Easy Hash Brown Egg Cups are a budget-friendly, healthy breakfast solution. Eggs baked into crispy hash brown nests require only two core, customizable ingredients, making this a simple, portion-controlled meal.
About this recipe…
This simple, nutritious meal is great anytime.
Just coat the muffin cups with cooking spray, place shredded potato around the cup, and crack an egg into the middle. Then bake!
OR customize and top with your favorite veggies and spices before popping into the oven!
Make several servings at once!
It’s a great way to start your day or have as a light meal anytime. Eat them fresh and hot!
A little about eggs
For many years, eggs were considered a source of high cholesterol and a possible cause of heart disease, and people were warned against them and recommended to have only a few per week in their diets.
It is true that one large egg yolk has 200 mg of cholesterol. However, the additional nutrients that eggs contain may actually help LOWER the risk of heart disease by raising the “good” cholesterol in one’s body.
Eggs are high in protein and filling but low in calories. They have nutritional value and contain a large variety of vitamins as well as some antioxidants.
The color of the yolk depends on the diet of the hen, and different types of chickens may lay different colored eggs; white or brownish.
Egg white consists primarily of approximately 90 percent water and contains almost no fat or carbohydrates.
The yolk of a new egg is firm, but then it absorbs water from the egg white, which causes it to increase in size and become loose.
You may be surprised to know that raw egg white is sometimes used in the preparation of vaccines.
Many people believe that since eggs are found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket and very frequently near the dairy section, they are also dairy.
Nonetheless, eggs are NOT DAIRY. You CANNOT milk a chicken!
A little about potatoes
The potato is a perennial, starchy tuber, a root vegetable, that is native to the Americas.
Potatoes contain health benefits and are an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and nutrients and provide fuel for the body.
Potatoes are gluten-free and very filling. In addition, they are a good source of antioxidants—some more than others—and they contain resistant starch. However, their nutritional content depends on the type of potato. Much of a potato’s nutrition is in the skin of the potato, and peeling them reduces their nutritional value.
Adding fattening toppings, such as sour cream or butter, adds calories and fat.
Different potatoes are considered to work best with different recipes, but overall, they can be used in a variety of delicious meals for recipes from all over the world.
There may be over a couple hundred varieties of potatoes in the United States, but there are only 7 main categories. The most popular of these are the red, white, yellow, and russet.
Fun Facts
- Potatoes were first cultivated in Peru by the Incas.
- Potatoes were introduced to Europe (Ireland) toward the end of the 16th century.
- Potatoes began to be planted in the colonies in the early 1700s.
- Potatoes are the #1 vegetable crop in the United States and 4th most consumed in the world.
- Idaho is the largest grower of potatoes.
- The potato was the first vegetable to be grown in space.
Some simple cooking terms
What does it mean when recipes say “to taste” about an ingredient?
When recipes say “to taste,” it means that you can put in as little or as much as you like to your own taste. Some recipes have many ingredients that a cook can adjust to their own taste when cooking (not so much when baking though).
The best way to calculate what your taste is with a recipe that you are not yet familiar with is to first taste the dish and then add the “to taste” ingredient GRADUALLY, a little at a time—a splash of this or a pinch of that—until the dish is just the way you like it.
Make sure to stir the ingredient after each time you add it so that the flavor will distribute evenly and become part of the dish. Then taste again. Repeat until you reach your personal preference.
Note: If you plan on using the recipe again, it is highly recommended to make a note of what and how much you added so that you can refer to it next time.
What does it mean when a recipe says that an ingredient is “optional”?
If an ingredient is “optional,” it means that you can add it in or not based on your own preference. An optional ingredient can be flavor-related (i.e., salty, sweet, spicy, etc.), appearance-related (garnish), or even something like nuts or chocolate chips in baking.
What does “savory” mean?
“Savory” refers to foods that are not sweet, such as foods that taste salty, spicy, or herbal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Should I use fresh shredded potatoes or frozen hash browns?
Either works, but make sure to drain grated potatoes thoroughly squeeze out all excess moisture using a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth so the nests get crispy instead of soggy.
How do I prevent the eggs from sticking to the muffin tin?
Generously coat your muffin tin with cooking spray or oil before pressing the hash browns into the cups. Letting the cups cool for a few minutes after baking also helps them release cleanly.
Can I make these hash brown egg cups ahead of time?
Absolutely. They are fantastic for meal prep. Let them cool completely, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and reheat them in the microwave or toaster oven.
How do I freeze and reheat leftovers?
Place baked and cooled egg cups on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. To reheat, microwave for 30–60 seconds from thawed, or bake at 350°F until warmed through.
What is needed to make easy hash brown egg cups?
I’m not great at meal planning and like to keep a lot of standard seasonings, spices, veggies, and canned goods in my kitchen at all times.
But these are all you need to have on hand to make this recipe even last-minute! Just two main ingredients and the rest is optional!
potatoes
eggs
cooking spray, so the hash brown cups won’t stick to the pan
diced veggies, optional
spices and seasonings, optional
cheese topping, optional
Love eggs?
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Easy Hash Brown Egg Cups Recipe
Delicious and easy shredded potato cups with egg centers. Add seasoning and diced veggies as desired.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces of raw frozen hash browns or grated potatoes with excess liquid removed (Russets are the best)
- 6 eggs
- cooking spray
- diced onion, optional, as desired*
- grated cheese, optional, as desired*
- vegetables suitable for an omelet, optional, as desired, chopped or diced small*
- salt, pepper, or other spices, optional, as desired*
Instructions
- Spray each of the cups in the muffin tin.
- Press the raw hash browns or grated potatoes around the edges and bottom of a greased large muffin tin so that they are completely covered and rise to the top of the muffin cups (they will shrink).
- Bake in the oven at 400°F for approximately 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
- In the meantime, lightly fry onions and/or vegetables.
- Remove from the oven and press the potatoes down if they have puffed up.
- Spoon onions and/or vegetables into the potato cups, if desired.
- Sprinkle cheese, if desired, over them and place back into the oven for around 10 - 15 minutes until the cheese has somewhat melted.
- Remove from oven and crack an egg over each of the cups, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and/or spices, and place back into the oven for around minutes or until the egg is as cooked as you like it.
- Garnish if desired.
Notes
* You can fill the cup with whatever you like; chopped veggies, cheese, onions...
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 316Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 295mgSodium: 305mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 4gSugar: 2gProtein: 14g