Shirred Eggs with Chili Oil

Shirred eggs with chili oil are a rich, cheesy, spicy upgrade to traditional baked eggs and cream. Dip toasted bread into this gloriously creamy dish with a custardy yolk, topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese. Treat yourself to this easy yet decadent meal anytime; whether it’s breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.

You’re craving eggs so try more egg recipes like these Dilly Deviled Eggs, TikTok Egg Boil, Hard Boiled Eggs in the Air Fryer, and the savory Jammy Egg and Za’atar Toast.

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Shirred eggs are elegant comfort food. This instant egg upgrade has a beautiful presentation but the taste is out of this world! It gets better and better with each drool-worthy scoop.

Weekend mornings usually start with baked eggs drenched in this spicy and flavor-forward chili oil.

Why This Recipe Works

• Easy to Prepare – Crack a couple of eggs in an oven-safe dish, top with cream and parmesan then bake, and you’ve got a deliciously satisfying protein-rich meal.
• Customizable – Bored with eggs for breakfast? Not anymore! Whether you want to switch up the seasoning or add protein, or vegetables, you can make shirred eggs your way.
• Sophisticated – Hosting a brunch? Wow your guests with this impressive dish made with common, inexpensive ingredients.
• Choose your yolk setting. While I like my eggs over hard, David leans more on the over easy side. Both work perfectly for this dish as you can bake until desired yolk setting is reached.

What are shirred eggs?

Shirred eggs–also known as baked eggs–are freshly cracked eggs baked with cream and cheese in a flat-bottomed dish. The cream thickens the egg, which results in a custard-like consistency. This process is a French culinary technique and absurdly delicious.

Tools You’ll Need

• Kitchen Thermometer
• Heat-proof Bowl
• Saucepan
• 4 6-ounce Ramekins
• Baking Sheet

Ingredients You Will Need for Shirred Eggs

Although customizable, traditionally, shirred eggs are made with cream, cheese, and an herb of choice (think chives!). This iteration involves making a delicious Shallot Ginger Chili Oil that pairs beautifully with just about anything.

Shallot Ginger Chili Oil

• Aromatics – Finely minced shallot, garlic, and ginger.
• Red Chili Flakes – Adjust the measure if you want it less spicy.
• Gochugaru – A Korean chili powder, which can be found at H-Mart grocery or Asian markets.
• Five-spice powder – This dynamic Asian spice blend is sweet, pungent, and a beautiful blend of spices.
• Kosher salt – I use Diamond Crystal.
• Star anise – Licorice-like flavor adds depth to the chili oil.
• Bay leaf – Also adds a little depth.
• Avocado oil – A neutral oil used to bathe the spices.

Shirred Eggs

• Eggs – If you prefer your eggs on the runny side with set egg whites, use cold eggs because they take longer to cook. If you use room-temperature eggs, the eggs will cook faster.
• Heavy cream – This adds creaminess to the dish but also prevents the egg from drying out. It forms a thin, yummy crust when baked.
• Parmigiano Reggiano – Grate the cheese yourself instead of buying pre-shredded. It will melt easier, giving you the cheesy, gooey results you desire.
• Kosher Salt – Add to taste.
• Butter – Softened and used to thinly line the ramekin to prevent eggs from sticking to the dish.

Bread

• Crusty bread – Use any toasted bread you prefer. Try my Garlic Confit Toast.

How To Make Shirred Eggs

Shirred eggs are so incredibly easy to prepare, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try them sooner.

Shallot Ginger Chili Oil

Chili oil is a staple in out home. I always have a jar in the fridge and ready to top over my rice bowls. This recipe will yield extra. See recipe card for how to care for leftovers.

1. Add all ingredients (except avocado oil) to a heat-proof bowl.
2. Then heat the oil in a saucepan on medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes. If you have a kitchen thermometer handy, you want the temperature of the oil to reach 350ºF. If you don’t have a thermometer, you’ll want to achieve a noticeably thin, shimmery oil.
3. Carefully pour the oil into the bowl containing the ingredients. You’ll notice a good amount of sizzling as the oil comes into contact with the spices–that’s expected.
4. Once the sizzling stops, carefully stir the mixture. Leave the oil to cool while you prepare the eggs.

Shirred Eggs

1. Preheat oven to 375°F and place an oven rack on the middle setting.
2. Butter the four ramekins using 1½ teaspoons of butter.
3. Crack two eggs into each ramekin. Then gently nudge the yolks toward the center of the ramekin. Pour 1 tablespoon of heavy cream into each ramekin. Season with kosher salt, then top each with 2 teaspoons of freshly grated parmesan.
4. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the desired doneness is reached, checking at the 11-minute mark.
5. Remove from the oven and leave to cool and settle for 3 minutes. Finally, top with the desired amount of chili oil and serve with toasted, crusty bread. Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

• Place the ramekins on one baking sheet for easy handling.
• Use cold eggs. As room temperature eggs will cook faster than the 12-15 minutes range.
• Don’t bake the eggs past the temperature of 375°F. Baking eggs at a high temperature causes them to cook faster and increases the possibility of overcooking.
• Keep an eye on the oven. Cooking times may vary based on your oven so if this is your first time making shirred eggs, pay attention. After the first time, they’ll always be cooked to perfection!
• Don’t have ramekins? Use a muffin tin instead and fill each space with one egg. This will also reduce the cooking time by about three minutes.

Shirred Eggs Variations

• Protein. To make this an even more satisfying meal, add diced ham, bacon bits, smoked salmon, or crumbled sausage.
• Cheese. Instead of parmesan, you can add gruyere or swiss.
• Veggies. Balance this meal a bit more by adding spinach, tomatoes, asparagus, artichoke, or mushrooms.
• Herbs. For a fresh pop of flavor, add chives or tarragon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it called shirred eggs?

The traditional dish used to prepare these eggs are called a shirrer, hence the name.

What is the difference between shirred eggs and scrambled eggs?

Shirred eggs are cracked into a small oven-safe dish with milk and cheese and then baked. Whereas scrambled eggs are stirred and cooked in a hot skillet on the stove. Scrambled eggs may or may not contain milk.

What can I serve with shirred eggs?

Toasted bread is my vessel of choice or serve shirred eggs with a side of fruit, salad, or potatoes.

How can I store leftovers?

Shirred eggs are best eaten immediately but if you have leftovers, store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Then reheat it in 30-second intervals in the microwave or enjoy it cold.

Looking for More Brunch Recipes

• Shakshuka
• Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Frosting
• Cardamom Apple Fritters with Maple Glaze
• Buttermilk Pumpkin Spice Waffles
• Pumpkin Spice French Toast

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