Easy Spinach Cream Cheese Quiche Recipes

CHEESY SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• I like to make sure my pie dough is prepared before I begin the quiche. Make pie dough the night before because it needs to chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before rolling out and blind baking (next step). And here's a time-saving tip- as the crust blind bakes, you can get started on the filling which begins with step 7.
• On a floured work surface, roll out one of the disks of chilled dough (freeze the other for another time). Turn the dough about a quarter turn after every few rolls until you have a circle 12 inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into a 9-inch pie dish. Tuck it in with your fingers, making sure it is completely smooth. Chill the pie crust in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. (And up to 5 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months. Cover the pie crust with plastic wrap if chilling for longer than 30 minutes or if you're freezing it. If you freeze it, let it thaw for a couple hours in the refrigerator before continuing.)
• While the crust is chilling, preheat oven to 400°F (204°C).
• Line the chilled pie crust with parchment paper or aluminum foil. (Crunch up the parchment paper first so that you can easily shape it into the crust.) Fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges of the crust are starting to brown, about 15-16 minutes. Remove pie from the oven and carefully lift the parchment paper/aluminum foil (with the weights) out of the pie. Prick holes all around the bottom crust with a fork. Return the pie crust to the oven and bake until the bottom crust is just beginning to brown, about 7-8 minutes.
• Remove crust from the oven. (You can partially pre-bake the crust up to 3 days ahead of time. Cover cooled crust tightly and refrigerate until ready to fill.)
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (177°C).
• If your frozen spinach is not already thawed, thaw it in the microwave per box directions. Drain the spinach in a colander while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• Place sliced mushrooms in a skillet coated with 1 teaspoon olive oil or nonstick spray, add the garlic, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Turn the heat on to medium-high and sauté the mushrooms until they release all of their moisture and no more water remains on the bottom of the skillet, about 6-7 minutes.
• Whisk the eggs, milk, and parmesan cheese together until combined. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Blot and squeeze the rest of the water out of the thawed spinach. Spread spinach on warm pre-baked pie crust. Add the cooked mushrooms and shredded cheeses. Pour the egg mixture on top. If desired, sprinkle the top lightly with more parmesan cheese and/or salt and pepper.
• Bake the quiche until the center is just about set, about 50-60 minutes. Don't over-bake. Use a pie crust shield to prevent the pie crust edges from over-browning. Cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Or you can cool the quiche completely before serving- it's fantastic at room temperature!
• This quiche makes great leftovers! Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

QUICK SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Line two 9-inch pie plates with crusts. Cover crusts with a double layer of aluminum foil and a layer of pie weights or dried beans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edge of crust is golden, about 10 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and weights; continue baking until the crust sets, about 5 minutes more. Let crusts cool briefly. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Sprinkle cheese, spinach, and onion evenly onto the crusts. Whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together and divide evenly between the crusts.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until golden brown and firm in the centers, about 45 minutes.

SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F and set a rack in the middle position. Remove the pie crust from freezer and thaw until just soft enough to easily prick with a fork, about 10 minutes. Prick the bottom and sides all over with a fork (pricking about an inch apart). Bake until fully cooked and lightly golden, 10 to 15 minutes. (Keep an eye on it...if it puffs up while cooking, gently prick it with a fork so it will deflate.) Don't worry if the crust cracks while baking; see my note below on how to fix it before proceeding. Set aside and turn oven down to 325°F.
• Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the shallots until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Do not brown. Set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, nutmeg, salt and cayenne pepper.
• Place the cooked pie crust on a baking sheet (this makes it easy to move in and out of oven). Spread the shallots over the bottom of the cooked crust, then sprinkle the shredded Gruyere over top. Scatter the spinach evenly over cheese, breaking up the clumps as best you can. Pour the egg and cream mixture over top.
• Bake at 325°F degrees for 50 to 55 minutes until the custard is set and top is lightly golden. Serve hot or warm.
• Note: I usually defrost the frozen spinach quickly by placing it in a fine mesh strainer and running hot water over it. I then gather the spinach into a ball and squeeze it dry. It takes a few minutes of squeezing and re-squeezing to get all the water out. Be patient...you need the spinach completely dry, otherwise your quiche will be watery.
• Note: Don't panic if your crust cracks -- you can easily fix it. Make a smooth paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of flour with 1 tablespoon of water. Use your fingers to patch up and fill any cracks, then place the crust back in the oven for a minute or so to set. It should be good as new.
• Make ahead: This quiche can be made up to a day ahead of time and refrigerated. To reheat: Cover the quiche with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 300°F oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until hot in the center.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked quiche can be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove the quiche from the freezer about 24 hours prior to eating and reheat it, covered with foil, in a 300°F oven until hot in the center.

CRUSTLESS SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9 inch pie pan.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft. Stir in spinach and continue cooking until excess moisture has evaporated.
• In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese, salt and pepper. Add spinach mixture and stir to blend. Scoop into prepared pie pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until eggs have set, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

PHILLY CREAM CHEESE BRUNCH QUICHE

Steps:

• On a lightly-floured surface, roll pastry to a 12" circle. Place in 10" pie plate.
• Turn under edge and flute. Prick bottom and sides of pastry with fork and bake at 400 for 12 to 15 minutes or until pastry is lightly browned.
• Combine cream cheese and milk in saucepan. Stir over low heat until smooth.
• Gradually add cream cheese mixture to eggs, mixing until well blended.
• Saute onions in butter.
• Add onions and remaining ingredients to cream cheese mixture and mix well.
• Pour into pastry shell and bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes or until set.
• Garnish with ham slices and fresh dill, if desired.