After a wild weekend of packing, cleaning, and moving, my guy and I decided to spend the Labor Day holiday away from that craziness. With my parents at their cabin and unable to use their season tickets, we “stole” them and went to the Oakland A’s baseball game… Along with 35,000+ other fans. Everyone wanted their own Coco Crisp replica jersey!
After waiting over an hour in a line that snaked around half of the parking lot (and completely rivaled the length of Disneyland’s Matterhorn or Space Mountain), we finally entered the stadium, where a wave of greasy hot dogs, cheesy nachos, and sugary kettlecorn smells immediately washed over us.
Although I much prefer the aroma of freshly mown grass and carefully watered dirt, that’s all still part of the nostalgic ballpark scent!
After grabbing huge icy cold souvenir sodas, we wove our way through the throngs of families to our seats. We settled in, applied thick layers of sunscreen, and started cheering for our team. When the excitement of the two-out rally in the bottom of the first hit—a home run! two walks! two RBI singles!—we crossed out fingers that they could hold on and walk out of the stadium with a win.
However… Just about every single group of fans around us made waiting for that final out almost pure torture. They brought down loaded sausages, cheesy pizzas, and sugary red vines from the concession stands… Then purchased cinnamony churros, chocolate ice cream bars, and frozen lemonade from the vendors.
With all of those unhealthy temptations nearby, I barely made it out with my wallet (and stomach) intact!
So the following morning, to balance out all of those stadium temptations, I baked this ultra-healthy Skinny Broccoli, Ham & Spinach Quiche! With more than a full serving of veggies in every slice, along with tons of juicy morsels of meat, this savory breakfast will please even the pickiest of eaters. No need to tell them it’s gluten-free, low carb, and low calorie too!
When it comes to breakfast, I want to eat a serving or two of veggies. Really, I do! But the mere thought of crunching on carrots or celery sticks first thing in the morning sends me sprinting as fast as I can in the opposite direction to freshly baked scones or sweet yogurt parfaits.
However… If I bake my veggies into something so they’re soft and tender—not quite so crisp and jarring—I can trick myself into eating them with breakfast. (And I actually look forward to them like that too!)
So that’s exactly what I did here! I lightly sautéed a big bunch of broccoli florets and a few cups of fresh spinach—just long enough to make them bright green and tender—before adding them to the beaten egg whites. It’s important to cook them before because they won’t soften enough in the oven. The broccoli would stay crisp and crunchy while the spinach would release too much water, and neither goes well with the soft eggs in a quiche!
For extra protein, I added in some store-bought ham. It’s always been my family’s favorite breakfast protein, even more than eggs, chicken, or bacon (yes, we’re crazy—I know!). Make sure to cut off the skin and any large pockets of fat to ensure that the meat stays as juicy and tender as the veggies.
Now, I’m sure you’re wondering… Why in the world did Amy bake this quiche in a square pan instead of the normal circular one?? In a nutshell, I packed away my round cake pans in our storage locker, but I managed to set aside my square ones since I knew I’d be craving brownies. Whoops!
I kind of prefer the perfect triangular shape of these slices compared to the rounded edges of a circular pan… It’s a fun change! But I’m sure a 9”-round cake pan would work just fine too.
Hearty and healthy, this clean-eating Skinny Broccoli, Ham & Spinach Quiche really hit the spot! The soft eggs, the tender veggies, the juicy meat… It’ll be a miracle if it doesn’t disappear the second you pull it out of the oven! But if you manage to end up with leftovers, they’re awesome for rushed mornings and make-ahead breakfasts. Just pop a serving in the microwave and your high-protein breakfast is served!
Or if you’re lazy like me, just nibble on it cold… It still tastes just as satisfying that way too!
This protein-packed breakfast is so easy to make, and it’s perfect for rushed mornings or make-ahead meals! Just pop a serving into the microwave or nibble on it cold. Add in your favorite herbs to make it even better!
- Preheat the oven to 325°F, and lightly coat a 9”-square pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Lightly coat a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Cook the broccoli over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently, or until bright green and tender. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the spinach and cook, stirring constantly, until it has completely wilted. Remove from the heat. Optional: Season with a small sprinkle of salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg whites, basil, and pepper until lightly frothy. Add the vegetables and ham, stirring until incorporated. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and bake at 325°F for 25-30 minutes, or until the center has set and no longer jiggles. Cool at least 5 minutes before slicing into squares. Slice each square diagonally into 2 triangles.
Notes: You could probably bake the quiche in a 9”-round pan instead. It should take about the same amount of time to bake.
Once completely cooled, wrap any leftovers in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 6 days.
You and me both! Stadium smells, ESPECIALLY the kettle corn (oh kettle corn!) definitely stretch my self control 🙂 What a fun way to celebrate the weekend! And this is the perfect weekend treat. I kept rereading the ingredients, going “that’s it?” Ham and spinach are iconic, and then the broccoli adds even more. Great job Amy, pinning!
SO true — kettlecorn is the worst!! It smells like a combination of maple and honey and salty popcorn… Totally irresistible. Although close behind it are the churros! 😉 Thanks for the pin Mary Frances!
This looks awesome Amy!! Broccoli and I are slowly getting to be on better terms. Throw eggs and ham into the mix and I think we’ll be getting along just fine 🙂
Thanks Karen! Funny enough, I just realized within the past year that I’m allergic to raw broccoli! I’m okay if it’s cooked, but still… I had to get on better terms with broccoli again too. 😉
do you know if this will freeze well?
It should, Jenniffer! I hope you enjoy the quiche! 🙂
Hello! Thank you for this interesting recipe – as well as for everything else in this website.
Just an idea about your wanting to eat veggies for breakfast. It is really not tempting to chew carrots first thing in the morning. However, I find it much easier to eat steamed veggies. I am not generally fond of … chewing things; so, steamed vegetables (plain or with a bit of olive oil or whatever one would like to add) is a nice option for me. 🙂
Thank you so much for your kind words about my website and recipes, Liana! It means a lot to me. 🙂 I’d love to hear what you think if you try this quiche!
I loved this recipe so much . It’s really awesome
I’m so glad you liked this quiche, Chris!