Dutch Baby Recipe With Tomatoes and Spinach

This Savory Dutch Baby Recipe makes a great light breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack.  Similar to a frittata or quiche but lighter and more elegant.  You’ll see I refer to Dutch Baby and German Pancake.  The recipes are so similar that I use them interchangeably.

UPDATED: May 2020 Spinach and tomatoes add healthy nutrition and a bright flavor to this Dutch baby recipe.  Like the sweet German pancakes that most of us think of when we hear Dutch Baby, but with savory filling instead of sweet.

How To Make Our Savory Dutch Baby Recipe

I’ve updated the steps here, in May 2020, to simplify the process by eliminating the garlic and not sauteing the spinach. Rather placing the raw spinach on the Dutch baby when you put on the tomatoes.

It’s important to use a hot pan so that the pancake will puff up making a stunning presentation.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place bacon in a single layer in a medium size, about 10″, cast iron or heavy bottom oven proof skillet in the oven to heat the pan and cook the bacon. It will take about 15 minutes.

You can also cook the bacon on a tray in the oven if that seems easier. Take a look at our post on How To Cook Bacon In The Oven.

While bacon cooks prepare batter and cut vegetables.

Remove cooked bacon to paper towel lined plate.  Once cooled, crumble the bacon. You want to keep the pan hot so either have the other ingredients ready when bring the bacon out of the oven, or pop the empty pan back in the oven.

Cut the tomatoes in half, chop the spinach, slice the green onions and make the Dutch baby pancake batter. 

You can mix the batter in a bowl with a fork or you can use a blender.  The blender will ensure a lump free batter and is the preferred method.

To make Dutch baby pancake batter, add flour, salt and room temperature milk and eggs to a blender. See manufacturers directions as to whether you add liquids first or last.

Remove skillet from oven and set the bacon aside to cool on a paper lined plate. Mop up hot grease with a folded paper towel using tongs. Hold the wet paper towel over a paper plate to transfer to the garbage.

Keep 1 Tablespoon bacon grease and add 4 Tablespoons butter to pan.

If necessary, place pan with butter back in the oven for a minute pr two to melt the butter. If you are cooking at a good clip and the pan is staying really hot this won’t be necessary. But hey, we all get distracted at times.

Bring pan back to the stovetop, swirl butter to distribute.  Pour batter into hot pan and bake for 20 minutes.

Once puffed and golden, remove from oven. It will start to deflate when you remove the Dutch baby, that’s just nature! Or maybe I should say science.

Try to keep your anticipation at bay for the first 15 minutes and don’t open the oven door or you’ll permanently deflate the pancake.

Add shredded cheese, spinach and tomatoes cook 5 more minutes to melt cheese.  Remove from oven and top with crumbled cooked bacon and green onions for color.

Substitutions For Our Savory Dutch Baby Recipe

Bacon – you can substitute Canadian bacon or deli ham.  If using these, then no need to cook the meat. Add at the same time as the cheddar cheese.

Fresh spinach – You can use a package of frozen spinach.  Defrost and squeeze dry.  You can also try fresh kale.

Garlic – optional ingredient.

Milk – Feel free to use alternative milk like coconut or almond.  They will impart a slightly different  taste that is complementary to the other ingredients

Cheddar cheese – You can skip the cheese all together if you like.  Or replace with another mild cheese like Swiss, Gouda or Gruyere.  Even a fresh mozzarella would be delicious.

Grape tomatoes – sliced Roma tomatoes.

Mini Savory Dutch Baby Recipe For On The Go Snack, Lunch or Dinner

Instead of using a 10” skillet, try using a regular size muffin tin to make an easy on the go snack.  They pack well in a lunch box, back pack or briefcase.  The Dutch Baby tastes great at room temperature so no need to heat.

The instructions are slightly different for the large family size Dutch Baby recipe and the muffin size ones.  See recipe instructions.

Other Fillings For Savory Dutch Baby or German Pancake

A Dutch Baby recipe or German pancake’s taste is neutral so almost any combination of fillings will work.

Try sautéed vegetables, melted cheese, roast beef or pork, sausages or think light pizza toppings.

How To Freeze Savory Dutch Baby or German Pancakes

You can freeze the German pancakes as empty “bowls” and fill later.  Or fill them and reheat for an even easier grab and go treat.  Label a freezer baggie, fill with the Dutch babies, squeeze out air.

To reheat:

Skillet – Preferred Method Place frozen savory pancakes in skillet over medium heat, cover and cook for about 5 minutes or until heated through.

Oven – place frozen savory Dutch baby on baking tray and heat in a 325 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes of until heated through.  Second best method.

Microwave – Wrap frozen pancakes in damp paper towel and microwave for 30 second increments until heated through.  Eat immediately or the bread part will get hard.

Personally I like the skillet and oven method, but my kids like the convenience of the microwave.  Your choice!