This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
Classic Cheese flan
Discover how to make a classic school dinners cheese flan, also known as cheese pie, with this easy recipe. Cheese flan is similar to a quiche but less fiddly to make and with fewer ingredients – all you need is ready-made shortcrust pastry, eggs and cheese, onions optional.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Serves 6
- Vegetarian
- Freezable
Preparation
- Total time
- 40 Mins
- Preparation time
- 15 Mins
- Cooking time
- 25 Mins
-
1 large onion or 2 medium shallots, peeled and finely sliced (optional)
-
1 tbsp unsalted butter (optional)
-
375g ready-to-roll shortcrust pastry
-
2 large eggs
-
150ml milk
-
200g extra-mature Cheddar, grated
-
Salt and pepper
-
Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/Gas Mark 4.
For the onions (optional)
-
Add the butter to a frying pan over a low-medium heat. Add the onion slices and a pinch of salt and fry gently for about 10-15 minutes, until softened and just starting to caramelise. Keep the heat low so they don't burn, stirring regularly.
For the flan
-
While the onions are cooking, line the base and sides of a pie/tart tin with shortcrust pastry. Prick the bottom, cover with parchment and add dried beans/baking beans/baking weights and blind bake for 10 minutes until it is light golden. Remove from the oven and pace to one side.
-
Whisk together the eggs and milk in a large bowl or jug. Stir in the grated cheese and season with salt and pepper.
-
Spoon the onions onto the flan base (if using), spreading them out so they form a thin layer. Pour the cheese and egg mixture over the top.
-
Bake for about 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and just set.
-
Serve warm, with a crisp green salad (or tinned tomatoes if you really want that classic school dinners vibe!).
You will need
23cm-round pie dish or flan tin
Baking beans/weights (optional)
Balloon whisk
Tips
Hands up if you remember this school dinner favourite! Cheese flan, or cheese pie as is it often known, is a classic school dinner dish made with just a handful of ingredients (perfect for feeding a horde of hungry kids on a budget!). It was often served with tinned tomatoes or a tomato sauce.
Variations
- Crisp up some bacon lardons and fold into the filling before cooking
- Wilt some spinach in a pan and fold into the filling alongside some sautéed red peppers
- Heat frozen peas in microwave then fold in before cooking
- Slice cherry tomatoes and cook them inside the flan for little bursts of flavour
- Top with some fresh rocket for a fresh peppery taste
- Sauté mushrooms then fold through before cooking for a hearty version
Reviews
-
Ellie W(111)386884
★★★★★Super easy & just like the 70’s school dinners. Yummy
Reviewed on 28/11/22
-
Lucy S(20)
★★★★★Such a cheap and easy midweek meal - totally takes me back to my school days, and the kids like it, too!
Reviewed on 26/03/21
Related collections
Most loved Netmums recipes
- Slow cooked sausage and onion casserole for kids
- Macaroni cheese for kids
- Fakeaway slow cooker doner kebab
- Tuna pasta bake for kids
- Cheesy mash
- Chocolate cornflake cakes for cooking with kids
- Rice Krispie cakes made with golden syrup
- Easy treacle syrup sponge pudding
- Chocolate tiffin
- Banana flapjacks