Yappy Kitchen

  • People
  • Pups
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
menu icon
go to homepage
  • People
  • Pups
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • Follow Us

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • People
    • Pups
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Shop
  • Follow Us

    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • ×
    • photos of curly parsley and flat leaf parsley with the text "Is Parsley Safe for Dogs?"
      Is Parsley Safe for Dogs?
    • Chocolate Cherry Layer Cake
      Chocolate Cherry Layer Cake
    • pumpkin rice and green beans for dogs
      Pumpkin Rice and Green Beans for Dogs
    • red-skinned potato salad with hard boiled eggs sprinkled with chopped parsley on a rectangular platter
      Red Skinned Potato Salad
    • two crystal glasses of lemonade iced tea with lemon garnish and tea pitcher in background.
      Iced Tea Lemonade (Arnold Palmer)
    • yellow orzo pasta and bright green asparagus pieces in blue flowered bowl
      Lemon Asparagus Orzo
    • spicy california sushi bowl with sticky rice, spicy surimi, diced cucumber and avocado
      Spicy Cali Sushi Bowl
    • apple cheddar bacon pancakes for dogs
      Apple Cheddar Bacon Pancakes for Dogs
    • ginger lime mocktail
      Ginger Lime Mocktail
    • roasted diced butternut squash with shallots and rosemary
      Roasted Rosemary Butternut Squash
    • bacon wrapped mini meatloaf sliced on plate
      Bacon-wrapped Mini Meatloaf
    • white bowl containing mashed potatoes with two pats of butter melting on top and sprinkled with chopped parsley
      Creamy Mashed Potatoes (Gluten Free)
    Home » Recipes for People

    Southwest Breakfast Skillet

    September 14, 2022 by Yappy Kitchen Leave a Comment

    If you practice a low carb diet, or you just love sausage, eggs & cheese, or if one-pan meals are up your alley... this southwest breakfast skillet is for you! And wait. It gets even better: it comes together pretty quick, because it cooks each step as you prep the next.

    I threw this together last weekend, and it's a sure keeper. You can bet we'll be making this again soon.

    southwest breakfast skillet of browned sausage, scrambled eggs, chopped peppers and onions, topped with melted shredded cheese

    This recipe was inspired by two things:

    • One - I am trying to eliminate my usual diet of a gazillion carbs/day, so I can trim down a bit. Because, seriously. How long can I blame the pandemic for these bad habits?
    • And Two - Our hearty breakfast burritos gave me a great base to make a kicked-up low-carb recipe.

    I thought I would miss the tortillas in this low-carb version. The only thing I miss about wrapping this filling into burritos is the portability.

    A pleasant surprise is how long this makes me feel full. Not stuffed, just satisfied. We ate it mid-afternoon on a Sunday, and I didn't feel hungry the rest of the day. That's a big win, because my brain is always telling me I'm hungry (even when I'm not).

    Jump to:
    • Instructions
    • Substitutions and Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Pro Tip
    • Southwest Breakfast Skillet
    • Food Safety Tips
    • Comments

    Instructions

    Here are a couple photos of the egg scrambling process, so you can see what it looks like for me.

    southwest breakfast skillet with browned sausage and chopped peppers and onions pushed to one side while eggs scramble in other side

    The eggs were allowed to set and then stirred a couple times, but they are still runny in this photo.

    southwest breakfast skillet with browned sausage and chopped peppers and onions pushed to one side and scrambled eggs in other side

    Now the eggs are done and ready to be combined with the sausage and veggies. Almost ready to eat!

    While scrambling the eggs, a few sausage and veggie pieces will get mixed in, and some egg will get under the sausage. That's okay! The goal is to not coat the sausage in egg. That would look gross! 🤭

    Hint: If you use ground turkey or chicken sausage instead of pork, you may want to add a couple teaspoons of butter or vegetable oil to the skillet before frying the eggs. You don't have to do that with pork sausage because of its fat content.

    Substitutions and Variations

    It's pretty easy to make substitutions to fit some common diets.

    • Dairy Free - Simply eliminate the cheese and heavy cream (see Pro Tip below) to accommodate a dairy-free diet.
    • Pork Free - Substitute an equal amount ground chicken or turkey if pork isn't something you eat.
    • Less Spicy - Replace the jalapeño and serrano with a small green bell pepper.
    • Vegetarian - The sausage can be replaced with extra firm tofu, pressed and cut into ½" cubes, and fried in 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

    Even if your reader doesn't follow a specific diet (eg. gluten free), they may have friends or family that they're cooking for that could use this. This is also a great idea to link out to another blogger with a similar recipe that fits a different diet.

    Equipment

    These three items are my go-tos for this recipe, along with why I reach for them.

    12" Non-stick Skillet
    The size is important in order to have enough room to make this all in one pan. The non-stick surface definitely helps when scrambling those eggs. A stainless pan will work just fine, of course, but it's easier in the non-stick.

    My Favorite Nylon Spatula
    This particular spatula is my all time favorite. It's heat resistant to 450 degrees F, and it's wonderful when cooking in a non-stick pan. You can break up the sausage with it while it cooks and scramble those eggs without worrying about scratching the non-stick surface. If you don't have one of these (or something similar), a non-stick pan is probably not a good idea.

    Onion Goggles
    When I wear contacts, cutting onions never bothered my eyes. When I don't wear them, my eyes tear and burn so much that I can barely open them. Onion goggles to the rescue. These babies really work!

    Storage

    Leftovers or meal prep can be refrigerated in a covered container for up to seven days.

    This recipe can also be frozen for up to a month. When ready to eat, simply thaw and reheat on stove or in microwave.

    Pro Tip

    Unless you require a dairy-free diet or are conscious of your fat intake, don't eliminate the heavy cream. You can substitute the heavy cream with a lower fat dairy product, like whole or 2% milk. The end result will be very good - just not AS good.

    The heavy cream is the trick to ensuring that the eggs freeze well and thaw to the best consistency. Cooked scrambled eggs without cream or milk can still be frozen and reheated and taste just fine. However, the eggs will tend to be a bit firmer without the extra fat to keep them soft in the freeze/reheat process.

    southwest breakfast skillet of browned sausage, scrambled eggs, chopped peppers and onions, topped with melted shredded cheese

    Southwest Breakfast Skillet

    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 676kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound ground sweet italian sausage substitute ground chicken or turkey for pork free; extra-firm tofu for vegetarian
    • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
    • 1 yellow onion
    • 1 red bell pepper
    • 1 jalapeno pepper
    • 1 serrano pepper
    • 8 eggs
    • 2 tablespoons heavy cream omit for dairy free
    • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded; omit for dairy free
    • ½ cup monterey jack cheese shredded; omit for dairy free
    • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro optional

    Instructions

    • Place sausage in a 12" non-stick fry pan over medium heat.
      Using nylon spatula, break into pieces and stir occasionally.
      Vegetarians, press and cube extra-firm tofu and fry in 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
    • Stir in taco seasoning to coat.
    • While sausage cooks, peel and dice onion. Add to sausage and stir.
    • While sausage and onion cook, seed and dice peppers. Add to fry pan and stir.
    • While sausage, onion, and peppers cook, crack eggs into mixing bowl. Add salt, pepper, and heavy cream. Whisk until well blended.
    • Sausage should be cooked through and beginning to brown, onion should be translucent and starting to caramelize. Peppers are bright and softened.
      Heap this mixture to one side of the pan. Reduce heat to medium-low.
    • Slowly add egg mixture to empty side of pan. Let eggs cook a few minutes or until they begin to solidify around the edges. Stir with nylon spatula.
      Repeat this process, chopping a little as you stir, until eggs are nicely scrambled. Some sausage and onion bits will get mixed in, and that's okay. Keep them separate for the most part.
    • Once eggs are thoroughly cooked, stir to combine sausage mixture with egg mixture.
    • Remove from heat. Chop cilantro.
    • Top breakfast skillet with cheeses and cilantro, if desired.
      Serve hot. Enjoy!

    Notes

    This recipe is great for meal prep/leftovers and can be refrigerated for up to five days.
    This recipe can also be used as a filling for breakfast burritos.  Check out our Vegetarian Breakfast Burritos for information on how to prepare and freeze.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 676kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 449mg | Sodium: 1477mg | Potassium: 556mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1885IU | Vitamin C: 48mg | Calcium: 290mg | Iron: 3mg

    Equipment

    OXO Non-stick Fry Pan w Lid, 12 in
    OXO Non-stick Fry Pan w Lid, 12 in
    OXO Nylon Spatula/Turner
    OXO Nylon Spatula/Turner
    Mercer Culinary Green Santoku Knife, 7 in
    Mercer Culinary Green Santoku Knife, 7 in
    Saf-T-Grip Green Cutting Board, 18x12
    Saf-T-Grip Green Cutting Board, 18x12
    Onion Goggles
    Onion Goggles
    Anchor Hocking Mixing Bowl Set, 4 qt
    Anchor Hocking Mixing Bowl Set, 4 qt
    RSVP Slim Measuring Spoons
    RSVP Slim Measuring Spoons
    RSVP Measuring Cups Set
    RSVP Measuring Cups Set
    Stainless Steel Whisk Set
    Stainless Steel Whisk Set

    As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission when you click a link and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting Yappy Kitchen!

    Food Safety Tips

    • Cook beef, pork, and poultry to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C).
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat and eggs.

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    More Recipes for People

    • piece of pumpkin cake with creamy white icing on plate with fork
      Easy Pumpkin Cake
    • pasta carbonara with bowtie pasta, peas, and chopped bacon on white plate
      Pasta Carbonara
    • chicken fingers
      Crispy Chicken Fingers
    • mini margarita cheesecakes
      Mini Margarita Cheesecakes

    Comments

    No Comments

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Hi, I'm Kim! I was a personal chef and custom caterer for many years. I retired from being a business owner, but I still love to make food for people and dogs. Here I can share the best recipes with you, and we can yap about stuff.

    More about me →

    Fall Fare

    • baked stuffing balls stacked on sheet pan
      Stuffing Balls

    • italian meatballs in red sauce with melted mozzarella on toasted bun
      Italian Meatballs

    • close up of energy balls made of peanut butter, oats, and mini chocolate chips on sheet pan
      Energy Bites

    • southwest breakfast skillet of browned sausage, scrambled eggs, chopped peppers and onions, topped with melted shredded cheese
      Southwest Breakfast Skillet

    Vegan Faves

    • overhead view of kalamata vinaigrette in measuring cup with whisk
      Kalamata Vinaigrette

    • roasted brussels sprouts halves drizzled in chili glaze
      Chili Glazed Brussels Sprouts

    • spaghetti with red sauce and two meatballs on white plate
      Red Sauce

    • summer watermelon salad: chopped romaine, blueberries, diced watermelon, pickled red onions, and crumbled feta
      Summer Watermelon Salad

    As Seen In

    Recipe Categories

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.