Bacon and Egg Cups

By JMAC333

Ingredients

• 6 slices bacon, sliced 1/4" thick, widthwise
• 1 [20 oz.] package refrigerated shredded hash brown potatoes
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
• 12 large eggs
• Additional salt and pepper, to taste

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 F

In a small skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp.

While the bacon is cooking, toss together the hash browns, oil, salt, pepper.
Set aside. Remove the cooked bacon from its rendered fat, drain. Set aside.

Using a teaspoon, divide the rendered bacon fat among the 12 cups of a regular size muffin pan. Spray the sides of each cup with cooking spray. Divide the potato mixture among the 12 cups and press slightly into the cups.

Bake the cups for 45 minutes or until the bottoms of the hash browns are a dark golden brown, then remove from the oven.

Crumble the bacon pieces and divide evenly among the 12 potato cups. Divide 1/2 cup of the cheese evening in each cup over the bacon.

Carefully crack an egg over each cup, being careful not to break the yolk, and top each egg with the remaining cheese.

Season each egg with additional salt and pepper.

Bake the cups for another 15 minutes or until desired egg doneness. If you like soft-cooked eggs, don't exceed 15 minutes. If you like firmer, hard-cooked eggs, bake them longer.

When finished baking, remove each egg cup by running a knife around the edge.