Brunch Recipe for a Crowd: Country Ham & Onion Quiche Baked in a Sheet Pan (2024)

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Nealey Dozier

Nealey Dozier

Nealey Dozier is a former wedding planner turned chef, culinary instructor, recipe developer, and food writer. She is based in Atlanta. You can find more of her Southern adventures in eating and entertaining at www.dixiecaviar.com.

updated May 2, 2019

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Brunch Recipe for a Crowd: Country Ham & Onion Quiche Baked in a Sheet Pan (1)

Serves12

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Brunch Recipe for a Crowd: Country Ham & Onion Quiche Baked in a Sheet Pan (2)

Quiche is the quintessential spring dish, whether served as a nibble before the main event or as the shining star of a casual brunch. In this ham and onion version you’ll find a method for a quick and easy savory shortbread crust that’s so simple all you have to do is pat it directly into the pan.

The Key to Making Ham and Onion Quiche in a Sheet Pan

For the custard, I tripled my favorite onion and ham tart recipe and used a tip I learned from Thomas Keller to make sure there was goodness in every bite: Mix the batter in the blender to create lots and lots of bubbles to help suspend the filling ingredients instead of letting them sink to the bottom.

I’m excited to say that everything came together to create a sublime quiche — a beyond buttery crust, a creamy custard, and flavorful bursts of onion and ham. It definitely feeds a crowd, so make sure you have some hungry mouths to feed.

Tester’s Notes

Quiche for a crowd with no muffin cups to clean? Amazing! This is just right for Sunday brunches or showers for babies and brides. When party planning, I look for spots to streamline. Nealy, the post’s original author, included an intriguing tip garnered from famed chef Thomas Keller: Use a blender to aerate the custard to encourage suspension of quiche fillings. It’s a clever tip, but I’ll try it when preparing a deeper egg pie.

For this shallow sheet pan version I’m sticking to a simple whisk. Country ham and vidalia onion are classic Southern ingredients. Bacon can surely be substituted, but since the ham needs no precooking, I’ll reach for it when party prepping. Just remember — country ham is quite salty, so small pieces are ideal.

Patty, March 2018

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Country Ham and Onion Quiche

Serves 12

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 2 1/2 cups

    all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 cup

    grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1 1/2 cups

    (3 sticks) cold, unsalted butter, cut into cubes

  • 1 teaspoon

    salt

  • Pinch

    cayenne pepper

For the filling:

  • Olive oil

  • 1 cup

    diced sweet onion, preferably Vidalia

  • 1 cup

    diced country ham (or cooked bacon or pancetta)

  • 1 cup

    grated Gruyère cheese

  • 2 cups

    heavy cream

  • 1 cup

    whole milk

  • 8

    large eggs

  • 1 tablespoon

    kosher salt

  • Ground white pepper, to taste

For serving (optional):

  • Sour cream

  • Fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Make the crust: Place the flour, Parmesan, butter, salt, and cayenne in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until the mixture just starts to resemble coarse cornmeal; there should still be some visible pieces of butter. Transfer the mixture to a 13x18-inch sheet pan and gently pat it evenly into the bottom (but not up the sides).

  2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Bake until the crust is pale golden-brown in color, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool while making the filling.

  3. Make the filling: Heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and cook until translucent and tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle the onions, ham, and Gruyère evenly over the baked crust.

  4. Place the cream, milk, eggs, salt, and white pepper in a blender and blend until frothy. Skim off and discard any foam from the top. Pour the custard evenly over the onion-ham-cheese mixture.

  5. Bake the quiche until the custard is set, 33 to 38 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool for a minimum of 15 minutes, or wait to serve at room temperature (Thomas Keller serves his chilled). Cut into 12 large rectangles or small squares; serve with a dollop of sour cream and garnish with sprig of Italian parsley for color if desired.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Filed in:

appetizer

Breakfast

Cheese

easter

Eggs

french

Brunch Recipe for a Crowd: Country Ham & Onion Quiche Baked in a Sheet Pan (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to bake quiche a night before? ›

Whether you serve it as an appetizer or a main dish, quiche can either be cooked ahead of time and served warm, cold, or at room temperature.

What is a breakfast quiche called? ›

Frittatas are Italian in origin and can be described as a cross between an omelet and a crustless quiche. Frittatas take less time to make than quiche or strata. The dish is traditionally made by beating eggs with dairy—often heavy cream or half and half—together with ingredients like vegetables, meats and cheeses.

Should I cover my quiche when baking? ›

At 375F, it requires 25 minutes of baking time uncovered. At that point, you'll want to check things out because you don't want the crust to get too brown. If it's looking a bit well-done, cover it with aluminum foil and continue cooking for 10 more minutes.

What not to put in quiche? ›

Avoid Fillings That Are Too Wet

"Some vegetables, such as sliced large tomatoes or raw zucchini, have a high water content and will make your quiche soggy (even if you follow all steps to avoid this!)," Davila notes.

Can you make quiche the night before and reheat? ›

To make quiche ahead of time, bake it as instructed and let it completely cool. Store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, cover it with foil and bake at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes, until just heated through.

What kind of menu is ideal for a brunch? ›

Brunch wouldn't be complete without its breakfast roots. You can expect to find classic morning dishes like eggs Benedict, fluffy pancakes, waffles, and French toast. These breakfast favorites are perfect for those who crave the comforting flavors of maple syrup, melted butter, and a hint of nostalgia.

What's the difference between quiche and quiche lorraine? ›

Quiche (/ˈkiːʃ/ KEESH) is a French tart consisting of pastry crust filled with savoury custard and pieces of cheese, meat, seafood or vegetables. A well-known variant is quiche lorraine, which includes lardons or bacon.

Do French people eat quiche for breakfast? ›

In Europe, quiche is a decidedly an afternoon meal. Bistros and cafes and even restaurants with white linen tablecloths will serve quiche for dinner, either as a starter or a main. You'll see it on a lunch menu too, but since breakfast is something for American tourists, it isn't that common.

What is the difference between quiche and breakfast casserole? ›

Egg Casserole

They are heartier than a quiche, leaning more towards a strata in texture. If you are dairy-free, you can use almond, cashew, coconut, hemp, rice, soy milk, or any other non-dairy milk you prefer.

Should pie crust be prebaked for quiche? ›

You need a par-baked or fully baked crust if you're making quiche, no-bake pie, custard pie, cream pie, pudding pie, or simply want an extra-crisp pie crust. If you're making a pie that doesn't require a baked filling, you still need a baked crust.

Can you put too many eggs in a quiche? ›

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 assemble a quiche the night before? ›

But, perhaps most importantly at a time of year when delicate spring foods beg to be prepared at the very last instant, quiche is an ideal make-ahead option. You can blind bake the crust up to a day in advance or bake the entire quiche 3 days before serving.

Can I make a quiche and reheat the next day? ›

The oven is by far the best method for reheating leftover quiche, especially if you're serving up quiche Lorraine.

How do you reheat quiche the day before? ›

Take your quiche out of the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature. This helps ensure the quiche reheats nice and evenly. Place your quiche on a baking sheet and cover the crust with aluminum foil. Warm the quiche in the oven for about 15 minutes, depending on the strength of your oven.

How do you reheat quiche the next day? ›

First, set the cooking power to 50%. Then, place the quiche in the microwave (if it was in a metal tin, then transfer it to a microwave-safe dish). Cook it for three minutes. If it is not done at this point, cook it in 30 second increments to ensure you do not overcook it.

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