Air-Fryer Quiche: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can put quiche in an air fryer! In fact, making quiche in an air fryer is a great way to avoid heating up your kitchen, and it's quicker than baking it in the oven. The top of the quiche can brown quite quickly in the air fryer, giving it a savoury flavour, but you can cover it with foil if you don't want it to brown too much. You can also make mini quiches in an air fryer, which are a great breakfast option if you're usually short on time in the mornings.

Pre-baking the crust

Once your pastry case is lined with tin foil or baking paper and filled with baking beans, rice, or pastry weights, it's time to blind bake. Place the tart tin into your preheated air fryer and cook for around 10 minutes at 180°C. This helps to ensure that your pastry is cooked through and has a crisp, golden texture.

After blind baking, remove the tin foil or baking paper and return the pastry case to the air fryer for an additional 2-6 minutes, depending on your recipe. This step ensures that the base of the pastry is cooked and has a sandy or dry texture.

If you're using a frozen, premade crust, it's a good idea to pre-cook the crust for a few minutes before filling it. This helps to prevent the edges from burning and gives the crust a golden, cooked-through texture.

By following these steps for pre-baking the crust, you'll create a sturdy and delicious foundation for your quiche filling.

Choosing your ingredients

The great thing about making a quiche is that you can be very flexible with your ingredients. You can use whatever you have in your fridge or larder, and you can adapt the recipe to your tastes.

The base

For the base, you can use a pre-made pie crust or make your own pastry. If you want to make your own, you will need flour, butter, and a little water. You can also add cheese to your pastry for a stronger flavour.

The filling

For the filling, you will need eggs, milk or cream, and cheese. You can use any type of hard cheese that you can grate, such as cheddar, gruyere, or Swiss cheese. You can also add mustard to enhance the flavour of the cheese.

The mix-ins

Now for the fun part—deciding what to put in your quiche! You can use any combination of vegetables, meat, or fish. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Broccoli
• Tomato and mozzarella
• Bacon
• Smoked salmon and dill
• Goat's cheese and crispy leeks
• Spinach and bacon
• Peppers and onions
• Mushrooms
• Caramelised onions
• Ham
• Spinach
• Olives
• Mushrooms
• Bell peppers
• Spring onion
• Thyme
• Ricotta cheese

Assembly

Ingredients

You can make a quiche in an air fryer using a variety of ingredients. Here are some common ingredients used in the recipes:

• Eggs
• Heavy cream or half-and-half (milk can also be used)
• Mix-ins like cheese, ham, veggies, herbs, and seasonings
• Bacon, cooked and chopped
• Salt and pepper
• Pie crust (premade or homemade)

Recipe

• Preheat the air fryer to 350F (175C) for 3 minutes.
• Prepare the crust by rolling out the pie dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Use your fingers to press the edges firmly into the bottom and sides of the plate.
• Place the crust in the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes at 350F.
• While the crust is cooking, mix together the eggs, shredded cheese, and cooked chopped bacon. Lightly whisk all the ingredients for about a minute.
• Remove the crust from the air fryer. It should be slightly golden with some bubbly brown spots.
• Increase the temperature to 400F (200C).
• Pour the egg mixture into the partially cooked crust.
• Cover the entire pan with aluminium foil, ensuring the edges are secured so they don't get lifted by the air fryer fan.
• Cook on air fry mode until the centre is set, about 20-25 minutes.
• Optionally, top with more cheese and return to the air fryer uncovered for 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
• Let the quiche cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips

• Pre-bake the crust before adding the quiche ingredients to ensure it is golden brown and cooked through.
• Use room temperature ingredients when combining the wet ingredients to achieve the desired consistency.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste. Be mindful of the sodium content of ingredients like bacon crumbles.
• If using 6 eggs instead of 4, the mixture will be thicker and may take longer to cook (about 10-15 minutes extra).
• Check on the quiche periodically (every 10 minutes) to ensure even cooking.
• If using an air fryer basket, it may be helpful to make an aluminium foil sling to easily lift the quiche out of the basket.

Cooking

Ingredients

The ingredients for your air-fried quiche will depend on the type of quiche you want to make. For a classic Quiche Lorraine, you will need eggs, cream, bacon, cheese, and pastry. You can also add some Dijon mustard to enhance the flavour of the cheese. Other types of quiches you can make include Broccoli and Cheddar, Tomato and Mozzarella, Smoked Salmon and Dill, Goat Cheese and Crispy Leeks, Spinach and Bacon, and many more. You can also make mini crustless quiches using ingredients like ricotta cheese, spinach, and spring onion.

Preparation

First, prepare your pastry case by mixing flour, butter, cheese, and water. Roll out the dough and line a flan tin, then chill the pastry in the fridge or freezer. Blind bake the pastry by lining it with baking paper and filling it with baking beans or rice, then cook in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 180°C.

Next, prepare your filling by whisking together eggs, cream, and milk, and seasoning with salt and pepper. For a Quiche Lorraine, cook the bacon in the air fryer, then spoon into the pastry base and sprinkle with cheese.

Pour the egg mixture over the bacon and cheese, then place the tart tin into the air fryer and cook at 160°C for 30-35 minutes. Check the quiche after 20 minutes and cover with foil if it is starting to brown.

If you are making mini crustless quiches, simply mix your chosen ingredients together in a large bowl, fill silicone cups with the mixture, and cook in the air fryer at 180°C for about 10 minutes.

For a full-sized quiche with a pastry base, let the cooked quiche cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove and serve warm or at room temperature. The quiche can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.

Serving suggestions

Quiche is a versatile dish that can be served in many ways. Here are some serving suggestions for an air-fried quiche:

Breakfast, Brunch, or Lunch

Air-fried quiche is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or lunch. It can be served warm or at room temperature. For breakfast, pair it with grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, pancakes, or a tossed salad for a light morning meal. For brunch, offer it alongside classics like bacon and eggs, kedgeree, or even a full English breakfast. For lunch, a quiche served with a salad and coleslaw makes for a tasty and casual meal.

Dinner

For dinner, serve your air-fried quiche warm with an Air Fryer Baked Potato and some vegetables, such as French beans or sugar snap peas.

Picnic or Packed Lunch

A quiche is also a great option for a picnic or packed lunch. It can be served cold, and it's easy to transport and share. Just remember to take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving so it can come to room temperature, as this will ensure the best flavour.

Sides and Accompaniments

You can also serve your air-fried quiche with a simple green salad and a drizzle of salad dressing. If you're serving it for breakfast, you could round out the meal with some Blueberry Crumb Cake, Easy Strawberry Lemon Muffins, or Air Fryer Blueberry Muffins.

Reheating

If you have any leftovers, note that you can reheat your quiche in your air fryer! Simply place it in the air fryer at 160C/300F for around 10 minutes.

Frequently asked questions