Bacon and Cheese Hash Brown Nests
These crispy hash brown nests are loaded with bacon, cheese, and eggs, making them a great high-protein brunch item, breakfast meal prep option, or party appetizer.
Ingredients
For the Nests
- 20 oz (570 g) frozen hash browns, thawed and squeezed dry
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1 large egg
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Filling
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 12 small eggs (or 6 large eggs, depending on muffin tin size)
- 2 tbsp chopped chives or green onions
Optional Add-Ins
- Diced jalapeños
- Cooked sausage crumbles
- Diced bell peppers
- Parmesan cheese
- Hot sauce
Equipment
- 12-cup muffin tin
- Mixing bowls
- Nonstick spray
Step 1: Prepare the Hash Brown Mixture
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Grease a 12-cup muffin tin generously.
- Pat the hash browns very dry using paper towels.
- Mix together:
- Hash browns
- Melted butter
- Egg
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Pepper
The mixture should hold together when squeezed.
Step 2: Form the Nests
- Divide the mixture evenly among the muffin cups.
- Press firmly into the bottom and up the sides to form nests.
- Make sure the center is deep enough to hold the filling.
Pro Tip
Use the bottom of a small glass or measuring cup to compact the potatoes. This helps create extra-crispy nests.
Step 3: First Bake
Bake for:
- 20–25 minutes
until the edges are golden brown and crisp.
Step 4: Add Bacon and Cheese
Remove from oven.
Into each nest add:
- Bacon crumbles
- A tablespoon or so of cheddar cheese
Crack an egg into each nest.
If using large eggs and standard muffin cups, you may need to use only 6 nests or slightly beat the eggs and divide them among all 12 cups.
Step 5: Final Bake
Return to oven and bake:
- 10–15 minutes
depending on how runny you like the yolks.
Egg Doneness Guide
- 10 minutes: soft yolk
- 12 minutes: jammy yolk
- 14–15 minutes: fully set yolk
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Let cool 5 minutes.
Top with:
- Chives
- Extra bacon
- Additional cheese
- Hot sauce
Serve immediately.
Estimated Nutrition
Per nest (assuming 12 nests):
- Calories: ~180–220
- Protein: ~10–12 g
- Carbs: ~10–12 g
- Fat: ~11–14 g
High-Protein Version
For a protein-packed batch:
- Add ½ cup cottage cheese to the filling
- Increase bacon to 12 slices
- Use 1½ cups cheddar
- Mix ½ cup liquid egg whites into the eggs
This can boost the recipe to roughly 14–18 g protein per nest while keeping the crispy hash brown texture.
Make-Ahead
- Bake the nests the day before.
- Store refrigerated.
- Reheat at 375°F (190°C) for 8–10 minutes.
- Add freshly cooked eggs just before serving if you want the best texture.
Yield: 12 nests
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30–40 minutes
Total time: About 50 minutes.