What more can a hungry camper expect for breakfast than a sizzling medley of potatoes, bell peppers, onions, cheesy scrambled eggs, and sausage?

Cheesy scrambled eggs and potatoes in a cast-iron skillet

Somewhere between a hearty potato hash and a cheesy Italian frittata lies the classic camping breakfast affectionately known as the “Mountain Man Breakfast.” The origin of the name remains a mystery (Google doesn’t seem to know either), but what we do know is that it’s incredibly simple to make, thoroughly satisfying to eat, and quick to clean up—all you need is one skillet!

To keep the flavors authentic, we’ve firmly placed this dish in the “Classic Americana” category. We opted for golden potatoes, bell peppers, yellow onions, garlic, maple sausage, and sharp cheddar cheese. The result is a mouthwatering fusion of some of the most delicious savory breakfast flavors!

So, if you’re on the lookout for an uncomplicated one-pan breakfast loaded with protein, this campfire skillet is an absolute must-try!

Ingredients:

• Potatoes: We recommend using sticky potatoes like Yukon Gold, Red, New, or even fingerling potatoes. They hold their structure well during frying.
• Bell Peppers and Onions: For a milder taste, use any color of bell peppers, or for a hint of spice, consider Anaheim or Poblano peppers. Classic yellow onions work well, but white or red onions are also suitable.
• Cheese + Eggs: The star of this breakfast is undoubtedly the cheesy scrambled eggs.
• Breakfast Sausage: There are numerous choices here—linked or ground, mild or spicy, meat or plant-based. All work, so it’s up to you.
• Spices: Salt, pepper, garlic powder.
• Garnish: Chopped green onions, chili, cilantro, hot sauce, more cheese… the possibilities are endless!

Equipment:

Cast-Iron Skillet: For a hash like this, we recommend using a large cast-iron skillet. We used our 12-inch Lodge cast-iron skillet (a 10-inch works too). It’s suitable for use on a camping stove or over an open flame, efficiently conducting heat to speed up potato cooking time. Just be sure to add extra oil before attempting the egg scramble.