2-egg omelettes make such an easy quick breakfast, lunch or even dinner. Here you’ll find how to make the best omelette, a simple omelette, a basic recipe, using the classic French technique for a 2 egg omelette.
There are so many great ways to cook eggs. But our romance with omelettes is one that can’t be denied. We love them for breakfast, lunch and even dinner when served with a side salad.
And omelettes are so easy to make. Especially once you learn that less is more.
Many years ago, I watched Julia Child cooking an omelette this way and this same classic French technique was a skill that I had to learn in Culinary School.
Let’s take a look at how to make a 2-egg omelette.
Table of contents
- How To Make A 2 Egg Omelette, Step By Step
- Aux Fines Herbs Omelette (pictured at the top of this post)
- Cheese Omelette (Au Fromage or Omelette du Fromage)
- Ham and Cheese Omelette ( Au Jambon )
- Bacon and Tomato Omelette (Americaine Omelette)
- Espagnole Omelette
- Green Chile Cheese Omelette with Mexican Crema
- Easy Omelette Recipes, French Technique for How to Make the Perfect 2-egg Omelette
How To Make A 2 Egg Omelette, Step By Step
To make the best omelette, you move very quickly for success. An omelette should take approximately two minutes from start to finish. All you need is an 8″ inch non-stick pan.
And that pan doesn’t need to be expensive at all. I brought mine from Target for $5.99 and it works like a charm. Here’s how:
- You can either make omelettes with two or three eggs. I prefer one tablespoon butter and a two egg omelette (serves 1).
- In a bowl beat the eggs with a fork until loose bubbles form. Add the water and the cream and blend together.
- Heat the pan over medium heat and then add the pat of butter. Swirl the pan to distribute the butter.
- Once the butter is melted, has bubbled and the bubbles are starting to subside, add the eggs.
- This is where the fun begins. Let the eggs sit in the pan for ten seconds.
- Then start swirling and shaking the pan back and forth until loose curds form.
- Tip the pan to let the uncooked eggs fall beneath the curds until you feel the omelette is forming.
- Don’t let the eggs brown, you’ll loose that delicate texture and flavor.
- This is where you want to add your filling. Right before you’re getting ready to fold the omelette.
- This means it’s necessary for all add-in ingredients to be fully cooked. The only exception to when adding tender fresh herbs.
- If you are using cheese, make sure it’s finely grated and added to the omelette prior to folding.
- When the eggs have developed sufficient curd, slide the pan forward and fold a third of the omelette back on itself.
- Invert the omelet into the plate so that the last third tucks under to create a perfect soft high shape.
More Tips for Cooking An Omelette
Buy an omelette pan and keep that pan reserved for omelettes or cooking fried or scrambled eggs. An 8″ non-stick pan is ideal.
An omelette should take about 2 minutes to cook. A correctly prepared omelette should be golden yellow, never browned. If the omelette has browned, you’ve over cooked and compromised the flavor.
When preparing omelettes for several people, make several two egg omelettes rather than one giant one. A big omelette just doesn’t work.
The only uncooked ingredients that can be added to the eggs prior to cooking are fresh herbs and salt.
If adding vegetables such as peppers and onions, sautee them before adding them to the omelette. Add cheese and cooked vegetables right before removing from heat and shaping onto a plate.
Once the omelette is on the plate, rub it with butter for a professional shiny appearance. You can also tuck in the ends for a neater appearance.
When serving the omelette with a sauce, cut a slit in the top of the omelette and pour the sauce into the slit and over the top. Do not sauce the omelette while while still in the pan.
Below you’ll find some of the most common and classic French omelette recipes. Easy 2-egg omelette recipes everyone should know how to make.
Aux Fines Herbs Omelette (pictured at the top of this post)
Aux Fines Herbs – Mix some fines herbs with the beaten eggs before cooking or place some on the on the omelette while cooking.
What is fines herbs?
The term Fines Herbs refers to a blend of herbs traditionally used in French cooking. While there is no exact recipe for fines herbs, it usually includes parsley, tarragon, chervil, and chives. Fresh herbs are preferred, but you can purchase a dried fines herbs mix at your local spice shop.
The omelette at the top of this page is made with a simple sprinkling of fines herbs as filling.
Cheese Omelette (Au Fromage or Omelette du Fromage)
Au Fromage – Mix some grated gruyere or Parmesan with the beaten eggs or place some on the omelette prior to folding. Simple and elegant and of course delicious. I prefer gruyere here.
Ham and Cheese Omelette ( Au Jambon )
Au Jambon 2-egg omelette – Mix some julienned or diced ham with the beaten eggs. Remember to cut those ham cubes very small and grate the cheese very fine.
Bacon and Tomato Omelette (Americaine Omelette)
Americaine 2-egg omelette – Fill the omelette with peeled, seeded and chopped tomato. Garnish with bacon.
Espagnole Omelette
Espagnole – Mix three beaten eggs with a mixture of chopped tomatoes, sweet peppers and onions that have been fine chopped and sauteed.
Garnish with minced parsley. This omelette is typically served flat, like a frittata, rather than rolled like a true omelette. I’ve added three thin slices of cooked Yukon Gold Potato = delish.
Now, that we’ve tackled the classic omelette recipes, let’s have some fun.
Green Chile Cheese Omelette with Mexican Crema
For this omelette, prepare according to directions, but add 1 tablespoon Mexican Crema, or sour cream diluted with a bit of milk.
Add shredded Monterey Jack cheese and a tablespoon of chopped green chile just before folding the omelette for serving. Simply smother with some Hatch Green Chile with Pork, or some Hatch Green Chile Sauce. And garnish. I used some sliced tomatoes, chives and cilantro.
Easy Omelette Recipes, French Technique for How to Make the Perfect 2-egg Omelette
I hope you give this method to make the perfect omelette a try. It’s easy! And if you do, please come back and give the recipe a star rating. And leave a comment about your experience with making omelettes this way.
And if you have a favorite omelette ingredient combination, let me know, I’d love to give it a try.
What To Serve With Omelettes?
- If you’re cooking an Omelette for lunch or dinner, choose a simple side salad.
- Try this breakfast side dish for Cast Iron Skillet Potatoes.
- Want to turn things a little more elegant for a dinner omelette? Take a look at this Rosemary Potato Strudel.
- Slice some petite heirloom tomatoes and toss with a splash of Red Wine Vinegar and some olive oil. Add a couple spears of pickled asparagus for a colorful meal.
Love to see eggs on your breakfast plate? You won’t want to miss these beautiful breakfast recipes.
Easy Egg Breakfast Recipes
- Three Cheese Baked Egg Casserole
- Scrambled Eggs Rio Grande
- Ham Avocado and Egg Breakfast Bake
- Mexican Omelette
- Traditional Western Omelette
And if you love breakfast as much as we do, you won’t want to miss my Breakfast Category. You’ll find lots of eye opening recipes, including the most popular breakfast recipe on my site, Smothered Breakfast Burrito with Green Chili.
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
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2 Egg Omelette, Easy Omelette Recipe
Equipment
- 8" non-stick omelette pan
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon water
- ½ teaspoon cream or half and half
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- sea salt
- fresh ground pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, beat eggs with a fork until large loose bubbles form.
- Heat the butter in a small skillet, medium high heat until a foam forms and then recedes.
- Turn down to medium heat to low and pour the egg mixture into the hot pan. Leave it alone for 10 seconds. A skin will form on the bottom.
- Shake the pan back and forth and in circles while the eggs cook so that they form loose curds. Do not allow the eggs to brown. Browning toughens the protein and taints the elegant fresh flavor
- When the eggs have developed sufficient curd, slide the pan forward and fold a third of the omelette back on itself. Invert the omelet into the plate so that the last third tucks under to create a perfect soft high shape.
Nutrition
2 Egg Omelette – The French Way … It’s What’s For Breakfast
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
JoAnne Lusk says
My attempts at o letters end up scrambled eggs…. Thanks to your coaching I’ll keep trying. We so enjoy your inspiring recipes!
Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina says
What beautiful omelettes, LeaAnn! I could eat one for any meal of the day! In fact, I just ordered a ham and cheese omelette in a local diner yesterday! I appreciate all of the tips that you provided too!
Buon Natale,
Roz
Jeff the Chef says
I love omelettes, but I rarely make them at home. Thanks for all th tips, though. You’ve got me eager to give it a go.
mjskitchen says
This is certainly an inspiring post. I can now see how boring my omelettes have become. Love everyone of these but quite partial to the simple cheese one. Might have to ask my husband to make this for breakfast in the morning. 🙂
Lea Ann Brown says
I really like a simple ham and cheese omelette. Which reminds me, why haven’t I ever blogged about a Denver omelette??? 🙂
Larry says
They all look very good and now I’m hungry for an omelet. I’m with you on not letting them brown on the bottom.
John / Kitchen Riffs says
Love omelettes! Easy to make, and quick. And you can flavor them so many different ways. Super post — thanks.