Baked Eggs with Olives

I came across this recipe on the Food52 website, and it grabbed my attention for a few reasons: eggs, bacon, olives and feta. I’ve really enjoyed some new and unique egg recipes this year, like Turkish Eggs, and Eggs Baked in Ricotta, but this one is even more unique.

The combination of ingredients, which includes chard, was an obviously delicious pairing with eggs. (I had to substitute spinach for the chard.)

From Food52: “This one is for all of you out there who, like us, crave salty over sweet in the morning. Olives, feta, and bacon all make this dish absolutely sing with bold flavors. Baked in a deeply savory mixture of cream, chard, and all the other aforementioned good stuff, the humble egg goes from everyday staple to absolute luxury. Sprinkle some toasted panko over the top to give the whole thing a textural punch, and you’re done.”

Recipe reprinted with permission from The Modern Proper: Simple Dinners for Every Day (‎Simon & Schuster, April 2022), written by Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer.

Baked Eggs with Green Olives and Feta

4 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
1/2 small yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups chopped Swiss chard leaves, or spinach
1/2 cup pitted Castelvetrano olives, halved
4 large eggs
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup panko
1/4 cup crumbled feta
2 tablespoons minced chives
1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
Flaky salt
Crusty bread, for serving

Heat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the center position.

Place the bacon in a medium ovenproof skillet. Set the skillet over medium heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon crisps and the fat is rendered, 5 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a paper towel–lined plate, reserving the fat in the pan.

Add the onion to the bacon fat and cook, using a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom, until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and half of the chard and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chard is wilted, then add the remaining chard to wilt, about 2 minutes total. Return the crispy bacon to the pan and add half the olives. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Using a spoon, create four wells in the chard mixture. Crack one egg into each well, one at a time. I added a 1/4 teaspoon of butter to each well before pouring in the eggs. Pour the cream over the entire dish. Bake until the egg whites are no longer transparent, 10 to 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the panko and cook, stirring to coat, until toasted, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle the toasted panko all over the baked eggs. Add the feta, the remaining olives, the chives, pepper, and flaky salt.

Serve with crusty bread alongside.

I placed some of the chard/spinach and egg mixture on the bread like a bruschetta. Fabulous.

Everybody knows I’m a cheese-crazed individual, but in this case, the eggs are rich with the bacon, olives, and cream, that I don’t think the feta is necessary. And you don’t hear me saying that very often!

What was wonderful was the toasted panko crumbs. A perfectly wonderful egg dish.

By Published On: August 16th, 202254 Comments on Baked Eggs with Olives

About the Author: Chef Mimi

As a self-taught home cook, with many years in the culinary profession, I am passionate about all things food-related. Especially eating!

54 Comments

  1. thatskinnychickcanbake August 16, 2022 at 6:24 AM - Reply

    Sounds delicious, Mimi, and makes a gorgeous presentation, too! I could eat this any time of day!!!

    • Chef Mimi August 16, 2022 at 6:53 AM - Reply

      I could, too! I love eggs in general, but this is really extra fabulous!

  2. Travel Gourmet August 16, 2022 at 6:39 AM - Reply

    This looks delicious, Mimi!

    • Chef Mimi August 16, 2022 at 6:52 AM - Reply

      It really was. Unique and wonderful!

  3. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen August 16, 2022 at 6:56 AM - Reply

    This looks really beautiful! Love a baked egg dish like this, and your combination of flavorful ingredients certainly would make them all wake up and pay attention! Like that you dabbed the butter under the eggs, a great idea!

    • Chef Mimi August 16, 2022 at 8:14 AM - Reply

      Great ingredients, but I really think the feta is overkill. The olives are already tangy. And I’m a cheese person!

      • Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen August 16, 2022 at 9:13 AM

        Love salty things!

      • Anonymous August 17, 2022 at 7:20 PM

        I don’t think I’ve ever had a combination of eggs, bacon, feta, and olives, but it sounds (and looks) terrific!

  4. angiesrecipes August 16, 2022 at 8:06 AM - Reply

    Bacon, olives, Feta and eggs…all my favourites!

    • Chef Mimi August 16, 2022 at 8:13 AM - Reply

      I know! It’s amazing!

  5. Gerlinde de Broekert August 16, 2022 at 8:31 AM - Reply

    I know I would love this dish but I also know that my husband wouldn’t eat it because of the chard . Eating it on a piece of good bread would be heavenly. Gerlinde

    • Chef Mimi August 16, 2022 at 9:05 AM - Reply

      Does he eat spinach? I personally don’t love kale or chard, but this recipe was really good. It was heavenly on the bread.

  6. Cynthia Woodman August 16, 2022 at 10:00 AM - Reply

    We’re huge egg eaters over here so always looking for ways to change it up! This sounds yummy!

    • Chef Mimi August 16, 2022 at 10:43 AM - Reply

      This was a unique dish to me, and so good!

  7. terrie gura August 16, 2022 at 10:17 AM - Reply

    Another awesome egg dish, Mimi! This one sounds hearty enough to be served as breakfast for dinner, which is one of my favorite things.

    • Chef Mimi August 16, 2022 at 10:43 AM - Reply

      It was so good. Wonderful ingredients!

  8. David Scott Allen August 16, 2022 at 11:26 AM - Reply

    Well I love me some desserts, I do prefer savory breakfast over pancakes and waffles in the lake. The combination of flavors here is incredible! I think we have just enough chard in the garden to make this happen… (and I might have to use pancetta instead of bacon.) Beautiful, Mimi!

    • David Scott Allen August 16, 2022 at 11:27 AM - Reply

      Oh, autocorrect! “While I love me some desserts…” Grrrr.

    • Chef Mimi August 16, 2022 at 12:40 PM - Reply

      Me as well. I’ll vote savory all the time. This recipe is really fabulous!

  9. Sherry M August 16, 2022 at 8:15 PM - Reply

    this really does sound so tasty and delish mimi. i love savoury for breakfast so this would suit me to a T. We call chard silverbeet here is Oz. I haven’t made anything with it for ages. Must try this …

  10. Tandy I Lavender and Lime August 16, 2022 at 10:55 PM - Reply

    Funny enough, I read the ingredients and thought the cream was too much with the feta. And then read your statement about the feta being unnecessary. I might tinker with this recipe as like you, I like the savoury aspect of it.

  11. Mary August 17, 2022 at 3:28 AM - Reply

    I think this dish would be lovely for any meal and if you were lucky enough to have any leftover just dumped on a piece of toast as a snack (don’t think there would be any leftover!!) Will be having this soon as possible. And, because I like Feta it will go in too.
    Thanks Mimi. :))

  12. BERNADETTE August 17, 2022 at 5:04 AM - Reply

    This would make a wonderful light summer dinner. Thanks Mimi.

  13. 2pots2cook August 17, 2022 at 7:29 AM - Reply

    This is delicious! It could be easily served and light summer lunch!

    • Chef Mimi August 17, 2022 at 8:25 AM - Reply

      Definitely! A really nice meal all around.

    • Anonymous August 17, 2022 at 7:22 PM - Reply

      I don’t think I’ve ever had a combination of eggs, bacon, feta, and olives, but it sounds (and looks) terrific!

      • Chef Mimi August 18, 2022 at 8:07 AM

        That’s exactly what got my attention!

  14. David @ Spiced August 17, 2022 at 7:55 AM - Reply

    This sounds fantastic, Mimi – those ingredients are the perfect combination for deliciousness! I have to admit that I’ve never thought about olives for breakfast, but it feels very European. I need to try that out!!

    • Chef Mimi August 17, 2022 at 8:24 AM - Reply

      I would never have thought that as well, but boy does it all work!

  15. John / Kitchen Riffs August 17, 2022 at 9:34 AM - Reply

    Really excellent combo of ingredients here — lovely blending of flavors. And such a pretty dish, too! This is really a winner — thanks.

    • Chef Mimi August 17, 2022 at 9:39 AM - Reply

      Thanks! I was super excited when I saw this recipe!

  16. Molly Pisula August 17, 2022 at 3:47 PM - Reply

    This looks so delicious! Definitely my kind of breakfast recipe (though really I’d eat this for any meal of the day!).

    • Chef Mimi August 18, 2022 at 8:09 AM - Reply

      I had it for lunch after I was done with the photos! I’m not very good at controlling the eggs baking in the oven, though. But they were still good even not runny.

  17. Anonymous August 17, 2022 at 7:21 PM - Reply

    I don’t think I’ve ever had a combination of eggs, bacon, feta, and olives, but it sounds (and looks) terrific!

  18. Anonymous August 18, 2022 at 3:02 PM - Reply

    I’m not a big fan of olives, but this dish still looks very tempting! I have a feeling it tastes even better.

    • Chef Mimi August 18, 2022 at 4:53 PM - Reply

      It is good, but honestly the feta supplies the wonderful tang. No olives necessary, although wonderful to me!

  19. Debra August 18, 2022 at 7:06 PM - Reply

    This is a beauty of morning goodness! I do prefer salty/savory to sweet most of the time, and I am a big fan of olives This is a gem, Mimi! :-)

    • Chef Mimi August 18, 2022 at 7:19 PM - Reply

      Thanks, Debra. When I saw this recipe I got so excited!

  20. Hannah Kaminsky August 19, 2022 at 10:26 AM - Reply

    Mmm, that would be positively dreamy to wake up to for breakfast! I love that punchy combination of salty olives and cheese, balanced out with protein and greens. Sounds totally perfect.

    • Chef Mimi August 19, 2022 at 11:39 AM - Reply

      If you wouldn’t happen to be a vegan…

  21. Anonymous August 19, 2022 at 12:22 PM - Reply

    “Put an egg on it” that’s my way of saying “you can’t lose”. This meal proves the point. GREG

    • Chef Mimi August 19, 2022 at 2:30 PM - Reply

      I hope you get to try this egg!

  22. Anonymous August 20, 2022 at 12:42 PM - Reply

    We would eat this delicious baked eggs with olives any time of the day! Maybe even for dinner with a little vino! Delicious

    • Chef Mimi August 20, 2022 at 4:33 PM - Reply

      I know exactly what you mean!

  23. Fran @ G'day Souffle August 20, 2022 at 4:43 PM - Reply

    I agree- I could also eat this for lunch or dinner. And eating as a Bruschetta- I’m sold!

    • Chef Mimi August 20, 2022 at 7:05 PM - Reply

      I know. It really was fabulous! I just wish the eggs hadn’t overcooked…

  24. Frank | Memorie di Angelina August 21, 2022 at 6:32 AM - Reply

    Lots of strong flavors going on here! Sounds delicious but personally I don’t think I’d have it for breakfast. If I have anything at all other than coffee it’s likely to be something light and sweet like bread and butter with maybe a little jam… I’ve tried from time to time turn over a new leaf and have a hearty breakfast, since it’s supposed to be good for you, but I just can’t.

    Having said that, I could easily see this as a light lunch or dinner. I have a *huge* jar of Castelvetrano olives in the fridge I’ve been slowly making my way through this summer. Now I’ve found another way to put it to good use!

    • Chef Mimi August 21, 2022 at 9:15 AM - Reply

      I completely understand! I can definitely see this as a brunch or lunch dish. There’s a lot going on!

  25. Anonymous August 21, 2022 at 11:07 AM - Reply

    This dish sounds wonderful—I love all the ingredients in it! It look so appetizing! :)

    • Chef Mimi August 21, 2022 at 4:05 PM - Reply

      Thanks. It was wonderful!

  26. Anonymous August 21, 2022 at 11:08 AM - Reply

    I left the comment above–not sure why it’s showing as anonymous!

  27. Anonymous August 21, 2022 at 12:49 PM - Reply

    This sounds fabulous, and yes I think you absolutely need the toast.

  28. Anonymous August 23, 2022 at 5:12 PM - Reply

    Was never a fan of olives but with this recipe I think you made me just want it

    • Chef Mimi August 23, 2022 at 5:17 PM - Reply

      Hahahahaha! Sorry?! Actually, the feta adds a lot of tang, so you could omit the olives.

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