This Healthy Quiche with Quinoa is a nutritious, protein-packed twist on classic quiche, made with a gluten-free quinoa and a veggie-filled egg mixture. Light, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make, this quinoa quiche is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or meal prep. It’s naturally gluten-free, customizable, and bakes up golden, tender, and delicious every time.
Do you love eggs? We sure do! Eggs are great for dinner! You can also try Summer Veggie Wife Saver or Vegetarian Stir-Fry with Eggs.
Not all quiche are the same. A traditional quiche in pastry with ham and cheese and made with cream is very high in fat, but a crustless, quinoa, veggie-rich quiche is very healthy.
Why I Love This Recipe
- Healthy and nutritious
- Delicious
- Easy to make
- One pan meal
- Great for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Helpful Items For This Recipe
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Casserole Dish for Oven, 4.2 QT Baking Dish, 9×13
Terry Pocket Mitt & Hot Pad: Unparalleled Heat Resistant, Durable 100% Cotton
Ingredients Needed for this Healthy Quiche
Ingredients
Quinoa – Quinoa has a natural coating called saponin, which can make it taste bitter. Rinsing it under cold water removes that bitterness and ensures a clean, nutty flavor.
Extra-virgin olive or coconut oil – You can use either for this recipe.
Red onion, diced – You can substitute for yellow or a white onion if you prefer or have that on hand.
Garlic, chopped – This adds a nice kick of flavor.
Swiss chard, roughly chopped – This is an underutilized vegetable that is not only delicious but good for you, too.
Medium-size broccoli florets – Nice fresh broccoli always works best.
Cheddar cheese, grated – Don’t skimp on the cheese and use a nice, aged cheddar to get all the flavor.
Eggs – Wouldn’t be a quiche without a bunch of eggs! This, plus the quinoa, is where your protein lies.
Whole milk – I like a whole milk for quiche so that it doesn’t get watery.
Fresh thyme leaves – In a pinch, you can use dried, but fresh has all the flavor.
Salt Celtic or sea and Black pepper – Try a new salt instead of table or Kosher for some difference in flavoring.
Parmesan cheese – Using a finishing of Parmesan makes the casserole nutty and delicious.
How to Make Healthy Quiche
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C, gas mark 4). Rinse the quinoa well and set aside to drain. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion begins to brown, about 8 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and broccoli and sauté for 1 minute, then turn off the heat. Cool slightly.
Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 9- by 13-inch (23- by 33-cm) casserole dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the Cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the vegetable mixture. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, thyme, salt, pepper, and rinsed quinoa and whisk until thoroughly combined. Pour immediately over the cheese-topped vegetable mixture. Bake the casserole in the oven until cooked through and the top is just starting to brown, about 40 minutes.
Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the Parmesan over the top. Return to the oven and bake until the Parmesan is melted and just starting to brown, about 5 more minutes.
Let the casserole sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve with a mixed lettuce or spinach salad.
About The Cookbook
I love cookbooks and this one is packed full of healthy recipes like this Quinoa Quiche, which is actually called Comforting Cheddar and Broccoli Quiche with Quinoa Crust, but I thought that title was a little long!! The cookbook we are reviewing today is The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook by Dr. Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., and Dr. Stephen T. Sinatra, M.D., and recipes by Deirdre Rawlings, N.D., Ph.D. The book debunks the idea that fat is not the enemy, like we have been led to believe, but could be, in fact, part of the solution. Intrigued, let’s read on!!
Bowden and Sinatra team with nutritionist Deirdre Rawlings to give you a detailed meal plan and help for optimal heart health!! This includes 100 delicious and nutritious recipes that will reverse heart disease or prevent it. Information on inflammation and HDL cholesterol. Tips to be making sure your diet provides the nutrition that you need. New ways to introduce back the food you love that you thought were gone forever!!!
Many diets that are low in fat are high in grains and carbohydrates, this can lead to exacerbating heart health issues. The book shows that a diet low in sugar and other inflammatory foods and ingredients, and high in healthy fats, protein, antioxidants, and nutrients, is the best course to prevent or reverse heart disease.
The recipe we selected to try was this gorgeous quiche, and man, was it delicious!! We all loved it!!
There are lots of other recipes to try, like Love-Your-Heart Red Lentil Soup, Tantalizing Thai Fish Cakes, Soul-Warming Tuna Lasagna, and Punch Peanut-Coconut Sauce, to name a few!!
Recipe Pro Tips
FAQS
This recipe is plum full of optimal nutrition and better yet, packed with amazing taste!!! Quinoa is high in protein, folate, magnesium and tryptophan. Swiss chard contains more than 800 % of your daily need for Vit K. Broccoli has high amounts of vitamins A, C, folic acid, fiber and calcium.
This recipe can be easily halved to make a smaller meal for a smaller family or couple.
It is a complete meal on it’s own as it is hearty and satisfying but we like to have a salad or soup to go with it.
Substitutions
You can use kale instead of Swiss chard if you wish. Swiss chard, eaten raw, makes a nice base for smoothies, too, as it tends to be sweeter than kale.
How to store this veggie quiche
This quiche keeps well in the fridge for 2-3 days, wrapping it well or using a lid if your casserole has one. Make sure it is completely cooled, as that will reduce the condensation that may form.
This recipe will also freeze well. I like to wrap individual pieces so I have one at the ready for a quick breakfast or lunch. Thaw and reheat in the microwave.
DO YOU WANT MORE HEALTHY MEALS?
It is January, and most people are wanting to change things up from all the indulgence of the holidays. Here are some more of our healthy meals.
Quinoa Quiche
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa 170 g
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive or coconut oil 28 ml
- 1 medium red onion diced
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic 10 g
- 2 cups Swiss chard, roughly chopped 110 g
- 4 cups medium-size broccoli florets 284 g
- 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese 120 g
- 12 eggs
- 2 cups whole milk 475 ml
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves 5 g
- 1/2 teaspoon salt Celtic or sea
- dash black pepper
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 25 g
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C, gas mark 4). Rinse the quinoa well and set aside to drain. Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion begins to brown, about 8 minutes. Add the Swiss chard and broccoli and sauté for 1 minute, then turn off the heat. Cool slightly. Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 9- by 13-inch (23- by 33-cm) casserole dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle the Cheddar cheese evenly over the top of the vegetable mixture. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the eggs, milk, thyme, salt, pepper, and rinsed quinoa and whisk until thoroughly combined. Pour immediately over the cheese-topped vegetable mixture. Bake the casserole in the oven until cooked through and the top is just starting to brown, about 40 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the Parmesan over the top. Return to the oven and bake until the Parmesan is melted and just starting to brown, about 5 more minutes. Let the casserole sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Serve with a mixed lettuce or spinach salad.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Comments & Reviews
Vicky Lee says
This is quite excellent – thank you for this beautiful recipe!
Tara Noland says
Thank you for the lovely comment, coincidentally we are making that again this weekend!
Mary says
This sounds good but I’m nervous about not cooking the quinoa first. Is it ok?
Tara Noland says
It absolutely cooks while the dish is baked in the oven. Couscous doesn’t take a long time to cook.
Ali says
Does this freeze well?
Tara Noland says
I am sorry, I have not tried to freeze this so I don’t know.
Serafina says
Can I substitute skim milk for whole milk? I don’t want to ruin it. Sounds delicious!
Noshing with the Nolands says
It might turn out a bit runny, do you have 2%? You can in some recipes substitute it, like a soup easily others turn out watery.
Carrie Pacini says
Your quinoa quiche looks fantastic! Neve thought about adding quinoa to a quiche.
Noshing with the Nolands says
Real men do eat quiche and quinoa, my hubby loved it! Thanks Carrie!!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
love the idea of a quinoa quiche.. looks delicious!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thank you Thalia!!
Patty Haxton Anderson says
Tara this looks and sounds delicious. Photos are stunning!
Noshing with the Nolands says
Thank you so much Patty!!
Christine says
Love this recipe. I can’t wait to try it!
Noshing with the Nolands says
It was so good, I hope you love it!!
Patty Haxton Anderson says
Tara this looks and sounds delicious. Photos are stunning!
Christine says
Love this recipe. I can’t wait to try it!