Crustless Chicken, Broccoli & Cheddar Bake-Style Quiche.

The Easiest Weeknight Win: Your New Favorite Crustless Chicken, Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche

Is there anything better than a meal that is comforting, nutritious, easy to make, and loved by the whole family? If you’re nodding your head, you’ve just found your culinary holy grail. Welcome to the world of crustless quiches—the ultimate solution for busy weeknights, elegant brunches, and everything in between. Today, we’re diving into a recipe that’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser: our incredibly delicious Crustless Chicken, Broccoli & Cheddar Bake-Style Quiche.

This isn’t just another egg bake. This is a protein-packed, flavor-forward dish that celebrates simple, wholesome ingredients. By skipping the crust, we’re not only saving time but also creating a fabulous low-carb and gluten-free option that doesn’t sacrifice an ounce of satisfaction. Whether you’re following a keto diet, looking for healthy family dinners, or simply need a reliable make-ahead meal for your weekly meal prep, this quiche is about to become your go-to.

Imagine tender chunks of chicken, vibrant broccoli florets, and sharp cheddar cheese, all suspended in a rich, creamy, and perfectly seasoned egg custard. It’s a complete meal in one dish—a true one-pan wonder that requires minimal cleanup. Let’s get cooking!

Why You’ll Love This Crustless Quiche: The Ultimate Kitchen Hack

Before we preheat the oven, let’s talk about why this recipe is a game-changer for home cooks of all skill levels.

· The Ultimate Gluten-Free and Low-Carb Solution: For those avoiding gluten or watching their carbohydrate intake, a traditional quiche can be off the table. This crustless quiche recipe eliminates that problem entirely, offering all the flavor and texture you crave without the grains. It’s a fantastic keto-friendly dinner that keeps you on track without feeling deprived.
· Meal Prep Perfection: This quiche is a champion for weekly meal prep. It reheats beautifully, making it ideal for grab-and-go healthy breakfasts or quick lunches. Simply slice, store, and enjoy a gourmet-quality meal all week long.
· Incredibly Family-Friendly: Getting picky eaters to enjoy a balanced meal can be a challenge. The familiar flavors of chicken, broccoli, and cheddar in this easy casserole are a surefire win. It’s a stealthy way to incorporate vegetables and protein into your family’s diet.
· Customizable and Versatile: This recipe is a template for your creativity. Don’t have broccoli? Use spinach. No chicken? Try ham or cooked sausage. The possibilities for this easy quiche recipe are endless, allowing you to clean out the fridge in the most delicious way possible.

The Secret to the Perfect Custard: It’s All About the Ratio

The heart and soul of any quiche, crustless or not, is the custard. This is where the magic happens. A great custard is creamy, soft, and holds its shape without being rubbery. The secret? The balance between eggs and dairy.

For our Crustless Chicken, Broccoli & Cheddar Bake, we use a combination of eggs and a rich dairy component. This creates a luxuriously smooth texture that perfectly complements the hearty fillings. The key is to use a full-fat dairy like heavy cream or half-and-half for the richest flavor and texture, though whole milk works well too. We’ll also use key seasonings that elevate this from a simple egg bake to a sophisticated dish worthy of any table.

Your Ingredient Lineup: Simple, Wholesome, and Flavorful

One of the best things about this simple dinner idea is that you likely have most of the ingredients in your kitchen right now. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need and why each component matters:

· The Protein: We use cooked, shredded chicken breast. This is a fantastic quick dinner hack—a store-bought rotisserie chicken is perfect here, saving you time and adding great flavor.
· The Vegetable: Fresh broccoli florets bring color, fiber, and essential nutrients. We’ll blanch them briefly to ensure the perfect tender-crisp texture in the final bake.
· The Cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese is non-negotiable for its bold, tangy flavor that stands up to the eggs and chicken. Its excellent melting quality creates those beautiful, cheesy pockets throughout the quiche.
· The Aromatics: A simple yellow onion and minced garlic create a foundational flavor base that makes the entire dish taste deeply savory and homemade.
· The Custard Base: A blend of large eggs, heavy cream (or your preferred dairy), and a careful selection of seasonings including dijon mustard for a subtle tang, salt, pepper, and paprika.

Crustless Chicken, Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche Recipe

This easy bake recipe yields a hearty, family-sized quiche that is perfect for 6-8 servings. It’s the ideal solution for your easy weeknight dinners and healthy meal prep.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40-45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients:

· 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced (about 1 large breast or from a rotisserie chicken)
· 3 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into small pieces
· 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
· 1 medium yellow onion, diced
· 2 cloves garlic, minced
· 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
· 6 large eggs
· 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half, or whole milk for a lighter version)
· 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
· ½ teaspoon salt
· ¼ teaspoon black pepper
· ¼ teaspoon paprika
· Optional: Pinch of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick

Instructions:

Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9-inch pie dish or a 10-inch quiche dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray.

Blanch the Broccoli: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 2 minutes. Immediately drain and plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. This step, called blanching, ensures your broccoli stays vibrant green and tender-crisp instead of becoming mushy and watery in the quiche. Drain again and set aside.

Sauté the Aromatics: In a medium skillet, heat the olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 5-6 minutes, until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant. Remove from heat.

Assemble the Fillings: In the prepared pie dish, spread the cooked chicken in an even layer. Top with the blanched broccoli and the sautéed onion and garlic mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup of the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.

Create the Custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs vigorously until they are well-beaten and uniform in color. Add the heavy cream, dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and paprika. Whisk until the mixture is completely smooth and well-combined.

Combine and Bake: Carefully pour the egg custard mixture over the ingredients in the pie dish. Gently shake the dish or use a fork to ensure the custard seeps into all the nooks and crannies. Top with the remaining ½ cup of cheddar cheese.

Bake to Perfection: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes. The quiche is done when the edges are golden brown and set, and the center jiggles just slightly when you gently shake the pan. A knife inserted near the center should come out clean.

The Crucial Rest: Remove the quiche from the oven and let it rest on a wire rack for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing. This allows the custard to fully set, making it easier to slice into clean, beautiful wedges.

Expert Tips for a Flawless Quiche Every Time

· Don’t Skip Blanching the Broccoli: This simple step is the difference between a quiche with vibrant, perfectly cooked broccoli and one with bland, watery vegetables. It’s a small effort for a huge payoff in texture and flavor.
· The “Jiggle Test” for Doneness: Your quiche is done when the edges are set and the center has a slight jiggle—like Jell-O. It will continue to set as it cools. Overbaking is the primary cause of a rubbery, dry texture.
· Let it Rest!: This might be the hardest part, but it’s crucial. Allowing your quiche to rest for at least 10-15 minutes after baking gives the protein network in the eggs time to relax and firm up, resulting in perfect, neat slices.
· Avoid Overmixing: Once you’ve combined the custard ingredients, try not to over-whisk or incorporate too much air. A smooth, homogenous mixture is the goal.

Customize Your Quiche: Endless Variations

The beauty of this easy quiche recipe is its incredible adaptability. Here are some delicious variations to try:

· Vegetarian Delight: Simply omit the chicken and add 1 cup of sautéed mushrooms and 1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes. Swap the cheddar for feta or goat cheese for a tangy twist.
· Southwestern Twist: Swap the cheddar for pepper jack cheese. Add a 4-ounce can of diced green chiles (drained) and a teaspoon of cumin to the custard. Serve with a dollop of salsa and sour cream.
· Mediterranean Flair: Use 2 cups of fresh spinach (sautéed and squeezed dry) instead of broccoli. Use feta cheese instead of cheddar and add 1/4 cup of chopped kalamata olives and a tablespoon of fresh oregano.
· Breakfast Style: Substitute the chicken and broccoli with 1 cup of cooked, crumbled bacon or breakfast sausage and 1 cup of diced bell peppers.

Serving Suggestions: Making it a Complete Meal

While this quiche is a complete meal on its own, here are a few ideas to round out your table:

· For a light lunch, serve a slice with a simple mixed green salad with a bright vinaigrette to cut through the richness of the quiche.
· For a hearty brunch, pair it with fresh fruit, crispy hash browns, and a refreshing mimosa.
· For a comforting dinner, a side of roasted potatoes or a warm, crusty loaf of bread (for those not eating low-carb) is perfect for soaking up every last crumb.

Storage and Reheating: Your Meal Prep Guide

This quiche is a make-ahead meal superstar.

· Refrigeration: Allow the quiche to cool completely. Cover the dish with plastic wrap or transfer individual slices to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
· Freezing: Bake and cool the quiche completely. Wrap the entire quiche (or individual slices) tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
· Reheating: For the best texture, reheat slices in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 15-20 minutes until warmed through. You can also use the microwave for 60-90 seconds per slice, though the oven will preserve the texture better.

FAQs: Your Quiche Questions, Answered!

Q: Can I use frozen broccoli?
A: Yes! There’s no need to thaw. Simply chop the frozen broccoli into small pieces and mix it directly into the filling. You may need to add 2-3 minutes to the baking time.

Q: My quiche turned out watery. What happened?
A: Wateriness is usually caused by the vegetables releasing too much moisture. This is why we recommend blanching fresh broccoli, as it removes excess water. If using other vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini, always sauté them first to cook off their liquid.

Q: Can I make this crustless quiche ahead of time?
A: Absolutely! You can assemble the entire quiche—fillings and custard—in the dish, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time since it will be starting from cold.

Q: Is this recipe truly keto?
A: Yes, when made with heavy cream and without any starchy fillings, this quiche is an excellent keto dinner idea. It’s high in fat, moderate in protein, and very low in carbohydrates.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Recipe

There you have it—the humble, glorious, and endlessly adaptable Crustless Chicken, Broccoli & Cheddar Quiche. It’s more than just a recipe; it’s a reliable tool in your culinary arsenal for creating healthy, satisfying meals that everyone will enjoy. It proves that you don’t need complex techniques or hours in the kitchen to put something truly wonderful on the table.

So, preheat that oven, grab your favorite pie dish, and get ready to experience the easiest weeknight win of your life. Don’t forget to pin this recipe, share it with your friends, and leave a comment below telling us how you made it your own!

Happy Cooking!