Bacon and Spinach Egg Bake
A crustless egg bake with crisp bacon, wilted spinach, onion and cheddar, baked in an 8x8 dish until set. Cuts into six tidy squares.
- Prep15 min
- Cook35 min
- Total50 min
- Servings6
- Net carbs*3.5 g
- LevelEasy
This egg bake is like a quiche without the crust. Smoky bacon, sweet sautéed onion and a big handful of spinach are folded into a custard of eggs and cream, then topped with cheddar that browns in the oven. It feeds a crowd for brunch, or you can cut it into squares and reheat one each morning.
Cook the onion and spinach in a little of the bacon fat before they go into the dish. Raw onion stays sharp and crunchy in a custard, and raw spinach leaks water. A few minutes in the skillet softens both and drives off moisture, so the bake slices cleanly instead of sitting in a puddle.
Ingredients
Makes 1 (8x8-inch) dish, 6 squares. Tap an item to check it off.
Equipment
- 8x8-inch baking dish
- Large skillet
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and butter an 8x8-inch baking dish.
- Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. Move it to a paper towel and pour off all but 1 tablespoon of fat.
- Add the onion to the skillet and cook 4 minutes until soft. Add the spinach and stir 1 to 2 minutes, until fully wilted. Let cool slightly.
- Whisk the eggs, cream, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
- Crumble the bacon. Spread the spinach mixture, bacon and half of the cheddar in the dish. Pour the eggs over and top with the remaining cheddar.
- Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until puffed, golden at the edges and set in the center. A knife inserted in the middle should come out clean.
- Rest 10 minutes before cutting into 6 squares.
Estimated nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 356
- Total carbs
- 4.2 g
- Fiber
- 0.7 g
- Net carbs
- 3.5 g
- Protein
- 20.9 g
- Fat
- 28.3 g
*These are estimates, calculated from the ingredient weights above and USDA FoodData Central data, divided by 6 servings. Net carbs = total carbs minus fiber. Values vary with brands, quantities, ingredient swaps and how you portion the dish. How we estimate nutrition.
Kitchen tips
- A 9-inch pie plate works too. Start checking at 28 minutes, since it bakes a little thinner.
- Assemble it the night before, cover and refrigerate. Add 5 to 10 minutes to the baking time.
Substitutions
- Bacon → diced deli ham Use 4 oz. Leaner and milder, with no skillet step for the meat.
- Cheddar → Swiss Same amount. Nuttier and a little lower in carbs.
- Heavy cream → unsweetened almond milk Same amount. A lighter, slightly less creamy custard with fewer calories.
Swaps change the nutrition estimate shown above.
Storage and reheating
- Fridge
- Covered dish or airtight container, up to 4 days.
- Freezer
- Wrap individual squares in plastic and foil. Keeps up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Reheat
- Microwave a square for 60 to 75 seconds, or warm in a 325°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes.
Questions cooks ask
Why is my egg bake watery?
Usually the spinach was not cooked down enough, or the bake was cut before it rested.
