French Omelette

French omelettes have a reputation for being difficult to make, but with a little practice and just the right amount of confidence, we know you can nail it!

By
Sally Vargas
Sally Vargas
Sally Vargas

Sally is the author of four cookbooks and is a regular correspondent for the Boston Globe Wednesday Food Section. She also is a food photographer.

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Published June 03, 2022
Sally Vargas
French Omelette Cut in Half and Bread on Plate with Jam and Butter in Background

Sally Vargas / Simply Recipes

A classic French omelette is elegant and chic, a beauty to behold. The smooth, pale yellow exterior envelops soft curds of creamy, delicate eggs. It’s almond-shaped and has no filling— just eggs, glorified in their gentle essence.

To me, this omelette is the quickest route to comfort when I just don’t have the bandwidth to come up with a plan for supper. In fact, luckily for me, my husband mastered the art of the French omelette years ago when we both worked at a restaurant in upstate New York. 

On our days off, we used to go to a roadside gas station(!) run by a Swiss couple, Pierre and Yvette. It had three small tables and a counter managed by Yvette, with Pierre behind the stove. We sat at the counter, and my husband, a line cook, studied Pierre making omelettes. Now it’s my go-to request when hunger rages and there’s practically nothing in the fridge to fall back on. Hunks of toasted French bread with the eggs wouldn’t hurt here.  

French Omelette with Greens on Plate Next to Fork and Glass

Sally Vargas / Simply Recipes

Tips for Making a French Omelette

A little practice and attention to detail will get you the best French omelette. You are aiming for a beautiful oval shape with a pale yellow exterior and small, creamy curds inside. Here are some pointers to master the technique:

  • Is this your first or second time making a French omelette? Read through the directions first and refer to the photos for guidance.
  • If the eggs are cooking too quickly and clumping, pull the pan off the heat. Continue stirring and shaking the pan; the eggs will continue to cook from the residual heat.
  • Once the eggs have formed tiny clumps but before they are completely set, take the pan off the heat. You want soft and slightly runny eggs, not well-done eggs.
  • If the eggs are sticking to the pan: 1) The heat is too high. 2) You used an old, scratched pan that has lost its nonstick surface. 3) There wasn’t enough butter in the pan and it wasn’t properly swirled around the edges.
  • If at first you don’t succeed, try again! A few eggs won’t break the bank, and whatever you end up with will still be good to eat.

It’s Okay to Fill the Omelette

A classic French omelette has no filling. Sometimes finely chopped herbs like tarragon, parsley, chervil, or chives are stirred into the eggs—it’s called a fines herbes omelette. You could add a small amount of filling. Stick to just two fillings like ham and cheese, cooked mushrooms and goat cheese, or cooked baby spinach and gruyere. 

French Omelette with Greens on Plate Next to Glass and Fork

Sally Vargas / Simply Recipes

Simple But Egg-cellent Recipes

French Omelette

Prep Time 3 mins
Cook Time 5 mins
Total Time 8 mins
Serving 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 3 large eggs

  • Pinch salt

  • Pinch white pepper

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • Finely chopped chives or parsley, for garnish

Method

  1. Beat the eggs:

    In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until no traces of white remain. Whisk in the salt and white pepper.

    French Omelette Eggs

    Sally Vargas / Simply Recipes
  2. Melt the butter:

    In an 8-inch nonstick skillet with rounded sides set over medium heat, melt the butter, being careful not to let it brown. Swirl it around in the pan so it coats the bottom and sides.

  3. Cook the eggs:

    Pour the eggs into the pan. With the bowl of a fork, tines facing up, rapidly stir the eggs. If you’re concerned about scraping the nonstick surface of your pan, use a plastic fork. Move the fork all around the pan to break up the eggs as they cook. At the same time, hold the handle of the pan with the other hand and vigorously shake the pan back and forth.

    If the eggs cook too fast, forming large clumps, take the pan off the heat and keep stirring. The eggs will continue to cook a little from the residual heat. Cook until the eggs are loose and creamy with small curds. This will only take 2 to 3 minutes.

    Lightly Scramble French Omelette Eggs in Pan with a Fork

    Sally Vargas / Simply Recipes
  4. Roll the omelette:

    If you haven’t already done so, remove the pan from the heat. Run the fork around the edges to release the eggs. Tilt the pan to a 45-degree angle so that the eggs move to one side of the pan. 

    Keep the pan tilted and fold the eggs toward the edge until you have a half moon shape, running the fork under and around the eggs as needed to loosen them from the pan.

    With the pan still tilted, sharply tap the handle 2 or 3 times with your free hand to push the eggs over the edge by about 2 inches. If this makes no sense, that’s okay—use a spatula to gently coax the eggs about 2 inches over the edge of the pan. Use your fork to fold the overhanging eggs up and towards the center of the omelette. It should now be almond-shaped.

    Fold French Omelette in Pan with a Fork

    Sally Vargas / Simply Recipes
    Fold French Omelette in Pan

    Sally Vargas / Simply Recipes
    Fold French Omelette in Pan

    Sally Vargas / Simply Recipes
  5. Transfer the omelette onto a plate:

    Hold onto the handle as close to the pan as possible. Bang the still tilted pan on the counter to move the omelette right up to the edge of the pan. Tilt a plate right next to the omelette and tip it onto the plate so the seam is on the bottom.

  6. Serve the omelette

    Sprinkle with chives or parsley, if you’d like, and serve.

    The omelette is best eaten just after you make it. The texture will change, but you could wrap leftovers in plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. To reheat, cover it with a dampened paper towel and microwave in 30-second intervals, until heated through. The key is to reheat it gently, so the eggs don’t overcook.

    Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

    French Omelette and Bread on Plate Next to Jar of Jam and Bowl of Butter

    Sally Vargas / Simply Recipes
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
318 Calories
26g Fat
1g Carbs
19g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 318
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 26g 33%
Saturated Fat 12g 59%
Cholesterol 589mg 196%
Sodium 347mg 15%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 2mg 9%
Calcium 91mg 7%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 219mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.