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.

Should vegetables be cooked before putting in quiche? ›

"Vegetables will take longer to cook than your egg custard, so always sauté onions, steam broccoli, etc. before you add them to your egg mixture to ensure every bite of quiche will be perfectly cooked," says Kristin Beringson, executive chef at Henley in Nashville.

Should I cover my quiche when baking? ›

How Long Should I Bake Quiche? 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 to cook when hosting brunch? ›

Get the Chocolate Chip Pancakes recipe.
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Apr 1, 2024

What do the French serve with quiche? ›

French people often enjoy eating quiche with a side salad or a light soup. This combination makes for a satisfying and balanced meal that is popular in French cuisine.

What temperature should quiche be cooked at? ›

Overcooking it will curdle the eggs. And of course, you know what I'll say next: to prevent this minor tragedy, temp your quiche. The custard in a quiche is done between 165°F and 185°F (74°C and 85°C), with some variation coming into temp based mostly on preference.

Do you prebake pie crust for quiche? ›

And yes, as you'll see, you should always prebake quiche crust to avoid a gummy pastry. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Roll out your homemade or purchased refrigerated dough into a 12-inch circle.

Should quiche be on top or bottom rack? ›

Placing your quiche on the bottom rack will ensure that every square-inch of the crust, including the bottom, will get golden-brown and crisp.

How long to bake a pre cooked quiche? ›

Place quiche on a baking sheet and cover with aluminum foil. 4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes 5. Allow the quiche to sit for about 15 minutes before removing the foil.

What do the French eat with quiche? ›

Quiche is traditionally served with a green salad and crusty French bread, but the sky is the limit when you start thinking of other options. Here are some ideas: A simple green salad such as arugula tossed with an olive oil and lemon vinaigrette.

What do you put in a brunch platter? ›

Hot items such as mini quiches, scones, and biscuits. Traditional breakfast foods – eggs, toast, baked beans, bagels, and spreads such as jam and mascarpone. Breakfast sandwiches – supply everything needed to make breakfast sandwiches to suit everyone's needs. Waffles or pancakes – don't forget a jug for syrup.

What food is good for hosting brunch? ›

Consider serving fluffy pancakes, savory quiches, fresh fruit platters, and delectable pastries. Complement these with a selection of gourmet coffees, teas, and refreshing mimosas. Customize the brunch party menu to cater to various preferences, including vegetarian and gluten-free options.

How do you make a good brunch menu? ›

Brunching in Style

Start with lighter items like a fresh fruit salad or a creamy yogurt parfait. Follow it up with your main dishes, like a slow cooker casserole or a breakfast pizza topped with scrambled eggs and Italian sausage. Finally, end on a sweet note with fluffy pancakes or a delicious carrot cake.

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