Make these Egg and Breadcrumb Patties with your leftover breadcrumbs! It is so easy to make, it is my favourite way to use up your chicken breading.
If you know me at all, you will know that I hate waste.
Growing up, my parents insisted that I eat everything on my plate, even if I didn’t like it. Even if it was expired and mouldy. I would still eat it.
My dad would post newspaper articles on the fridge with information about how much food is wasted per year. My mom would buy food that was going to expire from the grocery store. Mostly because it was cheaper, but also I think because if we didn’t buy it, they would throw it away that night.
I have taken up all of these practices: eating everything on my plate, never throwing food away and buying half off food that will expire tomorrow. And I started a club at school dedicated on preventing food waste.
All to say that I do not like wasting food. Can you tell?
So whenever I do a breaded meat recipe, like breaded chicken or, most recently, my baked breaded pork chops, I feel awful about throwing out cups of extra breadcrumbs and egg wash.
The response I get from so many people when I tell them is “well it didn’t cost you that much, did you? What are you really wasting, a couple of cents?”
That’s not the point! I don’t care about the money. (okay, I kinda do because I am a teacher, and my fiance is still a student. A PhD student, not my student!) It’s the fact that I am wasting perfectly good breadcrumbs, cheese and eggs. It seems like such a waste to throw away perfectly good food, when there is still a possibility of eating it.
But I have found a solution! These cute little egg and breadcrumb patties can be made with your extra egg wash and breadcrumb mix. No more waste! Yay!
I am not sure if I am the only one who gets this crazy about throwing out their leftover egg wash and breadcrumbs, but I really hope not! Otherwise I just let out a whole load of crazy, and didn’t help anyone’s life with this recipe.
In case anyone was wondering, I am also a hoarder and keep basically everything because I also hate throwing anything out. Even my clothes from high school with all the holes in it. Good thing holes in clothes is trendy now. It’s like I bought it that way.
Anyways, back to this breadcrumb and egg wash saving recipe. I would suggest you pair these little patties with some kind of sauce. I am suuuper basic, so I am all about dipping them in ketchup, but get creative with it! Get your favourite hot sauce, or make your own dipping sauce. Make these leftovers new again. And adjust to your liking.
If you try this recipe, let me know! Rate it, leave a comment and tag me with #atasteofmadness on Instagram! I always love seeing what you are creating!
Egg and Breadcrumb Patties
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 3 large eggs
- 2 Tbsp oil
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together all of the ingredients except the oil.
- Heat the oil on a medium skillet. Scoop 1/4 cup mixture and cook on one side for around 2 minutes or until browned. Flip and cook the other side for around 2 minutes, or until brown. Repeat for the remaining batter.
Notes
Soooooo frugal ! I also avoid wasting food. This is such a good idea and perfect timing as well. Thank you so much and have a happy holidays !
Haha, I take pride in being frugal 😉
I just made this and used breton cracker herb n garlic(or is is vegetable?) Flavored cracker crumbs. AMAZING!
Yay! I am so glad!
I never thought this was being frugal. Lol My grandma and dad made this every Sunday as a snack (I thought) before dinner. Who knew. But Sicilians eat all day long on Sunday. It was a wonderful childhood:)
Yes! Froscias! They are so good dropped in the sauce after they’re cooked!
My grandma and mom made these. They would add either baking powder or baking soda to mixture so when they put them in pot of sauce they would expand or puff up. Was it soda or powder?
Yes. Sicilians called these frozias (Sp?). We sometimes put them in sauce or ate them plain or with vinegar.
What a creative recipe made with 4 ingredients. I have to try it.
It’s a way I like to cut back on waste!
How long can these last?
I would recommend in the fridge in an airtight container no longer than 5-6 days.
What a lovely way to use up extra food. You just can’t possibly use all the egg wash and breading when making a dish and there will always be extra. These patties look great!
Thanks! I try to avoid waste as best as I can.
My mom made something very similar 30+ years ago when I was little. Was looking for a recipe to try and re-create it and came across your article. Hope to try it in the next week or two. I will be adding chopped onions and green peppers as my mom did, though.
Sounds like your mom knew what she was doing! I’m going to have to try adding that in next time!
These look delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks!
Perfect combo of ingredients for a palatable dish, Cathleen! What kind of oil do you use?
Usually vegetable, but I have recently picked up ghee and am really loving it to cook with!
You found a way to reuse it? Italian families have been doing this for Generations! I’m sure other ethnicities have been doing it as well.
I had no idea! I wish someone told me about this earlier!
At least you enjoy it. I was raised on this stuff. There’s no end to what you can add to it with a little bit of forethought. I like the dice up green peppers and onion.
That is a great idea. I will try that next time!
I thought my family was the only ones who made these … we put them in sauce. And make a sandwich sometimes … love them …
Ooh, that sounds so good!
My Italian mother told me that this was often their meatless Friday night dinner during the depression. Economical.
Nice idea, the texture would be special!
It is quite a nice texture. Thanks Calvin!
Outstanding. I substituted the breadcrumbs for potato chips. Turned out real nice.
That sounds like such a great idea! I will definitely try that!
My grandmother and mother always made these with fried fish I loved them and I thought we were the only ones that made them
No way! I love that! I will try making it with fish next time 🙂
My father said that his mom made what they called red horse bread. That used the left over corn meal breading, ketchup or tomato juice and an egg. It turned out just like you said. Sometime they added onion to the breading
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Ooh, I am going to have to try that one!!
My mum used to make these when I was young , she didn’t like throwing it away either , especially when we were low on food. I now cook these as well , they are delicious and go really well with the crumbed pork or chicken as a part of the meal. My mum is no longer with us , but she’s in my heart forever and making these keeps her memory alive. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
This is a beautiful way to keep her memory alive! Thank you for sharing Kerry <3
My father, who’s family migrated from Bari, made these any time we fried anything; egg plant, chicken, veal cutlets, cube steak that had been tenderized (poor mans veal). Once your sauce is almost done, add the fried patties that you have fried in olive oil and add to your sauce. The egg patty will absorb the flavor of your sauce. If you are still in the process of thickening your sauce they may break apart depending on how hard the boil, so don’t add until the sauce is just about done. These egg patties are delicious – based on your sauce recipe. Enjoy
This is amazing!!
My mother would make these with the left overs from fried chicken or fish. Just did a search to see if this was a real recipe or just my family thing. What a surprise to find others have enjoyed this as well. Thanks for sharing!
No way! That’s the best!
I love doing this to reduce waste in my kitchen 🙂
My dad used to make breaded chicken cutlets and did the same thing with the left over egg and breadcrumbs, I make this sometimes as a lunch with onions, peppers, bacon and cheese. We love it. Not many people even know about this. Thanks for posting it.
I agree!! More people should try this out 🙂 Thanks Kathy!
Love it!
Thanks!!
I have 2 containers of Progresso Italian bread crumbs, was looking for ways to get rid of it bec they expired a month ago and like you will not throw it away. I have leftover sausage,asparagus,bacon,and onion omelet so I reconstructed – chopped the omelet added cheese, eggs and the bread crumbs made into a patty.
Great!
That’s genius!!
Amazing…
love that this recipe is doesn’t leave anything to waste!
We did a slight modification for the lack of eggs. We added 2 eggs and a 1/3 cup of water with some baking powder and apple cider vinegar. They came out so fluffy and delish. We will pair them with some cream cheese!!!!
That sounds so good!! I am going to have to try it like that next time. I am glad you liked it 🙂
I remember seeing my Nonna and mom both do this when I was younger and now I’ve been doing the same!! No waste & they taste great!!
Yes!! I’m all about no waste 😉
I break up the patties as they fry into dime size pieces. You take a scoop of mashed potatoes ,a generous amount of butter on the potatoes. You then cover the buttered mash potatoes with these crunchy little nuggets.
You have creamy ,buttery and crunchy all in the same fork full.
Sounds so good!!
My mom used to make these people hen we were little, she was on ADC (aid to dependent children) 5 girls, so we ate frugal all the time, I remember these eggs and breadcrumbs from my youth and I loved them I will be making them myself.
Yay! I am so glad! 🙂
my italian grandmother made these all through childhood and i became a cook and learned the way. in search of actual name or if she made the term. this is the most i found!
Haha, I am not sure if there is a name for it either, but I love making this so that I avoid food waste! I love hearing how people have great memories of having it in their childhood 🙂
Yes. My family as well. She called them “pilla pepes” Or we think she did. Older she got, less English she spoke.
I would love to find the actual name. Just curious.
Me too! It seems like a recipe that so many families made, and each one has a different name for it!!
Thank you for your creativity and posting this recipe. I was just going through my cabinets and pulling out expired food and I found an unopened container of flavored bread crumbs. I Googled “What to do with extra bread crumbs and found your recipe here. I dislike waste as well and like you, I don’t care so much about the money. I will use the crumbs to make these egg patties and I will try to make them with fish and mashed potatoes as well.
If anyone here has some time, please post a recipe how you make them with fish. Thanks!
So glad so many people are using this recipe so to not waste food!!
I would also be very curious about making this with fish!
We would use this mixture (stuffing for Sicilian Artichokes /Carcioffuli.) and make these Patties with the leftover bread, cheese, parsley & egg mixture. Then you lightly fry them & drop them into your simmering sauce. Sicilian’s have been making these forever.
That sounds amazing!
My Mother was doing this 60 years ago. Welcome to the party………….
Love bringing back some of the classics.
The basic ingredients of breadcrumbs, parmesean cheese and eggs are used to make Passatelli noodles, boil instead of fry.
I just made these as a snack. My friend’s Italian mom made them when we were in junior high when she made spaghetti and meatballs, frying them in the grease from the meatballs. I saw her make them back in the early 90’s and have made them from time to time over the years. I had a craving for these this afternoon when I saw the frying pan still on the stove top. I decided to Google as I was having my snack and stumbled here. So simple and tasty!
This makes me so happy to hear!!
Mum and Nonna used to make this and add it to eggplant parmigiana……omg the taste was amazing!!
Love hearing how this brings back so many memories for people 🙂
Growing up, my parents always made these with the left over crumbs and eggwash…. egg wash…. called them “Patty for Daddy” as it was my dad’s favorite part of making cutlets. I still do the same and my daughter loves them.
I absolutely love that name!! Thank you for sharing 🙂
My mother called these “frausia”.
Love how many people have so many different names for it 🙂
Yes……frausia! Or something that sounded like “Beeshalova!”!
Frosia
Would this recipe work without parmesan? Does the cheese help bind it or is it just for flavour
I have never tried it without parmesan, but I am sure you can use more breadcrumbs!
I made these tonight after making chicken parmesan. I threw the rest of the bread crumbs into the leftover egg and thought about cooking it up for the cats. Let it sit for an hour, then decided to cook it to see what would happen. Cool!
Very creative, I’ve got some stale bread ends made into crumbs. I wonder has anyone mixed this up sweet, like french toast flavors? It might work like bread pudding pancakes…
Delicious! I hate wasting ANY food so this is right up my alley. Always looking for/trying new ways to use up food. I made that commitment to never waste food 20+ years ago. It make you creative! Thanks for sharing!
That makes me so happy to hear! As someone who used to work at many food establishments, I know just how much food is wasted and I’m trying to do my part too 🙂
Brilliant, Thanks so much! My son loved these – It’s not your recipe exactly, I made with a crust from sliced white bread grated,with the same volume of grated red leicester cheese as that’s the cheese in the fridge. I made a handful of spaghetti while these were cooking, and when they were done, took them from the frying pan and made a quick tomato sauce with tomato puree etc, then he had them like meatballs with spaghetti. So happy to have found such a yummy, easy and cheap recipe!He has it on his phone now to make for his friend :0)
Yay! That makes me so happy to hear! I am so glad that it was a hit with your son!
Do these freeze well?
Yes it does!