You’re really excited to whip up a rich and indulgent quiche for your brunch party…but that buffet table will look a little sad with nothing else on it and now you’re wondering what to serve with quiche. Fear not: We’ve got you covered with a wide range of side dishes—asparagus Caesar salad, sliced citrus with pistachio dust and hearty risotto-stuffed mushrooms, to name a few—that will satisfy every guest in attendance. (Psst: There are even some delicious cocktail recipes, too, if you prefer to keep it light and simple.)
Wondering What to Serve with Quiche? These 40 Delicious Sides Will Complete the Menu
•
Published Aug 22, 2023
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Is Quiche a Main Dish or a Side Dish?
If you’ve ever indulged in quiche (or looked at the title of this article), the answer to this question will come as no surprise. Quiche is, indeed, a main dish—and it’s no wonder, considering that this savory pie boasts a buttery crust and a creamy, cheese-laden egg custard with a wide variety of mix-ins, including meats (bacon and ham, most commonly) and vegetables. Yep, we’re full just thinking about it.
For obvious reasons, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying quiche all by its lonesome…but when you’re hosting a brunch or lunch with quiche as the main feature, you will likely want to have some side dishes to round out your spread. Fortunately, this is fairly easy to do, since light salads and veggie sides, citrus fruits and (for the very hungry) potato and bread dishes all play nicely with this French classic. Without further ado, here are some of our favorites.
1. Cacio e Pepe Brussel Sprouts
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, sheet pan recipe, low carbs
Brussels sprouts make a healthy, seasonal stand-in for pasta in this twist on the cheesy, peppery Italian classic.
2. Pan-Roasted Broccoli ‘Steaks’ with Garlic-Sesame Vinaigrette
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, <500 calories
These crisp and caramelized broccoli steaks are an ideal textural counterpoint to the fluffy and creamy interior of quiche. Plus, the umami-packed garlic-sesame vinaigrette is so delicious you could slurp it with a spoon.
3. Turnip Fries
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly
Bake ‘em in the oven or bust out the air-fryer—either way these crispy wedges are a hearty and healthy way to round out your meal.
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, low carb, keto-friendly
Classic potato salad is a tad too rich to serve alongside quiche, but this brilliant cauliflower side is a perfect accompaniment that boasts all the same flavors without the heavy mayo. (Psst: The secret is Greek yogurt.)
5. Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Sriracha and Lime
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
These sweet potatoes feature a bright combination of cilantro, sriracha and lime that promises to perk up your palate without clashing with your quiche.
6. Baby Vegetables with Orange and Thyme
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe, beginner-friendly
Sweet, zesty orange and savory thyme lend fresh, aromatic flavor to this simple and elegant steamed veggie side.
7. Caprese Salad with Grilled Zucchini
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, low carbs, <500 calories
Ripe summer tomatoes have just the right amount of acidity to cut the buttery richness of the main course.
8. Minty-Fresh Zucchini Salad with Marinated Feta
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes + marinating time
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, make-ahead, low carbs
This refreshing summer salad is the palate cleanser you’ll crave between each bite of decadent quiche.
9. Gluten-Free Cheese and Cauliflower ‘Breadsticks’
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, low carbs, kid-friendly
Who needs a snoozy side of toast when you can munch on this cheesy, gluten-free alternative instead?
10. Lemon Tahini Salad with Lentils, Beets, Carrots
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, no bake, high protein
A zippy and bright lemon-tahini dressing complements the earthy flavor of root vegetables wonderfully in this healthy side dish, which just so happens to be a dreamy accompaniment to custardy quiche.
11. Creamed Brussels Sprouts with Caramelized Onions
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, crowd-pleaser, low carbs
This recipe for meaty Brussels sprouts and sweet caramelized onions in cream sauce is basically begging to be served alongside any quiche that features bacon. (Quiche Lorraine, anyone?)
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, no cook, <500 calories
A light and healthy serving of greens is one of the most obvious pairings for a rich main like quiche. This kale Caesar is the best of them all, since it fits the bill without being totally joyless—you know, like that lackluster mixed green salad that restaurants serve just to take space on the plate.
13. Cauliflower, Pomegranate, and Apple Salad
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: baking sheet recipe, <500 calories, no cook
Cauliflower once again proves its potential as a low-key flavor vessel in this sweet-tart salad—a palate-cleansing pick-me-up that pairs well with most anything.
14. Kale Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: baking sheet recipe, <500 calories, no cook
This simple kale salad boasts a dijon vinaigrette that harmonizes wonderfully with quiche and a spiced, crispy chickpea topping that’s downright addictive.
15. Crisp Fall Green Salad with Benne Seed Ginger Dressing
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
Here, bitter greens (think: dandelion, kale and kohlrabi) and a bold, Asian-inspired ginger dressing come together to create a bright, exciting salad that goes well with anything rich.
16. Roasted Squash Salad with White Beans, Bread Crumbs and Preserved Lemon
- Time Commitment: 1 hour + soaking time
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, <500 calories
Prefer a heartier salad? No problem—just try this comforting combination of sweet, roasted squash, buttery white beans and aromatic preserved lemon. Chef’s kiss.
17. Harissa and Honey-Roasted Carrots
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
Beautiful to look at and even better to taste—this roasted carrot side is a sweet and spicy flavor bomb that requires precious few ingredients to pull off.
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
This just in: The secret to super light and fluffy, Southern-style biscuits is Bisquick and Sprite.
19. Brussels Sprouts Skillet with Crispy Pancetta-Garlic Bread Crumbs
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: no bake, <500 calories, <10 ingredients
So what if there’s already pancetta in your quiche…you really can’t have too much of a good thing, can you?
20. Julia Turshen’s Radicchio and Roasted Squash Salad
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, low carbs, <500 calories, make-ahead
Warning: This radicchio slaw is a brightly colored and beautiful companion to quiche that provides a welcome flavor contrast, to boot.
21. Kale Salad with Persimmons, Crispy Chickpeas and Fried Shallots
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
This inventive and oh-so complex combination of leafy greens, dried apricot, fresh persimmon, shallot and chickpeas acts as a perfect foil to the straightforward flavor profile of quiche.
22. Oven-Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Crispy Chickpeas and Yogurt Sauce
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, sheet pan recipe, vegetarian
In case you missed it, we can’t get enough crispy chickpeas. Here, they deliver a delightful textural contrast to creamy, roasted sweet potato. As far as your quiche is concerned, the palate-cleansing tang of silky yogurt sauce tastes like a match made in heaven.
23. Arugula Salad with Whole-Lemon Vinaigrette
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
Peppery arugula dressed in an extra lemony, zingy vinaigrette served alongside a creamy, buttery egg custard. Looks like a well-balanced equation to us.
24. Make-Ahead Farro and Brussels Sprout Salad
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, make-ahead, vegetarian
This hearty combination of chewy, nutty farro and earthy Brussels sprouts feels light and fresh thanks to the fruity tang of pomegranate seeds. Let’s just say this one checks all the boxes.
25. Ina Garten's Roasted Broccolini and Cheddar
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: low sugar, sheet pan recipe, ready in <30 minutes
As far as we’re concerned, the Barefoot Contessa can do no wrong and this sheet pan recipe proves it. A play on the classic broccoli with cheese sauce, this adult twist is low on carbs (you know, to balance out the quiche) and high on flavor.
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special-occasion worthy
Sometimes the only side you need is a refreshing adult beverage, and that notion can certainly be applied to quiche. Our first choice? A spicy, savory bloody mary, of course.
27. Prosciutto and Salad Board
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
This eye-pleasing combination of salad greens, salty prosciutto and sweet figs is simple, sexy and guaranteed to impress every brunch guest.
28. Cauliflower with Roasted Tomatoes, Parsley and Bread Crumbs
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: make-ahead, <500 calories, vegetarian
News to no one: cauliflower goes well with everything. Add a hint of sweetness and acidity with roasted tomatoes and some grassy freshness with parsley and you have a dish that’s just dying for a dance with quiche (and pretty much anything else on the menu).
29. Roasted Peach and Arugula Salad
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
Stone fruits really elevate the flavor of quiche and there’s no better proof than this swoon-worthy combination of spicy arugula, sweet roasted peaches and crunchy almonds.
30. Corn Fritter Caprese with Peaches and Tomatoes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, high protein
Remember what we said about stone fruit? Well, this time peaches are pairing up with other summertime favorites, tomato and corn, and the finished dish is so beyond brunch-worthy.
31. Roasted Delicata Squash Salad
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, sheet pan recipe
Avocado, mint, pomegranate, lime—there’s plenty going on in this squash salad and it’s still more than the sum of its parts. Serve this one with quiche or any dairy-rich dish and your guests will be dazzled.
32. Oven-Roasted Beets and Potatoes
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
Here, we slice golden and red beets and Yukon Gold potatoes super-thin, put them into stacks and then arrange them in a skillet to form a spiral. Isn’t it gorgeous? This hearty side dish is sure to impress.
33. Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Barley Risotto
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, high protein, beginner-friendly
If you’re looking for a satisfying side dish that brings deep umami flavor to the table, this crave-worthy vegetarian recipe featuring creamy barley risotto tucked into portobello mushroom caps fits the bill.
34. Yotam Ottolenghi’s Roasted Butternut Squash with Lentils and Gorgonzola
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, <500 calories
Another hearty option that harmonizes well—this delicious lentil and squash salad gets a pick-me-up from plenty of fresh herbs, plus a little bite from a sprinkling of gorgonzola. Serve slightly warm for best results.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly
There’s more veg than pasta in Jamie Oliver’s recipe for greens mac and cheese, which is why you don’t have to feel too bad about doubling down on your love of dairy.
36. Kale and Brussel Sprouts Caesar Slaw
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, low carbs
For those who could never quite get on board with Brussels sprouts—you won’t even notice them when they’re shredded, mixed with kale and tossed in homemade Caesar dressing. Trust.
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan
Fans of the boozy side idea will delight in this recipe, which turns a classic aperol spritz into a slushy that’s remarkably even more summery and brunchy than the original.
- Time Commitment: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: low sugar, low carb, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Roast fresh tomatoes alongside garlic and onion before you start on the broth. It’s an easy way to achieve a more developed and concentrated flavor that puts the canned stuff to shame.
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: low carb, <500 calories, low sugar, vegetarian
Nothing says “springtime in Paris” quite like in-season asparagus doused in your favorite dressing (Caesar, duh) and served alongside a generous helping of quiche Lorraine. Bon appetit.
40. Sliced Citrus with Pistachio Dust
- Time Commitment: 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, <30 minutes, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
Citrus is one of the best pairings for quiche and this simple, elegant side of sliced citrus and pistachio is a highly-customizable upgrade on the sad fruit salads of yore that’s sure to impress a crowd.
Want to know which buzzy products are *really* worth buying? Sign up for our shopping newsletter to uncover our favorite finds.
Why You Should Trust Us
PureWow is the best friend you never had when it comes to finding the best, most useful lifestyle products online. Founded in 2010, our company’s editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which ones are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series, which sees each and every item we test being ranked on a 100-point scale of awesomeness, to the painstakingly curated lists our fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family editors create as vertical experts, you can trust that our recommendations include some of the greatest items you’ll find on the internet. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.
