Shirred Egg
This vegetarian builds heavy cream, grated gruyere cheese and fresh bread crumbs into a crowd-pleasing meal you can have ready in about 55 minutes. Below: the ingredients split into pantry staples and a quick shopping list, a built-in serving scaler, and the method in 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for oven and baking sheet. At easy difficulty across 6 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (4)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: vegetarian — no meat or fish, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Dairy Egg
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Preheat the oven to 190 C and generously butter the insides of four small individual ovenproof ramekins.
- Spoon 1 tablespoon of cream into the bottom of each ramekin and warm them on a baking sheet in the oven for about 2 minutes until the cream is just hot.
- Carefully crack two eggs into each ramekin, taking care not to break the yolks, then season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Scatter the grated gruyere and the bread crumbs evenly over the tops and dot with a little of the butter.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 10 to 14 minutes, until the whites are fully set and opaque but the yolks remain slightly soft, or longer if you prefer firm yolks.
- Remove from the oven, let the shirred eggs rest for 1 minute, scatter the chopped chives over the top, and serve warm in the ramekins.
You'll use: Oven · Baking sheet
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
- Eggs
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (baking) · 1 tbsp ground flax + 3 tbsp water per egg
- Heavy Cream
- evaporated milk · ½ cup milk + ¼ cup melted butter · full-fat coconut milk
Tips & common questions
How long does Shirred Egg take to make?
About 55 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 8 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Shirred Egg vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat, fish or shellfish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheese for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Shirred Egg is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: Baked eggs at Brambles Bistro (16217172849).jpg by Ruth Hartnup from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.