American · Breakfast

Denver Omelet

A folded three-egg style omelet filled with diced ham, green pepper, onion and cheddar, cooked in butter in about 20 minutes for two.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 20 min total Serves 2 servings Easy
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Make Ahead and Storage

Best eaten straight from the pan. A folded omelet keeps in the fridge for 2 days and reheats gently in the microwave.

How to Make Denver Omelet

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  1. Melt 1 teaspoon of the butter in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Cook the onion and green pepper for 3 to 4 minutes, until soft, then stir in the ham and cook for 1 minute more. Tip the filling onto a plate and wipe out the pan.

  2. Beat the eggs with the black pepper in a bowl until the yolks and whites are blended.

  3. Return the pan to medium heat and melt half of the remaining butter. Pour in half of the eggs and swirl so they spread. Cook for 2 minutes, drawing the set edges toward the middle with a spatula, until the top is just moist.

  4. Spoon half of the filling and half of the cheddar over one side, fold the other side over it and slide the omelet onto a plate. Make the second omelet the same way.

Worth Knowing

  • Choose a small non-stick pan of about 20 cm; a large one spreads the eggs too thin.
  • If the omelet browns before the middle sets, lower the heat and cover the pan for 30 seconds.
  • Taste the ham before adding salt, because it already carries most of the seasoning the dish needs.

Behind the Recipe

Filling first, eggs second. A Denver omelet looks plain but cooks like a stir-fry before the eggs ever touch the pan, which is how the ham, pepper and onion end up soft and savoury rather than raw.

It is a diner staple built on three things: ham, green pepper and onion. Cook them in butter until the onion is soft, then take them out and wipe the pan. Cold vegetables dropped into raw eggs would give off water and leave the omelet damp. Four eggs make two generous omelets, so cook them one at a time in a small pan over medium heat. Keep the pan small.

Add the filling while the top is still slightly wet and it will fold over without breaking. Keep the heat at medium, since high heat makes the underside rubbery before the middle sets. Cheddar goes in with the ham. The omelet is done when it just holds its shape.

Serving Ideas

Sliced tomato · A green salad · A slice of wholegrain toast · Fresh fruit

Questions About Denver Omelet

How long does Denver Omelet take to make?

About 20 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 10 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 2.

What are the key tips for making Denver Omelet?

Choose a small non-stick pan of about 20 cm; a large one spreads the eggs too thin. If the omelet browns before the middle sets, lower the heat and cover the pan for 30 seconds. Taste the ham before adding salt, because it already carries most of the seasoning the dish needs.

What should I serve with Denver Omelet?

Sliced tomato; A green salad; A slice of wholegrain toast; Fresh fruit.

How should Denver Omelet be stored?

Best eaten straight from the pan. A folded omelet keeps in the fridge for 2 days and reheats gently in the microwave.

Is Denver Omelet suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is gluten-free, diabetes-friendly, low-carb, keto and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Denver Omelet?

About 326 kcal per serving, with 26 g protein, 6 g carbohydrate and 22 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Denver Omelet Nutrition

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

326Calories
26gProtein
6gCarbs
22gFat
1gFibre
3gSugar
620mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.