50 Inspiring Omelet Filling Ideas

In the breakfast hierarchy, the omelet ranks up there with the waffle, eggs Benedict and the breakfast taco. Ready in minutes, it's the perfect protein-packed vehicle for all kinds of ingredients, whether you're hungry for an over-the-top brunch or a lean weekday power breakfast.

Cooking an omelet couldn't be easier. Just whisk together some eggs, cook them in a nonstick pan with a little oil or butter, add the filling of your choice, fold and serve.

That said, there is some finesse involved in making a successful omelet. Get step-by-step instructions here.

To help inspire your next omelet-making endeavor, we've put together some quick tips and five omelet ingredient categories to help construct countless winning combinations. The anatomy of a truly great omelet is broken down below, so even the most kitchen-averse can get out of a breakfast rut and serve up an omelet with flair.

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Pictured Recipe: Avocado & Kale Omelet

The Best Cheeses for an Omelet

Besides eggs, cheese is the most integral ingredient in an omelet. No matter how straightforward or eclectic you want to get with your fillings, this creamy buffer helps hold it together.

There's nothing wrong with choosing classic grated Cheddar to complement some crispy bacon or well-seared breakfast sausage, but a softer cheese, like chèvre or an herby Boursin, amplifies the gooey factor and leaves you with creamy bite after creamy bite. Softer cheeses, stirred together with your proteins and cooked veggies, also help with ingredient integration, assuring that every bite has a little bit of everything.

• Boursin
• Ricotta
• Cream cheese
• Chèvre
• Feta
• Pimiento cheese
• Gruyère
• Cheddar
• Fontina
• Mozzarella
• Parmesan

Read More: 5 Reasons Cheese Is Actually Good for Your Health

Pictured Recipe: Avocado & Smoked Salmon Omelet

The Best Meats for an Omelet

You can stuff an omelet with just about any cooked meat: bacon, crab, sausage, sliced ham from your fridge's deli drawer, even lobster. Chef John Currence of Big Bad Breakfast in Oxford, Mississippi, admits that he sometimes throws in leftover fried chicken or shrimp and grits. The easygoing versatility of the omelet is part of its appeal.

But here are a couple of things to keep in mind when adding your preferred meat(s): First, most of them already have lots of salt, so go easy when seasoning your eggs. Second, smaller cuts are better. Nobody wants to bite into a massive piece of fish, or accidentally pull out an entire strip of bacon in one bite. Whatever your protein of choice, take the time to cut it into manageable pieces.

• Smoked salmon or trout
• Bacon
• Pancetta
• Chorizo
• Crab
• Deli ham
• Prosciutto or country ham
• Breakfast sausage
• Grilled shrimp
• Lobster
• Thinly sliced steak

Read More: 20 Low-Carb Breakfasts Ready in 15 Minutes

Pictured Recipe: Vegetable Omelets

The Best Vegetables for an Omelet

A lot of the same rules outlined in the meat section also apply here: namely, smaller equals better. So, slice those shiitakes, dice your tomatoes and smash your potatoes.

Also, reserve the raw veggies for crudité and salads. Everything-from leeks and bell pepper to spring vegetables-needs to be cooked, preferably with good-quality butter or olive oil and a little bit of kosher salt. The one exception is avocados, which can be added in any form, whether thinly sliced, dolloped in guacamole or grilled and cubed.

• Sautéed mushrooms
• Spinach
• Avocado
• Tomatoes
• Artichoke hearts
• Roasted potatoes or hash browns
• Sautéed asparagus
• Leeks
• Scallions
• Caramelized onion
• Red or yellow bell pepper
• Chile peppers (such as jalapeño or poblano)

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Pictured Recipe: Goat Cheese & Fresh Herb Omelet

The Best Herbs for an Omelet

Do you know what separates most home-prepped omelets from the fancy ones at your local bistro? Fresh herbs. Seriously, it's that simple.

Omelets inherently veer toward the heavier side, so balancing them out with a pop of bright freshness is crucial.

• Chives
• Parsley
• Basil
• Dill
• Thyme
• Cilantro

Pictured Recipe: Avocado & Arugula Omelet

Other Delicious Omelet Fillings

We expend so much energy thinking about what goes inside an omelet that we often fail to think about the outside. But if you really want to push your omelet creation to the next level, consider the extras.

Think stewed tomatoes or okra ladled over a Cajun omelet brimming with blue crab. Or a schmear of sour cream and caviar to enhance a smoked salmon omelet with dill.

Leftover veggie chili going to waste? Go full hangover-buster by serving it alongside an omelet stuffed with Cheddar, scallions and hash browns. The idea is to go fridge- (and pantry-) diving to upgrade even the most well-thought-out dish.

• Sour cream
• Caviar
• Kimchi
• Mixed greens (for a simple dressed salad)
• Pesto
• Hot sauce
• Crushed red pepper
• Stewed okra
• Chili
• Old Bay seasoning

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Pictured Recipe: 10-Minute Spinach Omelet

Delicious Omelet Combinations to Try

The options for omelet fillings are endless, but these mini recipes will kick you off toward your own creative combinations.

• Make an an Italian-style omelet by adding crispy pancetta, red bell pepper and ricotta. Toss in a few leaves of fresh basil.
• Take it Tex-Mex with chorizo, Cheddar and home fries. Sprinkle some chopped cilantro over the top.
• For the classic French omelet, add a judicious swipe of Boursin. Complement it with sliced chives, an egg's best friend.
• If you can't get enough of Korean flavors, consider a kimchi-stuffed omelet with a dollop of cream cheese or sour cream to cool off the potent punch of fermented cabbage.
• Go California-style with avocado, goat cheese and lightly dressed microgreens.
• Surprise even yourself with a big, bold omelet: thinly sliced steak, caramelized onions and a sprinkle of Gruyère. (If you're really feeling it, use a crumbly blue cheese instead.)