Quiche Lorraine Recipe (2024)

By Craig Claiborne

Updated Nov. 13, 2023

Quiche Lorraine Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 10 minutes
Rating
5(3,778)
Notes
Read community notes

The first quiche to come to the attention of the American public was the quiche Lorraine in the 1950s. Craig Claiborne, who started as food editor of The Times in 1957, created this classic recipe with bacon, onion and cheese to fill a pie dish. If you use a tart pan, expect to have extra custard.

Keys to This Recipe

What is quiche: In its most traditional French form, a quiche is composed of a buttery crust filled with a savory egg custard. The pastry is known as pâte brisée. Fillings can include any combination of cheese, herbs, vegetables and smoked meat or fish.

How to Make Quiche: For any type of quiche, you start with homemade pastry dough or a store-bought pie crust and fit it into a 9- or 10-inch pie, tart or quiche pan. To prevent a soggy crust, par-bake the dough by baking it alone first, lined with parchment paper or foil and filled with pie weights, such as dried beans. Once the dough is golden, it can be filled with the custard and any other ingredients, then baked again until the custard is just set.

Make-Ahead Tips for Quiche: Quiche tastes best when served after 20 to 30 minutes of cooling and within an hour of baking. It can be completely cooled, then covered and refrigerated for up to 3 days, but the crust will get soggy. It’s better to keep a fully baked quiche at room temperature for up to 6 hours and then reheat it, uncovered, in a 300-degree oven for 10 to 20 minutes. (If it has been in the refrigerator, add another 10 minutes or so.) You also can prepare the dough up to 3 days ahead and refrigerate it or par-bake the crust up to a day in advance and keep it at room temperature.

Side Dishes to Serve With Quiche: Because quiche is quite rich, it tastes best with a sharp, light salad, such as arugula salad or green salad.

Gluten-Free Options for Quiche: You can purchase a gluten-free crust or make your own by swapping a 1-to-1 flour blend for all-purpose flour. Or, you can make a crustless quiche.

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Ingredients

Yield:6 to 10 servings

  • Pastry for a one-crust 9-inch pie (see pastry recipe)
  • 4strips bacon
  • 1onion, thinly sliced
  • 1cup Gruyère or Swiss cheese, cubed
  • ¼cup grated Parmesan
  • 4eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2cups heavy cream or 1 cup each milk and cream
  • ¼teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½teaspoon salt
  • ¼teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • Tabasco sauce to taste

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

  2. Step

    2

    Line a nine-inch pie plate with the pastry. By all means build a rim with the pastry and flute it. This is essential for the amount of custard indicated in this recipe.

    Quiche Lorraine Recipe (2)
  3. Step

    3

    Cover the bottom of the pastry with a round of parchment paper and add enough dried beans or peas to partly fill the shell. Bake 10 minutes.

    Quiche Lorraine Recipe (3)
  4. Step

    4

    Reduce the oven heat to 375 degrees. Remove and discard the beans and parchment paper and set the pastry-lined pie plate aside.

    Quiche Lorraine Recipe (4)
  5. Step

    5

    Cook the bacon until crisp and remove it from skillet. Pour off all but one tablespoon of the fat remaining in the skillet. Cook the onion in the remaining fat until the onion is transparent.

  6. Step

    6

    Combine the eggs, cream, nutmeg, salt, pepper and Tabasco sauce. Crumble the bacon and sprinkle the bacon, onion and cheeses over the inside of the partly baked pastry.

    Quiche Lorraine Recipe (5)
  7. Step

    7

    Strain the cream mixture over the onion-cheese mixture. Slide the pie onto a baking sheet.

  8. Step

    8

    Bake the pie until a knife inserted one inch from the pastry edge comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Remove to a wire rack. Let stand 5 or 10 minutes before serving.

    Quiche Lorraine Recipe (6)

Ratings

5

out of 5

3,778

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Mike Haller

FYI I'm a real greenhorn but my experience on my second try w this:
1. Used a prefab 9" frozen crust.
2. Cut up a large onion used about 3/4 of it.
3. Cut gruyere into very small cubes.
4. Used 3 eggs and 1 3/4 cup heavy cream
5. Put extra leftover cooked onions on top of custard before baking.
6. Baked for 35 min at 400 (elec oven)
I'd love to post a pic. Wish I could.
NYT Cooking is helping me learn cooking at age 71. THANKS.

Travis Creston

Something that really helps prevent soggy bottoms: after taking any pie crust out of the oven once you blind bake it, remove the beans or pie weights & parchment, paint the bottom with egg white & place back in the oven for a good five minutes or so. The EW will crisp up & create a nice barrier to prevent a soggy bottom! Works every time.

Kristin PC

Flavors were great, but I had a few baking issues. I'd make it again with these adjustments:

ISSUE: The bottom of the finished quiche was VERY soggy. A good bit of liquid actually seeped through the crust onto the baking sheet.
FIX: After the 10 minute par-bake, remove weights and parchment. Continue to par-bake for 6-8 more minutes. Before adding ingredients and egg mix, protect the edge of the crust with foil strips.

ISSUE: Under baked.
FIX: Cook for 28-30 minutes.

Linda

Delicious! I've used bacon many times but, now prefer to dice a ham steak and add to transparent onions to heat through before adding to pie dish. I also grate the swiss cheese instead of cubes so it melts better. Cooking time was about 50 minutes at 375. I always refer to this recipe when making a quiche.

Phyllis

I made this today. To fit a grocery store pie crust (9inch deep dish) I made the following changes: used three eggs and reduced the cream to 1.5 cups. Every thing else was the same. It was PERFECT. No leftover custard with those amounts.

N.M.Nicholas

Quiche generally take a long time at a low temperature, so the eggs do not cook too quickly and ruin the texture. I set my timer for 45 minutes then I check generally it. Often it take a awhile longer, try separating the eggs, creaming the yolk, and then beating the whites until you have stiff peaks. That will give it more body and a more fluffy final product.

Ayla

A bit atypical a quiche lorraine (we use smoked lardons and we don't use parmesan in France, eg) but really good recipe nonetheless. I had to let it in the oven for a longer time (45')

Deana

I've made this several times and it's always satisfying! I double the bacon, reduce the cream to 1 1/2 cups and use a deep pie plate. I also add a dash of cayenne in place of the tabasco. Great with spinach and mushrooms, too!

Mylene

So very good - the flavors of France. I followed the recipe closely, just baked the shell st 375 for 10 minutes with the beans and another 5 without them. Used a good quality, thick-cut bacon and then layered onion, then bacon, then cheese, then onion, bacon and cheese again before pouring the egg mixture in, this kept everything well-distributed. Everything turned out delicious, truly the definitive quiche recipe.

Elizabeth

Absolutely delicious. Didn't use the parchment paper, but did use pie weights. Needed about 12 minutes longer in the oven, but had a wonderful texture. Small cubes of gruyere worked well (less than 1 cm).

Remember to chill pastry after shaping, before blind baking.

michelle

But what you’re making is nowhere near Quiche Lorraine. Vanilla? Allspice? Yuck.

Jim A

While this is a quiche/tart of some sort an likely fine, it is not a quiche loraine with those substitutions. Some classic dishes are what the are.

g33kygurl

Great recipe! Substituted half and half for heavy cream and pinch of cayenne for Tabasco. Also forgot to add parmesan. Turned out fantastic.
Required 50 min baking time @ 375.

SLR

After blind baking brush bottom of tart with egg white... put back in oven and bake another 5 minutesThis will keep the crust from getting soggy.

Pamela

I wish that people would stop presenting recipes with other ingredients than those that belong in the original recipe. Craig Claiborne should have known better. Quiche Lorraine never has cheese in it. Call it a cheese/bacon quiche but not Lorraine. This only perpetuates incorrect expectations of a certain dish.

Frank

This was good. However I blind baked my crust for an hour and still had a soggy bottom so I can’t imagine after ten minutes. Next time I would shred the cheese instead of cubing, it was still kind of cube-y in the finished product.

Stephanie

I’ve followed this as written for year, except for cutting back on both cream and eggs. Great tip, thanks!

Aquidneck

I followed the recipe as-is using homemade blind baked crust. Used two cups of heavy cream but next time will use a combination of milk and heavy cream as the quiche was very rich. A bit too rich for us.

Zach

Also shallot

mine

8 oz Gruyère instead of one cup.

Greasy lil thing!

This recipe was a miss for me. Very greasy and not pleasant.

Kate

Quiche Lorraine is one of my favourites and I've made it many times. I never blind bake the crust and never have a "soggy bottom". My all-butter pastry is flaky and crisp and never soggy. In my experience, the blind bake is not necessary.

Margarena

I didn't have any bacon so I used some pancetta instead. Really good.

Malcolm Z

I was doing okay until the filling was overflowing the shell/crust I bought frozen (and prebaked 10 min). I'll do 3 eggs and 1.5 cups of cream (I had half and half) next time. Straining was dubious: a lot of the black pepper was too big. Also, 1 cup Gruyère is ~100g; my cubes were tiny and I forgot Parmesan. Then 50 min at 375º. It still tasted good, and I'll try to get a flakier crust next time.

Courtney Thurston

Very strange recipe because this yields way more filling than can fit in a 9" pie crust/pan. A LOT more. This also appears to be a sub-optimal ratio of eggs to dairy, which is typically 4 eggs:1 cup. This calls for double the dairy, and it shows in the inability of the mixture to set. If you insist on using this recipe, I'd cut down on every single ingredient, and use 4 eggs: 1 cup dairy ratio. Others have already corrected the baking time. Sloppy recipe, wouldn't recommend.

S. Wolff

I used half and half. Turned out wonderful texture. Used 1/8 cup Parm. Less then recipe, wasn't sure, never used Parm before. EASY! Many compliments

Cheree

Mine was delicious. I added spinach. Needed to bake I little longer like 8 minutes

Jean W

HELP! Does 1cup Gruyère or Swiss cheese, cubed mean by weight (i.e. 8 ounces) or by volume (i.e. measuring cup). It's a huge difference between the two. Thanks

Malcolm Z

I bought 8 ounces Gruyère by weight and cubed it all, but as I was adding it, it looked way too much (even without parmesan, which I forgot). So, I looked up online how much one cup of Gruyère weighs (~100g), and it seems like the recipe meant by volume and I just estimated that as half of the "8 oz" (220 g) original portion of the cheese. I really wish more recipes would specify grams/milliliters because most food labels include that info.

Straining Cream Mixture

How do you strain the cream mixture? Like how coarse of a strainer? Are the eggs more than just beat together?

Cathy C

I never blind bake the crust to my quiche, and it turns out fine.

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Quiche Lorraine Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the formula for quiche? ›

Ratios: The best way to make a quiche is to add the eggs to a large measuring cup, then add the cream or milk. For every egg used you should add enough milk or cream to create a 1/2 cup. Meaning for 1 egg you will add enough cream or milk to make 1/2 a cup of mixture.

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

To be considered Quiche Lorraine, the quiche must be made with eggs, heavy cream, bacon, and Swiss cheese. Any quiche that strays from this formula with the omission of bacon or the addition of other ingredients such as ham, sausage, vegetables, etc. is considered quiche, not Quiche Lorraine.

Is milk better than heavy cream in quiche? ›

Heavy Cream and Milk – For the best tasting quiche, use a combination of whole milk and heavy cream. (Or simply use half-and-half.) Using just heavy cream produces an overly thick filling. Whole milk is great, but a combo of heavy cream and milk is better.

What happens if you put too many eggs in 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.

What is the ratio of eggs to milk in a quiche? ›

The best quiche ratio is 1 large egg to 1/2 cup of dairy. The ratio of the fat content from the dairy and the protein from the eggs determine the custard's final texture. The egg proteins bond to form a soft gel-like texture, while the dairy gives the quiche a creamy flavor.

What is the best cheese to use for quiche? ›

You can use any shredded cheese you like; one winning combination is havarti, colby, and Parmesan. Quiche is an excellent choice for any meal, including a busy weeknight dinner. It can even be prepared in advance and refrigerated or frozen, then quickly reheated.

What is not a traditional ingredient in Quiche Lorraine? ›

Purists will tell you that only bacon, cream, and eggs are allowed. Though it is common to find other ingredients like Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and even chives. The original quiche Lorraine may not include cheese, but I won't tell anyone if you decide to add one cup of shredded Gruyere to the mix.

Should you Prebake 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.

Why is Quiche Lorraine special? ›

Central to the Quiche Lorraine's appeal is the delicate balance of flavors. The creamy custard base, crafted from eggs and cream, provides a velvety backdrop to the savory bacon and cheese. Each bite offers a harmonious symphony of tastes that dance on the taste buds, leaving a lasting impression.

Why does my quiche always have a soggy bottom? ›

Wet pie fillings + raw dough are a tricky combination. If the bottom crust doesn't set before the filling soaks in, it's going to be gummy. A metal pie pan placed on a preheated surface will set the bottom crust quickest; once cooked, the liquids from the filling above won't soak in, and as a result: no soggy bottom.

Why is my homemade quiche watery? ›

Excess moisture is one reason why quiches collapse in a watery pool on your plate. Vegetables and meats like ham give off tremendous amounts of water when they're cooked. Therefore, if you're using vegetables in your quiche, it's imperative that you cook them first.

Why is my quiche always watery? ›

According to Real Simple, this typically occurs when adding too-wet ingredients to the quiche filling, layering the egg custard with, for example, large slices of raw tomato or raw zucchini. These vegetables, while tasty, have a high water content when raw, which will weep into the quiche as it bakes.

Should quiche be cooked at 350 or 375? ›

BAKE in center of 375°F oven until center is almost set but jiggles slightly when dish is gently shaken and knife inserted near center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes.

Should you beat eggs for quiche? ›

BEAT eggs, milk, thyme and salt in medium bowl until blended. Carefully POUR over filling in pie shell. BAKE in center of 375°F oven until center is almost set but jiggles slightly when dish is gently shaken and knife inserted near center comes out clean, 30 to 40 minutes.

Why do you put flour in quiche? ›

Roll it out a tad bit thicker than you normally would for a standard pie if possible, and absolutely use it all. Confidently press any overhang or extra pieces into the walls of your pan. Add flour to your filling: Adding a bit of flour to your quiche filling helps absorb moisture and stabilize things in general.

What is quiche filling made of? ›

Prepare the quiche filling.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, and heavy cream. Add the salt, pepper, garlic and cayenne (if using) to the egg mixture. Add 1 cup of Gruyère cheese and the bacon. Set aside.

What is a quiche base made of? ›

Quiche crusts are made with shortcrust pastry. The name “shortcrust” refers to the baking term “short” which means pastries that are flaky and crumble when you cut into them.

How many eggs equal 1 cup? ›

One cup is roughly equivalent to: Six small eggs. Five medium eggs. Five large eggs.

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