Learn how to make a fluffy omelet at home with a few simple steps and then fill it with whatever filling you want.
What is an omelet?
Eggs are the key ingredient in omelets, along with a little bit of milk. This makes the omelet a little softer and fluffier. You can make omelets with just eggs as well, but I find the milk makes them a little softer.
Is there a difference between French and American omelets?
Have you ever thought about where the omelet originated? Many people around the world believe it came from the French, and that’s pretty obvious because the word “omelet” is a French word. While others think that the Romans were the first people to make the omelet and that this is because the ancient Romans made a dish with eggs but they were sweetened with honey and called “ovemele”, which sounds close to an omelet.
No matter what, there is always a debate about where it came from, but let’s talk about the difference between the most common omelets we generally eat, which are the French version and the American version. Both are delicious, but they do have significant differences.
French omelet
This omelet starts out with beaten eggs just like a scrambled egg would be. You will shake the pan constantly until the eggs begin to set. Once the eggs are set, they are rolled and folded to form an oval. The French omelet can be served plain or filled. Generally, it is stuffed with fine herbs that have been chopped and placed into the egg mixture before cooking, and there is no cheese. This omelet starts out with beaten eggs just like a scrambled egg would be. You will shake the pan constantly until the eggs begin to set. Once the eggs are set, they are rolled and folded to form an oval. The French omelet can be served plain or filled. Generally, it is stuffed with fine herbs that have been chopped and placed into the egg mixture before cooking, and there is no cheese.
American omelet
This omelet starts out the same way, but you wait until there is a little bit of an edge and tip your pan towards the edge so that the runny eggs can run underneath. When the eggs are almost set, this is when you add, the filling inside half of the omelet and then fold it.
Tips for a perfect omelet
- #1 Beat the eggs. The egg mixture should be free of any visible bits of egg white or yolk. It should be frothy and light.
- #2 Use the right pan. I like to use a medium-sized pan. If it’s too large, you will have too thin of an omelet and no fluffiness at all. I like to use this pan.
- #3 Not too much heat. Cook over medium heat with butter or a cooking spray of your choice. You want to cook your omelet until perfectly done, not brown.
- #4 Add extra eggs. You can add up to 3 eggs to this recipe. If your wanting to cook eggs for a crowd I might consider something like a frittata (not like an omelet will feed a good amount of people)
- #5 Pre-cook add-ins. I know this is the fifth, but it is just as important as all the rest. When adding meats and vegetables to the omelet, make sure they are pre-cooked; you only want to warm them up when adding them to the omelet. If they are not cooked ahead of time, they may release water into the omelet, and we want a fluffy omelet.
How to make a perfect omelet
For the purpose of this recipe, we will be making an American omelet. It is easy to make, will come together, and will look restaurant quality with these simple steps.
- Beat the eggs: Use two or three eggs per omelet until it is a consistent yellow color. You don’t want to be able to see any yolk or whites.
- Melt butter: Use an 8-inch skillet for a 2-egg omelet and a 9-inch skillet for 3 eggs. Melt the butter over medium-low heat. You want to make sure you are cooking it at low heat so the bottom of your omelet doesn’t get overly brown or overcooked.
- Add eggs: let it cook for about a minute you will start to see the edges beginning to be cooked. Use a heat-proof spatula around the rim to loosen the edge and then tilt the pan to allow uncooked eggs to flow underneath the pan.
- Fill the omelet: Once the eggs are barely set, add the cheese and pre-cooked fillings. Cover with a lid to finish cooking until the cheese has melted.
- Fold and serve: Fold the omelet in half. Slide it onto a plate and serve.
Filling ideas
- Veggies: tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, onion, bell pepper, asparagus, and avocado
- Meat: Ham, bacon, breakfast sausage, and chorizo
- Cheese: There are so many different cheeses you can use, but my favorite is either cheddar or monetary jack, but any shredded or crumbled cheese works great.
How to make an Omelet
Equipment
- 1 8" Frying pan
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp milk
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp butter
- ½ cup cheese
- toppings as desired
Instructions
- Beat eggs, milk, and salt & pepper with a fork until the yolks are completely incorporated. Set aside.
- Melt butter in a 6” skillet over medium medium-low and add egg mixture. Allow to cook about 1-2 minutes.
- Gently run a spatula along the edges moving the cooked egg away from the edges while tilting the pan and letting the raw egg run underneath the cooked egg. Repeat as needed until the eggs are almost set.
- Once the eggs are almost set, add cheese (and other toppings as desired) and cover.
- Cook until the top is set and cheese is melted, about 3 minutes.
- Fold in half and serve.
I made an omelet last week with greens and spinach, it was so yummy. I can never get my omelet to flip in one piece.
This looks great thank you so much for sharing.
The pic of the mushroom omelet looks so good!
I love omelets! They make the perfect protein filled breakfast! Thanks for this recipe.
So helpful! I love the breakdown between French and American. I’ve always wondered! Thank you!
This looks perfect!
Great information. Sometimes omelets work perfectly for me and other times I have a total mess 🙂 Will try these tips!
I love French omelets and I miss my dad’s with ciboulette.
Thank you for a great post
Thanks for sharing, funnily enough im not bad at cooking but I have no idea how to make an omelette so this is helpful
Yum! As a vegetarian who still eats eggs occasionally, I love a good veggie-loaded omelet. And your sauteed mushrooms look so delicious…that is my favorite ingredient to add to an omelet! It is a great way to start off the day.