Easy and Delicious Breakfast Quiche
Finding great breakfasts that can be made ahead and are packed full of healthy ingredients can be difficult, but this easy breakfast quiche recipe is a great dish to serve for those early morning meals!
There are always those recipes that seem like recipes you need to leave to the experts.
Quiche seemed like one of those recipes. Just the name of it seems quite lofty and fancy.
My mom makes quiche for Christmas brunch every year and I look forward to eating it as the time comes near, but I always just left it to her to bake these. They seemed like something I’d end up messing up.
This easy quiche recipe is so simple and almost fool-proof, that you have to try it for yourself!
I made it for the first time last winter and now it is a staple in our home, not only for breakfast but also for supper!
Think of it as a savory sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich elevated to a 9-inch pie dish.
Why you’ll love this breakfast quiche
Quiches seem like a fussy dish, but they are so simple it’s crazy.
I love that I can clean out my refrigerator and use what I have in a quiche. The one I’m sharing is a basic quiche, but don’t be afraid to add to it!
A great thing about quiches is that they fill you up and are full of good ingredients. Plus, you can add to it as you like!
Even my young kids love when I serve quiche, so it’s a great way to get veggies and lots of eggs into their bodies.
This is a great make ahead breakfast you can whip up the night before and have a filling breakfast for the next morning without messing up your kitchen!
3 Steps for Making Breakfast Quiche
- Make a pie crust and roll it out to fit your pie pan. Place the crust in the pie plate and blind bake it for 10 minutes. You can also use a store bough pie crust to save time!
- Whip up your quiche filling in a large bowl and pour it into your pie crust
- Bake your quiche for 35 minutes in a 375° F oven.
Is quiche a healthy breakfast?
If you are looking for a protein rich breakfast, then you will love this easy breakfast quiche.
Quiche can be filled with meats and veggies, providing an excellent and healthy breakfast.
Breakfast Quiche Ingredients
- Pie Crust- I prefer making my own pie shell because it is extremely simple and the crust just tastes so good. If you don’t want to make your own crust, a store bought crust will be absolutely perfect for this recipe!
- Eggs- 4 large eggs are a main star in this dish
- Heavy Whipping cream- You can use regular milk for this recipe, but the whipping cream adds a richness to the dish. Any milk will work, so use what you have!
- Diced Ham- This is a another area where you can make substitutions. I get prechopped ham from the store and it makes this dish super easy to throw together. Bacon, sausage, and hamburger may also be used.
- Cheese- I like to use a cheddar cheese as it seems to be the most satisfying for all of the people in my family, but I use whatever I have, which might be pepperjack, colby jack, cheddar, or parmesan.
- Onion- Onion creates a yummy caramelization that you want to add depth to the breakfast quiche.
- Seasonings- This is the fun part because you can throw in almost anything you want to create the flavor profile you’re looking for. Salt, garlic powder, paprika, and Italian seasoning are all great choices.
How to make the perfect homemade pie crust
Before you get scared off, just read how simple it is to make a pie crust.
I used to this is was difficult, but it truly is the easiest thing to do and it makes any dish with a pie crust so much better.
You can even make this the day before you need it to have this step done and out of the way!
You can make this in a large mixing bowl with a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingers.
I like to toss the ingredients into my food processor and let it do the work for me.
Ingredients for quiche crust
- Flour- All-purpose is great for making pie crusts.
- Cold Butter- I cut this into cubes so it distributes evenly.
- Salt
- Cold Water- I add tablespoons at a time until my dough creates a ball.
Steps to make a quiche crust
- Add flour and salt to a bowl or food processor
- Cut in the cold butter until it resembles pebbles.
- Add in cold water slowly until the dough becomes a ball
- Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes before rolling out
Best Breakfast Quiche Add Ins
- Bell pepper
- Favorite meat
- Green onions
- Cherry tomatoes
- Fresh herbs
- Fresh spinach
- Crispy bacon
- Different cheeses, such as gouda cheese, blue cheese or gruyere cheese
Variations for this Breakfast Quiche Recipe
The best part of this recipe is that you can make it your own.
If you have spinach about to go bad in your refrigerator, throw it in this quiche!
You can swap out the meat or add in extra veggies to change things up.
- Sausage and Cheese Quiche- Use browned breakfast sausage in place of ham
- Zucchini and Ham Quiche- Thinly slice zucchini and press between towels to soak up excess moisture
- Broccoli Quiche- Sauté 1 cup of broccoli before adding to the quiche
- Spinach and Feta Quiche- Add 1 cup raw spinach and 1/2 cup feta
- Three Cheese Quiche- Shred different types of cheeses, such as 1 cup Gouda, Cheddar, and Parmesan cheese and mix with the egg mixture
It is really the most versatile meal you can make.
As long as you keep the egg-milk ratio what it is in the recipe you can add whatever else you feel like adding!
What is Blind Baking?
Blind baking is what you do to make sure the crust gets baked all of the way.
You don’t have to blind bake your crust, but it isn’t difficult, and it prevents the risk of the bottom of your crust being soggy and not baked all of the way.
It is best to blind bake your pie crust when you have a liquid filling inside.
Essentially, you put your crust in the pie plate and add a layer of aluminum foil over the crust.
Press the foil into the pan so that it is sitting directly on top of the crust.
Add in pie weights or uncooked beans on top of the foil to weigh the bottom of the crust down. This prevents it from puffing up while it blind bakes.
Bake the crust for 10 minutes at 400°F while you make your quiche filling.
Once it has been blind baked, you proceed by removing the weights and tin foil and pouring in your quiche filling.
Do you have to use a crust for this Quiche?
No, you don’t have to use a crust for this quiche recipe.
This can be a crustless quiche recipe, if you prefer.
Grease your pie plate and pour the egg cream mixture into the pie plate. Bake according to the directions.
You can even use a frozen pie crust or a refrigerated pie crust. It is completely up to you and your preferences.
Tips for making a quiche
- Make sure your quiche is done by gently jiggling the pan. If the center is still very loose, bake until it is set.
- Allow your quiche to cool for 10 minutes before cutting into the dish. This will help the quiche to set up and be served easily.
- If your crust is baking too quickly, place tin foil over the top of the quiche so the egg filling can continue to bake but the crust won’t burn. You want a flaky crust, not a burnt crust.
- Serve quiche for a holiday brunch, baby shower, or a weekend breakfast
What can you serve with breakfast quiche?
Breakfast quiche is a great thing to serve as a stand alone dish, or with other breakfast recipes.
We have a brunch every Christmas with my family and my mom always makes a quiche to go on the table.
Some great things to serve alongside a breakfast quiche are:
Banana Bread
The quiche adds a bit of savory, while the greek yogurt banana bread gives the sweetness that you also want for breakfast.
Orange Scones
Bring some brightness (and sweetness) to the table with delicious orange scones.
We love these scones and they can also be made ahead for an easy breakfast.
Fluffy Pancakes
Pancakes are a staple around our home, but they don’t always get us through the entire morning until lunch.
Adding in a breakfast quiche makes these fluffy pancakes last all morning.
Overnight Oatmeal Bake
This simple overnight oatmeal bake has been a long time favorite for our home and it is a great make ahead meal that pairs so nicely with an egg dish, such as breakfast quiche.
Can you only have breakfast quiche for breakfast?
Breakfast quiche is typically thought of as being a breakfast meal, but it can be served any time.
We have often had this for a quick supper on nights when I am short on time.
This can be made ahead, popped in the oven an hour before supper, and enjoyed when it’s needed.
The savory aspect of this quiche makes it perfect for a dinnertime dish, too!
Can you make breakfast quiche ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare your quiche the night before and bake it the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quiches are cooked completely in the oven. Frittatas are typically cooked slowly on the stovetop and if needed, finished in the oven.
The secret to a good quiche lies in caramelizing the veggies in butter prior to adding them to the quiche mixture. Using heavy cream or milk is also a huge secret in ensuring you have a flavorful dish.
Recipe for Easy Breakfast Quiche
Easy Breakfast Quiche Recipe
Equipment
- pie plate
Ingredients
Pie crust Ingredients
- 1¼ cup all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup butter, cold and cubed
- ¼ cup ice water
Breakfast Quiche Filling
- 1 cup diced ham
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream, or milk
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
Pie Crust
- Add all purpose flour and salt to a medium mixing bowl and cut in the cubed butter with a pastry cutter, fork, or your fingers until they resemble course crumbs.
- Slowly add the ice water until the dough comes together and forms a ball.
- Put dough in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to overnight.
- Roll out and use as needed.
Easy Quiche Filling
- Preheat oven to 450° F.
- Roll out pie crust and place in a pie pan. Layer one layer of aluminum foil over the crust. Add in pie weights or dry beans to the pan to weigh down the crust so it doesn't puff up.
- Bake for 5-10 minutes. Remove the tin foil and fill the pie shell with the quiche filling.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 375° F.
- Dice onion and sauté in a skillet until translucent.
- Add the ham, cheese, and onion to the pie shell.
- In a mixing bowl, whip up the eggs, seasonings, and whipping cream until combined.
- Pour egg mixture over the ham, cheese, and onion.
- Bake the quiche for 35 minutes, or until done.
Notes
- Make sure your quiche is done by gently jiggling the pan. If the center is still very loose, bake until it is set.
- Allow your quiche to cool for 10 minutes before cutting into the dish. This will help the quiche to set up and be served easily.
- If your crust is baking too quickly, place tin foil over the top of the quiche so the egg filling can continue to bake but the crust won’t burn. You want a flaky crust, not a burnt crust.
- Serve quiche for a holiday brunch, baby shower, or a weekend breakfast
I love the blind crust idea!
I hope it works as well for you as it does for me. It makes the crust perfect and flaky, instead of slimy.