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Loaded Breakfast Skillet with Sausage and Peppers

Loaded Breakfast Skillet with Sausage and Peppers is a hearty one-pan breakfast with crispy golden potatoes, browned sausage crumbles, and tender peppers. Eggs cook directly in the skillet until set, then sharp cheddar melts over the top.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 620

Ingredients
  

olive oil
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
breakfast sausage
  • 1 lb breakfast sausage
baby Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 1.5 lb baby Yukon Gold potatoes diced
red bell pepper
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
green bell pepper
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
yellow onion
  • 1 yellow onion small, diced
garlic
  • 3 clove garlic minced
smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
kosher salt
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
black pepper
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
large eggs
  • 6 large eggs
shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
chopped green onions
  • 2 tbsp chopped green onions
chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
hot sauce
  • 1 hot sauce for serving, optional

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Brown the sausage
  1. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the breakfast sausage and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it into crumbles until browned and visibly cooked through.
  2. Transfer the browned sausage to a plate, leaving any drippings in the skillet so the potatoes can crisp.
Cook the potatoes until golden
  1. Add the diced baby Yukon Gold potatoes to the skillet and cook for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Continue until the potatoes are golden brown and fork-tender.
Season and soften the vegetables
  1. Stir in the diced bell peppers, onion, and minced garlic, along with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Cook for 5 minutes until the vegetables soften and turn glossy.
  2. Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and stir everything together so the seasoning coats the mixture evenly.
Add eggs and melt cheddar
  1. Make six small wells in the mixture and crack one egg into each well. Keep the eggs centered so they cook without running into the potatoes.
  2. Sprinkle the shredded sharp cheddar cheese over the skillet. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 5–7 minutes until the egg whites are set and the yolks reach your preferred doneness, indicated by firm whites and yolks that jiggle or set to your liking.
Finish and serve
  1. Garnish with chopped green onions and chopped fresh parsley. Serve immediately while the cheese is melted and the potatoes are crisp, with hot sauce on the side if desired.

Notes

For the crispiest potatoes, avoid stirring too frequently during the 12–15 minutes cook and let them sit in contact with the hot skillet between stirs. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet or microwave until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended because the eggs and potatoes change texture after thawing. For a lighter option, use chicken sausage or turkey sausage and swap part-skim cheddar to reduce fat while keeping the same skillet method.