Bacon, Egg & Cheese Air Fryer Quiche

Ingredients  

You will need eggs, cream, chopped cooked bacon or ham (or other proteins of your choice), cheese, salt, and pepper to taste. Plus any additional toppings if desired like spinach, olives, or mushrooms!

First, you’ll need a nine-inch deep dish pie crust. I used Pillsbury’s premade sweet and savory 9-inch pie crust.

Eggs. I used 4 large eggs for this recipe. You can use 6 eggs for a deeper quiche, please see the notes below.

Heavy cream or half and half. Milk is fine too. However, I recommend using heavy cream or half and half for a fluffier and richer quiche.

Mix-ins you desire like cheese, ham, veggies, herbs, and seasonings. I used a mix of shredded cheddar and Swiss/gruyere mix.

Aluminum foil to cover the quiche to prevent burning of the crust.

Aluminum foil sling to easily lift the quiche. The sling is super helpful for lifting dishes if you have an air fryer basket. Please see below how to make one.

How to Make Quiche Lorraine in Air Fryer

To begin, preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes to 350F (175C).

• Prep the crust: Roll out the thawed pie crust into your 9-inch pie plate and using your fingers, press the edges firmly into the bottom and edges of the pie plate. I used a round 9-inch aluminum foil pan. (Picture 1). You can use any oven-safe pie plate that fits in your air fryer. The appliance that I use is Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven.
• Press lightly to fit, and fill in any gaps or cracks using your fingers. (Picture 1).
• Once the crust is situated, put it in the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes at 350F. (Picture 2).
• While the crust is goldening, mix together a filling of eggs, shredded cheese, and cooked chopped bacon for an ooey-gooey center that will make you say mmmm. Lightly whisk all the ingredients for a minute.
• Remove the crust from the air fryer. It should look slightly golden with some bubbly brownish spots. (Picture 3).
• Raise the temperature to 400F (200C)
• Pour the egg mixture into your slightly cooked crust. (Picture 4).
• Cover the entire pan with aluminum foil, ensuring the edges are secured and will not be lifted by a powerful air fryer fan. (Picture 1 below.)

• Cook on air fry mode (air crisp) until the center is set and no longer wobbly; 20-25 minutes.
• Finally, top off with more cheese if desired, and return to the air fryer uncovered for just a minute or two until the quiche has golden brown edges and the cheese is melted. (Pictures 2 and 3).
• Let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips

• Pre-bake the crust before adding Quiche ingredients.
• To ensure a beautiful golden-brown crust, place a piece of foil on top of your crimped pastry to avoid burning the edges before it’s cooked through. 
• When combining wet ingredients for the egg and cheese filling, use room temperature ingredients to get the desired consistency from your quiche rather than one big scrambled egg blob! 
• Season: Don’t forget seasonings like salt and pepper for an added punch of flavor. 
• Mind the sodium. Note that some bacon crumbles already have a good amount of sodium, so add salt to your liking. There’s nothing worse than an over-salted quiche. Actually, the worst part is you can’t un-salt the eggs.
• 6 Egg Quiche: This recipe is for a 4-egg quiche in the air fryer. However, if adding 6 eggs, remember that your mixture will be thicker and may cook longer. Add 10-15 minutes to a 6-egg quiche.
• Check on your quiche periodically (every 10 minutes) to make sure it’s cooking evenly.
• If you have an air fryer oven, cook your quiche in the middle or lower rack, to ensure the top of the quiche is not touching the heating element.
• If you have an air fryer basket, it may be helpful if you make an aluminum foil sling. It will help you to lift the dish out of the air fryer basket with ease.

How to Make an Aluminum Foil Sling for Air Fryer Basket

For those unfamiliar, an aluminum foil sling is a handmade tool that is used to lift dishes in and out of an air fryer. And let me tell you, it’s a game changer. The sling is especially helpful if you have an air fryer basket. No more awkward balancing acts with oven mitts and tongs.

Grab a long sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil, about 17 inches long, fold it in half lengthwise, and then fold the sides upwards. Place your sling inside the air fryer basket, then place your dish in the center, and boom, you’re ready to fly. Your air fryer dishes (and fingers) will thank you.

Variations

To gussy up a classic Air Fryer Quiche Lorraine, may I recommend adding:

• Vegetables. Please note that uncooked vegetables add moisture to your quiche and may weigh it down, resulting in a flat quiche. Therefore I recommend cooking vegetables first for a perfectly fluffy quiche. I like Roasted peppers and onions.
• Use diced ham in place of bacon.
• Swap out cheddar for Swiss or mozzarella.
• Feta Cheese.
• Add veggies like spinach, mushrooms or Sauteed Caramelized onions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I make a crustless quiche in the air fryer? Yes! Simply grease your air fryer-safe dish well and pour in the egg mixture. It will cook up beautifully without the crust for a low-carb option.

2. What size dish should I use for air fryer quiche? A 6-inch or 7-inch round baking dish that fits inside your air fryer basket works best for even cooking.

3. How do I store and reheat leftover quiche? Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 300°F for 3-5 minutes to maintain crispiness.

4. Can I freeze air fryer quiche? Yes! Let the quiche cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

5. Can I use different cheeses and fillings? Absolutely! Feel free to mix in your favorite cheeses like Swiss or feta, and add veggies, ham, or even smoked salmon for variety.