These cute hash brown egg nests with avocado are fun to make with shredded hash browns and cheese baked into a crispy nest then topped with an egg, crumbled bacon and even more cheese.
These egg nests will make your grumpy mornings not so grumpy. I’m not a morning person so I can relate. But if you’re the type to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in the mornings, this will make things even better. I’ve also found these nests are super popular around Easter, Mother’s Day, and Christmas mornings so this is something you can make together as a fun group activity.
Pair it with creamy chilled avocado slices for that hot and cold combo. While you’re busy chasing around that runny egg with crispy hash browns, bacon, and melty cheese, you can nip out a corner of chilled avocado to add to your fork. Yummy!
And if these egg nests are too delicate for you, you can try out a whole hash brown breakfast quiche instead. This one is equally fun to make but has even bigger portions and is filled with custard, zucchini, mushrooms, and bacon.
But back to these super cute, tiny nests! Let’s get started.
How To Make Hash Brown Egg Nests (1 Min Video)
HASH BROWN EGG NESTS RECIPE TIPS
‣ Muffin pan – I used a non-stick regular-sized muffin pan then sprayed it down with nonstick spray to prevent the nests from sticking and falling apart when you try to pry it out. Make sure to wait for a little once they are out of the oven for them to cool down, settle and solidify or they will fall apart. Once cooled, use a butter knife and work your way around the edges to loosen it from the muffin pan before prying them out gently.
‣ Making a nest – You’ll want to fill each muffin mold up with shredded hash browns and then using your fingers, press down in the middle to create a depression and force the hash browns to cover the sides. The more it sticks out the better! This is what makes it look like a nest.
‣ Blind baking – Pre-bake the nests so it sets before adding in the egg. This is to provide a firm base and foundation for your egg and toppings. Once that’s done crack the eggs into each nest and top with bacon bits, cheese, and parsley. Then bake again until the egg whites settle. You can opt to bake a little longer if you don’t like your eggs runny.
‣ Scrambled – If you’re not a big fan of sunny-side-up eggs, you can beat the eggs beforehand instead.
‣ Avocado – Feel free to leave out the avocado if you’re not a fan. The sensation of hot nests with creamy chilled avocado is a fantastic combination but if you only want the nests, this can be skipped.
Ta-da! You have breakfast. Or brunch, or a snack. Whatever time you decide to eat this, you will be munching happily. Serve with fresh chilled avocado slices or skip them if you’re cursed like me with two settings: unripe avocados and too-bad-you-missed-the-one-day-I-was-ripe avocados.
MORE BREAKFAST RECIPES TO TRY
- On-The-Go Breakfast Muffins
- Healthy Egg White Breakfast Muffins
- Cheesy Sausage Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
- Hash Brown Breakfast Quiche
- Easy Hamburger Quiche
- Idaho Sunrise
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Hash Brown Egg Nests with Avocado
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 8 nests 1x
Description
Shredded hash browns and cheese nests baked until crispy topped with a baked eggs, crumbled bacon and more cheese. Served with chilled avocado slices.
Ingredients
- 15 oz. frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
- 1 1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 medium eggs
- 2 slices cooked bacon, crumbled/2 tablespoons bacon bits
- 1/2 tablespoon parsley, chopped
- 2 avocados, sliced and chilled (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the shredded hash browns, 1 cup of cheddar cheese, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste in a mixing bowl.
- Grease a non-stick regular muffin pan and divide the hash brown mixture. Use your fingers to pack them tightly and shape them into nests.
- Bake at 425°F or until the edges have browned and the cheese has melted, about 15 minutes.
- Crack a medium egg into each nest and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Top with crumbled bacon, remaining 1/4 cup cheddar cheese and parsley.
- Bake at 350°F until the egg whites set, about 13 to 16 minutes.
- Let it cool, gently slide a knife along the edges and use a fork to lift it out of the pan.
- Dish and serve with chilled avocado slices (optional).
- Enjoy!
Notes
If you don’t have frozen shredded hash browns, bake 4-6 russet potatoes. Let them cool off, then peel and grate them to form shreds.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
Comments & Reviews
Bella Hardy says
Wow! This hash brown egg nests with avocado recipe is incredible! I’m seriously so inspired right now. I need to add bell pepper to recipe and it would be perfect. Thx for sharing Farah!
The Cooking Jar says
You’re very welcome Bella! Go nuts with your own favorite toppings, that’s the beauty of cooking 🙂
Jill Roberts @ WellnessGeeky says
Wow! This hash brown egg nests with avocado recipe is incredible! I’m seriously so inspired right now. I need to add bell pepper to recipe and it would be perfect. Thx for sharing Farah!
The Cooking Jar says
You’re welcome, Jill! Two Jill comments in a row, that’s fun 🙂
Jill AKA Nana Banans says
Yummy! The grandkids loved it! Thank you.
The Cooking Jar says
You are very welcome, Jill! Love the nickname by the way 🙂
Michelle says
Will the hash brown base hold together if I omit the cheese? Have someone with cheese allergy but would still like to try these.
The Cooking Jar says
It might, I’ve personally never tried it without the cheese though. Do let me know how it worked out for you, if you tried it without cheese. I’m sure other folks would appreciate the knowledge if they have cheese allergies as well.
Carol says
A huge hit with the family at Easter brunch, will definitely do them again.
The Cooking Jar says
I’m glad it made your Easter brunch. Thanks for coming back and letting me know!
Whitney says
My whole family loved these egg nests! I used a carton of hungry jack hasbrown potatoes ( just add water)
, and it was perfect. I cooked them in a popover dish, and we loved the deeper nest of hasbrown potatoes!
The Cooking Jar says
They’re so much fun to eat! Glad you guys enjoyed it, Whitney 🙂
Phyllis says
I’ve made this before and everyone in my family loved it! But I never really paid attention to the nutritional content until just now. I thought the calories seemed pretty high for one nest, so I plugged it into Master Cook software and got a different nutritional result (to my relief):
Per Serving: 283 Calories; 20g Fat (63.6% calories from fat); 13g Protein; 14g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 229mg Cholesterol; 205mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1/2 Grain(Starch); 1 1/2 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 3 Fat.
The Cooking Jar says
Hey, the less the better right? 🙂 Won’t feel as guilty eating a couple a day.
These nutritional label thingies are usually estimates and can vary when you input different brands of ingredients used but they tend to be close enough to each other so you have a ballpark figure of how guilty you should be!
Phyllis says
Less is more! 🙂
p.s., I went further and plugged your recipe into MyFitnessPal and came out with even less calories. Now it’s at 200 cals. per nest (including avocado).
Colleen says
Any chance you know how many calories they would be without the avocado?
The Cooking Jar says
Here you go! This is the calorie count for each nest without avocado:
Colleen says
Fantastic! Thank you so much! Look forward to trying these.
Carly Rosa says
Is this cooked in a regular muffin tin? Or a mini?
The Cooking Jar says
I used a regular muffin pan. Good luck, Carly!
Brigid says
Can these be frozen? If so, best practice for reheating?
The Cooking Jar says
I haven’t personally frozen them before so I can’t vouch for it, Brigid! Maybe others who have tried it can lend some suggestions?
Kathleen says
These were delicious!
The Cooking Jar says
Glad they worked out for you, Kathleen! Thank you for trying out the recipe 🙂
Jessica Johnson says
Hash brown egg nests with avocado. I tried these for a brunch football game, they are awesome!! A little messy, and I wasn’t sure how the potatoes were going to turn out in them as they were a little mushy when thawed. My family and guests loved them and ate them all!
They would be great as a make-ahead for easy breakfasts on school/work mornings. Awesome recipe, will definitely make it again!!
The Cooking Jar says
Happy to hear it worked out for your brunch! The blind baking before adding in the egg and toppings works great to make sure the hash brown crusts aren’t soggy later. I had the leftovers for breakfast the next morning as well so definitely a good idea for make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings. As long as you can eat it all in a couple of days before it goes bad!
DonnaLyn Pellét says
Can you freeze them? Or how long will they last?
The Cooking Jar says
I haven’t tried freezing them Donna. If you keep them in the fridge, they should last 3 days. Hope this helps!
Dolores says
hi Farah ! Thanks for sharing. It was delicious breakfast for my husband 🙂
The Cooking Jar says
You’re very welcome, Dolores! I’m glad he enjoyed it 🙂
Coleman says
My wife must like this new experiences. I have one question: Can I add pepper with egg? Thank you for lovely sharing !
The Cooking Jar says
Yes you can. Have fun cooking, Coleman!