Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Dutch Oven Breakfast Casserole

by Jessi Valentine

Ingredients:

butter
12 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 bag (32 oz.) Ore-Ida Hash Browns, thawed
1 can diced green chilies
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 pound shredded cheddar cheese (or more for extra cheesiness!)
diced ham
salt
pepper

Directions:


Start coals. Butter the inside of your Dutch Oven. Add eggs and milk; beat well with fork until blended. Add hash browns, chilies, onion, cheese, ham and spices. Mix well until all ingredients are coated and submerged in egg mixture. Bake at about 375 degrees for 45 minutes, turning oven and lid regularly to avoid burning. Check after 45 minutes, using a knife to poke the middle checking for liquid. Keep checking every 15 minutes until the middle isn't runny. This recipe may take up to 90 minutes (total cook time), so keep extra coals going. Sprinkle with more cheese (if desired) during last 15 minutes or so. Enjoy with ketchup or salsa!

Serves about 8 (depending on how many eggs you use).

Tips & Alterations:


  • Depending on the size of your Dutch Oven, you may need to change the amount of eggs and potatoes you use.
  • I used the Southern Style Hash Brown (cubes), but Country Style (shredded) would work too! 
  • Use diced jalapenos instead of chilies if you like a *really* hot breakfast!
  • Try browning the onions in the butter before you add the eggs... Will make a slightly richer flavor.
  • Play around with the spices you use. This is an easy recipe to experiment on!
  • Try different meats. I've used diced ham because it's precooked and we usually have leftovers in the freezer from the most recent holiday, but if you cook your bacon, sausage or steak first, you're in business.

11 comments:

  1. Just made this tonight! Great recipe, HUGE recipe. It turned out really good. Thanks for posting!

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  2. I made this tonight and did a little alteration. I put bread in the bottom because I had some bread that was getting old and dry (as a crust to the casserole) and then i used sausage instead of ham. And I added red peppers. It was so delicious and I am thrilled that we have leftovers. My husband and I loved it! You are right, this was an easy recipe to experiment on. Thanks!

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  3. I made this in my backyard and it turned out amazing! I substituted sausage for ham and tomatoes for chili peppers. The whole thing cost about $10 in ingredients and served enough food for multiple breakfasts. I am a total newb with charcoal management and one thing I learned is to prepare more charcoal than you think you need. As it turned out it took me nearly three hours to prepare this because I didn't have enough consistent heat. Also, I sauteed the sausage and the onions wrong by trying to "bake" them separately with coals on top. Next time I will just clump a ton of coal under the oven and saute it open lid style, and then add the rest of my ingredients and bake normally. Cleanup was challenging and I think that next time I will coat the bottom of the oven with a TON of butter.

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  4. I'll love to include this recipe in a camping breakfast round up. I would show your picture and link back to your recipe in the article. Would that be okay?

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  5. I'll love to include this recipe in a camping breakfast round up. I would show your picture and link back to your recipe in the article. Would that be okay?

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  6. This is absolutely delicioso! Like for real, did Paula Deen make this recipe? It is so scrumptious-de-la-dumptious. It does take a little longer to cook and you will need a lot of charcoals but it's totally worth it. We made ours with sausage AND bacon. Those 2 delightful pieces of pig topped it off. Another pointer would be to use the maple sausage. It gave the meal a delicious aroma and taste. 5 out of 5 stars in my book. 10 Michelin stars. brava brava

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  7. May I use your picture for a scouting blog? voiceofscouting.org.

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  8. Hi, reaching out from CountryLiving.com. We’d love to share this recipe in a gallery on our website and run a photo, with credit to you and linking back to your site for the full recipe. Let me know if you’re interested in being featured!

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  9. Just made this the other day and it turned out great! Just one suggestion. Along with browning the onions in butter, brown the hash browns as well. It make the casserole a little more crisp when the cook time is completed. I've had it both ways and both are delicious. But if you're like me and prefer your hash browns a little on the crispy side, try browning them with the onions before adding the eggs.

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  10. I substituted water in for the milk, it works just as well! Also I used a mixture of bacon and sausage instead of ham. Then I used the grease to cook hash browns in.

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