This high protein breakfast bake is a favorite when we have company, and we want something that can feed a crowd. It’s a great make ahead dish and also a favorite for leftovers. You’ll love getting the ingredients prepped the night before and just baking the next day.
INGREDIENTS FOR HIGH PROTEIN BREAKFAST BAKE
- Ground turkey: We love incorporating some leaner protein using ground turkey. Here we are using 85/15 but you can also use a 93/7 ground turkey.
- Whole eggs and egg whites: Adding eggs to anything makes it breakfast but we’re once again boosting our protein intake with this perfect lean meat and egg combination. You can use all whole eggs, but we are using egg whites here to cut down on the cholesterol from eggs.
- Bell pepper: We are bringing in our beloved sweet bell pepper as a colorful, low calorie and vitamin rich veggie friend. Feel free to use, red, orange or green bell peppers. They are all rich in antioxidants and quite nutritious.
- Spinach: A nutrient dense anti-inflammatory favorite that brings in a beautiful color to this dish
- Heavy Cream: Whisked with the eggs to give it that rich, airy bite. Especially important if you are using lean ground turkey meat (93/7)
- Sharp Cheddar: Brings in the savory element and a nice golden-brown crust to the edges.
MAKE IT YOUR OWN
There is so much you can do to this bake to make it your own.
Add Potatoes: Adding in some shredded hashbrowns makes it even more substantial and a little more affordable too. Especially if you’re cooking for a bigger crowd. If adding potatoes, you’ll need to add a little more eggs and cheese too to bring everything together.
If you’re dairy free there are many options that could work as a substitute for the heavy whipping cream. Soy milk is creamy and a good substitute that will not alter the flavor profile as much as coconut milk. You can also use unsweetened nut milks or rice milk.
Another lean protein alternative you can use is ground chicken. And if you are vegetarian scrambling some tofu in place of the ground turkey is a great option. Other options that are not lean and bring in a little more fat are sausage, bacon or ham.
Greens always are a great way to add some color. A great alternative to spinach is Swiss chard (chopped leaves) or kale. You can even bring in some Arugula if you want to add a peppery taste to the bake.
This is our favorite go to when my family gathers for brunch for all the right reasons. Not only is this very tasty but it’s also highly nutritious, very filling and can be put together the night before. We know you’ll enjoy this as much as we do. If you make this, do share with us how it turned out or tag us on Instagram.
HIGH PROTEIN BREAKFAST BAKE
Equipment
- 8X 6.8 baking dish
- whisk
Ingredients
- 3/4 to 1 lb Ground Turkey
- 1 Yellow bell pepper chopped ~1 Cup
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped garlic
- 4 large Eggs
- 1 Cup of Egg whites
- 1/4 Cup of heavy whipping cream
- 2 Cups of Spinach (Roughly chopped)
- 1 Cup finely shredded Sharp Cheddar
- 1-2 Tbsp Avocado oil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add ground turkey into a medium non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook , while stirring and breaking up chunks until there is no more pink (~5 minutes). Then add in chopped bell peppers, 2 Tablespoons of water and cook until peppers are just tender (~5-7 minutes).
- Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
- Pour 1 Tablespoon of avocado oil into skillet and stir. Then add in chopped garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl combine whole eggs , egg whites, heavy cream and whisk until creamy. Season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a pinch or two of black pepper.
- Then add in cooked turkey with peppers, spinach and cheddar cheese. Mix well and pour into a lightly greased 8 x 6.8 baking dish. Shake to make sure everything is levelled.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until set.
- Remove from oven. Cut into individual portions and serve.
Notes
- You can increase the baking temp slightly to 365 for a faster bake but you might run the risk of the bottom getting a little to brown.Â
- You do not have to be locked in on the sharp cheddar, use your favorite baking cheeses for this dish. Mozzarella, Gouda, Gruyere, Monterey jack are other options. You can also use your favorite cheese blend.
- You can also bake in a cast iron skillet or another sized baking dish. Ensure the debt of your mixture is at least an inch high in the baking dish. Also, if the baking dish is too deep and not as wide, it will probably take a little longer for everything to set.
- If you want to make ahead, cook the turkey and peppers the night before. Then all you need to do in the morning is make the egg mixture, combine and bake.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and consume within 2-3 days. Reheat in the microwave, or top with a little more cheddar and reheat in the oven until cheddar melts and center is up to 165 degrees
You must be logged in to post a comment.