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Cheesy Western Skillet with Hash Browns and Ham

Cheesy western skillet with hash browns and ham is a one-pan breakfast where golden hash browns, ham, peppers, and onions bake together with melted cheddar and set eggs under a lid. The result is a hearty skillet meal with gooey cheese and customizable egg doneness.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 690
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

frozen hash browns
  • 1 bag (20 oz) frozen hash browns
ham
  • 1 lb ham, diced
bell pepper
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
onion
  • 1 onion, diced
eggs
  • 6 eggs
shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
butter or oil
  • 3 tbsp butter or oil
salt and pepper
  • 0.25 salt and pepper to taste

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Brown the hash browns
  1. Heat butter or oil in a large cast iron skillet over campfire until shimmering. Add the hash browns and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden.
  2. Add the ham, bell pepper, and onion to the skillet. Cook for 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and the ham warms through.
Cook the eggs and melt the cheese
  1. Create 6 wells in the hash brown mixture and crack 1 egg into each well. Keep the skillet heat steady so the egg whites begin to set around the edges.
  2. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over everything and cover with a lid or foil. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the eggs are set to your desired doneness and the cheese is fully melted.
Finish and serve
  1. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve directly from the skillet while the cheese is melted and the hash browns are crisp.

Notes

For the best golden crust, stir the hash browns only occasionally during the first 10 minutes, then let them sit briefly after each stir. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through. Freezing is not recommended because the eggs can become watery. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat cheddar and swap half the ham for extra diced peppers and onions to keep the flavor.