Keto Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe (2024)

A crustless zucchini quiche is a delicious way to utilize an abundance of summer zucchini. This vegetarian quiche is very low carb so it's perfect for keto diets, too.

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Keto Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe (1)

At first, I was leary of using zucchini in a quiche because I thought it might be watery. I was wrong. It's amazing! The rich custard filling, delicate zucchini flavor, herbs, and mellow saltiness from the smoked gouda cheese is winning combination. And, ditching the crust means this recipe is low carb!

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What’s best? Sliced Zucchini or Grated Zucchini for Quiche?

You’ll see zucchini quiche recipes made with sliced zucchini and grated zucchini. After testing this recipe both ways, I found that grated zucchini works much better in this crustless zucchini quiche. Why?

  • Grated zucchini is easy to squeeze dry
  • Grated zucchini is easy to layer
  • Zucchini rounds release a lot of water in the quiche, even when salted and patted dry
  • Zucchini rounds need to be sauteed before adding to the quiche or they don't cook completely
  • Zucchini rounds sink to the bottom of the quiche

The Perfect Quiche Ingredient Ratio

The perfect egg-cream-cheese ratio for a quiche is ¼ cup of cream and 1 ounce of cheese for each egg. Because zucchini contains so much water, it was important to change the ratio for this zucchini quiche custard. Adding an extra egg and a little more cheese while decreasing the amount of heavy cream did the trick!

Keto Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe (2)

The Perfect Low Carb Crustless Zucchini Quiche

As far as low carb keto quiches go, this is an easy one. But for the best results you must grate the zucchini and remove as much water as you can. Don't worry, it's a piece of cake:

Grate one pound of zucchini and put it into a colander in the sink. Mix salt into the zucchini and let it sit for several minutes (the salt draws water out of the zucchini). Rinse the zucchini well to remove the excess salt. Then, using clean hands, squeeze out as much liquid as you can from the zucchini.

Then, go on to make the quiche but don't forget to layer the ingredients!

Layer Your Quiche Ingredients

Want the best quiche? Do me a favor... Layer. The. Ingredients. Layering the ingredients prevents heavier ingredients from sinking to the bottom and ensures even distribution.

Sprinkle a quarter of the cheese into a quiche dish or a pie plate. Layer roughly one third of the ingredients into the pie plate followed by another layer of cheese. Repeat twice more. Pour the frothy egg mixture over the layers and bake.

To refrigerate, allow your zucchini quiche to cool completely and cover with cling film. Reheat a slice of quiche in the microwave or in the oven. Serve with a green salad or this refreshing sweet bell pepper salad.

Refrigerate up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Keto Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe (3)

Customize your quiche!

I love this zucchini quiche as written, but I did experiment with other seasoning combinations. In one variation I added two teaspoons of my homemade ranch seasoning. While the quiche was delicious and VERY FLAVORFUL, I felt like the zucchini's delicate flavor was lost. However, if you aren’t a huge fan of zucchini, this may be a great option for you!

Here are some ideas for customization:

  • add 2 teaspoons of ranch seasoning or lemon pepper
  • try adding basil or parsley
  • use green onions instead of chives
  • add crumbled bacon or chopped ham for more protein
  • try topping the zucchini quiche with crumbled feta cheese or dollops of ricotta cheese
  • add a flaky low carb pie crust

Other Great Low Carb Keto Vegetarian Quiche Recipes

Low carb vegetarian recipes are sometimes hard to find. Quiche is great because it benefits from the protein contributed from the eggs and cheese. Plus, it looks so nice on a plate. Here are three more great low carb vegetarian recipes.

  1. Crustless Mushroom Quiche
  2. Spinach and Mushroom Quiche
  3. Zucchini gratinby my friend Mellissa at I Breathe I’m Hungry.

Keto Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe (4)

Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe

This Zucchini quiche promises rich custard filling, delicate zucchini flavor, herbs, and mellow saltiness from smoked gouda cheese - a winning combination!

5 from 36 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast, Dinner

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 314kcal

Author: Kim Hardesty

Ingredients

  • 1 pound grated zucchini
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 8 oz smoked gouda cheese (or add ⅛ - ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke)
  • 2 tablespoon snipped fresh chives
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon white pepper
  • 2 teaspoon soft butter

Instructions

Preparation

  • Place the zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt. Thoroughly mix salt into zucchini with your hands. Let sit for 10 minutes. Grate the cheese.

  • Preheat oven to 350 F and set rack to middle position. Butter a 9 - 10 inch pie plate or quiche dish.

Method

  • Rinse the zucchini with running water very thoroughly. With clean hands, squeeze out as much liquid from the zucchini as you can. Place the zucchini into a medium bowl and mix well with the dried dill and chives.

  • Measure salt, pepper, eggs and heavy cream into a medium bowl and beat until frothy.

  • Layer ¼ of the cheese into the pie plate followed with ⅓ of the zucchini. Alternate layering cheese and zucchini until used up. Gently pour the egg mixture over the quiche.

Bake

  • Bake for 40-50 minutes depending on you oven or until the quiche is browned and just slightly soft in the middle. Remove from the oven and let cool to room temperature before serving.

  • Cover with cling film and refrigerate any leftovers. Reheat in the microwave or oven. Great served with a green salad.

  • Serve warm with a green salad. Serves 6 at 4.1g NET CARBS per serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 27g | Cholesterol: 291mg | Sodium: 577mg | Fiber: 0.9g | Sugar: 1.75g

Keto Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe (5)

Spinach and Mushroom - Vegetable Quiche

Keto Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe (6)

Broccoli Cheddar Quiche with Bacon

Keto Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe (7)

Low Carb Spinach Feta Quiche

Keto Crustless Zucchini Quiche Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use whole milk instead of heavy cream in quiche? ›

Dairy options: Whole milk will give you the lightest quiche, heavy cream will give you the richest quiche, and half-and-half will land you somewhere in the middle. Make ahead: The crust can be blind baked and cooled up to 2 days in advance; store tightly wrapped at room temperature.

Is zucchini okay on a keto diet? ›

Yes, zucchini is keto. A medium zucchini has about 6 total grams of carbs and 2 of them are fiber. So one whole zucchini has 4 net carbs. Zucchini is very popular on the low carb diet.

How long does crustless quiche last in fridge? ›

Serve it with a side salad or a bowl of soup. Store your crustless quiche in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days! To freeze this, I prefer to cut it up in slices then wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap tightly then place them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

Why is my quiche not fluffy? ›

The best quiche consists of a custard that's the perfect ratio between eggs and milk. 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 a good substitute for heavy cream in quiche? ›

Use half-and-half as a 1:1 substitute for heavy cream. It can work nearly as well for bringing creamy texture and flavor to sauces, soups and stews, mashed potatoes, quiches, and casseroles. In a pinch, it can even be used for whipping. While you won't get stiff peaks, you can build volume if you work quickly.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in a quiche recipe? ›

To replace 1 cup (237 mL) of heavy cream in your recipe, add 2 tablespoons (19 grams) of cornstarch to 1 cup (237 mL) of milk and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken. You can use whole milk or opt for skim milk to help slash the calories and fat content of your recipe.

Which vegetable is not allowed in keto? ›

Vegetables to avoid in a keto diet
VegetableCarbs per 100 g
sweetcorn5.31 g
potatoes20.45 g
sweet potatoes16.82 g
beets9.56 g
3 more rows
Apr 28, 2021

What are the lowest carb vegetables on keto diet? ›

Plenty of low-carb vegetable options include arugula, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes. Those vegetables provide other benefits like reducing the risk of certain chronic diseases, containing antioxidants, and providing filling fiber.

What vegetables are off limits for keto? ›

Starchy vegetables contain more digestible carbohydrates than fiber and should be limited when you're on the ketogenic diet. These include corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes and beets. Limit high-sugar fruits too, which spike your blood sugar more quickly than berries and have more carbohydrates.

What is crustless quiche called? ›

WHAT IS A FRITTATA? Frittatas are Italian in origin and can be described as a cross between an omelet and a crustless quiche.

Who sells crustless quiche? ›

Waitrose Ham & Cheese Crustless Quiche340g

Free range eggs and cream with the classic cheese and ham pairing, without a crust. A perfect quiche to serve at summer picnics or for lunch.

Why does my crustless quiche fall? ›

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.

What is the best cheese to use for quiche? ›

Cheese: Some favorites include feta cheese, goat cheese, cheddar cheese, white cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, and gruyere. Add-Ins: Add up to 2 cups add-ins including vegetables and meat/seafood. Most quiche add-ins should be pre-cooked and can still be warm when mixing into the egg filling.

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.

Can you put too many eggs in a quiche? ›

The Kitchn cautions that using too many eggs can make the consistency of the quiche rubbery and tough, while using too few eggs can prevent the custard filling from setting properly, giving you a runny, soggy quiche. The recommended proportion is one egg to one-half cup of cream or milk.

What happens if you use whole milk instead of heavy cream? ›

Substituting Milk for Heavy Cream

Whole milk alone can work in some instances as a substitute. At 3.5%, its fat content is low, but it's a good substitute in mashed potatoes or potatoes au gratin. (You'll just need to add extra flour to prevent the sauce from separating.)

Can I use 2% milk instead of heavy cream for quiche? ›

For gluten-free crust, try making a sweet potato crust. The Custard: For your custard to set properly in the oven, use this easy ratio: 1 part dairy to 2 parts eggs. Classic custards use heavy cream, but 2% milk contains a fraction of the saturated fat and is still plenty rich.

Can I add whole milk instead of heavy cream? ›

Similarly to half-and-half, milk makes a good heavy cream substitute when it's combined with melted butter. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup melted butter for every cup of heavy cream.

Can you replace heavy cream with whole milk in a recipe? ›

Here's how. Melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter (that's 4 tablespoons or half a stick) and let it cool to room temperature. Then, whisk it together with 3/4 cup whole milk. This mixture is equivalent to 1 cup of heavy cream and can be used in almost any recipe that calls for heavy cream.

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