How To Make An Omelet

Wondering how to make an omelet? Here’s our easy method with step-by-step instructions for a quick breakfast any day of the week!

I learned how to make omelets from my husband Brian! Many years ago, he set out to learn the best way to make an omelet and tried lots of different methods. And while there isn’t just one way to make omelets, we wanted to share the method that works best for us.

What is the difference between an omelette and an omelet?

The only difference between an omelette and an omelet is the spelling. The standard American English spelling is omelet. That being said there are many different ways to make an omelet and many countries around the world have their own varieties.

Start with two to three eggs, a little water, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

How many eggs do you need for an omelet?

We’ve found that two to three eggs work well for making an omelet in an 8 to 10-inch pan. If you don’t have enough eggs, they won’t fill the pan. On the other hand, if you have too many eggs, they are going to have a harder time cooking through. Plus, two to three eggs is enough for a meal for an adult.

Beat the eggs with a fork to break up the eggs.

How can I make an egg white omelet?

If you are wondering how to make an egg white omelet, the steps are the same as they are when making omelets with whole eggs! Simply substitute two egg whites for each whole egg and follow the recipe as directed.

Warm a skillet over medium heat with a tablespoon of butter (or use olive oil if you prefer)

What kind of pan should I use?

We’ve had the best results when using a small, non-stick pan with sloped sides. The 10.5-inch T-Fal pan shown in this post is an affordable option and we also like our All-Clad omelette pan.

Pour the beaten eggs into the warm skillet.

Use a silicone spatula to pull the eggs across the pan so that they start to cook while occasionally tilting the pan allowing the runny eggs to fill in bare spots.

Optional step if needed: use the silicone spatula to gently lift the cooked eggs while tilting the pan so that the runny eggs can flow underneath.

Once most of the runny eggs have cooked (you can check by tilting the pan) add shredded cheese to half of the omelet.

Or if you prefer making a tri-fold omelet, you can put the toppings in the center of the eggs.

What do you put in an omelet?

The biggest question is what do you put in an omelet?!! The choices are endless and it is fun to try different add-ins and toppings. Some of the classic fillings are shredded cheese, cooked meat, diced vegetables, and herbs.

It is best to precook and warm your fillings (meat and veggies) prior to adding them to your omelets. Here are some of the popular choices:

• Cheese: cheddar, American, pepper jack, Swiss
• Meat: bacon bits, diced ham, crumbled sausage
• Vegetables: tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, spinach, avocado, potatoes
• Toppings: sour cream, gravy, pico de gallo, cheese sauce

Follow the cheese with cooked bacon crumbles (we love cooking our bacon in the oven like this). Loosen the edges of the omelet from the pan. Then lift the bare side of the omelet and fold it over onto the side with toppings. Or if you prefer, you can slide half of the omelet onto your plate and use the edge of the pan to fold the remaining half onto it as it slides out of the pan.

For a tri-fold omelet, fold the left 1/3 of the eggs over the center and then fold the right 1/3 of the eggs over the center. With a tri-fold omelette, you end up with three layers of eggs rather than two in the single fold method.

Slide the omelet out of the pan onto a plate.

What side dishes should I serve with omelets?

We typically enjoy our omelets with toast on the side and a little fresh fruit. But if we want to make a larger meal or we are serving brunch to guests, it is fun to have a few side dishes. Try making a fresh fruit salad or buttermilk biscuits. Or serve a hearty dish such as buttermilk pancakes, French toast, or homemade waffles.

Want more breakfast recipes? Try these next:

Learning how to make scrambled eggs is a basic cooking skill! These fluffy, creamy scrambled eggs are perfect for breakfast or dinner.

This Puff Pastry Breakfast Pizza has a light, flaky crust topped with cheese sauce, scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, and bacon!

Make this Egg Bake recipe for overnight guests or for your family! This breakfast casserole has bacon, eggs, and cheese all in one dish.

This Baked Oatmeal recipe is soft and chewy with a hint of cinnamon. Serve warm topped with vanilla yogurt and fresh berries.