Crustless Quiche

This show-stopping crustless quiche is a low-carb breakfast or brunch that features baked eggs, bacon, bell peppers, onions, and cheese in every slice. Easy to make and ready in 35 minutes!

There’s nothing quite as crowd-pleasing as a classic quiche for brunch! The flaky pastry crust features fluffy baked eggs as a base, with melted cheese, meats, and veggies studded throughout every slice. But when you don’t have time to make a homemade pie crust or aren’t in the mood for extra carbs, you can stick to this easy crustless quiche recipe instead!

Think of this crustless quiche as a low-maintenance and low-carb alternative to the classic. It bakes whisked eggs with meat, cheese, and vegetables and is ready to be sliced and served after a quick 35-minute trip in the oven. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or any occasion! 

Why this recipe works

• Tailor it to your tastes. Just like my keto quiche, you can treat this recipe like a blank canvas. Customize it with all of your favorite proteins, veggies, cheeses, or whatever your taste buds desire!
• No crust to fuss with. Skipping the crust means fewer carbs and a streamlined, simplified quiche recipe with a faster cooking time.  
• It’s easy to make ahead. Quiche is an excellent dish to make once and enjoy all week. It freezes well, too!

Serving a homemade quiche to friends and family is just plain impressive. Pair each slice with a mimosa or a pitcher of homemade lemonade, and you’ll be crowned, ‘brunch host of the year.’

Ingredients needed

This recipe calls for all of the ingredients you would find in a classic quiche recipe, minus the pie shell. Here’s what you need:

• Eggs. Use large, fresh eggs. The higher water content in fresh eggs helps create a light, fluffy texture. Their yolks are more vibrant and taste better, too.
• Milk and heavy cream. Using both milk and heavy cream gives the baked eggs a creamy, custardy texture. Additionally, milk enhances the filling with a slightly sweet flavor, while heavy cream gives it a rich, velvety mouthfeel. 
• Salt and black pepper. To season the filling.  
• Bacon. Cooked until crispy and thinly sliced.
• Shredded cheese. The quiche is great with cheddar, but there are many types of cheese to choose from. Just be sure to shred your own cheese, as the bagged stuff doesn’t melt as smoothly as cheese grated straight from the block.
• Vegetables. I filled the quiche with chopped green onions, red bell pepper, and red onion, but there are plenty of other veggies to choose from in the Variations section below.

How to make a crustless quiche

The crust is the most challenging part of making a quiche from scratch. Since this recipe skips that part, it’s almost as easy as making an omelet! Here’s how to make a perfect crustless quiche: 

Step 1 – Whisk the egg filling

Whisk the eggs, milk, heavy cream, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl until combined. 

Step 2 – Add the meat, vegetables, and cheese

Stir the bacon, cheese, and chopped veggies into the egg mixture until incorporated. 

Step 3 – Bake

Pour the egg mixture into a greased oven-safe skillet or baking dish. Bake until the top and edges are golden brown and the center is almost set.

Step 4 – Rest, slice, and serve

Set the baked quiche aside to cool for a few minutes. Afterward, slice and enjoy!

Tips to make the best recipe

• Pre-cook the bacon. Cooking the bacon before adding it to the egg mixture prevents it from releasing excess grease, which can make the quiche soggy. 
• Use the correct ratio of eggs and milk/cream. Using about 2½ tablespoons of milk or cream per egg is ideal and won’t make your quiche runny or dense. 
• Don’t over bake it. It’s best to take the quiche out of the oven when the center is still a little jiggly. If you wait until the center is firm, the quiche will likely be overcooked and the eggs will taste rubbery. 
• Let it rest before slicing. As hard as it may be to resist digging in, letting it rest for 5 to 10 minutes gives the eggs time to set and makes the quiche easier to slice.

Flavor variations

What I love most about this crustless quiche is that you can switch up the meat, cheese, and veggie combination with anything you like. Remember to choose ingredients that complement each other and won’t release too much moisture during baking. 

Use these meat-forward combinations for a hearty and filling quiche:

• Classic quiche Lorraine. Omit the milk and veggies, and make the filling with all heavy cream, bacon, and Swiss cheese. 
• Sausage, peppers, and onions. Use cooked ground sausage, chopped turkey sausage patties or sliced sausage links, diced bell peppers and onions, and shredded mozzarella cheese. 
• Ham and cheese. Dice up slices of deli ham or the leftover ham in your fridge, then stir it into the egg filling with shredded cheddar cheese. A classic combination!
• Seafood, leeks, and shallots. Add salmon, shrimp, or lump crab meat, thinly sliced leeks, minced shallots, and fontina cheese into the mix. 

If you were hoping for a vegetarian quiche, try:  

• Spinach and feta. Mixing spinach and feta cheese is a delicious and nutritious option for breakfast, brunch, or a light dinner option (have you tried our spinach feta wrap?)
• Broccoli, cauliflower, and cheddar. Because this trio belongs together!
• Mushroom and gruyere. This elegant and flavorful combination is guaranteed to please a crowd.

What to serve with quiche

This is a fantastic keto breakfast recipe you can pair with all of the classics, like cinnamon rolls, hash browns, french toast, and, of course, coffee. If you don’t mind some carbs, pair every slice of quiche with fruit salad, pancakes, green salad, and muffins.

Serving the quiche for lunch or meal prep? Serve the slices with a leafy green salad and roasted vegetables, like brussels sprouts and cauliflower, to keep you full and energized until dinner time.

Make ahead and storing 

To make ahead: Pour the filling into the pan, then cover it tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator to bake the next day.

To store: Wrap the baked and cooled quiche or individual slices with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If frozen, let it thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.

To reheat: Reheat the leftover quiche in the microwave for 30 to 60 seconds or until hot.

Recommended tools to make this recipe

• Medium bowl and whisk. To mix the egg filling and help incorporate the meats, cheeses, and vegetables.
• Oven-safe non-stick skillet. Like a 9-inch pie pan, a cast-iron skillet, or a cake pan. Just make sure that whatever you use is oven-safe, greased well, and has enough room for the quiche to rise without overflowing. 

More savory breakfast and brunch recipes 

• Breakfast Casserole 
• Sous Vide Egg Bites
• Savory waffles
• Savory pancakes
• Turkish eggs

Frequently asked questions