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Brunch emergency? Call in this Easy Quiche Recipe!
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The Best Simple Quiche Recipe
A shortcut in every way except for how wonderful it tastes, this ham and cheese quiche recipe is what my mom lovingly refers to as a “none o’ yo’ business” recipe.
As in, none of your business that I didn’t have time to:
- Fuss with homemade Whole Wheat Pie Crust or Oil Pie Crust.
- Precook any of the filling ingredients (let’s save cooking Oven Baked Bacon for another time).
- Shred cheese (cubes are where it’s at!)
BUT don’t think it’s all breezy.
You see, one of the house rules of a none o’ yo’ business recipe is that it can’t actually taste like you took a shortcut.
Thus, a quiche recipe without crust like Crustless Quiche is out (though I adore it and find it perfectly delicious, but the omission is quite obvious); however, if you want an easy quiche recipe with crust, this is the recipe for you.
Instead, I went the route of ultimate ease and used store bought pie crust.
^^Don’t judge. We all have our days, and a brunch emergency is a brunch emergency!
Combine the crust work-around with a ham, cheese, and spinach filling that doesn’t require any pre-cooking on the stovetop, and you have a true time-saver.
I’m smitten with this Goat Cheese Quiche, for example, but preparing caramelized onions takes time, and sometimes a lady just doesn’t have it.
5 Star Review
“I made this quiche last night, and it was a hit! My fiancé asked for seconds and even had some leftovers for breakfast this morning. I love that Greek yogurt is used instead of cream, and the Greek yogurt and mustard add a nice tang.”
— Carli —
How to Make the Best Easy Quiche Recipe
The key to making a fabulous easy quiche that doesn’t taste, well, easy is a few simple tricks to doctor up the filling, plus my new favorite way to prepare cheese before adding it to quiche.
Quiche is an anytime kind of meal. You can serve this recipe as an easy breakfast quiche, or enjoy it for a light lunch or dinner.
The Ingredients
- Refrigerated or Frozen Pie Crust. I won’t tell if you won’t. You can use either unbaked pie crust that comes already lining a disposable pie dish (the one you see in the photos here is from the frozen section of Whole Foods) or frozen pie crust sheets, such as Pillsbury. I’ve included recipe notes for both types.
Tip!
While I’ve cut out as many steps as possible, you MUST prebake crust for quiche. This prevents the bottom crust from becoming soggy once the filling is added.
- Frozen Chopped Spinach. I always have a pack of this in my freezer. As I share in my cookbook, it’s an instant way to up the nutritional value of a recipe (spinach is a total super food—potassium, magnesium, vitamins galore, plus folic acid and more!)
Ingredient Note
Since frozen spinach comes already steamed, you can simply squeeze it out, then add it right to the quiche crust.
- Cheese. The best cheese for quiche is something fully flavored and melty. Gruyere is traditional in quiche Lorraine; I also love this easy quiche recipe with sharp white cheddar.
A Different Way to Prepare Cheese
What makes this quiche unique (and even easier!) is that instead of shredding the cheese, I cut it into small cubes, a tip I picked up from The New York Times. This leads to pockets of melty cheese throughout the quiche. Picking the right cheese (a melty one) and cubing it is the secret to a good quiche.
- Ham. Another time saver! You can purchase already diced ham from the deli department or use leftover diced ham from another recipe.
- Eggs. 5 large eggs to 3/4 cup liquid is my ideal ratio for quiche. It leads to a savory egg custard with nice consistency that can hold up to a heap of tasty fillings. Hello, protein!
- Milk. Whatever kind is in your refrigerator should do nicely. I use 1%.
Substitution Tip!
While it is not as traditional for quiches such as quiche Lorraine, you can use milk instead of heavy cream for quiche. While the results are not *as* rich as if heavy cream is used, I find that by the time you factor in the cheese and eggs, the quiche is not at all lacking in indulgence.
- Nutmeg. Don’t underestimate the power of this ingredient—it’s classic in quiche Lorraine for good reason. A pinch gives the quiche filling surprising dimension of flavor.
- Hot Sauce. Another somethin’ somethin’ that makes the quiche filling taste far more complex than it is (your secret is safe with me).
- Green Onion. A final pop of color and hit of freshness that’s the finishing touch.
More Quiche Fillings Ideas to Try
Use this easy quiche recipe as a guide for any of your favorite fillings. A few ideas:
- Bacon Quiche. Use cooked, crumbled bacon (Air Fryer Bacon is a quick way to prep it) instead of ham (or try a combo!) with cheddar cheese.
- Easy Quiche Lorraine. Omit the spinach (or keep it for a less traditional, but yummy and more nutritious spin); use Gruyere for the cheese and bacon in place of ham.
- Vegetarian Easy Quiche. For a vegetable quiche recipe, omit the ham or swap it for a different sautéed, grilled, or roasted vegetable (as this Sweet Potato Quiche can attest, Roasted Sweet Potatoes are especially tasty in quiche). Top with Parmesan cheese. Or try this delicious Broccoli Quiche.
- Ham Broccoli Quiche. Swap the spinach for chopped Roasted Broccoli.
- Mushroom Quiche. Replace the ham or the spinach with sautéed mushrooms or diced Grilled Portobello Mushrooms.
- Feta + Anything. Take it from this Spinach Feta Quiche: feta in quiche is delicious and can pair with just about any other filling ingredient.
The Directions
- Preheat the oven. Thaw and drain the spinach.
- Make your crust, then mix together the egg filling.
- Sprinkle the spinach, ham, cheese, and onion over the crust.
- Pour the egg filling over the top.
- Bake the easy quiche at 375 degrees F for 40-50 minutes, until a knife comes out clean. Let rest for 5-10 minutes, then ENJOY!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Refrigerate quiche in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat. Rewarm leftovers in a pie dish in the oven at 350 degrees F or gently in the microwave.
- To Freeze. You can freeze a quiche. Wrap the quiche tightly in plastic wrap and freeze in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Meal Prep Tip
Prebake the crust up to 1 day in advance. Squeeze out the spinach, dice the ham and cheese, and stir together the eggs, milk, and seasonings. Store each separately in the refrigerator. Assemble just before baking.
What to Serve with Quiche
- Pie Crust Shield. Made with silicone to keep pie edges from burning. Fits any 8- to 10-inch pies.
- Baking Sheet. Made with pure aluminum for rust prevention and great heat conductivity.
- Small Whisk. Perfect to use in smaller bowls or measuring cups.
I hope this easy spinach quiche recipe makes your next brunch (or brinner!) a breeze.
And if anyone asks your secrets… tell them their only business is the second helpings business!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is My Quiche Watery?
If your quiche is watery, it’s likely because of the spinach. Be sure to squeeze out as much excess liquid from the spinach as possible to prevent the spinach quiche recipes from becoming soggy. If you play around with other filling ingredients instead of spinach, make sure to cook the liquid out of them first; especially more watery veggies such as zucchini or tomatoes.
Can I Use Fresh Spinach Instead of Frozen?
Yes, you can use fresh spinach instead of frozen. Since spinach has a high water content, I recommend sauteeing it first so that your quiche doesn’t become soggy.
What Is the Difference Between a Quiche and a Frittata?
A quiche is baked in the oven, and a frittata is cooked on the stovetop to start and then transferred to the oven to finish (some recipes may finish it on the stovetop instead). Also, quiche recipes use a crust, but frittatas do not.
Looking for a frittata recipe instead? Check out my Potato Frittata and Egg White Frittata.
Easy Quiche Recipe
4.94 from 32 votes
The best easy quiche recipe packed with spinach, ham, and cheese, or any other fillings you prefer! Great for breakfast, brunch, or dinner.
Prep: 15 minutes mins
Cook: 40 minutes mins
Total: 1 hour hr
Servings: 6 people
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Ingredients
- 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach thawed
- 1 refrigerated pie crust (to make your own, use Whole Wheat Pie Crust or Oil Pie Crust)
- 5 large eggs
- 3/4 cup milk (I used 1%; or use whole milk or a combo of milk and cream for more richness)
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce such as Tabasco (optional)
- 1 cup diced cooked ham
- 3/4 cup 1/4-inch-diced melty cheese such as Gruyere or white cheddar* (about 3 ounces)
- 2 green onions finely chopped
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. If your frozen spinach is not already thawed, thaw it in the microwave per the directions. Place the spinach in a colander and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Set aside.
Blind Bake the Crust (If your crust comes pre-formed in a disposable pan). Place the pie dish on a baking sheet and bake for 3 minutes. Remove it from the oven, prick it all over with the tines of a fork, then return to the oven and bake until light golden, about 10 minutes more. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. See notes if you use a pie dough sheet or make your own dough.**
Prepare the Filling: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and Tabasco.
Squeeze and blot more water out of the spinach (you want it as dry as possible), then scatter it evenly over the bottom of the blind-baked crust. Sprinkle the ham, cheese, and onion over the top of the spinach.
Carefully pour the egg mixture over the top.
Bake the Quiche: Bake the quiche on the baking sheet, until a knife inserted 1 inch from the edge of the crust comes out clean and the center is set, about 40 to 50 minutes. If at any point the crust begins to brown more than you would like, protect it with foil or a pie crust shield. Let the baked quiche rest for 5 to 10 minutes, then slice and serve.
Video
Notes
- *For a quiche Lorraine inspired easy quiche, use Gruyere or Swiss, swap the ham for cooked bacon, and omit the spinach; I also love this with sharp white cheddar.
- **If you are using pie dough (homemade or frozen/refrigerated) that doesn’t come pre-shaped in a pan: Grab a deep 9-inch pie dish (this quiche has a lot of filling; I used this dish). Roll your pie dough into a 11-inch circle, then transfer it to the dish. Build up and flute the top edges to create a nice rim for holding the filling. Line it with aluminum foil. Fill with pie weights or dry beans, then place on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Remove it from the oven, lift out the beans and foil, then return the crust to the oven and bake until light golden, about 3 minutes more. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. (At this point, either discard the beans or save them for future pie baking.)
- TO STORE: Let the baked quiche cool completely to room temperature, then refrigerate (if you pop it into the refrigerator while it is still warm, the crust can become soggy).
- TO REHEAT: Tent the quiche with foil and warm in a 325 degree F oven until heated through, about 15 minutes.
- TO FREEZE: Let quiche cool completely. Wrap tightly with foil, then freeze for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
Serving: 1of 6Calories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 16gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 151mgPotassium: 308mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 5866IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 186mgIron: 3mg
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Erin Clarke
Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!
