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Golden brown with light, airy centers, these Popovers With Cheese are a savory bread made with grated white cheddar and green onions for a crisp texture and rich cheese flavor.
Cheese popevers are a savory variation of classic popovers made with eggs, whole milk, flour, and salt. Similar to Yorkshire pudding, they are made from an egg batter that rises above the pan as it bakes.
A traditional popover pan has deep cups with straight-walled sides, unlike the angled cups of a muffin tin.
The name popover comes from the way the batter rises or “pops” over the top of the pan during baking. Popovers get their rise from eggs and steam rather than yeast, baking soda, or baking powder, which gives them their signature tall shape and hollow center.
This version adds grated white cheddar for rich cheese flavor and green onions or chives for a mild onion flavor. They can be served on their own or alongside soups, salads, meats, and other main dishes.
Why You Should Make This Recipe
No yeast required. Popovers rise during baking without yeast or a lengthy proofing time.
Good for entertaining. Bake a batch for brunch, holiday meals, or dinners when you want an individual bread option for each guest.
Freezer-friendly. Leftover popovers can be frozen and reheated when you want to serve them later.
Ingredients for Popovers
- Eggs: Use whole eggs at room temperature to help the popovers rise and develop their light, airy centers.
- Whole Milk: Use whole milk for its higher fat content, which adds richness to the batter.
- All-Purpose Flour: Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off for an accurate measurement.
- White Cheddar Cheese: Freshly grate the white cheddar for the best texture and flavor.
- Green Onions or Chives: Use chopped green onions or chives for a mild onion flavor that pairs well with the cheddar.
- Melted Butter: Adds richness to the popovers.
*See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Popovers With Cheese
Step 1: Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Step 2: Whisk the eggs and milk. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth. Add the milk and salt, and whisk for another couple of minutes.
Step 3: Prepare the batter. Gradually add the flour to the egg mixture and mix until the batter is smooth and free of lumps. Add the melted butter and stir until combined.
Step 4: Add the cheese and green onions. Gently fold the cheddar cheese and green onions into the batter. Let the batter rest for at least 10 minutes.
Step 5: Preheat the popover pan. Place the nonstick popover pan on a baking tray and set it on the lower rack of the oven while it preheats.
Step 6: Fill the popover pan. Once the oven is preheated, carefully remove the popover pan and coat it with cooking spray. Divide the batter evenly among the popover cups, filling each almost to the top.
Step 7: Bake the popovers. Return the baking tray to the oven and bake the popovers for 20 minutes at 450°F. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and bake for another 12-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
Step 8: Release the steam. Remove the baking tray from the oven and place the popover pan on a wire rack. Gently pierce the top of each popover with a butter knife to release the steam. Let the popovers cool for at least 5 minutes.
Step 9: Slice and serve. Slice the popovers and serve with butter.
Tips for Best Results
- Measure the flour with a light hand. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off to avoid excess flour, which can make the popovers dense.
- Keep the batter at room temperature. Leave the batter on the counter while it rests. Chilling it can affect how well the popovers rise.
- Check your oven temperature. Use an oven thermometer if your oven tends to run hot or cold, since a hot oven helps the popovers rise properly.
How To Serve Popovers
- Appetizers: Serve the popovers warm with butter as a simple appetizer before the main course.
- Soups and Stews: Pair them with a soup or stew for dipping or serving alongside the broth. Try Homemade Oven Beef Stew, Italian Pastina Soup, or Homemade Vegetable Soup.
- Chicken and Meat Dishes: Serve them alongside Baked Tuscan Chicken, Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken, or Easy Baked Chicken Skewers for a hearty meal.
- Seafood: Pair the savory cheddar popovers with fish dishes such as Grilled Teriyaki Salmon, Baked Cod with Panko Breadcrumbs, or Mediterranean Cod.
- Salads: Serve the popovers with a fresh salad for a lighter pairing. Try House Salad, Butternut Squash and Feta Salad, or Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A standard muffin tin works, but the popovers may be shorter since muffin cups are shallower than traditional popover cups.
If your popovers are not rising, use room-temperature eggs and milk, fully preheat the oven, rest the batter for at least 10 minutes, and avoid opening the oven door during baking.
Try finely chopped cooked bacon or ham, or fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or parsley. Keep the additions small to maintain the light texture of the popovers.
Storing and Reheating
Store leftover cheesy popovers well wrapped at room temperature for up to 2 days.
For longer storage, freeze the cooled popovers tightly wrapped for up to 3 weeks. Thaw before reheating.
To reheat, place the popovers in a preheated 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, until warmed through.
More Homemade Bread Recipes
- Sweet Hawaiian Bread Rolls
- Keto Naan Bread
- Homemade Roasted Garlic Bread
- No Knead Artisan Bread
- Easy Challah Bread
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out. Leave a comment and rate the recipe! Also follow me at Cookin’ With Mima on Facebook |Instagram |Pinterest for all of my latest social posts and recipes.
Popovers With Cheese
Ingredients
- 4 whole eggs, at room temperature
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup white cheddar cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons green onions or chives, chopped
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth. Add the milk and salt, and whisk for another couple of minutes.
- Gradually add the flour to the egg mixture and mix until the batter is smooth and free of lumps. Add the melted butter and stir until combined.
- Gently fold the cheddar cheese and green onions into the batter. Let the batter rest for at least 10 minutes.
- Place the nonstick popover pan on a baking tray and set it on the lower rack of the oven while it preheats.
- Once the oven is preheated, carefully remove the popover pan and coat it with cooking spray. Divide the batter evenly among the popover cups, filling each almost to the top.
- Return the baking tray to the oven and bake the popovers for 20 minutes at 450°F. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F and bake for another 12-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown.
- Remove the baking tray from the oven and place the popover pan on a wire rack. Gently pierce the top of each popover with a butter knife to release the steam. Let the popovers cool for at least 5 minutes.
- Slice the popovers and serve with butter.
Notes and Recipe Tips
- Make sure the eggs and milk are at room temperature for better structure and even baking.
- Preheat the popover pan in the oven before adding the batter to help the popovers rise properly.
- Let the batter rest for 10-30 minutes before baking to allow the flour to fully hydrate and develop a lighter texture.
