This Week’s Recipe – Mini Ham and Gruyere Quiches

Recipe by Alex Snodgrass // The Defined Dish

I love quiche, so naturally this recipe caught my eye! There is something about a warm, savory quiche that feels a little special, even when the ingredients are simple.

I also love that these are made individually, which makes them perfect for meal prep. You can make a batch ahead of time and have breakfast, lunch, or even a light dinner ready to go. I also think these could easily be made without the puff pastry if someone prefers a crustless option.

I’m planning to pair ours with a simple side salad. While we were on vacation in California, I spent some time with my sister-in-law, who made an amazing Caesar dressing. I’ve been looking forward to trying to recreate it at home, and I think a crisp Caesar salad will be the perfect pairing for these little quiches.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Great for meal prep: Make a batch and enjoy them throughout the week.
• Versatile: Serve them for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or a light dinner.
• Easy to customize: Skip the puff pastry for a crustless version or experiment with different meats, cheeses, or herbs.
• Simple but special: Gruyère, ham, Dijon, and fresh thyme give these little quiches plenty of flavor without a complicated ingredient list.
• Perfectly portioned: The individual size makes serving—and storing—easy.

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Recipe

Ingredients

• Cooking spray, for greasing
• All-purpose flour, for dusting
• 1 sheet puff pastry dough, thawed
• 6 large eggs
• ¾ cup half-and-half
• 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
• 1 cup small-diced ham
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray.
2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry slightly to smooth the seams. Cut into 12 equal squares and gently press each square into a muffin cup, allowing the corners to rise slightly above the edges. Prick the bottom of each square 2–3 times with a fork to help prevent excessive puffing.
3. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the exposed edges of the puff pastry with some of the beaten egg to encourage even browning.
4. To the remaining eggs, add the half-and-half, Gruyère, ham, Dijon mustard, thyme, salt, and pepper. Whisk until combined.
5. Divide the mixture evenly among the pastry cups, filling each about ¾ full.
6. Bake on the middle rack for 25–28 minutes, or until the quiches are puffed, golden, and set in the center.
7. Allow them to cool slightly before removing them from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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Notes

One of the things that drew me to this recipe is how easy it seems to adapt. While the original recipe uses puff pastry, I think it would also work beautifully without it for anyone who prefers a crustless quiche. You could also experiment with different cheeses, vegetables, or herbs depending on what you have on hand.

Because they can be enjoyed warm or at room temperature, I think they would also be wonderful for a brunch, shower, holiday breakfast, or anytime you’re feeding a group.

And, of course, they seem made for meal prep. I’m curious to see how well they reheat and whether they become one of those recipes worth keeping in the regular rotation. We’ll find out in Friday Reflections!

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Recipe Link

Mini Ham and Gruyère Quiches – The Defined Dish

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Serving Ideas

I’m pairing ours with a Caesar salad and that homemade dressing inspired by my sister-in-law. The richness of the eggs, Gruyère, and puff pastry sounds like it will pair beautifully with something crisp and fresh.

These would also be delicious alongside fresh berries or seasonal fruit, roasted vegetables, a simple arugula salad, or even a cup of soup for an easy lunch.

Nourishing Highlight: Eggs

This week, I’m highlighting one of the simplest ingredients in the recipe: eggs.

Eggs provide high-quality protein along with nutrients such as vitamin B12, selenium, riboflavin, and choline. Choline is especially important for brain and nervous system function and plays a role in maintaining healthy cell membranes.

I also love that eggs can help turn a few simple ingredients into a satisfying meal. Pair these mini quiches with a fresh salad, and you have a lovely combination of protein, nourishing fats, vegetables, and flavor.

Now I’m ready to see if these taste as good as they sound—and whether that Caesar dressing lives up to my California memories!