When You Need an Epic Breakfast, Make a Quiche (2024)

  • Breakfast Eggs

Quiche is a must for any brunch. Master the basics, from making pie crust for the quiche to learning how to tell when the quiche is done.

By

Sheena Chihak, RD

When You Need an Epic Breakfast, Make a Quiche (1)

Sheena Chihak, RD

Sheena Chihak is a registered dietitian, former food editor and current edit lead for BHG with over 17 years of writing and editing experience for both print and digital.

Updated on November 9, 2023

If you're looking for a reliable brunch recipe that always impresses, learn how to make quiche. Thanks to the flaky crust and pie plate presentation, the savory pie with an egg-based custard-like filling is more elevated than a casserole.

Along with the crust, the key to a genuinely great quiche is a creamy filling that holds a cut edge. The secret to that perfect filling is finding the correct ratio of milk to eggs—too much milk, and the custard won't set properly; too little, and it turns tough during baking. Use our Test Kitchen-approved tips to learn how to make quiche expertly.

When You Need an Epic Breakfast, Make a Quiche (2)

When You Need an Epic Breakfast, Make a Quiche (3)

How to Make Quiche Crust

With pie crust for quiche, as with any pie, you have options. You can prepare a crust from scratch (we suggest our Pastry for Single-Crust Pie), use a refrigerated unbaked pie crust ($5, Target), or a frozen pre-made pie crust ($3, Target).

This is how to prep your quiche crust using the homemade or refrigerated option. And yes, as you'll see, you should always prebake quiche crust to avoid a gummy pastry.

  • Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  • Roll out your homemade or purchased refrigerated dough into a 12-inch circle. Carefully fold pastry circle into fourths. Place folded pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Unfold pastry and ease it into the pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim to ½ inch beyond the edge of the pie plate. Fold under extra pastry and crimp edge as desired.
  • Line the unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. The foil weighs down the crust, which prevents it from bubbling up or blistering. This technique, known as blind-baking, creates a stronger crust that can better hold a moist filling, such as the egg mixture in quiche.
  • Bake 8 minutes on a baking sheet. This helps keep the crust crispier when you add the filling. Remove the foil. Bake 5 to 6 minutes more or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven.
  • Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. The pastry shell should still be hot when the filling is added. Do not partially bake the pastry shell ahead of time.

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When You Need an Epic Breakfast, Make a Quiche (4)

How to Make Quiche Filling

This is the part of how to make a quiche where the most customizing happens. Depending on your chosen quiche filling, you can make it while you prebake the quiche crust or make it first so it's ready to add to the hot pastry shell.

For a classic Quiche Lorraine, which requires skillet-cooking bacon, sautéing onion for several minutes, whisking together your milk-and-egg mixture, and, if using block cheese, shredding cheese to toss with flour, you may want to have at least some of the filling started before your pastry enters the oven. If your filling is quicker to assemble, like in this Spinach and Mushroom Quiche, you can likely do it all while prebaking the quiche crust.

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When You Need an Epic Breakfast, Make a Quiche (5)

Bake the Quiche

You should have already decreased the oven temperature to 325°F when you removed the pastry from the oven so it's ready to finish your quiche.

  • Carefully pour egg mixture into the hot prebaked quiche crust. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until the edges are puffed and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. If the pastry edge is getting brown before the filling is done, cut out a circle of foil just large enough to cover the pastry edge and place atop the pastry edge to prevent over-browning.
  • Transfer the quiche to a wire rack. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. This helps the custard filling to firm up and hold a cut edge.
  • To serve, cut into wedges and garnish as desired.

With your masterful quiche as the centerpiece, you just need to figure out the rest of your brunch menu. Pick your favorite brunch co*cktail or coffee drinks and brunch breads to complete the feast.

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When You Need an Epic Breakfast, Make a Quiche (6)

Egg Casserole Recipes

Eggs make an excellent base for many casseroles that can be served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Eggs are packed with protein, so they're filling and satisfying. Add a veggie side to any of these recipes for a complete meal.

  • Sausage, Egg, and Biscuit Casserole
  • Squash, Bacon, and Feta Breakfast Bake
  • Chile Verde Breakfast Lasagna
  • Alfredo-Bacon Tot Casserole
  • Fig, Pancetta, and Goat Cheese Casserole

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When You Need an Epic Breakfast, Make a Quiche (2024)

FAQs

What is a breakfast quiche called? ›

In the most basic framework, a quiche has a pie crust and a frittata does not. A quiche is an egg custard pie and a frittata is, well, a crustless quiche.

Is quiche considered a breakfast food? ›

Simply put, quiche is a savory egg pie that is typically served at brunch or breakfast. There are so many different variations of quiche and new flavor combinations are being created every day! But, the version you have probably came across is Quiche Lorraine, which consists of bacon bits, onion and gruyere cheese.

Why is blind-baking important when making quiche? ›

The foil weighs down the crust, which prevents it from bubbling up or blistering. This technique, known as blind-baking, creates a stronger crust that can better hold a moist filling, such as the egg mixture in quiche. Bake 8 minutes on a baking sheet. This helps keep the crust crispier when you add the filling.

What does the French word quiche mean in English? ›

Quiche is a French word that first appeared in English in the mid-20th century and became very popular around 1970. It comes from the German Kuchen, or "cake." Definitions of quiche. noun. a tart filled with rich unsweetened custard; often contains other ingredients (as cheese or ham or seafood or vegetables)

Do the French eat quiche for breakfast? ›

The French typically eat quiches for lunch and dinner or as appetizers, but I've found that Americans like to eat quiches for breakfast and brunch. It doesn't matter when you eat it, my Quiche Lorraine recipe will taste good any time of the day.

Is quiche a junk food? ›

Is quiche healthy? Quiche is bad news when it comes to a healthy diet. It's usually made with cheese and cream in the filling as well as butter in the pastry case, so it's often high in saturated fat and calories. Ingredients like bacon will add salt and more saturated fat.

Is quiche healthy? ›

Not always healthy, quiche could be a diet downfall! Prepared with heavy cream and cheeses and baked in a piecrust, there can be excessive calories and fat.

Can you put too many eggs in a quiche? ›

The best quiche consists of a custard that's the perfect ratio between eggs and milk. Using too many eggs in the custard results in a quiche that rubbery and too firm when baked, while not using enough will prevent the custard from setting. Follow This Tip: Remember this ratio: 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy.

Can you freeze quiche? ›

You can freeze quiche for up to 3 months with excellent results, and you have several options for doing it: You can assemble and freeze it before baking, you can bake and then freeze the quiche for reheating later or you can freeze the unbaked filling and crust separately.

Can I use pasta instead of baking beans? ›

*Wondering what to use instead of baking beans? Dried beans or even dried pasta work just as well.

What is breakfast quiche made of? ›

Breakfast Quiche is a flavorful breakfast made with a creamy filling baked in a buttery, flaky pie crust. Bacon, spinach, garlic, sharp cheddar along with milk, cream, and eggs make for an incredibly flavorful filling! Serve this quiche up for a holiday brunch and prepare to watch it fly off plates.

Is quiche a main dish or a side? ›

As previously stated, quiche can be served as a main dish or as a side dish and it's often served with a variety of accompaniments. For a healthy dinner, some popular options include a simple green salad, roasted or steamed vegetables, or a salad with mixed greens.

How is a frittata different from a quiche? ›

A frittata is partially cooked in a skillet on the cooktop then finished in the oven. It also has a lower egg to dairy ratio making it closer to an open faced omelet than a pie. Quiche has a creamier, custard-like texture due to more dairy and is cooked entirely in the oven.

What is the difference between a frittata and a breakfast strata? ›

A frittata is similar to a quiche without the crust, and is often described as a thick omelette packed with ingredients like vegetables, cheese or ham. A strata is a breakfast casserole made with eggs and bread and is often described as an easy-to-make, savoury bread pudding.

What's the difference between a frittata and an omlet? ›

While it's similar to an omelet, crustless quiche, and Spanish tortilla, the way a frittata is cooked is what sets it apart. Frittatas are generally thicker than omelets. A frittata is made with the exact same ingredients as an omelet, but here, the milk, or more preferably, cream, is crucial.

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