Weekend mornings call for a hearty loaded breakfast skillet that promises pure comfort and flavor.
This one-pan wonder combines crispy potatoes, savory meats, and melted cheese into a mouthwatering morning feast.
Sizzling ingredients dance together in a cast-iron pan, creating layers of deliciousness that wake up your taste buds.
Farm-fresh eggs nestle perfectly among golden-brown potatoes and crisp bacon pieces.
Each forkful delivers a symphony of textures and robust flavors that energize your morning.
Rich, satisfying, and packed with protein, this breakfast skillet turns an ordinary morning into an extraordinary culinary experience.
Dive into this irresistible dish that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds.
Tools for Loaded Breakfast Skillet Cooking
Large Skillet: Heavy-bottomed pan essential for even cooking and crispy potatoes.
Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Perfect for stirring and moving ingredients around without scratching the pan.
Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately season the potatoes with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Knife: Sharp blade for chopping onions, bell peppers, and green onions.
Cutting Board: Provides a clean surface for chopping ingredients.
Egg Cracker: Helps neatly crack eggs into potato mixture wells.
Lid: Covers skillet to steam eggs and melt cheese perfectly.
Skillet Instructions for a Hearty Start
Sizzle Potato Base Craft a golden, crispy potato foundation by heating olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle in garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, then cook potatoes for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until they turn beautifully golden.
Layer Flavor Boosters Toss in diced onions, colorful bell peppers, and crispy bacon pieces. Let everything dance together in the skillet for 5-7 minutes until vegetables soften and bacon becomes irresistibly crunchy.
Create Egg Nests Gently create four small wells in the potato mixture. Carefully crack an egg into each pocket. Cover the skillet and let eggs cook for 5 minutes, allowing them to reach your preferred doneness.
Cheese and Finish Sprinkle a generous layer of cheddar cheese over the skillet. Cover for one minute to create a melty, gooey topping. Finish by garnishing with fresh green onions and creamy avocado slices. Serve immediately while piping hot and bursting with flavor.
Loaded Breakfast Tips & Add-ons
Perfect Potato Crispiness: Dice potatoes uniformly and pat them dry before cooking to ensure maximum golden-brown crunchiness and prevent soggy results.
Egg Cooking Hack: For perfectly cooked eggs, use fresh eggs and adjust cooking time based on your preferred yolk consistency – runny, medium, or fully set.
Make-Ahead Magic: Prep potato and bacon mixture in advance and store in refrigerator, then quickly reheat and add fresh eggs when ready to serve for a time-saving breakfast.
Dietary Adaptations: Swap bacon with turkey bacon or plant-based bacon for lower-fat version; use dairy-free cheese for lactose-intolerant guests; replace regular potatoes with sweet potatoes for added nutrients.
How to Plate a Loaded Skillet
Breakfast Brilliance: Top this hearty skillet with extra crispy bacon bits for added crunch and smoky flavor.
Brunch Crowd-Pleaser: Serve alongside fresh toasted sourdough bread or warm buttermilk biscuits to soak up the delicious egg yolks and skillet juices.
Veggie Lovers' Twist: Add fresh salsa or pico de gallo on the side for a zesty, bright complement to the rich, savory breakfast skillet.
Spice It Up: Drizzle hot sauce or sprinkle red pepper flakes over the top for those who enjoy an extra kick of heat with their morning meal.
Store Your Breakfast Skillet with Ease
Meal Planning & Storage Advice
Quick Morning Prep: Chop vegetables and dice bacon the night before to cut cooking time in half during busy mornings.
Smart Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover skillet in an airtight container for up to 3 days, keeping eggs and potatoes separate from crispy bacon to maintain texture.
Freezer-Friendly Hack: Portion individual servings in freezer-safe containers, removing cheese and fresh toppings. Reheat in skillet or microwave for a speedy breakfast within 2 weeks.
Portion Control Tip: Divide ingredients into single-serve containers for grab-and-go breakfast options that stay fresh and delicious throughout the week.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Calories: 400 kcal
Servings: 4
What’s in the Loaded Breakfast Skillet
For Potatoes and Seasonings:
Russet Potatoes: Starchy spuds that crisp beautifully and create a golden base for the breakfast skillet.
Garlic Powder: Adds deep, aromatic flavor without raw garlic intensity.
Delightful loaded breakfast skillet brings hearty morning comfort from rustic kitchen traditions. Southern-style ingredients combine in a single pan, promising flavor-packed satisfaction for hungry diners.
Ingredients
Scale
4 strips bacon (or ½ cup cooked sausage)
4 eggs
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 medium potatoes, diced (or 2 cups frozen hash browns)
½ onion, diced
½ bell pepper, diced
2 tbsps chopped green onions
½ avocado, sliced (optional)
1 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Skillet Preparation: Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium flame, creating an even cooking surface.
Potato Foundation: Add diced potatoes, seasoning with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until golden and crispy, stirring occasionally to ensure uniform browning.
Flavor Layering: Introduce chopped onions, bell peppers, and bacon pieces to the potatoes. Sauté until vegetables soften and bacon releases its savory essence, allowing ingredients to harmonize.
Egg Nestling: Create small wells in the potato-vegetable mixture, carefully cracking eggs into these designated spaces. Cover skillet and cook until eggs reach desired consistency.
Cheese Cascade: Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the skillet, allowing it to melt into a creamy, golden blanket that envelops the entire dish.
Garnish and Serve: Adorn with freshly chopped green onions and avocado slices. Remove from heat immediately and serve directly from the sizzling skillet, ensuring maximum flavor and temperature.
Notes
Optimize Potato Crispiness: Dry potato pieces thoroughly before cooking to achieve maximum golden-brown exterior and prevent soggy texture.
Control Egg Doneness: Use lid strategically for steam cooking, peeking occasionally to monitor egg whites and yolks for precise personal preference.
Balance Skillet Temperature: Maintain medium heat to prevent burning bacon and potatoes while ensuring even cooking throughout the entire dish.
Customize Dietary Needs: Substitute bacon with turkey bacon or plant-based alternatives for lighter versions, swap regular cheese for dairy-free options, or add extra vegetables for vegetarian adaptations.
Focus: Focused on mastering culinary methods and food science, immersive externships, hands‑on training in industry‑standard kitchen labs, and equipping graduates for roles in restaurant operations.
William Hawkins isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller through food. From his hometown of Louisville, KY, he’s spent years refining his craft, turning local ingredients into something extraordinary.
With classical training from Sullivan University and a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and Southern soul, William approaches every recipe with purpose. His kitchen is where old techniques meet fresh ideas, and where comfort food gets a thoughtful, modern twist.
When he’s not building dishes from the ground up, he’s out gathering inspiration from nature, markets, and the stories people share around the table.
William Hawkins
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Education
Sullivan University, Louisville, KY
William Hawkins isn’t just a chef, he’s a storyteller through food. From his hometown of Louisville, KY, he’s spent years refining his craft, turning local ingredients into something extraordinary.
With classical training from Sullivan University and a career marked by innovation, mentorship, and Southern soul, William approaches every recipe with purpose. His kitchen is where old techniques meet fresh ideas, and where comfort food gets a thoughtful, modern twist.
When he’s not building dishes from the ground up, he’s out gathering inspiration from nature, markets, and the stories people share around the table.