One of my favorite things to do is replicate “convenience foods” at home, and for the past couple of weeks I’ve been seeing ads for these new breakfast cups where you just crack an egg into the cup, which contains a mix of meat and vegetables, stir it up, microwave, and poof you have an instant breakfast. As soon as I saw that I knew that would be a perfect DIY project and I went to work immediately. And just as I suspected, they were just as easy, convenient, and yummy as I suspected! So, today I bring you a breakfast meal prep: Make Ahead Microwave Breakfast Scrambles!
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Store Bought vs. Homemade
I haven’t seen these new breakfast cups in the store yet, but after a little googling I found a press release that list the suggested retail price as $2.49 each. …And that’s without the egg. Yeah, you have to add your own egg. LOL. My Make Ahead Microwave Breakfast Scrambles ended up being just under a dollar each, and that’s including two eggs each. The other reason I like the idea of making these scrambles at home is that there is waaayyy less packaging (the store bought kind has each ingredient individually wrapped and is in a disposable cup) and you can pick the quality of ingredients you’re using. The only downside is that the homemade version will only stay fresh in your fridge for about 4-5 days, whereas I’m sure the store bought ones have a longer shelf life. The shorter shelf life is totally worth it, IMHO.
BTW, these make ahead breakfast scrambles are stored in the fridge without the egg. You add the egg just before cooking.
Flavor Options
I made my Microwave Breakfast Scrambles Denver Omelet style with onion, bell pepper, ham, and cheddar, but there are so many other combos that you could do! Here are some fun ideas:
- cooked bacon, cooked hash browns/cubed potatoes, and cheddar
- grape tomatoes, fresh chopped spinach, feta
- cooked sausage, red bell peppers, mozzerella
The funny thing is that the same brand that makes the convenience breakfast cups also sells large bags (maybe 1 pound?) of frozen potatoes with diced bell peppers and onions, which were $2.49 per bag at my store. So think about that for a second. You could simply buy one of their bags of potatoes, peppers, and onions for the price of just one breakfast cup, add some cheese and eggs, and you’d have enough to probably make 12 of these breakfast scrambles. It pays to keep your eyes open! :)
Tips for Cooking Eggs in the Microwave
And one last piece of important info: cooking eggs in the microwave can be tricky. Here are a few pointers:
- Heat in short intervals of 15-30 seconds, stirring between each. It should only take about one minute, depending on your container and the power of your microwave, to fully cook the eggs.
- Stop cooking when the eggs are still moist. Overcooked eggs are a tragedy and why microwave eggs get a super bad rap.
- If you choose to store your Make Ahead Microwave Breakfast Scrambles in glass jars, I suggest pouring the contents into a ceramic mug before heating. In my testing I’ve found the ceramic mugs heat the eggs a little slower and more evenly, making it easier to prevent overcooking the eggs and giving the final scramble a MUCH better texture. Furthermore, wide and shallow mugs work a little better than tall narrow mugs.
- Always drape a paper towel or place a loose cover of some sort over your mug while microwaving to prevent splatter from “popping.”
Make Ahead Microwave Breakfast Scrambles
Servings 4Ingredients
- 2 oz. ham, diced ($1.00)
- 1/2 cup diced bell pepper ($0.44)
- 1/4 cup diced onion ($0.08)
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar ($0.50)
- 2 tsp butter ($0.09)
- 1/2 tsp seasoning salt ($0.05)
- 8 large eggs ($1.77)
Instructions
- Divide the ham, bell pepper, onion, and cheddar between four resealable containers*. Cut the butter into 4, 1/2 teaspoon-sized pieces, and add one to each container. Sprinkle about 1/8 teaspoon seasoning salt into each container.
- Seal the containers and store them for up to 4-5 days.
- When you’re ready to prepare a microwave breakfast scramble, pour the ingredients of the container into a ceramic mug, add two large eggs, and stir to combine.
- Loosely cover the mug with a paper towel or another microwave-safe object and microwave on high power for 30 seconds. Stir the contents of the mug and microwave for 15 seconds more. Stir again and continue to microwave for 15 second intervals, stirring after each, until the eggs are mostly set, but still moist. Serve immediately.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Notes
Nutrition
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How to Make Microwave Breakfast Scrambles – Step by Step Photos
For my Make Ahead Microwave Breakfast Scrambles, I used 2oz. deli ham (diced), 1/2 cup diced bell pepper (about 1/2 large bell pepper), 1/4 cup diced onion (about 1/4 onion), and 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar. This recipe is great for sweeping the kitchen and making sure you’re using up all your ingredients, because you don’t need a lot of anything! Just be aware of the shelf life of your ingredients. The shelf life doesn’t start over when you use them in something new. :)
Divide your ingredients between four containers (you can use any type of air-tight container to store your scrambles in the refrigerator). Also add 1/2 tsp butter to each and about 1/8 tsp seasoning salt. Close the containers and pop them in the fridge. The egg does not get stored in the container with the other ingredients, it is added just before cooking.
When you’re ready to make one of your microwave breakfast scrambles, dump the contents of the container into a ceramic mug and add two large eggs. Ceramic mugs heat the eggs more evenly and will give you a much better result than a glass jar or plastic container.
Give it a good stir before it goes into the microwave to “scramble” the egg.
Cover the mug loosely with a paper towel or another microwave-safe object and microwave on high for 30 seconds. You can see how it begins to cook around the outer edges first. That’s why it’s important to stir and stir often when you cook eggs in the microwave.
Now, give it a good stir before placing it back into the microwave. At this point, since it’s already warmed up, you want to switch to 15 second intervals. Microwave on high for 15 seconds, stir, do another 15 seconds, then assess…
This was my mug at 60 seconds. Now, the speed at which your eggs will cook will depend on the power of your microwave and the container you’re cooking them in, so you’ll need to play it by ear. At this point my eggs were mostly cooked, but there was a large bit in the center that was still liquid. So I stirred and did only 15 seconds more…
And then it was finished. For me it was 75 seconds total. You want to stop when the eggs are set, but still soft and moist. If anything, err on slightly under cooked because the eggs will continue to cook ever so slightly from residual heat after you take them out of the microwave. Serve the breakfast scramble immediately for the best taste and texture! :)
Thanks for helping out, good info .
Do you sautée the veggies first or do they go in raw?
It totally depends on how you like them cooked. We did raw but also don’t mind for them to be a bit crisp still. If you’d like them more cooked you can definitely saute before adding!
Can you swap the ham with bacon? If so, what would microwave times be?
You’d probably need to have the bacon cooked first because it’s not going to cook through in the short amount of time that it takes to cook the egg.
So, just wondering, couldn’t you just make them in ceramic mugs to start with? I’m all about less cleanup….
You can definitely do that! If you are planning to make ahead and store these for meal prep, you will want to use an air-tight container for food safety purposes. But if you’re planning to make them right away, gladly skip those extra dishes! ~ Marion :)
made these this morning using Egg Beaters rather than eggs. So Good.
You can put the ingredients in freezer bags including the scrambled eggs and freeze them. Thaw in frig overnight (or in microwave or warm water) and then microwave in the mug. I have seen others cook them in the bags in boiling water when they need to make a few at a time or when camping.
Thank you for this! My kids love the egg cups from the store, but at $2+ each we are going through about $25 just in egg cups per week. I knew there had to be a DIY version. Making this tomorrow!
I make these and also add the egg to the glass jar and microwave it in that! Works great as long as you use a large enough jar.
I also recommend spraying the jar before with non-stick spray for easier clean up.
Thanks for a great website!
Have you tried freezing the ingredients (except egg) then making this? If so how did you defrost them? Thanks!
I haven’t tried that, unfortunately!
Does anyone have any tips for cleaning the mugs after? I have found that microwave eggs are insanely difficult to clean off of ceramics.
Would a quick spritz of cooking spray work?
I’m unsure what you’re asking here. Are you seeking to replace the butter? If so, you can use cooking spray, but it will affect the final flavor and texture of the eggs. XOXO -Monti
I want to use potatoes. Should I cook them first?
Yes, they will not cook completely through in the short amount of time needed to cook the egg, and if you add extra cook time then the egg will overcook. :)
Great idea, deep cost savings. Thabk you BB thru turned out great this am.
So simple, so fast and so tasty. I have done it. Thanks for the recipe
These things are AMAZING! They ingredient choices are endless, take me 50% of the time and clean up of previous prepped breakfast that I used to make and I can put them in a wrap, on toast, take them to work, it’s great!!
Okay. Now, I have never heard of breakfast in a cup. Ever. This is awesome! I have made scrambled eggs in the microwave, and they come out pretty fluffy, but I do love the omelet or quiche take. I have never seen or heard of this breakfast cup (with the goodies inside the cup) at any grocery store I’ve been at. Maybe they’re there, but I just didn’t know about them. The ceramic mug tip was a good tip. I, too, have gotten misinformation from various websites and found out I didn’t know which one to go with because they were so different. I love the recipe!!
I didn’t have a lot of faith in the beginning, but this recipe has made me a believer in the microwave scramble!
Thanks, Beth.
Ha thanks for sharing Danielle!
What is the best way to clean the mugs after eating?
I just fill them up with water and let them soak for about five minutes, then use my hands to wipe out any larger pieces of egg, then come back in with a soapy sponge.
I put a small film of olive oil in the mug on the bottom and sides to prevent sticking. Any type of cooking oil will work.
That’s a wonderful tip Nancy! Thanks for sharing.
I’m so happy that I found this. I look forward to trying it!
Just curious: why the butter?
Because it tastes soooo good with the eggs and helps keep the eggs a little more moist. They dry out easier in the microwave. :)
Made them this morning. I pre-cooked some breakfast sausage with 2 chopped tater tots in each bowl and a bit of red sweet pepper and green onion for 1 minute. Then stirred in 1/3 cup fat free cottage cheese to cool it, stirred in 1 egg and 1 egg white, feta cheese, seasoned salt and pepper. My micro took another 2.5 minutes to finish cooking all this (1 minute, then 30-sec intervals, stirring in between). Once done, I added some diced tomato, leftover avocado and a dab of sour cream. Perfection! Hubby loved it too. I am going to check my inventory of jars and lids so I can make a few in advance for us. Will try some other versions too.
I love this!! I’ve been making your freezer breakfast sandwiches for a while and this will be a great change up. Your blog is one of my go-to’s, keep up the great work!
These look great—I noticed shredded frozen potatoes w/onion and peppers were mentioned but not in the recipe. Anyone try it with the potatoes??
I use the frozen O’Brien (potatoes, onion, and pepper) Pour whisked salt and peppered egg w/optional chopped up ham or sausage over it, cover with aluminum foil and pop it into the TOASTER OVEN. When done I top with shredded cheddar cheese.
So you don’t need to pre-cook the onion or the bell pepper?
I don’t, but I like my vegetables to still be a bit al dente. If you prefer softer vegetables you can pre-cook them.
I’ve been a big fan of Budget Bytes for a while now, and I’m always looking for other ways to level up my efficiency and savings. Wanted to share my pro-tip, which is that I’m making these breakfast scrambles the same week as the Mini Garden Turkey Loaves Meal Prep. There are some common ingredients (eggs and cheese) that I don’t normally keep in the house, but that I’m buying just for the turkey and mac and cheese. Doing these two recipes the same week gives me breakfasts & lunches, and also ensures that no ingredients are wasted.
Why do you need to transfer it to a mug? Why can’t you just cook it in the jar?
I wrote about that in the post, but I found that the egg cooks better in ceramic than glass. :)
I wish you would put the nutritional value per serving for these dishes.
We do get that request a lot, but unfortunately we don’t have a reliable source for the nutrition information. The calculators and databases that most bloggers and websites use to calculate the info can be extremely inaccurate, and for something that can so severely impact the health of people with health conditions, we just don’t feel comfortable publishing unreliable numbers. We prefer to leave it up to the reader to use the database or calculator they trust. I’m sorry and I wish accuracy were easier than shipping the food off to a lab for analysis! 😅
Just Curious, have you had any luck making these and storing in the freezer to get a longer use on them? If so, do you need to let veggies thaw before putting in the microwave?
I haven’t tried that, unfortunately.
My brother and sis-in-law just made a big batch of them. 5 in the household. They frozen the goodies in baggies. They thaw while the egg is cooking and it’s fantastic.
My partner asked me to grab some of these egg cups the next time I was at the store. Instead, I did a trial run of these – huge success! I now make these every week. We only use one egg, but same principle.
FYI those prepared breakfast cups that the stores sell are NASTY. Seriously, don’t waste your money (I got one for free with a coupon. One bite and I threw it out) I don’t have any idea what kind of chemicals are in there, but wow… so horrible.
Your homemade version (and the multitude of possible variations) is SO much better, on so many levels.
Haha! Good to know and thanks for sharing that! :D
Hi there-
I used to microwave eggs all the time in college- I’ve perfected it. Lightly Spray a coffee mug with PAM- crack one or two eggs in- and use a fork to beat. Put in microwave at one min- the eggs will be light fluffy and the best part is – they will slide right out of the mug if ur transferring to an English muffin bc of the PAM.
If you’re using bell peppers that isnt precooked, aren’t they crunchy just cooking for a minute in the microwave??
Yes, but I enjoy the texture and wouldn’t want them to be soft.
Could I just add an egg to the jar and cook it in the microwave instead of transferring the mix into a mug?
I found that the egg doesn’t cook as well in a glass jar as it does in a ceramic mug. I think there is something about the way the ceramic heats that helps it cook more evenly.
Thank You!! I’d been eyeing these in the store as well, and was put off by the cost. I love meal prepping, and will happily add these to my breakfast rotations for work!
What’s the purpose of the butter and can I omit it without affecting the dish?
The butter adds flavor and keeps everything a bit more moist. It will change the flavor and texture to omit it, but whether that is an acceptable change is going to depend on the individual.
What size jars are these?
8 oz. jars
This is great! I make a big batch of scrambled eggs, sausage, onions, black beans, cheese. After cooked, I divide it in to servings and put in ziplock freezer bags. When I need a quick meal – voila. Microwave, add salsa and enjoy. I learned to do this after I tried the brand name egg scrambles. Which are fantastic by the way. But like Beth said – this is a lot lesss expensive and tastes great!
Love this! Made it with cheddar, ham and leftover roasted red peppers & mushrooms. It was great and perfect for on the go. Thanks for making my morning tasty!
Could you precook the add-ins and freeze the whole thing (no egg)? If it is frozen loosely (like in a cookie sheet) I imagine you wouldn’t have to thaw before cooking. Thoughts?
I suppose you could do that. I don’t think it would need thawing either because the amount is so small that it will reheat quite quickly from frozen in the microwave.
My husband has been eyeing the store bought ones, this is perfect! Can I also ask you where you got your mugs? They are super cute! Thanks
I believe those were from Anthropologie. They have really unique dishes!
I put the finished omelet in a toasted English muffin (I have a microwave safe container just the right size and shape) or slice and wrap it in a tortilla for an on-the-go breakfast sandwich
Thanks! I have one of those, glad to hear it works well with this recipe! I am going to try it with the tortillas 😊
This is such a great idea! After trying your recipe, I bought one of those frozen southwest blends (with corn, black beans, diced onions, and diced peppers), added Cajun seasoning, and then followed your recipe with everything else. It is SO good, and SO easy! I’m going to really experiment with this and see what other fun mixtures I can come up with. Thanks so much for sharing!
This is such an easy and tasty thing! I brought these cups to work each morning last week and it was so nice to have hot scrambled eggs for a snack. I left the ingredients in a small mason jar and used one egg; it cooked perfectly!
Hi Beth! Thank you so much for posting this recipe! I had heard about the ones at the store recently and figured there must be an easy way to make them at home. :) So glad you figured it out for us!! I plan to try them myself this week and also recommended them to a patient today!
Egg safety?
You don’t store it with the raw egg in the jar. The egg is added just before cooking.
This is perfect! I used two eggs, some homemade frozen potatoes, some spinach, mushroom, cooked brown and serve sausage, and cheese. It took a lot longer to cook though, but still delicious. I think it took longer because of the frozen potatoes.
This is probably a dumb question but I hadn’t thought of the homemade frozen potatoes. Did you just cook them like you normally would, freeze, and just dump in the mug with everything else?
Yep! :)
I am so excited to see this. I’ve been looking for a way to cook an egg breakfast at work. I’m going to try it in a Pyrex storage bowl, then cook it in the same bowl.
I saw these Jimmy Dean cups in my store’s ad for $2.69. WAY cheaper to make them yourself.
Excited to try these. Thank you!
I could see this working with any vegetable that does well in a stir-fry. Mushrooms (may have to cook them before depending on the type), soy sprouts, green beans, garlic scapes, carrots, even bamboo shoots if you’re not afraid of the stink. If I want a new breakfast staple (currently making a new batch of savoury muffins every week), I’ll try this!
This is perfect for me for work!
Is there a reason you can’t cook the eggs in the Mason jar the ingredients are stored in? 🤔
I listed some tips above the recipe for best results, including my explanation about the ceramic mug. When I tested the recipe I found that the ceramic mugs gave much better results than microwaving it in the glass jar. I’m not sure exactly why, but I suspect that the ceramic is a bit more insulating so it cooked the eggs more evenly and prevented them from overcooking as easily. :)
Hello Beth,
Would a Ramekin work for these, instead of a mug? Would it be too small? This is such a great idea!
I suppose it depends on the size of your ramekin. I think anything about 12oz. or larger should work alright!
This looks like a good idea! I need to start getting more creative with what I put in my scrambles.
Kari
I could see prepping the ingredients ahead but I’d just cook them in a pan. The store bought cups are way overpriced.
At 75 seconds of cooking time, this takes about the same time as cooking a one egg scramble in a pan and with a non-stick skillet, about the same amount of butter per egg. Does the egg stick to the sides of the mug or would cooking spray be a good idea? The real time saver is pre-measuring and storing the add-ins. In my case–I prefer softened bell pepper and onion–that means saute the veggies ahead of time, although I sometimes do that fat free on a plate covered with plastic wrap in the microwave. My usual practice is to saute more onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms than I need for a weekend recipe and use them during the following week for my 1 egg omelets and DH’s more time consuming breakfast tacos. I can see the cleanup advantage, however, and might even chose to pack things in the mug with cling wrap over it to start with, although I haven’t tried to put a cold mug in the microwave. I could even pack this to work in a little jar and have breakfast as my early morning break or a non-trad lunch. LOVE your little squares of seasoned butter!
I think the reason to do these like this would be, generally, to eat them on the go or at the office IMO. Otherwise I too would just cook fresh in a pan at home. The pre-made product she’s talking about is advertised such to be an on-the-go or at-the-office type breakfast.
The egg does stick a bit, but I’m not sure spray would help after you stir everything together. This method is great for prepping ahead even if you want to dump it into a skillet instead of the microwave. :)
I regularly make something like this when I don’t have any leftovers for lunch, but rather than a scramble, I use a buttered ramekin to make a mini-frittata. I then often put it on toast for a breakfast sandwich.
This would also be great with the pre-chopped frozen hashbrown/pepper mix and/or wrapped in the appropriate tortilla.
I’m so glad you made these! I bought a couple of the brand name ones (because marketing really works) and the concept is genius but the price not so much so I’m looking forward to trying these at home!
Oh my gosh, I had to laugh when I saw this and send it immediately to my boyfriend because I have been seeing those commercials and they make me unnaturally angry, ha ha! So much waste! SO easy to make at home! So THANK YOU for making this! I sent this article to him and was like, I have someone else on my side!
Yummy!!!!! :-)