Still looking for that perfect Christmas morning recipe…or the morning after Christmas recipe?!?
If you’ve got some diced ham in the freezer, go get it out now to thaw! And use it on Christmas morning to make this for brunch!
If you’re having ham for your Christmas dinner and need a way to use up the leftovers, this would make a fabulous breakfast on the 26th!
Ham and Cheese Frittata
Perfect for a holiday breakfast and a great way to use up leftover ham!
Servings - 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil ($.10)
- 2 garlic cloves ($0.10)
- 1 large potato ($.15) peeled and diced
- 1/2 onion ($.15) sliced into strips
- 2 cups leftover ham ($1.50) diced
- 8 eggs ($.80)
- 1/4 cup milk ($.03)
- 1 tsp salt and pepper, each
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($.75)
- Fresh fruit ($1)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Mince garlic.
- Using the flat part of the knife, press down on the garlic clove until it crushes.
- Cut off the stubby end and peel off the skin.
- Chop with knife.
- In skillet, saute minced garlic, diced potatoes and onions in olive oil.
- Once brown, add a few tsp of water and cook another 1-2 minutes. Then add in the diced ham.
- In bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt and pepper.
- Pour egg mixture over the ham, potatoes and onions.
- Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until the eggs have set around the edges of the skillet.
- Place skillet into the oven and bake at 450 for 5-10 minutes, or until eggs have set in the middle.
- Add shredded cheese to the top and bake another 1-2 minutes until cheese melts.
- Serve Ham and Cheese Frittata with Fresh Fruit.
Liz says
Quick question — while I have all the ingredients for this yummy looking recipe, I don’t have a skillet that can go into the oven. Any tips on how to modify this recipe for only the oven or only the stovetop?
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
@Liz,
For the stovetop only, you could probably cook it for a lot longer over LOW heat until the eggs in the middle cook through.
Another way would be to saute the garlic, onions, potatoes and ham in the skillet. Then place those into an 8×8 baking dish, then pour the eggs over and bake it. It may take a bit longer to bake since you don’t cook the eggs on the stovetop at all. Just bake it until the eggs have set in the middle.
I have not tried either of these methods, but imagine they would work!
Hope that works for you!
Merry Christmas!
Erin
Liz says
@Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom,
Thank you! 🙂
DawnK says
I have been told that if your skillet is not oven-proof, you can just wrap the handle with 3 or so layers of tin foil and it will be good to go in the oven. Good luck!
Liz says
@DawnK, Just wanted to let you know that I made this Christmas morning and it was delicious! I followed your suggestion and did the garlic, onion, potato and ham in the skillet and then mixed it with the egg and milk mixture and transferred it to the oven. It only took about 20 minutes in the oven and it was done.
p.s. I only used 6 eggs, 8 eggs seemed like a lot for only the 3 of us.
Rose says
I make a very similar recipe but add red peppers and green onions, for the “Christmas” touch.
Thank-you.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Jennifer Y says
That looks really yummy!! I will have to give it a try.
Sinful Southern Sweets says
Hmm…that looks yummy. I may have to run to the store to grab some ham! Thanks for the great recipes!!
Linda says
This recipe looks yummy! I don’t have baked ham around very often but think that if I were to use boiled ham — as in the luncheon meat — it might leave a sweeter less intense flavor for a possible change of pace. Just a thought. I just found this web site and think it’s GREAT!
Jennifer Y says
Just wanted to chime in that I made a frittata this weekend!! I’ve never made one before! It could not have turned out more perfectly. I had leftover diced, cooked potatoes (tossed w/onion soup mix, so did not add any other onion), deli ham, and fresh spinach. Sauteed the potatoes and ham in olive oil to heat them up. Tossed the spinach in and sauteed for a minute or two. Poured the eggs in and covered until set over med-low heat. Not sure how long, just watch it. Toppped with cheddar cheese. I did not add the milk because, well, I forgot, and it was perfect without it.
I got a little tired of it the third day (hubs and toddler were not helping) so I sliced off a piece, rolled it in a tortilla and topped with salsa for a breakfast burrito. YUM!
FinanceDad says
That looks delicious! I’ll have to try it, Thanks.
Laurie says
I bought a big ham for under $6 before Chritmas and made this tonight. I used 10 eggs (we house 5 hungry adults) and added chopped fresh broccoli to the other sauteed ingredients. I also use half and half olive oil and butter. It was a winner with everyone. I hope no one gets to the leftovers in the morning so I can put it in a tortilla and top with salsa and avocado. Yummo!
PissedOffAtYourLies says
Clearly you just make these outrageous “prices” up as you go along. The 8 eggs alone would be $2.64. Perhaps you could use a class in remedial math?
Or better yet, stop giving all the sheeple that read your blog false hope, that they actual CAN feed even one person, much less a family of 4-5, on $5 a meal.
Just because you pull prices out of the air, doesn’t make them so. You should be ashamed of yourself for lying to people like you do here.
***Erin here: David, you should be ashamed of yourself for questioning my integrity.
melissa says
@PissedOffAtYourLies,
You need to find a cheaper store. I can get eggs here (and I’m nowhere near Erin) for $1 per dozen. Consistently. Perhaps while you’re out shopping, you could look for a less abrasive attitude as well?
Renae @Madame Deals says
@PissedOffAtYourLies,
Clearly, it depends on how you shop! I don’t ever think I have paid $2.64 for 8 eggs. A dozen eggs can be as cheap as .99¢. If you shop the sales, use coupons, have a stockpile and a resourceful in your cooking, you can most certainly feed a family for under $5 a meal. The key is to learn what the Rock Bottom Prices of items are, have a plan and stay organized.
It is obvious the $5 Dollar Dinners is successful, I hope Pissed off can learn something here instead of being so negative!
Candace says
@PissedOffAtYourLies,
I know, for me, there is a huge difference in the price of groceries between where I lived for 8 years (Idaho) and here in the Virginia/DC area. Idaho was very, very affordable–but in Northern Virginia we have been just flat-out stunned at the prices of eggs, milk, and other staples. It can be very, very irksome to expect to pay one price for a meal, but end up paying much more. For example, one meal I used to make was slow cooker bbq ribs for about $6 in Idaho–but because the prices of meat and BBQ sauce are SO much more here (even at the cheap grocery store) the meal costs about $16-22, depending on the amount of meat (obviously).
With that said, even living in one of the most expensive areas in the country on a single income, we’re able to keep our monthly grocery expenses low. I have monthly meal plans on my website that show how to do that. Buying in bulk helps. And remembering that what costs less than a dollar in some areas may very well cost over $2 in others.
billie says
@PissedOffAtYourLies, It is called “breaking down the cost” per lb, per item, per oz. Where I live the prices of 18 ct eggs have reached 2.64 but it still breaks down to .15 per egg (2.64/18)=.15 and then using 8 eggs, (8 x .15)=1.17, she probably got her eggs cheaper than 2.64!?! I think maybe the Math lesson is on your end…unless you use a whole bag of flour to make a cake or do you use 1 cup at a time!? It is possible to use these recipes and save $$$. I’ve been feeding my family off these recipes for 5 family members. I encourage you to stick around there are great ideas here and you might even learn something too! 🙂
Becky H says
@PissedOffAtYourLies, I get a dozen eggs for $0.89. Erin does a fantastic job finding healthy recipes for not a lot of money! I get my weekly groceries for under $50 for a family of 3, perhaps I should tell the clerk they need a class in remedial math because obviously rang it all up wrong.
Next time you decide to leave a negative comment, why don’t you have the guts to use a real name instead of hiding behind “PissedOffAtYourLies”.
Erin, you do a great job, just ignore comments like this!
Raye Ann says
@PissedOffAtYourLies,
I find eggs for $.99 all the time. True if I only buy organic, free range eggs they cost $2.50 or more. As to being able to feed a family of 4 for $5 a meal it can more than be done. I feed a family of 7 for $2.50 to $4.50 a meal. We eat a high raw diet and do not have a garden at this time.
Lisa Johnston says
@PissedOffAtYourLies, Wow! Angry much?!? I’m not sure being hateful is a good way to get your point across, and calling someone a liar is just nasty.
Obviously, unless you guys are both shopping at the same grocery store during the same sales using the same coupons, your prices are not going to be EXACTLY the same. Her prices are very close to what I pay for groceries, and a little high if anything. Maybe if you ask politely, someone would help you find good deals.
Hope your day, or week, or month (or whatever time frame is sucking for you) gets better and your mood improves.
Shan says
@PissedOffAtYourLies, I know I for one have never paid $2.64 for a dozen eggs. One of my local grocery store regularly gives a dozen eggs out for free with a $25 dollar purchase. Sales and coupons are factored in. Stop attacking innocent people. YOU should be ashamed of yourself for being so nasty and attacking someone for no real reason.
Ashley says
Pissed off, where do you get your eggs from that they are $2.64 for 8? I can get 1 dozen eggs for .99 cents. And, while her cup of shredded cheese cost her .75 cents, mine only cost me .50 as I purchased it when there was a coupon for kraft natural cheese and the package was $1 after the coupon. You see, some people know how to shop properly with coupons, thus getting the most bang for their buck. This blog is about helping you make great meals with those purchases. So, perhaps instead of insulting people you should ask for help in getting your groceries as cheap as we do. But, because we people make up these prices clearly this cash register tape I have for eggos, a box of little debbies, and a few other things for a total of 7 items at $1.93 total cost after taxes is fake, right?
Yolanda says
@Pissedoff Whoever is selling you the eggs is ripping you off! I can buy a dozen of large eggs for just $0.89 so making this recipe would be even cheaper than what Erin calculated.
Erin, thank you for this recipe. I have some free ham steaks from Target and this is perfect.
TidyMom says
PissedOff where on earth are you shopping that you are paying nearly $4 for a dozen eggs?? Good grief Erin does an AMAZING job pulling off these meals, and anyone else can too if they know how to shop!!
Thanks for all you do Erin!! Keep it up!
Candace says
@TidyMom,
eggs can easily get up to that if you buy the free-range, organic kinds…but obviously when you’re trying to keep the cost below $5 for an entire meal you’re not usually going after the super expensive, organic, free-range, good-karma ingredients…:)
Cara @ Health Home and Happiness says
We have eggs at walmart for .99/dozen, though they did go much higher for a little bit last year. I’ve even bought local free range eggs for $2/doz occasionally, though I usually pay 3.50 for them. We’re in Montana, I’m sure it varies by location and she took the average! 🙂
Susie's Homemade says
I think Pissed Off is pissed off that she is getting ripped off at the super market.
Beth says
“Clearly you just make these outrageous “prices” up as you go along. The 8 eggs alone would be $2.64. Perhaps you could use a class in remedial math?”
Someone could use a class in remedial manners. Or just some “class” in general.
Kimberly says
I’m with the others. I would never pay more than $1 for a dozen eggs! And almost all the rest of these ingredients are things I would buy on sale and/or with coupons. I could easily make this whole meal for WAY less than even the amount Erin listed!
Iva @ HorizontalYoYo says
Let’s assume that you live in a high-priced area where eggs are more expensive. Let’s assume that everything is more expensive. So your recipe ends up being more than $5. It’s still an economical meal!
Great job, Erin. I’m not an egg person, so I wouldn’t eat this..but I know my family would!
BudgetsaretheNewBlack says
I have nothing to add that everyone else has not addressed already about shopping frugally! I just find it sad that someone, anyone, would think it appropriate to address someone anonymously with such venom. You can not expect someone to take being called a liar lightly. Something is going on here aside from a disagreement on prices. I know Erin personally and can attest that she is managing this blog with great intelligence, organization, and the utmost integrity.
What are you lacking in your life, “PissedOff”, that drives you to reach out in this way? The source of that bitterness is the real issue, and much more important than how much you’re spending on groceries.
(Although “sheeple” was pretty clever. Heh-heh. Maybe you could direct some of that creativity at your shopping technique.)
Shelli W says
@BudgetsaretheNewBlack, Totally agree with what you said, including the “sheeple” comment. Thought that was clever, and my first response was “baaaaaaaaaa!!!”
Way to go Erin! Looking forward to getting a copy of your cookbook for myself!!
leslie says
Okay where the heck are all of you buying a dozen eggs for $1 because I want in! The dozen I bought last night were $2.59 (non-organic) at Shop Rite in NJ.
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
@leslie,
They are regularly on sale in my store for $1. Normal price is $1.19 for large and $1.29 for extra large. No, they are not the organic free-range kind. In my ideal world I would be able to afford those eggs. But for now, the $1 eggs will do!
leslie says
@Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom, $1.30 price difference is huge! I’ll have to check the other stores in my area to see if it’s a Shop Rite thing or a NJ thing.
leslie says
@Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom, Okay, according to Wegman’s website they sell Large eggs for $1.39. Not quite sure driving 20 minutes out of my way to save $1.20 is worth it but I will compare prices of their items.
Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom says
@leslie,
Probably not…unless that had some other stellar sale going on where you could stock up on some of your other favorite products! I rarely drive out of my way…my Kroger is almost in my backyard!
Elizabeth Hall says
@leslie,
I’m in Northern VA and I can get a dozen at Giant for around $1.50.
Kimberly says
Very interesting that people don’t think it’s possible to feed a family on $5 or less for one meal.
I feed our family of 12 with a dinner budget of $12 every single night (and I don’t use coupons 😉 ).
And I’m in complete agreement with a remedial manners lesson being in order.
Cyn says
Yes I think PO’d needs to realize that Erin can’t quote prices for every single reader that comes along!!! I live in Canada and our food prices are much higher here than what my sister in Arkansas pays. Even so, generally the maximum I ever have to pay for a dozen eggs is 1.99 – the only way mine would cost anywhere near as much as what PO’d quoted was if I was buying the organic freerange eggs – which yes I like to do but clearly wouldn’t expect Erin to build those types of prices into her budget friendly meals. I also can’t always match the deals that others quote because we don’t have the types of couponing opportunities here that many of you do. I have never seen a store here that offers double or triple coupons and I find it very hard to find many coupons at all. We don’t seem to have all of the newspaper inserts filled with them in my area and many of the ones you can clip out of magazines are not applicable in Canada. Still, that would never lead me to bash Erin for the prices she quotes. You see, I am capable of using my common sense, knowing that she quotes the prices she is able to get in her area and that I will have to account for the difference in my budget. THE POINT IS that even if I can’t produce one of Erin’s recipes for under $5, I am still going to be saving considerable amounts of $ by using them and am still going to be able to create budget friendly delicious food. Isn’t that what really matters? (ps – haven’t visited here in a while and am so glad I came back today. Found SO many wonderful sounding recipes that I am going to use my gift card to a bookstore to buy Erin’s book! 🙂 )
Jennifer Y says
Well, I recently made this meal and I just added up my costs. I made my frittata for $3.12. No fresh fruit.
I live in the Philly suburbs and we get great deals, but no way I’m getting eggs for 1.00/doz regularly. More like 1.50-2.25. That being said, everyone knows food prices vary by region and you may have to adjust accordingly.
Erin’s pricing is also based on coupon living. Yes, it is a way of life and it takes a little bit of work! You would be surprised at what you can get for free/cheap. If you just go to the supermarket and buy whatever you want without even checking sale prices, you are going to pay much more for your meals.
I’m not saying that I can make a $5 dinner every night, but do feel compelled to stick up for Erin and what she (and many others) are trying to do. She’s not trying to say that she’s better than anyone, she’s trying to teach people how they can live for less too.
So, here’s my breakdown. This is based on actual prices that I recently paid. I am a big dork like that and remember the price of everything I buy.
8 eggs $1.12 (paid 2.29/18 ct)
1/2 lb potatoes $.40 (paid 3.99 for a 5 lb bag–the horror!!)
1 c. fresh spinach $.50 (paid 1.99 for a bag)
1/8 lb. deli ham $.75 (paid 5.99/lb)
1 c. shredded cheddar $.25 (free from cat deal! but throwing it in there anyway)
1 T. olive oil $.10
= $3.12
Jennifer says
@PissedOff
I think you need to take a deep breath and think about why you thought it necessary to come into Erin’s home- because that is basically what this is- and insult her like this. Is it because you are frustrated that you can’t find great deals for the area where you live? When I was first starting to coupon I googled “Publix coupon blog” and found a great website where I go to get the deals for my favorite local store. She does all of the work for me (well she doesn’t actually buy my newspapers or cut out the coupons but she does the ad matchs) and I have saved hundreds of dollars a month on groceries. Many times I look at Erin’s cost breakdown and think that mine would be even less, but she is doing wonderfully, prices vary from region to region and I thank her for taking the time out of her busy day cuddling, kissing and chasing three precious children to run this blog.
I would guess that you don’t regularly read this blog because otherwise you would have seen posts like this one:
https://www.5dollardinners.com/2009/11/kroger-shopping-trip-november-9th.html
where Erin breaks down the costs of her groceries and EVEN PROVIDES THE AD SCAN FOR HER LOCAL STORE. What more does she need to do to prove to you that she is for real?
Also, I know for a fact that Erin is a Christian woman, and as such morals and ethics are very important to her. To say that all that she has accomplished is based on a lie is very insulting. She has worked hard to maintain the integrity of this blog and has had much success because of it.
Erin, thank you so much for providing such a great service to all of us, and at no cost to us. There are many that charge for the service that you provide to us, free of charge, through your blog and I, for one, greatly appreciate it.
I pray that God will continue to bless you and your family in the coming years just as He has used you to bless all of us through learing to feed our families more nutritious meals and be better stewards of the resources that He has provided.
Jennifer aka MrsD05
Nicole says
WOW where do you shop? I can get 18 eggs for $1.89 a little more than .10 an egg! Erin doesn’t lie about anything… she doesn’t have too! Erin gives the rest of us hope we can do it too!!
Debby B says
Wow!!! Thank you so much for this amazingly delicious sounding recipe!!! I’m going to make it for my two guys today for brunch!!! Just came across your blog and I love it!!! Keep the delicious recipes coming please!!! Thanks again! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!