Crustless Egg and Cheese Quiche

By Sarah Copeland

Updated May 5, 2025

Crustless Egg and Cheese Quiche
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
1 hour, plus cooling
Rating
4(2,306)
Comments
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If you love quiche, get to know this crustless version, dotted with cheese, mushrooms and herbs (and no fussy pastry to chill or roll). Once you master the perfect dairy-to-egg ratio, you’ll find this recipe to be as much of an ally to the Friday fridge clean-out as it is to a brunch for friends. Pay close attention to the baking time: The center should be a touch wiggly when you remove the quiche from the oven. The end result is a quivering, spoonable custard that melts in your mouth, to be served with a bracing salad. Crisp greens with mustardy vinaigrette, or a citrus laced endive and radicchio number — anything in that vein will do.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 2tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan
  • 1tablespoons fine plain dry bread crumbs
  • 2heaping cups/4 ounces stemmed and thinly sliced wild or button mushrooms
  • 1cup grated cheese, such as Comté, Gruyère, Emmental or Cheddar
  • 1cup half-and-half or heavy cream
  • 1cup whole milk
  • 4eggs, lightly beaten
  • ½teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • ¼cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 1 ounce)
  • 2tablespoons finely chopped chives, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

408 calories; 32 grams fat; 18 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 9 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 23 grams protein; 567 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oven to 325 degrees with the rack positioned at the top. Butter a deep 8-inch round, square or oval casserole generously and sprinkle all over with bread crumbs.

  2. Step 2

    Heat the 2 tablespoons butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. When melted and foamy, add the mushrooms and cook until lightly browned, about 3 to 5 minutes. Scatter the cooked mushrooms and grated cheese over the bread crumbs.

  3. Step 3

    Whisk together the half-and-half, whole milk, eggs, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Pour the mixture over the cheese. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan, and bake until the top is golden and the custard is just set in the center, about 40 to 45 minutes. Set aside 5 to 10 minutes to cool before serving. Sprinkle with chives, cut into wedges or scoop out, and serve.

Tip
  • To serve 8 to 10, double the recipe, and bake in a 9-by-13-inch pan for about 1 hour.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
2,306 user ratings
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Comments

Patricia

Responding to liquid from mushrooms making quiche soggy". Try the "dry fry" method for mushrooms. Heat skillet on high. Throw in sliced mushrooms. Saute dry until ALL the moisture from the shrooms is gone. Then add a chunk of butter, salt, and some nutmeg. Swilr around on lower heat - mushrooms will now absorb the fat. Result: Intense mushroomy flavor and no sogginess. Prepare mushrooms this way for all dishes. Sooo good.

heather

I made this with 8 eggs and used 1.5 cups of milk and 1.5 cups of half and half. The ratio turned out great. Everyone enjoyed this.

Dorothy

I'm hoping that it would be okay to leave out the breadcrumbs? Should I mix in some almond flour?

Carla B

I’ve made this multiple times with different variations. A tablespoon of grainy mustard added tot eh custard, different veggies, dollops of ricotta on top, scallions rather than chives…. All really good!

hannah

Really enjoy this recipe. It is versatile and leaves room for preference. Here are a few changes I typically make: 5 eggs instead of 4, panko breadcrumbs instead of plain, adding cottage cheese to the level above the breadcrumbs, just using the whole milk instead of also adding the cream. I also usually wilt some spinach down with the mushrooms and wait for that liquid to cook out before adding it to the dish.

Sarah Indianapolis

Added an extra egg for four to accommodate additions: 1/2 diced onion, sautéed with mushroom 1 clove diced garlic 1 salmon filet, sautéed ahead in ghee 1 c. Chopped spinach Extra 10 minutes to bake and absolutely outstanding!

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