Our Potato Crusted Quiche recipe swaps the traditional quiche dough crust with a potato crust, creating a delicious, gluten-free alternative.
The potato crust not only makes it easier to prepare than a classic pie crust, but it also cuts the cooking time in half (no pre-baking of the crust required)! Plus, leftovers reheat beautifully.
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We love eggs in any form in this house, from perfect boiled eggs, and scrambled eggs, to omelettes. If you are a fan of eggs, this Potato Crust Quiche is a must-try! You will be surprised at how easy it is to pull off on a holiday or weekend morning, without waking up at the crack of dawn to prepare. Let’s get cracking…
Potato-Crusted Quiche Recipe
One year, I thought it would be a great idea to make our Quiche Lorraine for Christmas morning. It turned out to be a disaster. Don’t get me wrong, the recipe itself worked perfectly, but I didn’t plan properly, and my timing was way off. I also made the mistake of promising my kids we’d open presents after breakfast. Needless to say, no one was happy with me that morning. By the time the pie crust was made, pre-baked, and then filled and baked again, everyone was hangry.
This recipe, however, is a game-changer. It’s much easier to prep—while you’re boiling the potatoes, you can prepare the filling. Then, just pop it in the oven! No need to pre-bake the crust, making it a smoother, stress-free option for a holiday breakfast.
Ingredients for Quiche with Potato Crust
The key to making a great potato crust quiche is creating a crisp, flavorful potato base, and creating a rich, custard-like filling that holds everything together.
- Baby Yukon Gold Potatoes – Their creamy texture and mild flavor provide a tender, (gluten-free!) crust for the quiche filling.
- Bacon – Adds a smoky, savory flavor and a bit of crunch and makes for a lovely garnish.
- Yellow Onion – Adds a sweet, caramelized taste
- Cheese – you can use sharp white cheddar or gruyere (or your preferred cheese).
- Half and Half – Using half and half, or equal parts whole milk and heavy cream, adds just the right richness.
- Eggs – Serve as the main binding agent, giving the quiche its structure and a rich, custardy texture.
- Paprika – Adds a subtle smokiness.
- Nutmeg – Gives a warm, nutty undertone to the quiche filling and elevates the savory flavors.
Optional Add-Ins
Here are some delicious add-in ideas to mix into your eggs and customize your quiche to suit your preferences:
- Goat or feta cheese
- Fresh spinach
- Diced bell peppers
- Diced leftover baked ham
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Chopped fresh herbs such as parsley or basil
How to Make Potato Crust Quiche
- Boil the Potatoes – Preheat the oven to 400°F. Add the potatoes and enough water to cover them by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then add 1 ½ Tbsp salt. Reduce heat to medium and cook at a medium boil until fork-tender, about 20-30 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
- Sauté Bacon and Onions – While the potatoes cook, set a 10-inch cast iron pan (or a heavy-bottomed, oven-safe pan) over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the diced onions to the bacon fat and sauté, stirring often, until the onions are golden. Turn off the heat and transfer the onions to the plate with the bacon.
- Make the Potato Crust – Add the potatoes to the cast iron skillet over the bacon grease in a single layer. Sprinkle with ¼ tsp salt. The salt is needed here to make the crust tasty, so don’t skip it! Use the bottom of a glass or measuring cup to press the potatoes firmly into the bottom and about 1 inch up the sides of the pan, closing any gaps to form a complete crust.
- Prepare the Egg Mixture – In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Then, add the half and half, ½ tsp fine sea salt, pepper, paprika, and nutmeg. Whisk vigorously for a minute to incorporate some air into the mixture.
- Assemble the Quiche – Stir in the cheese, onion, and most of the chopped bacon (set some aside for garnish). Pour the filling into the potato crust.
- Bake and Serve – Bake at 400°F for about 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is set (it shouldn’t jiggle when you jolt the pan) and reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Garnish with the remaining bacon and parsley or chives, if desired.
What is the Best Dish to Use to Bake a Potato Crust Quiche?
I’m always considering the dish factor (i.e., reducing the amount of dishes I have to wash). I love how this 10-inch cast iron skillet can be used for cooking the bacon and onions, and it transitions easily from stovetop to oven. As long as it is well-seasoned, the quiche will slice and serve easily, and you won’t have any issues with sticking.
You can also use a 10-inch pie pan with a sturdy bottom or a ceramic quiche dish. DO NOT use a springform pan. I tried that, and it leaked all over the place.
What to Serve With Quiche
Serving these sides alongside quiche creates a delicious meal that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even lunch:
- Breads, like our famous Sourdough Bread or Croissants
- Roasted Veggies – try Roasted Cauliflower, or Roasted Broccoli
- Soup – try Tomato Soup, Butternut Squash Soup or French Onion Soup
- Salad, try our Arugula Salad, Pear Salad or Strawberry Salad
Make-Ahead
- To Refrigerate: Allow quiche to fully cool, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: Place in the air fryer at 300°F for 6-8 minutes or until it is warmed through. Reheat in the oven at 350˚F for 15-20 minutes covered with foil, or microwave for 1-2 minutes on medium power.
This recipe offers a delicious gluten-free twist on quiche, featuring a crispy, golden-brown smashed potato crust that perfectly holds the creamy egg custard filling. Breakfast has never felt so elegant.
More Special Occasion Breakfasts
If you love this Potato Crusted Quiche recipe, then you won’t want to miss these other breakfast recipes that are perfect for special occasions. These dishes are sure to impress family and friends, making holidays or weekend brunches memorable!
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Potato Crust Quiche
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs baby Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed
- 1 ½ Tbsp fine sea salt for boiling potatoes, plus ¼ tsp for sprinkling
- 8 oz (8 slices) bacon, chopped into ½-inch pieces
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheese , (sharp white cheddar or gruyere)
- 1 ½ cup half and half, or equal parts whole milk and heavy cream
- 5 large eggs
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 Tbsp parsley or chives, to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Add the potatoes and enough water to cover them by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then add 1 ½ Tbsp salt. Reduce heat to medium and cook at a medium boil until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. Drain well and set aside.
- While the potatoes cook, set a 10-inch cast iron pan (or a heavy-bottomed, oven-safe pan) over medium heat and add the chopped bacon. Cook until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the diced onions to the bacon fat and sauté, stirring often, until the onions are golden. Turn off the heat and transfer the onions to the plate with the bacon.
- Add the potatoes to the cast iron skillet over the bacon grease in a single layer. Sprinkle with ¼ tsp salt. The salt is needed here to make the crust tasty, so don’t skip it!
- Use the bottom of a glass or measuring cup to press the potatoes firmly into the bottom and about 1 inch up the sides of the pan, closing any gaps to form a complete crust.
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Then, add the half and half, ½ tsp fine sea salt, pepper, paprika, and nutmeg. Whisk vigorously for a minute to incorporate some air into the mixture.
- Stir in the cheese, onion, and most of the chopped bacon (set some aside for garnish). Pour the filling into the potato crust. Bake at 400°F for about 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is set (it shouldn’t jiggle when you jolt the pan) and reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Garnish with the remaining bacon and parsley or chives, if desired.
Notes
- Goat or feta cheese
- Fresh spinach
- Diced bell peppers
- Cooked cubed ham
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Chopped fresh herbs such as parsley or basil
This was delicious!! I made it with a 20 oz package of refrigerated hash browns, because that’s what I had, and a full pound of bacon. I think it’ll be even better with the baby Yukon Golds. Can’t wait to make it again!
Such an easy dish to prepare ahead of time. It comes out beautiful and full of flavour!
Made this Christmas morning. Loved working with just one pan. Lots of flavor and loved and potato crust! A keeper!
So glad you love the recipe, Merry Christmas!
This is fabulous and turned out amazing! Thank you🥰
You’re very welcome!
Why not just coarsely mash the potatoes, spoon into pan and use an offset spatula and fingers to spread around and up the sides?
Hi Val! I’m sure it could work other ways too, but we really liked the simplicity of the “smashed” potato crust and the rustic appeal of those edges.
One of the best quiche I’ve had in a while. Great bacon flavour. My family loved it.
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Tom!
I love the look of this! Quiche is something I really enjoy but I need to know, can this work with reduced fat ingredients as well? Thanks, Natasha! Merry Christmas!🥰
Hi Melissa! Yes, it just won’t be as rich.
Love that this is Gf. Can this be frozen. ?
I have only tried refrigerating this for up to 3 days. I think you can freeze it too!
If using a glazed quiche dish, would it be necessary to spray it first?
Hi Val. Yes, it’s a good idea to greasing it.
What a great recipe! I’m gluten free and it’s so nice to be able to eat a quiche! And healthier (more veggies) than a quiche with gluten anyway ;). Thank you so much for this!
You’re very welcome, Jennifer!
Yukon potatoes seem to be something of the past. They haven’t been available in Michigan for around two years. Do you know why?
HI Judy, I’m not sure why that would be. We have them everywhere in Idaho! Any other baby potatoes would work fine, or any potato really, the cook times would be different as well as the texture if substituting.
Can I peel the potatoes before cooking them as my mother (87) doesn’t like the skin in the ‘mash’?
I imagine that will be just fine! Hope you’ll both enjoy it!
Hi Natasha, I made this for tonight’s get together with our Zen group! It’s wonderful, really delicious, I had to fight them off because I wanted to save some for my girlfriend to try – (she’s very picky, but then she’s a food/travel journalist ) : ) I didn’t have Yukon Gold so I used Russets, they were fine. I also put some baby spinach and cut up jalapeno into the onion/bacon mix. And I didn’t have gouda, but some nice Polish cheeses. This is a keeper, people will think I’m a good cook thanks to you. Thank you for a great recipe. ps, I also used your cole slaw dressing as a side, which also went over very well. I always check your recipes first, I’m not dumb!
You don’t say anything about cutting the potatoes before cooking them. What do you suggest?
Hi Bruce, if they are baby Yukon potatoes, you don’t need to cut them at all. I just put them in the pot like you see in the photos. If using larger potatoes, you can cut them in half for faster/more even cooking.
Love this recipe. It’s gluten free. Now my friend can enjoy it.
Thank you Natasha, ❣️
I’m so glad you love the Potato Crust Quiche! Thank you for sharing that with me.