Ham, Spinach, and Cheese Egg Boat Recipe

Crunchy bread holds a flavorful egg, cheese, spinach, and ham filling. This fun egg boat recipe will transform brunch!

When you think of brunch, what immediately comes to mind? Besides being the best thing ever.

I think of quiche (bonus points if it has a cornmeal crust), egg casseroles, maybe pancakes, French toast, hashes (I love this air fryer sweet potato hash with candied bacon), and yeah, of course, bacon! Lots of bacon! Have you ever tried baked bacon? It’s a game-changer.

And definitely mimosas. Check out my other site, PancakeRecipes.com, for how to make a mimosa board. Or a bloody Mary board, if that’s more your thing. And TONS of coffee, too.

But how about a egg boat? I think this is what your brunch is missing. With egg casseroles, it’s all the same texture (kinda mushy, although absolutely delightful and something I would eat every single day of my life). In contrast, the egg boat offers an ultra crisp outside with a soft, creamy filling.

It’s the best of both worlds and is just the thing for those of you who love variety. I think it will really “float your boat”! Ha Ha!

Egg boats are also a great breakfast for dinner, aka “brinner”. There’s no better way to help the kids recharge after big school days than with a nutritious dinner featuring eggs! One large egg boasts six grams of high-quality protein, no sugar and zero carbs, all for just 70 calories. Eggs are also very economical and keep well.

Did you know that eggs are an excellent source of choline, a nutrient kids need but often lack? Choline is essential for kids’ brain development and helps them retain information and concentrate in the classroom.

Am I beginning to sound like an advertisement for eggs? Maybe so, but eggs are a prominent part of my household’s diet. I make a big batch of Instant Pot hard boiled eggs weekly so we always have a quick egg snack ready to eat.

About This Recipe

I chose a pretty classic combination for this egg boat: salty ham, leafy green spinach and sharp cheddar cheese. If one of those ingredients isn’t your favorite, it’s easy to sub in anything you like.

Just a note about the bread: You’ll be cutting away the top and inside portion of the bread to hold the egg mixture and filling. Don’t throw away the portion that you cut out! You can use it to make homemade bread crumbs or the best croutons.

Let’s run through the egg boat how-to’s right now and I’ll give you lots of helpful tips.

As always, look for the printable recipe card below for complete instructions, measurements, and nutrition information.

What You’ll Need

• French or Italian Bread: You’ll need a good sized loaf of bread or baguette, about fourteen inches long and wide enough to cut a nice opening in the middle to hold the filling. Think boats when you’re shopping, not skinny kayaks. Whole wheat bread is great, too! If you want to make individual boats, buy smaller loaves of bread, or demi baguettes.
• Ham: Deli ham is fine, leftover ham works great, or substitute cooked sausage or bacon.
• Spinach: Baby spinach leaves cook quickly so there’s no need to sauté them before adding them to your boat. Spinach is so good for you too!
• Eggs: Of course you need eggs for your egg boat! You’ll need 5 eggs.
• Milk: The milk is mixed with the eggs to make the quiche-like filling.
• Salt & Pepper: Season the egg mixture to your taste.
• Dijon Mustard: The mustard adds a bit of zing to the mixture. If you’re not a fan of mustard, simply use less or omit it altogether.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese: The cheese is sprinkled on top for a nice egg and cheese combo. Don’t care for cheddar? Any type of cheese is fine!

How To Make This Recipe

Get your oven preheating and prepare a rimmed baking pan to hold your egg boat. I like to line it with foil or parchment paper for super easy cleanup. Also, just in case your boat overflows with filling (I always try to stuff mine way too full!), the paper will contain the mess.

Next, prep the bread. Use a sharp serrated knife to carefully make a well in the top side of the bread. Leave at least three-quarters of an inch on all sides so there’s a firm container for the filling. Put the bread on the baking sheet.

Arrange the ham pieces and chopped spinach in the bottom of the well. In a bowl or large measuring cup, blend together the eggs, milk, and seasonings, including the mustard if you’re using it. Use a fork or a whisk, mixing until it’s well-blended. It should look much like uncooked scrambled eggs.

Carefully pour the egg mixture into the boat, over the ham and spinach. If you end up with a bit too much egg, either discard it or scramble it up separately. You don’t want your boat to be flooded.

Top with the shredded cheese and pop it into the oven to bake. It will take about 40 minutes, depending a bit on the size of your boat and how full it is.

How can you tell when it’s done? Insert a table knife in the center of the boat. It should come out clean. If the eggs are still runny, they’ll cling to the knife. That means your boat has to spend a bit more time in the oven.

Remove from the oven, slice into three or four servings, and enjoy for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner!

I wish I was eating this right now, to be honest. Who wants to brunch with me? Any takers? In addition to this egg boat, I propose we dine on citrus salad, and carrot cake muffins. We can sip on hibiscus mimosas and easy hot chocolate.

Make It Your Own

• Substitute cooked sausage or bacon for the ham. Chorizo is good, too.
• Omit the meat and make it vegetarian. Add more veggies if you like. Finely chopped bell peppers or onions are really good, and so are mushrooms. They should be lightly sautéed before adding them to the boat.
• Use whatever type of cheese you enjoy or happen to have in the fridge. Swiss cheese is a great choice.
• Instead of spinach, use another green vegetable: baby kale, finely chopped broccoli or asparagus, whatever you like. Add corn or green peas if that’s what you like!

Storage & Reheating Tips

Leftover egg boat can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days. Wrap it securely. It makes a great lunch and isn’t bad eaten cold. If you like cold pizza, you will probably get into cold egg boat.

However, if you want to warm it up, leftovers can be heated in the microwave but the bread tends to get a bit tough and lose its crispness. It’s better to use a toaster oven or your air fryer to reheat leftovers.

Eggs for Every Meal

Check out DishOnEggs.com for dozens of deliciously quick, family-friendly recipe ideas to add to your weekday dinner routine! Eggs aren’t just for breakfast—they add protein, flavor and texture to dinner dishes, too. From tacos and pizzas to salads and pasta, everything is better when you put an egg on it!