Fresh Herb and Ham Crustless Quiches

By Chris Scheuer | Updated on September 9, 2023
5 from 1 vote
These Fresh Herb and Ham Crustless Quiches are great for breakfast, brunch, lunch or casual dinners. They're easy to make and come together quickly but taste like a labor of love! I love that you can prepare them ahead then bake just before serving!

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These Fresh Herb and Ham Crustless Quiches are great for breakfast, brunch, lunch or casual dinners. They're easy to make and come together quickly but taste like a labor of love! I love that you can prepare them ahead then bake just before serving!

I've been testing this Fresh Herb and Ham Crustless Quiches recipe for the past week and we've been enjoying these delicious tarts for breakfast with fresh fruit, for quick, easy lunches and also in the evenings for dinner, paired with a simple green salad.

a plate of crustless quiches topped with fresh basil sitting on a wooden table with a colorful fruit salad

I love that there's minimal effort in putting them together. Other than sautéing a chopped onion with a clove of garlic, all that's involved is combining all the ingredients in a large bowl, giving everything a good stir and then transferring the mixture to small greased ramekins.

a closeup of a crustless quiche topped with fresh basil and rosemary, surrounded by fruit

Mix and match

Another thing that's wonderful about these Fresh Herb and Ham Crustless Quiches is that you can switch up the ingredients. I use cheddar and Parmesan cheeses for this recipe but have also tried Swiss, which was delicious. Gouda, Fontina, Monterey Jack  and Gruyere would also be great choices.

You can also change the fresh herbs. I generally use fresh rosemary and basil but thyme, oregano or dill would also be delicious.

And you could sub bacon or breakfast sausage for the ham but... you might need to change the name! All in all, it's a very flexible, adaptable recipe!

w crustless quiches topped with fresh basil and rosemary sitting on a marble surface

Individual or classic quiche size

I have made this recipe in 6 individual quiches and also in a classic quiche pan. Both ways work well. The smaller quiches will take less time.

a platter of a crustless quiche topped with fresh basil and rosemary being served with a fruit salad

What to serve with these Fresh Herb and Ham Quiches

As I mentioned above, there are so many ways to serve these delightful little savory egg dishes:

a platter of a crustless quiche topped with fresh basil and rosemary being served with a fruit salad

I hope you enjoy these Fresh Herb and Ham Quiches as much as we have! Bon Appétit!

P.S. We're having a dinner party tonight to celebrate a friend's birthday. Early this morning, Scott texted me this wonderful little quote to think about today, while I prepare for the evening. I thought I'd share it with you for those days when you're preparing a meal for others. It puts the work in the right perspective!

"Let the comforting qualities of the dishes
we prepare, become catalysts for
a rich fellowship, 
a warm consolation,
and a fruitful increase of holy affections."
Doug McKelvey - Every Moment Holy

Café Tips for making these Fresh Herb and Ham Quiches

  • Feel free to use individual shallow ramekins (1 cup each) or a classic quiche pan (6-7 cups) for this recipe. My ramekins hold 1 cup and the yield is 6 hearty servings. If you use a smaller ramekin like these 6-ounce baking dishes, the recipe will make 8 servings.
  • These Fresh Herb and Ham Quiches reheat really nicely. I use 20% power in the microwave for 3-5 minutes, until heated through. They would make a delicious work or school lunch!
  • Be sure to grease your pan well before adding the egg mixture. I use Pam non-stick cooking spray.
  • This recipe calls for 8 ounces of diced smokey ham. If I don't have leftover ham, I purchase 8 ounces at the deli, asking them to slice it about a quarter inch thick.
  • If I don't have leftover ham I really like Boar's Head Applewood Uncured Ham, available at larger grocery stores that carry Boar's Head
  • Instead of milk or cream as many quiche recipes call for, this Fresh Herb and Ham Quiches recipe calls for cottage cheese. This adds lots of great protein and melts into the egg mixture. I recommend 4% (whole milk) cottage cheese to prevent the quiches from being watery.
  • This recipe calls for thawed frozen hash browns. You can also use the Simply Potatoes which are shredded potatoes and can be found in the dairy section of most larger grocery stores. This saves the step of thawing the potatoes.
  • A lot of readers have asked how I shape my Kiwi. Super simple! I slice the kiwi fairly thick then use a small scalloped cutter to cut the "flowers". I discard the skins and extra fruit. It adds a fun beautiful presentation to a fruit bowl or platter.
a fruit salad in a blue and white bowl with strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and kiwis cut into star shapes

Thought for the  day:

 In Him, we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the riches of God's grace

that He lavished on us.
Ephesians 1:7-8

What we're listening to for inspiration:

Thank You, Jesus

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Fresh Herb and Ham Crustless Quiche(s)

Chris Scheuer
These Fresh Herb and Ham Crustless Quiches are great for breakfast, brunch, lunch or casual dinners. They're easy to make and come together quickly but taste like a labor of love! I love that you can prepare them ahead then bake just before serving!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 349

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 tablespoon butter, I use salted
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 medium garlic clove, finely minced
  • 1½ cups frozen shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed
  • ½ pound smoky ham, diced small
  • 8 large eggs
  • 6 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, (1ÂĽ cups)
  • 1 cup 4% cottage cheese
  • Âľ cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, the kind in oil, well-drained.
  • 1 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped if the leaves are large
  • fresh basil leaves and chopped rosemary, for garnish

Instructions
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ËšF. Spray 6 1-cup ramekins or one regular size quiche pan 6-7 cups with non stick baking spray. Set aside.
  2. Heat a medium-size sauté pan over medium heat. Add the butter and swirl the pan until melted. Add the onion and stir, then cook until soft and translucent, 4-6 minutes. Add the garlic and stir. Cook for 1 more minute.
  3. Place the thawed hash browns on a cutting board and run a large, sharp knife through them several times in different defections to roughly chop the long shreds.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until well combined. Add the chopped hash browns and the remaining ingredients and stir well. Add the cooked onions and stir one more time.
  5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan(s. If using the individual ramekins, set the on a sheet pan.
  6. Bake for 25-30 minutes for the smaller ramekins or 30-40 minutes for the single quiche pan or until the center of the quiche(s) is no longer wobbly.
  7. Let the quiche(s) sit for 10 minutes to set before serving. Garnish with more fresh herbs if desired .

Notes

See Café Tips above in the post for more detailed instructions and tips to ensure success.
If you prefer to use Metric measurements there is a button in each of our recipes, right above the word “Instructions”. Just click that button to toggle to grams, milliliters, etc. If you ever come across one of our recipes that doesn't have the Metric conversion (some of the older recipes may not), feel free to leave a comment and I will add it.
This recipe will yield 6-8 servings. Recipe nutritional info is based on 8 servings. 

Nutrition

Calories: 349kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 25gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 239mgSodium: 810mgPotassium: 396mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 692IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 324mgIron: 2mg
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American, French-American

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15 Comments

  1. Thank you Chris for once again being a trustworthy and so very talented chef. Your recipe is so easy to follow and absolutely delicious. This is my first quiche and it turned out so well even though I had to adjust some items. I baked it using the oven fan at 375 and it was done in like 25mins, but needed a bit more to brown. Everyone loved it and took leftovers home too! Thank you so much for helping us bless our friends n family! So appreciate you!

  2. Made these and loved it!
    2 questions
    What would happen if I skipped the hash browns? I hate to buy a bag and have so much leftover.
    And how far ahead could I mix all the ingredients together before I bake them?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Sheryl, so happy you enjoyed it!
      Regarding your questions, yes you could skip the hashbrowns. Another option would be to buy the smallest bag available and then divide the rest into 1½ cup size portions and return those to the freezer. That way, the next time you make this quiche, you'll be all set to go.
      You could stir together the ingredients early in the day or even a day in advance and then bake it just before serving.

  3. Hi, Instead of frozen hash browns, can I substitute fresh shredded potatoes if I drain or squeeze out the moisture?

    1. Hi Karen, yes, that will definitely work. You could even dice the cooked potatoes small and use them that way.

    2. Chris,
      I made these for our Easter brunch and they were delicious. My family commented how good they were. Lots of yummy flavors. Definitely will make again!
      Thanks again for sharing!
      Gayle

  4. Hi Chris,

    The recipe sounds great but what can I substitute for the cottage cheese.
    I have never enjoyed the taste or texture.

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Bonnie, I''m not a fan of cottage cheese either but you would never know it's in here. It melts into the egg mixture. That being said, you could try Greek yogurt or half and half.

  5. Chris, Do you think I can reduce the parmesan and cheddar by 1/3 or so and still get a great result? And/or the whole milk cottage cheese?
    I am looking to reduce the cholesterol in your (surely delicious) recipe. Thank you!

    1. Recent studies show that consumption of cheese does not contribute to increased levels of LDL (the bad cholesterol).