your recipes are awesome. This frittata was fantastic! Made it today for some guests for brunch and everyone loved it!
Very tasty recipe and not difficult at all. I liked the flavor of shallot and zucchini, plus I used extra sharp white cheddar. What’s not to like? Because I had only 1 zucchini on hand and this was breakfast for two seniors, I cut the recipe in half. If anyone else does this, I used an 8″ nonstick skillet and baked the frittata at 325 degrees for 15 minutes. It came out a bit soft in the middle but we liked that, kind of like an omelette should be. Another minute or two in the oven would have firmed it up. Also, I had fresh basil on hand and found that shredding and scattering it over the frittata just before serving made the dish even better. Thanks for the recipe and the technique.
Hi Jenn. I’m a big fan of your recipes and site and was looking for a frittata recipe. If I was going to switch up the vegetables and make it with spinach and mushrooms (and of course either cheddar or parmesan cheese) can I use olive oil instead of butter with this technique?
Sure Lainey, olive oil should work here. Enjoy!
Best frittata ever! I used one large shallot instead of two, and added a couple of scallions. Also, made it easier by using pre-made shredded cheddar cheese. Just delicious.
Another winner, Jenn. The eggs were perfect instead of rubbery and burnt the way frittatas made on the stovetop come out. This was like a quiche without the pie crust.
This is not only our go-to frittata, but our go-to frittata technique. Just made a cheddar, petite pea, and onion version with 8 eggs and half-and-half, in a 12″ fluted quiche pan. It is so delicious and much, much easier than starting it on the stove and finishing in the oven