Eggs and kale sounds boring I know! But this is my luxury (non-diet!) version, with creamy cheesy kale and soft golden egg yolks.
An easy one pot breakfast or lunch - ready in under 10 minutes.
My absolute favourite grown-up version of dippy eggs and soldiers.

A toast soldier being dipped into the runny egg yolk in a pan of kale and fried egg.

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📋 What do we need?
🔪 How to make this creamy breakfast eggs recipe for one
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Creamy Eggs and Kale Breakfast Recipe
💬 Reviews

Cheesy, creamy kale, topped with a perfectly runny egg and pinch of seasoning. Sound good? That sentence pretty much covered the whole ingredient list. It's so easy that I often make this for lunch, and most of the time I don't even bother with the toast - instead I rely on the kale stalks for a bit of crunch.

Fried egg in a pan with kale and cheese. Pan is on a wooden board with toast soldiers at the top of the shot.

I love munching on the stalks. You'd think I was some stick-thin health freak if you looked at my kale consumption alone. I do enjoy some healthier recipes but, assure you I'm not. I'm a chocoholic, cakeaholic, pastry-a-holic too, I just really really like kale. In fact I wonder what chocolate covered kale would taste like........

📋 What do we need?

Ingredients to make creamy eggs and kale on a wooden board.

🔪 How to make this creamy breakfast eggs recipe for one

**Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post**.

Heat cream in a small frying pan, then add in fresh kale and a little grated cheddar. Cover with a lid and allow the kale to wilt slightly.
Make a well in the center of the kale and crack an egg into the well.
Sprinkle with a little more cheddar and a pinch of salt and pepper, then place the lid back on and cook over a low heat for 5-7 minutes, until the yolk is cooked to your liking.
Serve as it is, or with toast soldiers for dipping.

Close up of a toast soldier being dipped into a runny egg in a pan of egg and cheesy kale

Although very simple, this is actually my eggs and kale version 5. My first time making this (several years ago), I tried to go down the 'en cocotte' route; baking the eggs in the oven. I found the kale went crispy whether I sat the dish in a water bath (v1) or not (v2).

Version 3 simply involved adding more cream to help cover the kale. Didn't really work though, it was a bit too much cream for breakfast, and the kale still went crispy.

Version 4 involved covering the pot in the oven. This stopped the kale from going crispy, but also meant the egg took ages to cook - which left me with mushy, overcooked kale.

Then, after calling myself a few names for not being able to cook a stupid egg, I realised that using a pan would be a much easier way to control the heat. Voila - version 5 of creamy eggs and kale was created, and I haven't looked back since.

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A toast soldier being dipped into a runny egg yolk in a pan of egg and cheesy kale

Creamy Eggs and Kale Breakfast Recipe

By: Nicky Corbishley

Creamy Eggs and Kale Breakfast - An easy one-pot breakfast or lunch - ready in under 10 minutes.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 1

Cook Time 8

Total Time 9

Course Breakfast

Cuisine British

Servings 1 serving

Calories 388 kcal

Ingredients

To serve:

▢ toast 'soldiers' for dipping - optional

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the cream in a small frying pan over a medium heat until hot, but not boiling.
4 tbsp heavy/double cream
Stir in the kale and sprinkle on all but a pinch of the grated cheese.
35 g (⅓ cup) kale, 25 g (¼ cup) grated cheddar cheese
Place a lid or some foil on the pan and allow the kale to wilt on a low heat for 1 minute.
Take off the lid, and make a well in the centre of the kale (make sure the well is big enough for the egg white to spread out, so it cooks quicker than the yolk).
1 large egg
Crack the egg into the well and sprinkle with the reserved cheese and a pinch of salt & pepper.
pinch salt and pepper
Cover the pan again and cook on a low heat for 5-7 minutes until the white of the egg is cooked, and the yolk is cooked to your liking.
Serve from the pan either on its own, or with toast for dipping.
toast 'soldiers' for dipping

Video

✎ Notes

Getting the perfect runny yolk

Be sure to make the well in the kale big enough so that the egg white can spread out. If it's all compact in a little tiny well, the white will take longer to cook - which means a hard yolk.
Also, keep checking. Take the lid off and give the pan a little wobble to check the white isn't slimy and the yolk is still soft.
Once the yolk is perfect, serve right away.

Can I make it ahead?

Sorry no. This recipe is best made and served right away.

Can I use single (half-fat) cream or creme fraiche instead?

Don't use single (half-fat) cream - it will split when cooking in this way.
You can swap for full-fat creme fraiche if you like - but the dish will be a little tangier.

Can I add an extra egg?

Yes - go ahead. Make two separate wells in the kale and cook for the same amount of cooking time as for one egg.

Making it for two people

Make the recipe for two by doubling the ingredients and using a larger frying pan. Of course this means you can't eat out of the pan - unless you're close 😉

Nutritional Information is per serving, without the toast.

Nutrition

Serving: 164gCalories: 388kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 14gFat: 34.9gSaturated Fat: 20.4gCholesterol: 272mgSodium: 255mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 0.5gVitamin A: 6750IUVitamin C: 58.6mgCalcium: 290mgIron: 1.6mg

Keywords Breakfast Recipe Ideas, Egg Recipes, Kale Recipe Ideas

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This recipe was first published in November 2014, updated in Feb 2021 with new information, updated photos and a video.

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

Hi I’m Nicky

I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.