A Simple Basic Low-Fat Quiche Recipe

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This Simple Basic Low-Fat Quiche Recipe is the kind of easy, quick, reliable recipe you reach for when you want something flexible and lighter—without sacrificing taste and texture. Made with everyday ingredients and designed to adapt to whatever vegetables, cheese, or protein you have on hand, this simple base turns into a satisfying breakfast, brunch, or dinner with very little time or effort. Once you know the mix, quiche becomes less of a recipe and more of a go-to habit.

A slice of the Basic Low Fat Quiche Recipe sits on a white plate with a yellow napkin and fork in the background.

This is another basic recipe that will make meals easy and fast. I've included a Broccoli and Cheddar quiche recipe that is memorable for its tang and gentle heat. No one will ever know it's low fat and you may never use cream again.

Other savory tarts that are also worth making include: the Goat Cheese Pesto Tart, Torta Rustica - A Savory Italian Pastry and the French Onion Tart.

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Why low fat is actually more tasty.
To crust or not to crust
Why you'll love this recipe
Recipe Ingredients
Important Ingredients
Step by Step Instructions
Recipe FAQ'S
Expert Tips
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A Simple Basic Low-Fat Quiche Recipe

Why low fat is actually more tasty.

Many years ago, when we made savory items as well as sweet at my bakery, I developed this quiche base as a low fat alternative to the cream. Interestingly, when we tested side-by-side versions of the original quiche filling with cream and this one, we were most surprised. The low fat version had much more taste to it. It turns out the cream coats the taste buds so whatever cheese, vegetables or meat you have added to your quiche cannot be fully appreciated. With the low fat variety, there is no coating of the taste buds so, consequently, the other flavors are free to come through much stronger.

To crust or not to crust

The Broccoli and Cheddar Quiche is a crustless Quiche. In keeping with the low fat version it substitutes low fat cottage cheese and low fat yogurt for the heavy cream. The result is a fast, healthy entrée that just happens to be delicious.

However, if you want to put it in a crust that is easily done by using the single crust version of my All American Pie Crust. Just make the crust and fully bake it before adding the filling to bake.

Why you'll love this recipe

It's quick and easy to make. A whisk and a bowl will do it in less than 30 minutes minus the baking.
The low fat version is even tastier than the full fat cream version.
Any vegetable, cheese or protein can be used for the filling.
It can be made crustless or with a crust.
Making it a couple of days ahead and storing in the fridge or even freezing it makes lunch or dinner a snap.

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients for the Basic Low Fat Quiche Recipe and Broccoli Cheddar quiche are brocolli, cheddar cheese, low fat yogurt, cottage, cheese, eggs, cornstarch, salt, pepper, asiago cheese, cheddar cheese, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper,

FRONT ROW: Canola oil, cornstarch, dry mustard, salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper (the canola oil is not used in this recipe)

MIDDLE ROW: Eggs, red peppers, asiago cheese, low fat cottage cheese

BACK ROW: Broccoli, cheddar cheese, low fat yogurt

Important Ingredients

The low fat cottage cheese and low fat yogurt replace the traditional cream and reduce the fat in the original cream based quiche filling.
The amount of cheese in the broccoli cheddar quiche can be reduced or low fat cheese can be substituted.
Any vegetable, cheese or protein can be substituted for those in the Broccoli Cheddar low fat quiche.
While I used Greek yogurt for its tang, any plain low fat yogurt may be used.
If the quiche is to be frozen, sweet rice flour or potato starch can be be substituted for the cornstarch which breaks down when thawed.
The Sweet Rice flour, which can most easily and inexpensively be found in Asian grocery stores, is simply ground from short-grain glutinous rice, known in Asian cuisine as "sticky rice" will not. The word glutinous refers to thickening power and has no relation to the gluten found in wheat products. Sweet Rice Flour is gluten free.
Steaming the broccoli instead of boiling it retains more of the vitamins and minerals and keeps it dry.

Be sure to see the recipe carsd below for the full ingredients and instructions.

Step by Step Instructions

This collage shows the broccoli steaming, the cottage cheese and yogurt in the bowl of a processor, processed, the remaining quiche ingredients added tot the processor.

Step 1. Steam the cut up broccoli to retain the vitamins and minerals and keep it dry. Cool it before using. Step 2. Place the yogurt and cottage cheese in the bowl of a processor. Step 3. Process until smooth. Step 4. Add the eggs, cornstarch, dry mustard, cayenne, salt and pepper.

The last collage shows the filling ingredients for the Broccoli Cheddar Quiche in a bowl, the low fat mixture added, the filling in a pie plate and baked.

Step 5. Combine the broccoli, cheddar and asiago cheeses as well as the bottled roasted red peppers in a large bowl. Step 6. Pour with low fat quiche mixture over the veggies and stir to completely mix them. Step 7. Spray a pie plate with a non-stick baking release and pour the quiche into the pan. Smooth out if necessary. Bake as directed. Step 8. The baked quiche will puff up slightly and then fall. This is normal. Enjoy hot, room temperature or cold with a crusty bread.

Recipe FAQ'S

Can this quiche mix be used for crustless quiche?

Yes. This base works well for both traditional crusted quiche and crustless versions, making it suitable for lower-carb or gluten-free adaptation.

How is the fat reduced in this basic recipe?

While most recipes rely on milk, this lower fat, tastier version relies on low fat cottage cheese and low fat yogurt for a better taste experience

Why is my quiche watery?

A watery quiche is usually caused by too much moisture from vegetables or an unbalanced egg-to-liquid ratio. If veggies need to be precooked, I recommend steaming them as opposed to putting them in water. They can also be roasted but not charred. Those techniques along with the balanced ratio of eggs and cottage cheese and yogurt will prevent a watery quiche.

Expert Tips

Both the cottage cheese and the yogurt should be plain and low fat.
Low fat cheese may be used or some of the cheese reduced to make it even lower fat.
Any vegetable, cheese or protein can be used.
A crust can be added for a more traditional quiche.
This is perfect for a picnic as there is nothing to spoil.
A minor change in the thickener and this can be frozen or it can be held in the fridge for 3 or 4 days.
This is a base recipe and can be altered. Fresh or dried herbs can be added to compliment any dish that is being made. For instance cumin can be added if making a Mexican or southwestern dish, basil, oregano and garlic for Italian, etc.

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