Green eggs and ham, just like in the Dr. Seuss book! Instead of dying the eggs with food coloring, we’re using spinach to get that bright green color. It tastes delicious and is so fun for the kids! It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day too! Originally published March 11, 2014.

green eggs made with spinach and black forest ham on a white plate with a fork.
Table of Contents
  1. Ring in St. Patrick’s Day with this green eggs and ham recipe
  2. Green eggs and ham ingredients 
  3. How to make green eggs and ham
  4. How to serve real green eggs and ham
  5. Green eggs recipe tips
  6. Green eggs and ham FAQs
  7. Ham and Green Eggs Recipe (Dye-Free) Recipe

Eric and I were in a rush to get out the door the other day. I handed him a pair of white socks to put on Charlotte. He said, “These don’t match.”

Me: “They’re both white, that means they match.”

Eric: “This is why you will never be a real girl.”

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spinach and eggs in a blender for making green scrambled eggs; green eggs on a plate with ham and strawberries.

I laughed so hard I almost fell over. The truth doesn’t hurt, in this case, it’s just a fact. Sometimes I feel like the girl version of Pinocchio. (“I’m a real boy!”) Minus the donkey ears, plus a complete lack of fashion sense.

I ask you: if a tree falls and no one is around, does it make a sound? If a 3-year-old has unmatched white socks, does anyone care? My mother-in-law’s not even in town for heaven’s sake. (Hi Kris!) At least when she’s around I make sure Charlotte doesn’t wear her usual pink-and-purple-sock combo. Supa classy. (Yes, I am THAT mom at Walmart.)

green scrambled eggs with black forest ham and strawberries on a white plate.

Ring in St. Patrick’s Day with this green eggs and ham recipe

I am SO ridiculously excited to dye our milk green on St. Patrick´s Day. My mom, I mean the leprechauns, came to our house every year growing up and magicked our milk green, and sometimes even our saucy pork chops (remember when they sold green ketchup? It was bad guys.)

So what are the St. Patrick’s Day traditions at your house? I am officially starting a Green Eggs and Ham tradition this year. My little Charlotte LOVES that book, she could be in a box with a fox with you alllll day long.

These are festive and healthy to boot. All it is is eggs and spinach. That´s it! No fake dye or anything like that.

2 cups of spinach. Yes, really, put it all in. I promise you won’t regret it. I could taste a little spinach flavor on my first bite but after that, it just tasted like eggs. Even if you can taste the spinach though, I don’t see how that could be a bad thing, spinach and egg quiche is delicious! There’s a reason why people are always adding spinach to smoothies, it tends to take on the flavors of whatever is around it. Popeye was onto something.

Green eggs and ham ingredients 

Here’s a quick shopping list to help you gather your ingredients. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients and instructions!

  • eggs
  • baby spinach (or regular spinach, or even kale)
  • butter
  • Black Forest ham

How to make green eggs and ham

I love this recipe because it is quick, healthy, and doesn´t contain any artificial dye. Even my kids love it and that´s how you know it´s a win. 

a measuring cup of spinach and two eggs.

Here’s the quick and easy lowdown on making this recipe (full details are waiting for you in the recipe card below!).

Toss the eggs and spinach into a blender. Give it a whirl, scrape down the sides, sprinkle in some salt and pepper, then pulse until that spinach is fully blended.

a blender full of eggs and spinach blended together.

Melt a little butter in a small saucepan and pour in your green egg mixture. Let it sit for about a minute until it starts to set, then grab a spatula and gently stir it around.

cooking spinach and eggs, blended together, in a frying pan.

When the eggs are just set, take them off the heat. (Pro tip: while your eggs are cooking, you can heat up the ham in a separate pan—or in the same one afterward. Up to you!)

Simple, right?

How to serve real green eggs and ham

I always serve green eggs and ham on St. Patrick’s Day, but you could also serve it on March 2nd, which is National Read Across America Day, which is annually celebrated on the birthday of the real-life Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel).

It’s breakfast by itself but you can add toast and jam, fresh fruit, or muffins. Of course, I´m a big fan of breakfast for dinner too. Serve this along with some Oven Roasted Red Potatoes for a healthy but filling dinner. 

Green eggs recipe tips

Let your eggs set up like this in the pan before you scramble. Don’t let your butter brown before adding the eggs (like I did) because then it makes your eggs not quite as green.

a forkful of green eggs against a background of green eggs, ham, and strawberries on a white plate.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Green eggs and ham FAQs

How do you make green eggs?

I like making green eggs with spinach. Sure the healthy factor is great and all, but it’s really just a fast, easy, cheap, and surprisingly non-spinach-tasting way to make your eggs green!

What makes green eggs and ham green?

In Dr. Seuss Land, I’m going to assume it’s like, green chicken and pigs or something. In real life, making green eggs and ham is as easy as adding some spinach to your eggs and blending them together. I’m not making green ham, that’s just too far. You could use green food coloring, but spinach is just as cheap and adds a punch of nutrients to the dish. 

What is so special about green eggs and ham?

Have you never read the Dr. Seuss book?? (If you haven’t I’m not here to scold you, just immediately go to your local library and check out a copy, NOW. This is not optional.)

Is green eggs and ham a real dish?

In Seuss-land, it´s a real dish and now it´s a real dish at my house as well.

My favorite spinach recipes

Because who doesn´t want to be more like Popeye?

Greek Spinach Feta Chicken Pockets >> basically foot-long Greek-flavored Hot Pockets. I don’t know how you could not be excited about this.

Extra Cheesy Spinach Artichoke Dip (Hot or Cold!) >> the best spinach artichoke dip of your life

Strawberry Spinach Salad >> a Strawberry Spinach Salad recipe that doesn’t make me feel like a dinosaur chomping on tree leaves

Creamy Tuscan Salmon (30 Minute Dinner!) >> restaurant quality, but super easy to make

Green Orange Julius Smoothie >> a healthy Orange Julius smoothie, packed with frothy and creamy orange flavor and a fistful of spinach

Boursin Spinach & Sun-dried Tomato Orzo Bake from Sammy Montgoms

Spinach Soup from Cooking Nook

Chickpea Spinach Curry from The Firey Vegetarian

Other fun St. Patrick’s Day recipes!

Shamrock Shake >> don’t go to McDonald’s, make these smooth & creamy milkshakes at home!

Sour Patch Grapes (Leprechaun Candy) >> these are goooooood

Irish Soda Bread with Browned Butter >> with or without the currants, this stuff is heaven

Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe >> tender, juicy, made in the crockpot = winning

Slow-Cooker Cottage Pie from The Cooking Chicks

Reuben Soup from Razzle Dazzle Recipes

Irish White Bean and Cabbage Stew from Forks Over Knives

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Ham and Green Eggs Recipe (Dye-Free)

5 from 2 votes
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 Serving
Green eggs and ham, just like in the Dr. Seuss book! Instead of dying the eggs with food coloring, we’re using spinach to get that bright green color. It tastes delicious and is so fun for the kids! It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day too!

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups baby spinach, lightly packed
  • salt and pepper, plenty
  • butter , for frying
  • 4 slices Black forest ham

Instructions

  • Add the eggs and spinach to a blender.
  • Blend on high for about a minute, then scrape down the sides and add a bunch of salt and pepper. Pulse for another minute or so, until the spinach is fully blended.
  • Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. When the butter is hot, pour in the egg mixture.
  • Let it sit for a minute or so until it starts to set, then use a spatula to gently stir it.
  • Remove from heat when the eggs have just barely set.
  • In the same pan (or in a separate one while you cook the eggs) heat the ham until it browns slightly.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

I used baby spinach for this recipe, but regular spinach will work just fine too. You can also use kale.
Source: adapted from Elana’s Pantry

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 388mg | Potassium: 776mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6101IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 109mg | Iron: 5mg
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 259
Keyword: deviled eggs, Green Eggs, Ham, Spinach
Did you make this? I’d love to see it!Mention @thefoodcharlatan or tag #thefoodcharlatan!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These are truly the best crepes I’ve ever had! Next time, I might try making a sourdough version. Thanks!

    1. Hey there! Guessing you meant to comment on the crepes, rather than the green eggs and ham. No reason you couldn’t put green eggs and ham in a crepe though! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and review. It means a lot :-)

  2. Yessss, green ketchup. I remember that. This looks about 50x better than using green ketchup, though! Such a smart idea. Trying it out for the kids I nanny ASAP! :)

    1. Right Erin?? Haha. My mom was VERY festive when it came to greenery on St. Patrick’s Day. Let me know how the kiddos like it!

  3. Ohmahgawd “this is why you will never be a real girl” <– I killed myself laughing. Ain't NOBODY got time for caring about a 3 year old's matching/non-matching socks and if they do, they need to find a hobby. As for these green eggs, it was a genius move putting the spinach in for the colour. I need to make something green to celebrate St. Patty's day too. Maybe I'll just eat a box of mint oreos, chase it down with Baileys and call it a day.

    1. I’m liking the mint Oreos idea Nancy, I think that should be another new tradition I instate!!

  4. What a great idea! We don’t get too much into St Patricks Day, but I think we really should! And these green eggs should be on the menu for sure.

    xo

    1. My daughter is finally old enough to appreciate holidays so this will be my first year doing anything fun, we’ll see how it goes. Thanks for stopping by Christina!

  5. Haha!! Don’t worry, I don’t think I’ll ever be a real girl either…I never match my socks unless I happen to grab a matching pair. These actually look really delicious to me–so true about spinach + egg quiches! Why not just puree the spinach into the eggs? Genius! (And all the more so if your kids like em!)

  6. I would eat these on a train…I would eat these in the rain…
    Dr. Seuss ain’t got nothin’ on you, girl.

  7. Whine, whine, whine….you forgot to mention the awesome green mashed potatoes, green biscuits, and slightly green gravy :)

  8. I don’t have any St.Paddy’s day traditions, but I think I could start one with these. Love everything about this green breakfast!

    1. Thanks Nicole! I think I’m going to make these alongside the biscuits and gravy you just posted, I was just drooling over that a few minutes ago :)

  9. The leprechaun comes to our house each year and leaves a save get hunt for our nieces. Pretty tricky! Love the eggs. The spinach isrobably just oozing with goodness too.

  10. This is SUCH a cute idea! Great way to sneak extra veggies into your kids food. And I am SO not a “girly” girl either. I can live my life in jeans and t-shirts, and it’s a pretty big deal if I’m wearing heals. And I bet Charlotte looks adorable in mismatched socks : )

    1. I’m with you Natalie, it’s a pretty big deal if I’m wearing heels, haha! Cheddar Cheese Curry dip, you say?? Mmm heading over!!

  11. I have to say you did an amazing job making the eggs green. I am always nervous eating green eggs though. Your pic is awesome.

    1. Thanks Peter! I swear, you don’t have to be nervous, they are really good! :) Thanks for stopping by.

  12. I’m with ya, if both socks are white, then that’s a match :) I love this natural egg-dying method. This looks like a great breakfast.

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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