Country Breakfast Bowls

$7.76 recipe / $1.29 serving
by Beth Moncel
4.90 from 64 votes
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If you’ve been following the blog for a while, then you know how I love to meal prep my breakfast. It’s just so much easier to spend a little time on the weekend to get my breakfast in order so I can just pop one in the microwave every morning and have a nice hot breakfast in about 90 seconds. These Country Breakfast Bowls are one of the first breakfast meal prep recipes that I ever made. And I haven’t stopped since.

One Country Breakfast Bowl meal prep container on a table with a morning paper, mug of coffee, and an apple.

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Shown with Pyrex 3-cup glass meal prep containers, which can be found in my Amazon Shop.

I got the idea for these Country Breakfast Bowls while watching TV. I saw a commercial for some frozen breakfast bowls that no doubt cost about $4 each and thought, “I can make that!” And for much less, of course. These breakfast meal prep bowls are so incredibly easy, you can make them while you’re watching TV on Sunday afternoon and have breakfast sorted for the rest of the week.

What’s in a Country Breakfast Bowl?

My breakfast bowls start with a bed of seasoned roasted potatoes, and are then topped with scrambled eggs, a little salsa, and cheddar cheese. You could also add these fun toppings:

  • sautéed breakfast sausage
  • crumbled bacon
  • green onions
  • ham
  • bell pepper
  • hot sauce

How Long do The Breakfast Bowls Stay Good?

You can keep these Country Breakfast Bowls in the refrigerator for about four days, or in the freezer for about three months. To freeze the bowls, make sure to cool them completely in the refrigerator first (overnight), then transfer them to the freezer the next day.

How to Reheat Country Breakfast Bowls

I reheat my Country Breakfast Bowls from the refrigerator in the microwave for about 90 seconds on high, but the total time needed will depend on the wattage of your microwave and your containers. To reheat from frozen, first use the defrost setting for about 3-5 minutes, then finish on high for 1-2 minutes. Or you can transfer the breakfast bowl from the freezer to the refrigerator the day before and skip the defrost step.

Four rectangular glass containers full of Country Breakfast Bowls

And who says you have to eat this for breakfast? NO ONE. They’re also great for taking to work for lunch, or a quick lazy dinner!

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Country Breakfast Bowls

4.90 from 64 votes
Country breakfast bowls combine roasted potatoes, scrambled eggs, salsa, and cheese for an easy freezer-friendly make ahead breakfast meal prep!
Author: Beth Moncel
One Country Breakfast Bowl in a glass container being eaten with a black fork next to a newspaper, coffee mug, and apple
Servings 4
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 40 minutes
Total 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs russet potatoes ($1.00)
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil ($0.32)
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika ($0.10)
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder ($0.05)
  • ¼ tsp salt ($0.02)
  • Freshly cracked black pepper ($0.03)
  • 6 large eggs ($1.40)
  • 2 Tbsp butter ($0.26)
  • 1 cup salsa ($1.49)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($0.85)
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Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Wash and cut the potatoes into ½-inch cubes.
  • For extra protection against the potatoes sticking, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Otherwise, rub 1 Tbsp of the olive oil over the surface of a large baking sheet. Spread the potatoes out onto the baking sheet. Drizzle the remaining tablespoon of oil over the potatoes, along with the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat the potatoes in oil and spices.
  • Roast the potatoes in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy. Stir once half way through roasting.
  • When the potatoes are close to being finished, crack the eggs into a large bowl and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Gently whisk the eggs.
  • Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. When the butter is melted, pour in the eggs. Gently move the eggs around the skillet until they are mostly solid, but still soft and glistening. Be careful not to over cook the eggs at this point because they will cook further when the breakfast bowls are reheated.
  • To prepare the bowls, divide the roasted potatoes and scrambled eggs between four freezer safe containers. Add 1/4 cup of salsa to each container then top with about 1/4 cup of shredded cheese.
  • Chill the bowls in the refrigerator before transferring to the freezer. Or, leave them in the refrigerator if you plan to eat them within 4-5 days.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.


Equipment

  • Enamelware Sheet Pan
  • 2qt Enamelware Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Pyrex Glass Meal Prep

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 537.83kcalCarbohydrates: 47.65gProtein: 21.85gFat: 29.8gSodium: 1006.25mgFiber: 4.43g
Read our full nutrition disclaimer here.
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!

How to Make Country Breakfast Bowls – Step by Step Photos

Diced potatoes on a baking sheet

Begin by preheating the oven to 400ºF. Clean and dice 2 lbs. russet potatoes into ½-inch cubes. Line a baking sheet with parchment for extra protection against sticking, or, if you like to live dangerous like me, just smear a tablespoon of oil over the surface of a baking sheet. Spread the potatoes out over the prepared baking sheet.

Seasoned potato cubes on a baking sheet

Add a second tablespoon of olive oil to the potatoes along with 1 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt, and some freshly cracked black pepper. Toss the potatoes to coat them in oil and spices.

Roasted potato cubes on the baking sheet

Roast the potatoes in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes or until they are golden brown and crispy. Stir once half way through roasting.

Eggs and a whisk in a white bowl with salt and pepper

When the potatoes are almost done roasting, crack six large eggs into a bowl and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Lightly whisk the eggs.

Scrambled eggs in a skillet

Heat two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the whisked eggs. Cook the eggs slowly, gently moving them around the skillet with a spatula, until they are mostly set, but still soft and glistening. It’s really important not to overcook the eggs at this point because they will cook even further when you reheat the bowls.

Roasted potatoes in rectangular glass meal prep containers

To build the country breakfast bowls, divide the roasted potatoes between four containers.

Add eggs to roasted potatoes in meal prep containers

Next, divide the scrambled eggs between the four containers.

Add salsa to meal prep containers

Add ¼ cup salsa to each container.

Add shredded cheddar to meal prep containers

Lastly, add ¼ cup shredded cheddar to each container. Refrigerate the containers for 4 days, or freeze for longer storage.

One Country Breakfast Bowl in a glass container being eaten with a black fork next to a newspaper, coffee mug, and apple

To reheat, simply microwave until heated through and enjoy!

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  1. I’m making this for my next meal prep. Breakfast for supper! I will put sausage in with them as I have to use up some. And add hot sauce I think. Really looking forward to this. I love how I can just browse for recipe ideas on budget bytes. Glad to be trying something new.

  2. Amazing taste and so easy to use as a meal prep option. I added sausage and used salsa verde. This will be a staple for my meal preps.

  3. So delicious, and quick to prepare! While the potatoes were roasting, I was able to get other things done!

  4. I have been looking for these kinds of recipes ALOT lately! My 13 yr old son, is a breakfast lover, he always has been. But unfortunately, most days of the week him, his dad and I, sometimes have different, but usually busy schedules in the morning. So time and quality are always special to us for our morning routines. This looks and sounds Absolutely Perfect for my family. Thank you so very much for sharing. I am going to get them started tonight. I will let you know how we all enjoyed them. Again, thank you and Best wishes from my Family to Yours!

  5. Excellent recipe. I was looking for some ways to use up a giant bag of russet potatoes I got on sale and this fit the bill. I misread the recipe and divided everything among 6 containers, which I found to be enough for a weekday breakfast, especially if I add a piece of fruit or some juice. The potatoes alone are great, and this method would be a good way to get ahead for weekend brunch with friends. While the oven is on, you could also cook a whole pack of bacon on another parchment-lined tray (overlapping the slices a bit, they should fit on one tray) – that takes about 20 minutes at 400 F.

    1. Hi, there! Beth answers your question in the section of the blog post labeled “HOW TO REHEAT COUNTRY BREAKFAST BOWLS.” If you have any additional questions after that, feel free to reach out! ~ Marion :)

      1. I do wish that you’d move the ‘how to reheat’ information to the end of the recipe, or state at the beginning of the recipe that this information is immediately above. It’s a bit annoying when I’m hungry and in a hurry to have to scan the whole blog post.

      2. Thanks for the feedback! I’ll take your suggestion to the team and see how we can adjust. ~ Marion :)

  6. This was excellent! I air fried frozen hash browns which hugely cut back on prep time, and added a little ham to the scrambled eggs. Really, really good breakfast.
    Thanks so much for sharing it.

  7. Great meal prep. I’m a vegetarian college student. I will definitely be using the recipe for the potatoes for many other dishes, couldn’t get enough! 

  8. I used golden potatoes because they needed to be used up, and I didn’t have salsa so I used cholula. My boyfriend said this was the best breakfast I’ve ever made haha. 

    1. I usually keep recipes like this for about three months in the freezer, but your mileage may vary depending on the conditions within your freezer. There’s no hard cut off, unfortunately, instead foods tend to just slowly lose quality over time.

  9. I’m new to this site but absolutely love it! Meal planning felt impossible until I found this website. Thank you!

  10. Made this past week exactly as is and definitely adding into our regular rotation!! Love that I can mix it up with sweet potatoes, adding beans or veggies or turkey sausage, egg whites, different kinds of salsa, etc!
    I almost didn’t put the salsa and cheese on while prepped because I thought I’d want to add those after reheating, but I loved the way the potatoes soaked up the flavor. We refrigerated since they were just for the next couple days and they reheated great for us in the microwave. 
    Budget bytes recipes seriously never let me down. 

  11. I’m new to the site so maybe I’m missing something, but do you ever bake the finished bowl in the oven?

    And could you make one larger casserole for a family meal together?

    1. I reheat the finished bowls in the microwave as a quick reheat breakfast on the go. :) You could probably do something like you mentioned, baking it as one large casserole!

  12. so simple to make and great to have on hand for a quick breakfast.

    I added some bacon and spinach, forgo the cheese and top with tomato sauce.

  13. This sounds lovely. Quick question: if I wanted to add bell peppers to the potatoes, would you recommend sautéing them or roasting them?

    1. Your preference really! But I’d recommend sautéing them. Enjoy!

  14. I love these bowls because they’re so easy to make ahead.

    Instead of using all of my glass containers for make-ahead meals, I use plastic storage containers but stack everything in reverse order.. When it’s time to reheat, I place the container upside-down over a microwaveable plate. The food drops away from the plastic while heating and I have the plate to spread the “bowl” over (it gets pretty hot).

    I know not everyone likes to have anything plastic in their microwave but this works for me.

    1. I made this delicious recipe and you should too! Thank you Bugetbytes for posting this. It’s actually not bad at all reheating in the microwave. 

  15. When freezing, is it better to also cover the container with plastic wrap or foil or something before closing it and freezing? Or does it depend on the container?

    1. Depends on the container Kayti. If there is room at the top, if you’d like you can definitely create a “seal” with some additional plastic wrap.

  16. Made tonight for dinner; was much better than I anticipated. Requests to make it again! Added small amount of breakfast sausage. We had no leftovers…

  17. These were DELICIOUS! I made them for breakfast two days in a row, and will be making them again this following weekend too. :)

  18. I can’t currently see the nutrition estimates for Country Breakfast Bowls. I see the disclaimer link, but no info before it.
    Thanks!

    1. We only recently brought on a Registered Dietician to our team. She’s working hard behind the scenes to update the entire recipe database, over 1500+ recipes, with nutritional information. She’s working her way from the newest recipes back and it takes some time to update them all. Stay tuned!

      1. Thank you so much for doing this! I’d noticed that the new recipes had nutritional information, but hadn’t realized you were updating the old recipes too – that’s really wonderful news. I use BudgetBytes recipes all the time and have been calculating the calorie counts myself, and this will save a lot of time.

  19. Another huge hit with the family from Budget Bytes! Only cost $8 CAD to make with ham, peppers and onion added 😋 

  20. This is great for my crew who need something fast in the morning before heading out in the mountains for hunting.. We are in Colorado and love our green chile, so I substituted the salsa with Hatch Valley green chile. Excellent!!!

    1. They really are a great camping treat! Best of luck to you on your hunts!

  21. Any recommendations if I want to wait to add the egg when I microwave to reheat it? Thank you!

    1. I would fully defrost and reheat the bowl before adding the egg, then cook for the extra 30-60 seconds that it will take to cook the egg. They cook so fast that if you add it in the beginning the egg will be dried up and leathery by the end. 😅 Another option is to cook the egg in a skillet while you’re reheating the bowl in the microwave, then just add it on top.

  22. When freezing these is it better to have dishes that are just the petfect size as would be less air or does it really matter. Also will these kerp for 2 weeks. Thanks

  23. Haven’t tried this yet but it’s definitely on my list to do I usually buy the bulls from Walmart for like 2 bucks a piece and I add stuff to it like smoked sesame seeds and sunflower kernels at the very end with salsa and the cheese and the night did a final warm up they are so yummy but I’m looking forward to trying these

  24. Beth, this is an absolute winner. I’m having this for breakfast now and it’s super delicious. Thanks again

  25. This recipe made my morning. I love eggs for breakfast, but don’t have time to prepare them fresh. I used purple fingerling potatoes because that’s what I had on hand and they were great. The seasoning is perfect and the eggs reheat well. (I just made the recipe yesterday and reheated this morning, so I can’t speak to the taste/texture after freezing.) Overall a great addition to my meal prep rotation.

  26. I find the potatoes have a good texture after reheating. The eggs however seemed to have the texture of hamburger after microwaving. I make the bowls to include everything except the eggs, then I just heat the eggs in a separate dish at the same time.

  27. These are really easy. My husband used to get the Jimmy Dean kind but once I started making them he decided mine were better. I like that I can control how much salt and fat that go into them. I heat these up in the morning and then wrap them up in a tortilla to make them a little more portable. I love these. Thank you for sharing!

  28. is there anyway to reheat in the oven? and if so how? I would want to make the batch ahead of time but reheat for my family at one time(instead of separate servings in the mircowave if possible)

    1. Hmm, I’m not sure how these would do when reheated in the oven. I think if you did, you’d need to make sure to cover them tightly with foil so they don’t dry out. The oven takes so much longer to reheat than the oven that you’ll likely have a lot of evaporation. The eggs may also overcook. I’m not sure how long it would take, either.

    1. I find that they do, but after blogging for so many years I’ve learned that some people are really sensitive to the texture changes that happen when potatoes are frozen then reheated. I personally don’t notice any change at all, but some people find them mealy.

  29. I use Tater Crowns or tots,Country white gravy,Real Bacon Bits,Eggs and Shredded Cheese,Or Tater crowns,Salsa,Eggs scrambled with Spinach and Mexican Shredded cheese

    1. I’m glad you mentioned the potatoe crowns because I got those today to make breakfast bowls this weekend.I also have bacon bits on hand which I eas thinking about adding but was hesitant until now.thanks for your spin on this recipe.

      1. I just throw them in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Depending on portion size and what sort of container you’ve used, anywhere from 2-3 minutes should do it.

  30. Thank you for making these web pages, you have great recipes and you help me and my family keep to a budget!

  31. I love this recipe. My husband is a fan of the jimmy dean version, and he says it’s just as good….probably better, because the potatoes stay crispy. He’s a super picky eater. Thank you for the awesome idea. And the potatoes are wonderful. I make them by themselves for breakfast, dinner, or whenever and there is never leftovers.

  32. Hi, I use cooked hash browns and a country gravy seasoning from McCormick that is super easy to make, instead of salsa and roasted potatoes. Yum.

  33. This was delicious, I made enough for just one serving and it turned out great, nice medley of flavors, thanks.

  34. I want to make these for a crew of men from our church working on a “fixer upper” team. Can I put them in tin pans and then heat in the oven? If so, how long? Once I bake them I have to transport them to the work site and I need to keep them warm as long as possible. Any ideas?
    Excited to try this! Thanks!

    1. Yes, you can definitely place them in pans and reheat them in the oven, although I’ve never done this so I’m not sure how long it will take or what temperature would be best.

  35. I make breakfast scrambles all the time. My favorite is roasted sweet potato, bell pepper, onions, black beans, turkey sausage, eggs, and cheddar cheese.  I top it with Southwest Seasoning and sometimes roll it all up in a flour tortilla. 

  36. This is the best breakfast bowl recipe I’ve ever seen! I never miss breakfast, and I always try to make it hearty. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! The salsa adds the perfect amount of moisture to the dish after it has been microwaved. I made a big batch of this and stowed it in the fridge. It was gone within days because it was easy to pack up and take to work! My boyfriend loved it too and we definitely will be making this regularly! So cheap and so easy! Thanks Beth!!!

  37. I’m just curious how the potatoes turn out. I feel like any cooked potatoe reheated is never that good. It never seems to be soft. Anyone know how this worked for them?

    1. If you generally don’t like reheated potatoes, you probably won’t be a fan of them here either. I personally have never had an issue with the texture of reheated potatoes so it didn’t bother me, but I know a lot of people do. :)

  38. This is a great recipe! I changed it a bit and used sweet potatoes and mango salsa for mine, it came out great!

  39. Sounds delish!  We are making them for fathers’s day.I hope you don’t microwave them in the plastic bowls!

  40. This sounds really good – but – what is the timing and process for reheating these bowls from frozen?

    1. It really just depends on your microwave and the size/shape of the container. I suggest doing one minute on high first, then stirring the contents a bit and adding 30 second intervals until it’s heated though.

  41. This is one of those simple concepts the rest of us didn’t think of–but brought to perfection with perfect amounts and the right spices. Prepping this now for tomorrow morning. Thanks!

  42. If you have a chance, could you problem tell me how to cook and where to add something like chorizo? My hubby loves those frozen Jimmy Dean’s chorizo breakfast bowls. It is probably a silly question, but I’ve been vegetarian for fifteen years and know nothing about chorizo! Thanks so much, we love everything you do!

    1. If you’re using Mexican chorizo, you can just brown it in a skillet like you would ground beef (if it’s in a casing, just squeeze it out of the casing first). Then just layer the cooked chorizo in the bowls with the other ingredients. :)

    1. I usually microwave on high for one minute, stir, and then add 30 second increments until it’s heated through. Every microwave is different, though, so you may need to adjust that some.

  43. This looks awesome and I can’t wait to try it for quick breakfast for my children but I do have a couple of questions.
    1) Could these be stored in ziplock bags instead to take up less room in the freezer?
    2) We don’t like salsa. Is it necessary to keep the moisture in the food?
    3) If frozen, do they need to thaw prior to putting in the microwave?
    Thanks so much!

    1. I suppose you could use ziplock bags and then just peel away the bag before reheating in a different dish. The salsa does help with the moisture some, but as long as you keep the dish partially covered in the microwave it shouldn’t dry out too much. The potatoes create a good bit of steam when reheating. I just reheat straight from the freezer. You can do a minute or two on defrost first before you go full heat, or just do full heat and stir frequently. Because the portions aren’t huge it’s not like a big block of ice going into the microwave. :)

    1. I just reheat in the microwave, in intervals, stirring between, until it’s heated through. :)

    1. There’s no hard expiration date, but depending on how air-tight they’re packed and the conditions in your freezer, I’d say 2-3 months.

  44. how long will this last in the refrigerator if im trying to stretch it out to make the week? Im just concerned about the eggs over time..

  45. Fantastic recipe! I made these the other night, and took some into work as a morning treat for everyone – they loved them! Everyone demanded that I email them the recipe immediately.

    Quick question though: Can these be reheated in the oven? I don’t have a microwave at home, just at work, but I definitely want to be able to eat these on my days off too!

    Thanks!

    1. Honestly, I don’t know much about reheating foods in the oven. I almost always use the microwave just because it’s SO much faster. I think I’d definitely cover them if using the oven, though, just to make sure they don’t dry out.

  46. This recipe has been sitting on my Pinterest board for quite awhile. I work a lot of early shifts, so my “lunch” is more around breakfast time. In my quest to find a cheap but filling breakfast, I’ve made a few versions of breakfast sandwiches to be froze, and they just haven’t turned out as good as the ones I like to buy. I combed through my Pinterest saved recipes and discovered this one again, which is similar to a frozen meal I’ve been buying on sale for around $2.
    I made these bowls the other day, but didn’t add salsa. I did buy some precooked bacon and added that on top. Coming from someone who does not enjoy leftovers, I will tell you this is a great find! I ended up getting everything on sale and divided it into 8 portions so my version would be around 330 calories, they ended up costing around 60 cents a bowl, give or take a few cents for the spices that I was too lazy to calculate cost on. I think my next batch will have more cheese.
    Thanks so much!

  47. I want to thank you for inspiring me, I have been struggling each morning to make my husband something fast, very little time in the morning, up and out the door in 15 minutes, cereal gets old fast

  48. Not sure what I did wrong/different but the potatoes only took 20 minutes to cook. Took them our to stir only to find that they were done cooking.

  49. I love this recipe!! Doesn’t need to be only for breakfast!! What’s better than roasted potatoes (add some onion), scrambled eggs, salsa and CHEESE!!! YUM!!! I have even added some sour cream when finished! Oh, love this! Thanks!

  50. Thank you for this. I don’t usually make or eat large, savory breakfasts for myself so I had no idea what the hell to feed my husband for work (who would not be satisfied with a fruit bowl, smoothie, or some yogurt thing in the morning as a meal). Plus, I felt like the frittatas and sandwiches were getting old, and he buys crap when left to his own devices, so this with the roasted potatoes is a nice alternative. It has been added to the meal plan this week. :)

  51. I’ve got these going now, but I’m adding bacon. I’m also doing a batch of breakfast sandwiches, on toasted English muffins, so I’ll have a couple options of quick breakfasts ready to go. This is a great idea! I love the potatoes–I’ve found myself popping a few in my mouth every time I assemble another bowl. :P
    I think these potatoes would also be good in breakfast burritos, maybe with peppers/onions cooked with them (but from experience I think the onions/peppers may char before the potatoes are ready, so I’d probably add them after I toss the potatoes at the half-way cooking point.)
    I know I hate making breakfast for myself when I have to get up early, and I know my SO will be able to follow the reheat directions for when I’m not home. I’m looking forward to enjoying these in the early mornings. The hot and fresh one I had while prepping was delicious!
    Thanks for the great idea!

    1. I did 3 oz potatoes, 1 oz ham, 2 oz scrambled eggs and a 1/2 oz sharp cheddar. I used a food scale to evenly portion each container. In doing this I calculated the calories to be roughly 275 per bowl.

      The potatoes were fabulous!! Ate at least one portion while putting the bowls together.

    1. It depends on your microwave and how big your portions are, but I usually start with a minute, then stir, then add 30 or 60 second intervals as needed until it’s hot. Stir between each interval.

  52. I’m looking at starting to prepare meals ahead especially for lunch at work. I worry about freezing then reheating, what the best way? Defrost first or straight into microwave & for how long roughly for meat contents etc? Thanks in advance

    1. I reheated this one straight from the freezer. The time needed and settings will depend on how big your servings are and the power of your microwave. I usually do one minute on high first, then try to stir, and add intervals of 30 seconds to 1 minute with stirring in between until it’s heated through.

  53. What size containers do you use to store these? I am excited to make these as I am trying to get myself away from cereal every morning, but also am not a huge fan of cooking while still half asleep!

    1. I think my containers are about 3 cups each, but I don’t fill them all the way up. Just enough for one serving in each container.

  54. This is fabulous! Mine turned out great! The proportions were perfect. I also added green pepper. Delish!

    1. It depends on your microwave, but I usually start with a minute and then add time if needed.

  55. I just made a batch of these and can’t wait to try them tomorrow morning! I took out the salsa because I can’t do the acidity that early in the day, and I added some diced ham for a little more protein and smokey flavor. They look and smell fabulous!

  56. Has anyone tried reheating these in the oven rather than the microwave? We did away with our microwave over a year ago so I’m just curious how these would turn out.

    1. It really depends on your microwave and the type of dish. Start with one minute, give it a stir, and add additional minutes or 30 second increments as needed.

  57. Great deal!
    But for us here in Portugal this is like a dinner :)
    I will try this recipe and method to light a bit my work at nights, when I have to cook both dinner and next day’s lunch, thanks!

    1. Yep, you can pretty much customize it to have whatever you want. I’d probably just leave it out and then if you wanted you could add a little ketchup after reheating.

  58. Do you heat them in the oven to melt the cheese after taking them out of the freezer in the morning? Or do you keep the cheese as is?

  59. Hey Beth! I’m brand new to meal prepping and just wanted to share with you that I’ve been googling quite a bit and you have one of the most helpful and tasty looking websites I’ve found so far! Thank you for doing the research and sharing it with us! :)

  60. Fantastic. I made 6 servings, but it turns out, I could’ve made 8, because the individual servings are too big for me in the morning. I ate most of one at 8am and wasn’t hungry until after noon, which never happens for me. I eat lunch at 11am. Will make modified versions in the future.

  61. Excellent recipe – prepped my week of lunches with the instructions, and it tastes absolutely delicious! Did add a bit of ham, otherwise I changed nothing. Definitely will be making this again.

  62. Definitely would suggest doubling the spices used on the potatoes. It creates a more flavorful potato.

  63. I made these for my husband last week and he loved them! I’m going to make another batch tonight for him for this upcoming week, but was going to try adding some sausage. If I do that, will they all still be on in the fridge all week? Or, because I’m adding meat do I need to freeze them instead, even though they’ll all be eaten within the next 5 days?

    1. They should be fine in the fridge for about five days. Just make sure the sausage is fully cooked first. :)

      1. I’ve never done freezable foods. How would you suggest reheating them to eat them both from the fridge and the fdeezer?

      2. I just use the microwave. You’ll have to play around with the time because it differs from microwave to microwave. Just make sure to stir it a few times as it reheats. :)

    2. I made these last Sunday. I put sausage and bacon in them. They worked great all week. The only thing is the bacon was soggy after reheating. I currently have the potatoes in the oven for another week’s worth of meals. My husband requested these for lunches. We felt like the 9 eggs wasn’t enough stretched across 6 bowls, so I will be adding a couple more today. Thanks for such a great recipe. We love the potatoes!!!

      1. if the bacon is soggy try making the bacon the time you heat the breakfast bowl thats what i do or i use real hormel bacon bits for faster breakfast i just sprinkle some on top b4 putting the bowl into the microwave

    1. I measure them out so I can track the calorie content on these. Makes it very easy to grab and go.

    2. I imported the recipe into MyFitnessPal and it told me:

      466 Calories
      18g fat (9g saturated)
      46g carbohydrate
      9g fiber
      22g protein

      It’s kinda high in sodium (cheese tends to be), but it also has a lot of protein, fiber, calcium, iron, and potassium. If calories were a concern, I’d probably just split the recipe into eight portions instead of six. That would get it down to about 350 calories, and it would still be a pretty good serving size.

      1. I see people saying frozen potatoes don’t reheat well. Any ideas on another carb that could replace the potatoes and would reheat well? Maybe cheese grits or something else?

  64. Am I the only one who finds potatoes taste disgusting after they have been frozen? No? Just me? oh… ok.

    1. No, I agree. I liked this when it wasn’t frozen, but after re-heating in the microwave it did not taste good.

  65. Do the potatoes ever get dry after reheating them? I’ve always tried to avoid reheating breakfast potatoes. I’m not a huge fan of salsa on eggs either, but if their purpose is to prevent dead potatoes I guess I could go for that.

    1. Yes, the salsa definitely helps. The moisture creates steam when they’re reheated, which prevents the potatoes from drying out. Also, laying a lid loosely over the top as it microwaves helps hold in that steam. Just don’t clamp the lid down or the steam can cause it to explode.

    2. Try putting a wet paper towel over the food before you micro it. Steams it and keeps food moist. Also works great with rice.

    3. I didn’t add salsa to my bowls. My potatoes never got dried out or hard. They stayed moist since I left the lid loosely on the bowl while reheating.

    1. It will depend on your microwave, but I usually start with one minute, give it a stir, then do more intervals of heating and stirring (30-60 seconds at a time) until it’s heated through. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes, though.

    1. I find that the salsa adds a lot of flavor and a little bit of moisture, but that’s optional I suppose. I’m not sure what would be a comparable replacement.

      1. I would suggest cream, chopped green onions (just a little), and rosemary as a good replacement. Hotel chefs usually add cream to their scrambled eggs, so that works with that, and potatoes will keep some much needed moist. You could even try greek yoghurt instead

    2. Greek yogurt! it freezes and microwaves well, i’ve tried it. you can keep it plain or make a simple sauce just by adding herbs and condiments- garlic powder, black pepper or chopped green onions would go great with the mix

  66. i love breakfast ideas, i am not a good morning manager, so something quick like this grab and go is a wonderful idea. My question is could you mix sweet potatoes with the russet?

  67. this looks awesome. about how long do you think these will last in the freezer before going bad? I’m thinking about how far ahead I can make these (im a lazy/busy college student)

    1. Probably 2-3 months. They don’t “go bad” per se, they just slowly degrade in quality over time (dryness and freezer burn).

    1. I eat a lot of eggs, so I usually buy and 18 pack. Generic store brands are much less expensive, as well.

    2. If you have an Aldi Foods close to you they sell a dozen eggs for $1.49 most all the time. Gallon of milk $1.39-$1.49. Cheeses at great prices too! Not sure where all Aldi stores are located.

  68. Do you take them straight from freezer to microwave, and for how long in microwave?

    1. I do microwave them straight from the freezer. The time needed to reheat will depend on your microwave, but I usually start with one minute, give it a stir, then add more time in 30 to 60 second intervals with stirring in between until it’s hot all the way through.

    1. I usually start with one minute, stir it, then add more time in 30-60 second intervals with stirring in between, until it’s hot all the way through.

  69. I think this recipe looks amazing. I am going to try adding a little cilantro to it as well.

    1. Salsa is like a tomate sauce but a little bit spicy. You can try that. If you want to homemake it, just chop up some tomatoes and put them in a cacerole with some spices, salt and pepper. (and if you want you can put a little hot sauce)

    2. While salsa is a decent option I don’t see why you couldn’t roast some red peppers and onions as well to mix in. This would be a good substitute for salsa. Try adding sautéed mushrooms to the mix, I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
      Don’t forget the bacon!

  70. Love this idea. Will these really still be good after 5 to 6 days in the fridge?

  71. Would it be possible to substitute potatoe cubes with hash browns? I’m not a big fan of “chunky” potato but I think shredded would make this amazing!

  72. These look great! I never eat a proper breakfast so maybe I should change that. However, I don’t have an oven. Do you think I could cook the potatoes in an electric skillet? Thanks!

    1. I guess it would depend on the part of the country you live in and where you shop. Her prices are pretty spot on for where I shop.

  73. I don’t like to cook with plastic in the microwave so I use glass now with a paper towel “lid”……I haven’t frozen anything in the glass container prior to microwaving it though – does anyone know if the glass container can go from freezer directly to microwave or will it break?

      1. As long as it says it can go from freezer to microwave/oven you should be fine… I know you can do that with some pirx dishes.

    1. Sometimes I make a big batch of breakfast sandwiches to freeze. When I take one out of the fridge in the morning, I pull one out of the freezer at the same time, and stick the frozen one in the fridge for the next day. I prefer to not microwave frozen food like a breakfast sandwich because some parts will get steaming hot while others are still frozen. This method of rotating your frozen food into the fridge should work well for your purposes too.

    2. If you freeze in glass, could you not just transfer one to the fridge the night before to thaw? Then the temperature change wouldn’t be so intense. I have a few Pyrex bowls that I’ve microwaved from the fridge that have been fine.

    3. You can buy dishes that go straight from freezer to oven. ‘Temptations’ sold on the shopping channel are one option. Reasonably priced and present well. I use mine often.

    4. look on the bottom of the glass container, it should say microwavable… if it does than it’s ok.. my suggestion is to take it out the night before and let it thaw in the refrigerator while you sleep then put it in the microwave for 4 min at Power level 5.. it will heat it slower and since it is all already cooked, you just need to heat it through and not cook it. when it’s done.. feel the bottom center of the container, it that part is warm then it’s done.. if it’s still cool but the outer edge is warm.. put it in for another min

    5. There are several brands of glass containers that are safe from freezer to microwave. Just do a search. (Google)

    6. Well, what you can do is that you can leave it in room temperature to defrost before putting it into the microwave or oven

    1. It depends on your microwave, but I usually start with a minute, give it a stir and then add extra time as needed. Extra intervals of 30 seconds to a minute with stirring in between.

    1. For just an estimate calculation, the calories for the entire recipe is about 2,556. So if you made this into 6 servings it would come out to 426 calories per serving. 5 servings would be 511.2 calories per serving. Keep in mind that substituting things such as mozzarella cheese for the cheddar gives you a third of the calories from cheese. You could also only use 5 eggs (455 cal) instead of 9 (819 cal) and add in some cooked spinach to take away a bunch of calories, and add a tiny bit of protein. Substituting the mozzarella cheese and taking away 5 eggs and adding the spinach takes the calorie content all the way down to 313.8 calories per serving (6 servings).

  74. I made these for dinner tonight exactly like your recipe and they were delicious and easy to make!

  75. When I made these, I added sausage chunks (veggie ones) and LOVED this… as a chubby, I sauteed small pieces of carrot and celery to add vegetables to the breakfast. That added a nice touch.
    The 2nd time I made them, I was lazy and boiled the potatoes. Well, that didn’t work out too well. That makes the potatoes too moist and heating in microwave took longer. Oven cook the potatoes! Definitely makes this breakfast wonderful!

  76. These are so good! The second time I made them, I added sausage for a heartier breakfast. Yum!

  77. Can you buy a bag of frozen diced potatoes? maybe the ones with onions and peppers in them already and use those? instead of dicing your own?

    thanks!

    1. Yes, that should work. They might have a bit more moisture, though, so they might not brown up quite as well.

  78. Not sure if this has been asked/answered before but how long will these stay fresh in the freezer? 3m? Just want to know prior to doing a major food prep :)

    1. There’s no hard line for when they’ll be “good” or “bad”, but I usually try to eat them before three months. They will just slowly dry out and grow ice crystals over time.

  79. I’m so excited to try these! I’ve had some of those breakfast bowls that I got on sale with a coupon that I doubled. I was looking at it and the nutrition facts full of sodium, packaging and nothing too complicated. So glad you posted these. The bowls are so great for my cubicle confined mornings. I have a bunch of dried chives left over from the garden. I’m wondering if they’d be a substitute for the green onion?

  80. I was eating one of those frozen things this morning thinking I could make that and low and behold you’d already beat me to it! Thanks for the recipe!

  81. Have you ever tried another method of reheating other than microwaving them? I try to avoid using it when possible and I was curious if anything else worked well without sacrificing taste and texture!

    1. Hi, I haven’t tried it with this particular recipe, which is divine! but, if you change your container to one that is toaster oven safe (glass, ceramic or metal) it should heat nicely. However, with it frozen, I’d make sure I covered it in the beginning so that it thawed and heated without drying out. Hope this helps? And hoping I’m not stepping on your toes Beth! Love this recipe!

    1. I did a mixture of 1/2 russet potatoes and 1/2 sweet potatoes and it was delicious! I think using all sweet potatoes wouldn’t be very good, because it would be too sweet, though that’s just my taste preference.

  82. Wanted some breakfast inspiration and found this recipe, my potatoes are in the oven just now :-) I parboiled my potato cubes because I’m starving :-D really looking forward to eating this and the salsa will be used to make the salsa, ricey one pot chicken thing but using pork. We always have a jar of salsa in now so we can make it, it’s a favourite x

    1. It just depends on your microwave. I would start with a minute, then stir and cook more at 30 second intervals (stirring between each) until it’s heated through.

  83. Beth, these are stellar! I struggle to eat a good breakfast every day and these are a simple and easy solution. The potatoes are sooo very good – mmm. Thank you!

  84. Hey I got a question for you!

    I have pre-made eggs and kept them in the freezer or the fridge and couldn’t eat them without gagging. :( Any suggestions? They always turn out rubbery and nasty. Will the undercooking help?

    1. Yes, I think undercooking will help some, but water does tend to seep a little out of eggs that have been frozen. Under cooking will help prevent over cooking when they’re reheated, though! :)

    1. I’ve frozen chopped green onions lots and have never had a problem with them. I chop them, put them on a cookie sheet in a single layer, and then once frozen, put them into a plastic freezer container and take out whatever amount as needed. I think I’ve had some frozen for up to 6 months or so and they were fine for anything I was cooking. They don’t work on salads, or anything fresh, of course, but they’re great for anything that’s cooked (soups, casseroles, etc.).

  85. Great idea, thank you! I just made these bowls and added homemade turkey sausage. This is just what I needed to make sure my teenage son get something nutritious and quick in the AM.

  86. Totally awesome. These can be changed according to what you have on hand. I roasted the potatoes for the bottom layer. Then I added smoked pulled pork, then scrambled the eggs. (Note: if you add a couple of tablespoons of orange juice to the eggs, they will keep their bright color). I also added cream cheese to the eggs. Then topped it all with shredded pepper jack cheese and cheddar. A minute or so in the microwave (if thawed) was perfect.

  87. Had a chunk of leftover corned beef from a New England boiled dinner I made. Made half the bowls with salsa; half the bowl with chunked corned beef instead. Otherwise, just as written. Delish!

  88. To prevent extra ice and ice crystals, I’ve started cooling the food in the fridge without the lid or without sealing the bag to let the steam escape. When it has cooled, THEN I seal the bag, and then shortly after put in the freezer.

  89. My whole life I’ve been trying to figure out how to achieve the orange-y deliciousness of diner breakfast potatoes. Could it be the mystery ingredient is paprika?

    Thank you!

  90. I made these earlier this week (added some bacon sitting in our fridge) and dh and I devoured nearly all of them. I’m making more today for the week ahead and also your blueberry banana baked oatmeal! I’ve made so many recipes from your blog, you’re such a life saver! Thank you again for an amazing recipe =D

  91. I love the new website layout! I’m on my tablet and each recipe with ingredients and instructions fits perfectly on the page. No need to scroll, no worry that I’ll miss something. The new design is gorgeous, eye popping and clean. It feels professional.

  92. Awesome idea! My husband works nights and likes to eat a hearty hot breakfast when he gets home before falling into bed. I’m going to make a bunch of these for him, and he will love me forever!

  93. Wow Beth I just discovered your website and already I love it!! Made these breakfast bowls and they are great. Thanks!!

  94. Just made these breakfast bowls last night and had one for breakfast this morning. It was absolutely delicious!!!!!!!! Much better than any “2 egg breakfast” at a restaurant. I added 1 slice of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled, to each bowl, and I used pico de gallo/salsa fresca instead of salsa. My pico de gallo had rather large chunks of jalapeno, which made the dish a little to hot for me, but next time I’ll just be sure to use a different brand or pick out the jalepenos. This is a real winner of a recipe, and now I need to figure out how to eat just ONE every day! For those of you who might be on Weight Watchers, I calculated the bowl to be 9 points. Subtract the bacon and subtract a point. Could shave off another point by cutting down or eliminating the butter.

  95. Mmm.. these were great! I added some mushrooms, green onions, & crumbled bacon.

  96. Delicious! I’m having to hold myself back a bit to save these for my lunch instead of just gobbling them down for every meal. I reheated it for 2 minutes total (stirring at the one minute mark) and they’re great. Of course the potatoes aren’t as crispy as they were when I made it, but I can live with that. Great job!

  97. These were great! I’ve always thought about trying to make breakfast bowls on my own, but never really got around to it. Thanks for giving me the inspiration!

    Also, I think your fire-roasted red peppers would also be a great addition with some sausage.

  98. My savory, hot breakfast favorite is just potatoes topped with cheddar and some crumbled bacon. I never realized I could be making this in advance. Thanks for posting.

  99. Have you tried re-heating these from frozen yet? I’ve had issues with heated frozen egg in the past. (The egg stays frozen and everything else burns my mouth.) I was just curious how it heated in this dish.

    1. I tried it today, just so that I could report back to you :) Microwaves are notorious for reheating unevenly, so I think the trick is to make sure you stir it a few times while it reheats. I microwaved for 2 minutes first, gave it a good stir, and then let it go for another minute to a minute and a half. It turned out great. I think I liked it even better than the reheated from refrigerated state. The salsa wasn’t as watery!

  100. Any tips on a way to reheat these fairly quickly if you don’t own a microwave?

    1. I think if you put these in a covered skillet on medium low heat, stirring a few times, they would reheat pretty quickly. Throw in an ice cube to help steam form, and it’ll be warm through in no time! The steam will help keep the eggs moist, and the skillet will crisp up the potatoes. Another yummy, great idea Beth!

  101. Does anyone think this will work in foil for camping? I won’t freeze, but make ahead then heat up on grill? (And add bacon, ’cause, well, it’s camping :))

    1. I think that would work just fine as long as the potatoes are pre-cooked. I don’t think they’ll have enough time to cook through, if raw.

  102. You have such great ideas and the comment above about substituting sweet potatoes sounds delicious!

  103. This looks fantastic! I’m really horrible about getting up it time to make breakfast so I will definitely be making these.

  104. Beth, This is AWESOME!!! Now I don’t have to worry about “not being a morning person” or hitting the snooze button! I will definitely make these and try different variations as you suggested: Just take my breakfast to go! Love your recipes, YOU ROCK MY SOCKS!

  105. This is perfect for a busy gal like me! Thanks so much for sharing, Beth! Pinned!

  106. I am totally making these but am going to sub in sweet potatoes because I try to avoid white potatoes. They look amazing. Thank you Beth!

    1. Cari,
      How did the recipe turn out with sweet potatoes? I’m very interested in finding out because I too am trying avoid white potatoes.

      1. Sweet potatoes make them taste better and make them better for you. I was making a batch of breakfast burrito mix and didn’t have potatoes so I subbed in sweet potatoes and didn’t mention it to my hubby. He raved about the better taste and since then it has been only sweet potatoes for us.

  107. This is a good idea to make on the weekend and reheat when I’m too lazy to have anything but coffee!

    Where did you get that cute white serving dish in the final photo? If it’s inexpensive I may have to invest in a few.

    1. I got it at World Market – they have such fun dishes! I think it was a few dollars, but I only bought one for photos :)

  108. Fantastic! My husband spends a lot of money for eating out lunch at work, simply because atm we have neither a working oven nor room in the freezer for me to make food for him ahead. We’ll be moving into our new house in fall, and guess what – this dish will be the first of many to pre-cook!

  109. This is a much better way of using up egg whites than having to eat omelettes for the week. Thanks for sharing, can’t wait to try!

  110. Oooh love this idea! I’m always scrambling in the morning and end up skipping breakfast half the time, so this will be sure I never do! :)

  111. Beth, you are my savior! I’ve been trying to find ways to cut down my spending, and buying breakfast almost every day is something I’m cutting out. These are brilliant!

    1. Today I ate the first reheated one, but it was refrigerated instead of frozen. I microwaved it for 1.5 minutes and it was piping hot. If I was to microwave a frozen one, I’d start at 2 minutes, give it a stir and estimate the amount of extra time needed from there.

  112. Wonderful idea. I often buy those breakfast bowls this is going to be so much better. Less sodium and I can lighten up the cheese.

    Thanks!!

  113. Great tip on the fridge-then-freezer. Thanks! Will definitely be making this.

  114. This is BRILLIANT!! I’ve made frozen breakfast wraps, but this might be a bit easier. I never have time in the morning to make breakfast – I could grab this and heat it up at work.