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Experience the ultimate convenience and taste with this crustless spinach quiche recipe, where every bite bursts with savory, eggy goodness. This easy-to-make quiche features tender spinach, crispy bacon, and two types of cheeses – without the fuss of a crust. Ideal for both quick meals and elegant brunches, this delightful low-carb egg dish will quickly become a favorite!
“LOVE this crustless version. Quiche has always been one of our favorites for any meal of the day. And I often freeze it in slices, so when the craving hits we can pop out a piece and bake it up!”
– ERICA
Update: This recipe was originally published in April 2020. I made updates to the article below to include more information about making a crustless quiche at home.
Table of Contents
- About this recipe for crustless spinach quiche
- What is a no pie crust quiche?
- ingredients for bacon spinach quiche crustless
- How to make spinach quiche crustless
- FAQs: frequently asked questions
- What type of pie pan should I use?
- Can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh for my quiche?
- What can I add to the quiche filling?
- How do I ensure my crustless spinach quiche isn’t watery?
- Can I add a crust to this crustless quiche?
- What temperature to bake no crust quiche?
- How to tell when my quiche is done baking?
- Can I prepare this quiche ahead of time?
- Serving crustless spinach quiche with bacon
- Storing leftovers
- More breakfast casseroles recipes with eggs!
- Crustless Spinach Quiche
About this recipe for crustless spinach quiche
If you love creamy, custardy eggs, but hate the hassle of pie crusts, I have the perfect quiche recipe for you!
Fluffy, rich and delicate egg custard flavored with a touch of spicy red pepper flakes, aromatic garlic and tangy dijon mustard; layered with crispy, meaty bacon, tender spinach, sharp white cheddar and creamy, nutty gruyere cheese. This crustless spinach and bacon quiche is hearty, filling and bursting with flavor, yet lighter and healthier than the classic alternative!
With only 15 minutes of hands-on-prep time required, this no crust spinach and bacon quiche is perfect for entertaining, yet easy and fast enough for a lazy breakfast or brunch with the family! Bonus, it can be made in advance and freezes beautifully!
If you’re looking for more easy egg breakfast ideas, try this Rolled Omelette in the Oven and Fluffy Omelet Recipe next.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Effortless Elegance! With no crust to worry about, this recipe for crustless spinach quiche simplifies the process – without sacrificing sophistication.
- Stress-Free Cooking! With a straightforward recipe, minimal prep time and no need to fiddle with dough, this quiche can be whipped up with 15 minutes of hands on preparation. It’s ideal for those days when you want a homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Flavor Explosion! Each bite delivers a delicious symphony of savory flavors—creamy eggs, vibrant spinach, rich cheese, and crispy bacon meld together for a harmonious taste sensation that will leave your taste buds dancing.
- Crowd-Pleaser! Perfect for entertaining, this crustless spinach and bacon quiche recipe is always a hit at brunches, potlucks, and with the family for dinners.
- Wholesome Comfort! Enjoy the comforting, homey feel of a classic quiche with a modern, low-carb twist. This no pie crust version offers the same rich, satisfying texture and flavor as traditional quiche but with fewer calories, carbohydrates, and less mess.
- Versatile Marvel! This crustless spinach bacon quiche is a canvas for your culinary creativity. Swap in your favorite cheeses, add your favorite herbs and cheeses, or customize the spices to your liking. Whether you prefer a hint of garlic, a touch of smoked paprika, or a sprinkling of sun-dried tomatoes, the possibilities are endless with this simple recipe.
ingredients for bacon spinach quiche crustless
This recipe for crustless quiche with spinach only requires 8 easy to find ingredients, plus a few pantry staples. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter: You’ll need unsalted butter to provides rich flavor for sautéing the onions.
- Onion: Sweet onions add a touch of mild onion flavor. Sub: Swap in caramelized onions if you’ve got them on hand.
- Seasonings & Spices: A combination of fresh garlic, red pepper flakes, ground nutmeg, kosher salt and ground black pepper all provide robust flavor.
- Spinach: I tend to use a block of frozen spinach in this no crust spinach and bacon quiche for convenience – it’s cheap and easy to find. Just make sure you thaw and thoroughly dry the spinach before using. Sub: Swap in 1 1/2 cups of fresh spinach instead. Just remove the stems, saute it, and then remove as much liquid as possible before adding it to the quiche.
- Bacon: Crispy bacon adds a punch of smoky, salty, umami flavor. I recommend using 12 to 16 ounces , depending upon how “meaty” you want your quiche.
- Cheese: White cheddar provides mild sharp flavor, while Gruyere cheese adds a nutty, slightly sweet flavor and creamy texture. Make sure you shred or grate the cheese yourself for the best taste and texture!
- Eggs: I use a ratio of 5 large eggs (one cup volume) per 3/4 cup of dairy for this recipe. You can use 4 large eggs plus 1 or 2 yolks if you prefer an extra-rich flavor and velvety texture.
- Dairy: Cream or half-and-half allows the protein in the eggs to coagulate, creating a silky, smooth custard. While classic custards use heavy cream, I prefer using half-and-half. While you can swap in whole milk for a less rich mouthfeel, I don’t recommend using low-fat or fat-free milk.
- Mustard: Dijon mustard provides a touch of fat, which makes your no crust spinach quiche taste more decadently flavorful.
If you have any spinach leftover, put it to good use in these recipes: Cold Spinach Dip, Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken, and Casserole of Creamed Spinach.
Recipe variations
There are so many variations of this crustless spinach quiche recipe you can try – it’s the perfect way to get creative in the kitchen. Try adding whatever ingredients you love or simply have hanging around the pantry. The possibilities and flavor combinations are only limited by your imagination:
- Crustless Spinach and Ham Quiche: Swap out the bacon for ham and replace the cheddar with mozzarella cheese.
- Bacon and Asparagus Crustless Quiche: Forget the leafy greens all together and use asparagus instead! Omit the gruyere, double up on the white cheddar cheese and throw in some parmesan for good measure!
- No Pie Crust Spinach Mushrooms Quiche: Make it vegetarian, but keep things hearty with a combination of spinach, shiitake mushrooms, shallots, gruyere cheese and parmesan cheese!
- Salmon and Spinach No Crust Quiche with Goat Cheese: Transform your quiche into a seafood lover’s dream! Try using a combination of spinach, smoked salmon, gruyere and parmesan! Don’t forget to throw in plenty of fresh dill and scallions for good measure!
- Vegetarian Quiche No Crust: You can easily transform this recipe into a vegetarian crustless spinach quiche – without sacrificing any flavor – by substituting the bacon with 4 to 5 ounces of fresh sliced mushrooms! Since mushrooms contain a lot of water, you will need to saute them along with the onions in step 2 of the recipe.
Pro-tip: When it comes to meats, use leftovers or cook them prior to adding them to your quiche filling. As for the vegetables, use your best discretion – any vegetables with a high water content, such as mushrooms, zucchini or eggplant, will need to be cooked prior to adding them to your filling!
Tips for the perfect crustless spinach quiche
Follow the simple tips below for baking up a perfect no crust spinach quiche every single time!
- Drain the spinach: It’s imperative you thoroughly squeeze the spinach dry to remove as much moisture as possible before adding it to the filling! If you skip this step the water will leak into your filling, which will interfere with the setting of the eggs and you will end up with a watery quiche!
- Grease the pie plate: This may seem obvious, but make sure you grease your pie plate! Eggs have a tendency to stick once cooked, so if you forget this step it will be tough to remove your quiche!
- Bake until just set: A crustless quiche is only as good as its fluffy, moist texture! Therefore, it is imperative to correctly bake it! If you don’t bake it long enough, the center will be too soft to cook; however, if you bake it too long then it will lose its creamy texture! Make sure you bake your quiche until the center is just set, or barely jiggly! (See below to read about how to tell when your quiche is done baking!)
- Cool: Your no crust spinach and bacon quiche will be very puffy upon removing it from the oven, but it will deflate quite a bit upon standing. Make sure you allow your quiche to rest at least 10 minutes before serving!
Step by step photos: making this recipe at home
FAQs: frequently asked questions
What type of pie pan should I use?
For the best results, I recommend using a standard deep dish pie pan which has a depth of at least 2 to 2.5-inches. Shallow pie dishes (with a depth of 1 to 1.25-inches) are great for thin pies with very little filling, such as chocolate tortes. However, this no crust spinach and bacon quiche is all about the thick, custardy filling, therefore you need to use a deep dish pie pan!
Can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh for my quiche?
You can use frozen spinach or fresh spinach to make this no pie crust quiche recipe. I actually prefer using frozen spinach since its’ convenient and doesn’t require further cooking, but use what you love.
If you’re using fresh spinach to make this recipe for crustless spinach quiche, you’ll need to saute it first. Regardless of which variety you are using, be sure to thoroughly drain it with paper towels to remove all excess water before adding it to the quiche filling mixture.
What can I add to the quiche filling?
- Meats: Not a fan of bacon? Try using turkey bacon, ham, chorizo, sausage, chicken sausage, prosciutto or even leftover rotisserie chicken!
- Seafood: Feeding a pescatarian? Switch things up and add in lump crab meat, leftover salmon or smoked salmon!
- Greens: Instead of spinach, try other chopped leafy greens you love, such as kale or baby arugula!
- Vegetables: Quiche is a great way to use up any vegetables you have hanging around your refrigerators crisper drawer! Try throwing in some bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, potatoes, zucchini, asparagus, eggplant or even radishes!
- Cheese: Swap out cheeses based upon what you love! Try swapping in some parmesan, Swiss cheese, gouda, goat cheese, cheddar, feta, mozzarella, pepper jack or even ricotta! As a rule of thumb, make sure you use at least one good melting cheese like cheddar or mozzarella for the best taste and texture!
- Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs are a wonderful way to add bright flavor to your quiche! Throw in some parsley, chives, scallions or dill depending upon what you love!
How do I ensure my crustless spinach quiche isn’t watery?
Nothing is worse than a sad, watery quiche! If your no crust spinach and bacon quiche turns out watery, chances are your filling ingredients were too moist, or your quiche needs to be baked for a longer period of time.
To avoid a water-logged quiche, follow these two simple rules:
- Make sure your filling ingredients are as dry as possible! Any vegetables with a high water content, such as mushrooms or zucchini, need to be blanched or sautéed. Cooked greens, such as spinach, need to be thoroughly squeezed dry to remove as much moisture and liquid as possible.
- Proper baking time! Under-baking your quiche can cause it to be quite watery. Make sure you bake your quiche until the center is just set and barely jiggles when you shake the pie pan.
Can I add a crust to this crustless quiche?
Absolutely! If you prefer a traditional quiche with a flaky crust you can use a frozen or pre-made pie crust, or try making your own! You will need to partially blind bake the crust first. Then, instead of filling an empty pie pan, you will pour the filling directly into the crust.
What temperature to bake no crust quiche?
The exact temperature to cook your quiche will depend upon the recipe. However, crustless spinach quiches should generally be cooked in an oven preheated between 325 to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range ensures that the filling cooks slowly. If you bake the quiche in an oven that is too hot, your quiche will puff up, then sink and become rubbery. If you bake a quiche in an oven that is too cold, your quiche will not properly set in the middle.
A properly cooked quiche should have an exterior that is puffy and golden brown. The inside of the quiche should be just set and have a consistency similar to scrambled eggs.
How to tell when my quiche is done baking?
The key to a delicious quiche is proper baking! There are a couple ways to test this crustless spinach quiche recipe for doneness. It’s important to remember that you should bake your crustless spinach quiche until it is ‘soft set’ or ‘just set’ as it will continue to cook as it stands at room temperature.
- Knife method: Insert the blade of a knife halfway down between the side and the center of the quiche. If your knife comes out clean, your quiche is done baking.
- Thermometer method: Insert an instant-read thermometer in the center of the no crust spinach quiche, halfway down through the filling. Your quiche is done baking when it reaches an internal temperature of 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tip: Always let your quiche cool for 10 minutes at room temperature before serving – this allows the quiche to completely set in the middle!
Can I prepare this quiche ahead of time?
Absolutely! There are a few ways to prepare this spinach quiche without a crust ahead of time depending upon your preference:
- Prep ahead and bake later (up to 1 day ahead): Prepare the quiche ahead according to the recipe instructions. Pour the quiche into the pie pan, cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day, remove the quiche from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes to remove the chill before baking according to the recipe instructions. (Note: You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time.)
- Prep, bake and reheat later (up to 3 days ahead): Prepare and bake the quiche according to the recipe instructions. Allow the quiche to cool to room temperature before covering with plastic wrap or foil and storing in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, follow the instructions below for reheating your quiche.
Inexpensive, easy to prepare and totally customizable, this no-fail no crust spinach and bacon quiche is creamy, incredibly fluffy and packed with tender vegetables, salty bacon, flavorful seasonings and two types of cheeses. It’s perfect for easy breakfasts and quick lunches, or makes a delicious, simple dinner served with a side salad! No matter when or how you serve it up, you and your family will love this lightened-up classic!
Until next week, friends, cheers!
Cheyanne
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More breakfast casseroles recipes with eggs!
Crustless Spinach Quiche
Equipment
- 1 Medium Skillet – for sautéing the veggies
- 1 Medium Mixing Bowl – for whisking the eggs
- 1 9-inch deep dish pie pan (9×2-inch or equivalent) – for baking the no crust quiche
Ingredients
- 1 TBS Unsalted Butter – or Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 small Sweet Onion – small dice (about 1 3/4 cup)
- 2 cloves Garlic – minced
- 1/4 scant tsp EACH: Crushed Red Pepper Flakes & Ground Nutmeg
- 10 ounces Chopped Frozen Spinach – thawed, drained & squeezed dry (can substitute 1 ½ cups Fresh Spinach)
- 12-16 ounces Cooked Bacon – chopped (about 1 ½ cups) (SEE NOTES)
- 1 ¼ Cup Shredded White Cheddar – DIVIDED (4 ounces)
- 1 Cup Shredded Gruyere – DIVIDED (3 ounces)
- 5 large Eggs
- ¾ Cup Half-and-Half (substitutes: Heavy Cream or Full-Fat Whole Milk)
- 1 heaping tsp Dijon Mustard
- To Taste Kosher Salt & Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven and Prepare Pan: Arrange oven rack to the middle position and then preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie pan (9×2-inch or equivalent) with non-stick cooking spray.
- Saute Onions with Seasonings: Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted, add the diced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until they're slightly golden and softened, about 5-6 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg to the skillet and season with a scant 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook the veggie mixture, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds, or until the garlic is fragrant. Immediately remove the pan from the heat.
- Add Spinach and Bacon to Onions: To the skillet with the onions, add the spinach and the bacon, then stir everything to combine the filling ingredients.
- Add Quiche Fillings to Pie Pan: Transfer the spinach mixture to the prepared pie pan. Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese and ¾ cup of gruyere to the pie pan and stir the ingredients to combine. Then, use a spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the filling out in an even layer.
- Prepare the Egg Custard: To a medium mixing bowl, add the eggs, half-and-half, and mustard mustard. Season with ¼ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Then use a whisk and stir the ingredients until thoroughly combined and homogenous.
- Pour Egg Custard over Spinach Mixture and Top with More Cheese: Pour the egg custard over the spinach and bacon mixture in the prepared pie pan. Next, use a spatula or spoon to gently press the filling ingredients down into the eggs. Sprinkle the remaining ¼ cup of EACH cheese evenly over the quiche.
- Bake Crustless Quiche: Transfer the quiche to the preheated oven and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until eggs are just set. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the filling – it should come out clean. (Note: If the top browns before the quiche is done baking, lightly tent the top of the dish with aluminum foil.)
- Cool Slight, Then Serve No Crust Spinach Quiche: Remove the quiche from the oven and place on a wire rack. Let the crustless quiche cool on the counter for 10 minutes. Then use a sharp knife to slice the spinach quiche into individual servings. Garnish with fresh herbs and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- To easily and evenly cook bacon: Arrange oven rack to the middle shelf position. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (or 400 degrees convection setting if you have it). Arrange bacon in an even layer on a wire rack lined baking sheet. Bake for 12-18 minutes or until cooked and crispy. (No need to flip bacon! If you are not using a convection oven, you may want to rotate the pan halfway through cooking if your oven has hot spots.)
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Need to Scale the Recipe? Hover your mouse over the number of servings in the recipe card. You’ll see a sliding scale pop up, you can use that to scale the recipe up or down as needed.
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Got questions? I’ve got answers! If you ever run into an issue, have a question, or need any clarification – please feel free to drop them in the comments section. I’m happy to help when I can!
Nutrition
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Cheryl Beck
Can it be prepared two days in advance and then cooked
Cheyanne
Hi Cheryl,
Great question! There are two different ways you can prepare this quiche recipe in advance. I cover your options in the article above – here’s a link to the answer in the article: https://www.nospoonnecessary.com/crustless-spinach-quiche-recipe/#Can_I_make_quiche_ahead_of_time
Cheers and warmest wishes for a wonderful day!
Best,
Cheyanne
Jasmine
I love quiche and this one is even better because you’ve lightened it up, but not too much. Because bacon! This is really wonderful, Cheyanne. I’d gladly sit down to this for any meal of the day!
Kelsy
I love quiche! This crustless version was perfect for Easter brunch. :).
Erica
LOVE this crustless version. Quiche has always been one of our favorites for any meal of the day. And I often freeze it in slices, so when the craving hits we can pop out a piece and bake it up!
Beth
This is so yummy and I do love mine with lots of bacon bits :-))
Kimberly
Quiche is one of our favorites. We enjoy it for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And this crustless version is spectacular. I’m always looking to cut out calories, so I’m all about the no crust. Can’t wait to add this to our menu again! Thanks!!
Alexis
I love quiche and thankfully, eggs are pretty easy to get here, so they are rapidly becoming a great staple for us. Will be making this recipe again soon.
James
Love this combo of spinach, bacon, and cheese. I also used sun-dried tomatoes in my quiche!