Bacon Cheddar and Chive Quiche

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 7-8

Ingredients:

For Hash Brown crust:

• 20 ounces frozen hash browns thawed

• ½ cup white cheddar shredded

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper

For filling:

• 2 tbs unsalted butter

• ½ onion thinly sliced

• 6 large eggs lightly beaten

• ½ cup heavy cream or whole milk

• 4 rashers bacon crispy cooked and crumbled (a rasher is a slice of bacon)

• 1 cup white cheddar cheese shredded

• 1 tbs chives thinly sliced, plus more for garnish

• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

For Hash Brown crust:

1. Squeeze as much liquid from the thawed hash browns as possible and place into a large mixing bowl. Add cheddar, salt and pepper and stir it all together.

2. Lightly grease a baking pan (I use a 9” spring form pan) with cooking spray and evenly press the hash browns mixture into the bottom and sides of the pan. Make sure you don't have any holes in the crust (this is important to prevent any leakage).

3. Place the pan in the freezer and freeze for at least 1 hour.

4. Preheat oven to 425˚F.

5. Place frozen crust until the oven and par-bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and slightly cool.

For filling:

1. In a skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and lightly caramelize for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs and cream. Whisk together until light and fluffy. Add the remaining ingredients, including caramelized onions and stir together until mixed up. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Pour filling mixture into the par-baked crust.

4. Lower oven temperature to 375˚F and bake the quiche for 25 to 30 minutes or until the eggs have just set.

5. Remove quiche from oven and score the perimeter with a paring knife. Loosen the spring form pan from sides of quiche and place quiche back into the oven for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. (this will help the crust get crisp on the sides)

6. Remove quiche form oven and cool for 10 minutes.

7. Slice quiches into wedges, top with sliced chives and serve.

You can freeze this quiche and simply reheat in the oven.