Air Fryer Broccoli Cheddar Quiche (Crustless Option Too)

Air Fryer Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese Quiche is the easiest way I know to get a real, custard-set quiche on the table without turning on the oven. You get a crisp, flaky crust, a creamy egg filling, and tender broccoli in every bite — and because the air fryer heats such a small space, the crust browns faster and better than it does in a full-size oven.

I’ve been making this one since 2020, and I’ve retested it across a Ninja Foodi, an Instant Pot Vortex, a GoWise, a PowerXL, and an Omni. Below you’ll find the exact cook times for each pan size, because that’s the single thing that determines whether your quiche sets properly or comes out wet in the middle.

If you’re new to cooking eggs in an air fryer, you might also like my air fryer hard-boiled eggs and my air fryer ham and cheese omelette — both use the same low-and-slow principle.

Why This Air Fryer Quiche Works

• The air fryer crisps the crust from below. A quiche’s worst enemy is a soggy bottom. Convection air circulating under a thin metal tart pan hits the underside of the crust directly, which a heavy ceramic pie dish in a conventional oven never gets.
• Low temperature is the whole trick. Eggs cooked hot turn rubbery and weep. At 320°F the custard sets gently and stays creamy. Every recipe on this site that involves eggs in the air fryer uses the same low range for exactly this reason.
• Seven ingredients, most of them already in your fridge. A store-bought crust does the hard part.
• It reheats beautifully. Unlike scrambled eggs, quiche is arguably better on day two — see the storage section below.

Ingredients

• Frozen or refrigerated pie crust — Use it straight from frozen. A thawed crust slumps down the sides of the pan before the filling sets. If you need a gluten-free base, my air fryer gluten-free quiche uses an almond flour crust that works here too.
• Broccoli florets — Cut them small, roughly the size of a thumbnail. Large florets stick up out of the custard and dry out.
• Shredded sharp cheddar — Sharp cheddar carries more flavor through the eggs than mild. Shred it yourself if you can; bagged cheese is coated in anti-caking starch that can make the filling slightly grainy.
• Large eggs — The structure of the whole thing.
• Whole milk — Lightens the custard. Half-and-half makes it richer; skim makes it watery.
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Which Pan Fits Your Air Fryer?

This is where most air fryer quiche recipes go wrong — they give one cook time for every machine. Pan size changes the depth of the custard, and depth changes everything.

Air fryer capacity	Pan that fits	Filling to use
3–4 qt basket	6″ tart pan	2 eggs + ¾ cup milk
5–6 qt basket	7″ tart pan	3 eggs + 1 cup milk
8 qt+ basket or oven model	9″ pie plate	4 eggs + 1½ cups milk

Use the thinnest pan you own. A thick ceramic or stoneware dish insulates the custard and the center will still be liquid long after the edges have overcooked.

How To Make Air Fryer Broccoli and Cheddar Cheese Quiche

Step One — Blind bake the crust. Place the frozen crust in your pan and air fry at 320°F for 5 minutes. This is not optional if your air fryer’s heating element is on top, and it’s a good idea either way. It’s the difference between a crisp base and a pale, doughy one.

Step Two — Mix the filling. Whisk the eggs until the yolks and whites are fully combined and slightly foamy. Whisk in the milk, then stir in the broccoli, cheddar, salt, and pepper. Whisking the eggs before adding the milk gives you a smoother custard.

Step Three — Fill and cook. Pour the filling into the par-baked crust, leaving about ¼ inch of headroom — the custard puffs as it cooks. Air fry at 320°F using the times in the chart below.

Step Four — Check for doneness. The edges should be set and slightly puffed, and the center should have only the faintest wobble. A knife or toothpick inserted an inch from the center comes out clean. If there’s wet batter on it, keep going in 5-minute increments.

Step Five — Rest it. Let the quiche sit for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Carryover heat finishes the center, and cutting too early gives you a runny slice.

Cook Times By Pan Size

Pan	Temperature	Cook time
6″ tart pan	320°F	18–22 minutes
7″ tart pan	320°F	22–28 minutes
9″ pie plate	320°F	32–40 minutes

Add 5 minutes of blind baking before any of these. If the crust edge or the top starts browning before the center sets, lay a piece of foil loosely over the top and keep cooking — the custard needs the time, the crust doesn’t.

Crustless Air Fryer Broccoli Cheddar Quiche

For a low-carb, keto-friendly, gluten-free version, skip the crust entirely. Grease your pan well with butter or cooking spray, pour the filling straight in, and air fry at 320°F for 15–18 minutes in a 7″ pan. It sets faster without a crust to heat through. Texture is closer to a baked frittata — still creamy, just without the flaky edge.

Recipe Tips From Testing

• Pat frozen broccoli completely dry. Frozen florets carry a surprising amount of water, and that water goes straight into your custard and prevents it from setting.
• If you’re using fresh broccoli, there’s no need to blanch it. It steams inside the custard and comes out crisp-tender.
• Don’t overfill. A quiche that spills over the crust edge glues itself to the pan.
• A removable-bottom tart pan makes serving dramatically easier — you can push the whole quiche up and off the base.
• Every air fryer runs differently. The first time you make this, check 5 minutes early.
• Leftover crust scraps? Egg wash them, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and air fry at 350°F for 4 minutes.

Variations and Substitutions

• Add aromatics — Sautéed onion or a clove of minced garlic added to the filling deepens the flavor considerably.
• Broccoli and Swiss — Swap the cheddar for Gruyère or Swiss for a nuttier, more traditional flavor.
• Add meat — Crumbled cooked bacon, diced ham, or browned breakfast sausage all work. Add about ½ cup and reduce the broccoli slightly so the pan isn’t crowded. If bacon is what you’re after, my copycat Cracker Barrel bacon and cheddar quiche is built around it.
• Three cheese — Cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan together, as in my air fryer three cheese quiche.
• Swap the vegetable — Spinach works beautifully in this same custard base; see my air fryer spinach quiche for the ratios.
• Lighter version — Use egg whites instead of whole eggs, the way I do in my air fryer egg white quiche.

What To Serve With It

A simple green salad with vinaigrette cuts the richness. Fresh fruit, roasted potatoes, or a fruit smoothie round it out for brunch. For a bigger spread, serve it alongside my air fryer sausage, bacon, and egg sandwich.

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating

Refrigerator: Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Freezer: Cool completely, wrap individual slices in plastic then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating: The air fryer is by far the best method — the microwave turns the crust to cardboard. Reheat slices at 300°F for 4–6 minutes. I have a full guide on how to reheat quiche in the air fryer with times for whole quiches and store-bought slices. The same method works for cooking a frozen quiche in the air fryer from scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cook quiche in an air fryer? Yes. Air fryers are excellent for quiche because the circulating heat crisps the crust from underneath. The key is a low temperature — 320°F — and a thin pan that fits your basket with room for air to move around it.

Why is my air fryer quiche still liquid in the middle? Almost always one of three things: the pan is too thick, the custard is too deep for the cook time, or there was excess water from frozen vegetables. Keep cooking in 5-minute increments — a quiche cannot be rushed, and there’s no harm in more time at 320°F.

Do I need to blind bake the crust? For the best result, yes. Five minutes at 320°F before you add the filling firms the base and prevents sogginess. It’s essential if your air fryer’s heating element sits above the food.

Can I use frozen broccoli? Yes, but thaw it and squeeze it dry in a clean towel first. Excess moisture is the number one reason quiche fails to set.

What cheese is best? Sharp cheddar is the classic pairing with broccoli. Gruyère, Swiss, Monterey Jack, and Colby all work. Avoid very soft cheeses, which release oil into the custard.

Can I make this ahead of time? Yes. Bake it completely, cool, refrigerate, and reheat slices in the air fryer at 300°F for 4–6 minutes. The texture holds up well.

How do I keep the crust from over-browning? Tent the top loosely with foil once it reaches the color you want, and continue cooking until the center sets.

Can I double the recipe? Not in one pan — the custard would be too deep to cook through. Make two smaller quiches instead, one after the other.

Is quiche served hot or cold? Either. It’s traditionally served warm or at room temperature, and it’s genuinely good cold straight from the fridge.

What’s the difference between quiche and frittata? Quiche has a pastry crust and a milk- or cream-based custard. A frittata is crustless and made with eggs alone. The crustless version above sits somewhere in between.