What's the Difference Between a Frittata and a Quiche? (2024)

Grace Elkus

Grace Elkus

Grace Elkus was the Deputy Food Director at Kitchn, where she wrote a monthly vegetarian recipe column called Tonight We Veg. She received her culinary arts diploma from The Natural Gourmet Institute.

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updated Feb 28, 2023

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What's the Difference Between a Frittata and a Quiche? (1)

Springtime is full of opportunities to entertain guests, be it for Mother’s Day, a graduation party, or simply a sunny brunch outdoors. For many of these occasions, a frittata or quiche is the perfect addition to your spread — you can make them advance, tailor the mix-ins to the preferences of your crowd, and pair them with any number of simple sides. But you may be wondering, what exactly is the difference between these two egg bakes?

Quick Overview

Main Differences Between a Frittata and Quiche

The biggest differences between a frittata and a quiche are the presence of a crust, the egg-to-dairy ratio, the vessel that they’re baked in, and where they are cooked.

Frittata vs Quiche

There are four key differences between a frittata and quiche.

  • Crust: Quiche is baked in a pastry crust, often a pie crust. A frittata has no crust at all.
  • Dairy: Quiche has a higher proportion of dairy, one part egg to two parts liquid dairy. It is, in fact, a type of custard. A frittata, on the other hand, is an egg dish with just a small amount of dairy added.
  • Cooking vessel: Quiche is typically baked in a pie or tart pan (because of the crust) while a frittata is typically cooked in an oven-proof skillet or cast-iron pan.
  • Where it’s cooked: A quiche is cooked entirely in the oven, while a frittata starts on the stovetop and then is transferred to the oven to finish.

What Is a Frittata?

A frittata is made up primarily of eggs, with a bit of full-fat dairy (think: sour cream, yogurt, heavy cream, or crème fraîche) to prevent dryness and to make it fluffy and custardy, plus any combination of fully cooked add-ins for flavor.

The cooking begins on the stovetop — you’ll sauté any veggies or cook any meat that’s being added in an oven-safe skillet — then pour the egg mixture (eggs, dairy, cheese, and any seasonings, spices, or herbs) over those cooked ingredients. You’ll continue to cook the frittata on the stovetop just until the edges begin to set, then transfer it to the oven to finish cooking. One 10-inch frittata makes four very generous portions, or six smaller slices.

Our Latest and Greatest Frittata Recipes

What is Quiche?

Quiche, while also egg-based, is baked in a crust in a pie pan. Because it has the support of the crust, it can also handle more dairy (think: one part egg to two parts liquid dairy), and is therefore a bit silkier and more wobbly than a frittata. In the case of a quiche, the dairy you’ll use will either be whole milk, half-and-half, or heavy cream.

A quiche, while still fairly easy to make, is also a bit more labor-intensive than a frittata, because you must blind bake the crust before adding the mix-ins and the egg mixture and returning it to the oven.

Our Latest and Greatest Quiche Recipes

What's the Difference Between a Frittata and a Quiche? (2024)

FAQs

What's the Difference Between a Frittata and a Quiche? ›

A frittata is partially cooked in a skillet on the cooktop then finished in the oven. It also has a lower egg to dairy ratio making it closer to an open faced omelet than a pie. Quiche has a creamier, custard-like texture due to more dairy and is cooked entirely in the oven.

Is a frittata just a crustless quiche? ›

What's the difference between these two egg dishes anyway? In the most basic framework, a quiche has a pie crust and a frittata does not. A quiche is an egg custard pie and a frittata is, well, a crustless quiche.

Which is healthier, frittata or quiche? ›

While often compared to quiche, a frittata is a healthier option because it doesn't have a crust. The benefits are a lot like those of an omelet. At home, you can pile on vegetables and control the amount of oil you use to make it even healthier.

How is frittata different from omelet? ›

That's because a frittata is essentially a custard filled with any vegetables, herbs, cheese, meat and even pasta of your choosing, that is then cooked in a frying pan. Whereas an omelet's filling is just sprinkled on top of the egg, the frittata's additions need to be mixed in with the egg and cream before cooking.

Is a quiche just an omelette? ›

The traditional cooking methods used also set quiches, frittatas, and omelets apart. Quiches are typically baked in the oven; omelets are cooked-over stovetop heat and folded over (with the center most often left custardy and not quite set).

What is the prince between a quiche and a frittata? ›

Pan: Quiche is baked in pie dish or tart pan, while a frittata is cooked in a skillet. Texture: Frittatas have a firm exterior and a tender-fluffy interior, while quiche have a rich, custardy interior and a buttery, flaky crust. Timing: Quiche is more labor-intensive, particularly if you're making homemade crust.

What ethnicity is a frittata? ›

Frittata is an egg-based Italian dish, similar to an omelette, crustless quiche, or scrambled eggs, enriched with additional ingredients such as meats, cheeses, or vegetables. The word frittata is Italian and roughly translates to 'fried'.

What do you call a quiche without a crust? ›

A frittata, sometimes called a crustless quiche, has no crust, and you can bake it directly in a pan or skillet.

What is another name for a frittata? ›

You can think of a frittata as an Italian omelette. The origin of the word frittata is the Italian friggere, "fried," and in Italy it was once a common way to describe any egg dish cooked in butter or oil in a pan.

Can you freeze frittata? ›

Yes, the cooked frittata will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove the frittata from the freezer about 24 hours prior to serving and reheat it in the microwave or, covered with foil, in a 300°F-oven until hot in the center.

Why do scrambled eggs taste different than an omelette? ›

Finally, a large part of flavour perception comes from the food's texture, or 'mouthfeel'. So this is another factor in why silky scrambled eggs taste slightly different to a gooey poached egg or a fluffy omelette.

What is the hardest type of omelette to make? ›

The Japanese soft egg omelette (called 'omurice' in Japan) is one of the hardest egg dishes to make, but it isn't impossible! 🍳 We show you how it's done. Have you tried to make it? 🤷🏽‍♂️

What is a baked omelette called? ›

Frittatas are cooked in an oven-safe skillet because they are started on the stovetop and then finished in the oven. This is to achieve the frittata's signature top golden crust. While omelets are typically made to serve just one, frittatas can serve one or many.

Do the French eat quiche for breakfast? ›

The French typically eat quiches for lunch and dinner or as appetizers, but I've found that Americans like to eat quiches for breakfast and brunch. It doesn't matter when you eat it, my Quiche Lorraine recipe will taste good any time of the day.

What is Quiche Lorraine called? ›

Quiche Lorraine is a savoury French tart with a filling of cream, eggs, and bacon or ham, in an open pastry case. It was little known outside the French region of Lorraine until the mid-20th century.

What is the difference between quiche and Quiche Lorraine? ›

Quiche (/ˈkiːʃ/ KEESH) is a French tart consisting of a pastry crust filled with savoury custard and pieces of cheese, meat, seafood or vegetables. A well-known variant is quiche lorraine, which includes lardons or bacon.

What is a frittata made of? ›

Frittatas are an Italian dish consisting of cooked eggs with other ingredients added in like meat, vegetables, or cheese. Unlike omelets and scrambled eggs, frittatas are not moved or folded over as they're cooked. The frittata is cooked whole, without disturbing, in one large piece.

What is the difference between quiche frittata and strata? ›

A frittata is similar to a quiche without the crust, and is often described as a thick omelette packed with ingredients like vegetables, cheese or ham. A strata is a breakfast casserole made with eggs and bread and is often described as an easy-to-make, savoury bread pudding.

What's healthier frittata or omelette? ›

But unlike omelets, egg frittatas can serve a family fast. And unlike most egg recipes, a four-serving frittata cooks all at once without any flipping or fuss. Plus, since there's no crust (like quiches), it makes it a healthier breakfast option.

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