The Denver Omelet

4.9
(76)

The Denver omelet is a change of pace from a French omelet and is known for its firmer texture and caramelized flavor. It's one of the first foods I learned to cook professionally as a line cook in high school. Make it a complete lunch or dinner with arugula salad and toasted bread.

13
A Denver omelet served with a green salad and toasted bread with butter
13
13
13
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
1
Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 1 servings

  • 3 large eggs

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • ¼ cup diced smoked ham

  • 2 tablespoons diced onion

  • 2 tablespoons diced green bell pepper

  • salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

  • cup shredded Cheddar cheese

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Ingredients to make a Denver omelet

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Beat eggs in a small bowl until just combined; do not overbeat.

    A bowl of whisked eggs

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add ham, onion, and bell pepper; season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until onions soften and ham begins to caramelize, about 5 minutes.

    A pan with chopped ham, onion, and bell pepper cooking in melted butter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in eggs. Mix briefly with a spatula while shaking the pan to ensure ingredients are evenly distributed.

    A pan with chopped onion, ham, bell pepper, and whisked eggs

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Quickly run the spatula along edges of omelet.

    A spatula running along the edge of a partially cooked omelet in a pan

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Sprinkle Cheddar cheese and cayenne pepper over omelet.

    A pan with a thin layer of eggs with ham, peppers, and onion, topped with shredded cheese and cayenne pepper

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until top is still wet but not runny, about 5 minutes. Use a spatula to fold omelet in half and transfer it to a plate.

    A Denver omelet served with a green salad and toasted bread with butter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

152 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

491 Calories
39g Fat
5g Carbs
30g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 1
Calories 491
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 39g 51%
Saturated Fat 20g 100%
Cholesterol 632mg 211%
Sodium 751mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 30g 61%
Vitamin C 17mg 18%
Calcium 362mg 28%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 328mg 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.