Chicken Sausage Quiche Lorraine

This savory quiche pairs the custardy richness of a classic lorraine-style filling with browned chicken sausage, gruyère, and tender onions in a flaky pie crust. It is elegant enough for brunch and hearty enough for a simple dinner with a green salad.
Prep: 25 min · Cook: 55 min · Total: 80 min · Serves: 6
Ingredients
- 0.75 cup yellow onion (finely diced)
- 0.125 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 cup gruyere cheese (shredded)
- 1.25 cups half-and-half
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 0.5 tsp kosher salt
- 1 each 9-inch deep-dish pie crust (unbaked)
- 8 oz chicken sausage (casings removed)
- 4 each large eggs
- 0.5 cup whole milk
- 0.25 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
- 0.25 cup parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh chives (thinly sliced)
Instructions
- Place a rack in the lower third of the oven and heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) for at least 15 minutes so the crust bakes evenly.
- Fit the 1 unbaked 9-inch deep-dish pie crust into a 9-inch pie plate, press it gently into the corners, crimp the edge, and chill it in the refrigerator for 10 minutes until firm.
- Line the chilled crust with parchment paper, fill it with pie weights or dried beans, and bake it on a rimmed baking sheet at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes until the edges look set and lightly dry.
- Carefully lift out the parchment and weights, prick the bottom of the crust several times with a fork, and bake the crust at 375°F (190°C) for 6-8 minutes more until the bottom looks matte and pale golden; set it on the baking sheet while you prepare the filling.
- Keep the 8 oz chicken sausage separate from ready-to-eat ingredients, wash your hands and any surfaces after handling it, and do not reuse utensils that touched the raw sausage unless they are washed with hot soapy water.
- Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat until shimmering, about 1 minute, then add the chicken sausage and break it into small crumbles with a wooden spoon.
- Cook the chicken sausage in the skillet over medium heat for 7-9 minutes, stirring often, until browned in spots and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the largest crumble registers 165°F (74°C).
- Add 0.75 cup finely diced yellow onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent and the sausage is fully browned; transfer the mixture to a plate and let it cool for 5 minutes.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and keep the partially baked crust on the rimmed baking sheet to catch any overflow.
- Whisk 4 large eggs in a large bowl until no streaks of white remain, about 30 seconds, then whisk in 1.25 cups half-and-half, 0.5 cup whole milk, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 0.5 tsp kosher salt, 0.25 tsp freshly ground black pepper, and 0.125 tsp ground nutmeg until smooth.
- Scatter the cooled sausage-onion mixture evenly over the bottom of the warm crust, then sprinkle 1 cup shredded Gruyere cheese and 0.25 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese over the sausage.
- Pour the egg mixture slowly into the crust, using a spatula to distribute the filling evenly, and stop if the custard reaches just below the crimped edge.
- Bake the quiche on the rimmed baking sheet at 350°F (175°C) for 32-38 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through, until the edges are puffed, the center has a slight jiggle, and the custard reaches 160°F (71°C) on an instant-read thermometer.
- Transfer the quiche to a wire rack and let it rest for 15 minutes until the custard finishes setting and slices cleanly.
- Sprinkle 2 tbsp thinly sliced fresh chives over the quiche, then slice it into 6 wedges with a sharp knife and serve warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories: 432
- Protein: 22 g
- Fat: 31 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 769 mg
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