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Sausage, Apple & Sharp Cheddar Breakfast Skillet

Sausage, Apple & Sharp Cheddar Breakfast Skillet

Updated October 28, 2026

Crispy potatoes, browned sausage and tart apples cooked in one skillet and blanketed with melted sharp cheddar.

Before you start: peel and dice the potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes; have a 12-inch skillet with a lid ready. Granny Smith apples stay firm and their tartness cuts the rich cheese and sausage. Honeycrisp works if you like it sweeter.

Bulk breakfast sausage works too: brown it in crumbles to 160°F instead of cooking links. Prep ahead: dice the potatoes up to a day ahead and keep them covered in cold water in the fridge. Drain and pat very dry before cooking.

Cook time
54 min
Rating
…

Ingredients

Scale
Measurement units
  • 1 lb pork breakfast sausage links (about 8 links)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ lb russet potatoes (peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes)
  • 1 tsp kosher salt (divided)
  • 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
  • 2 Granny Smith apples (cored and cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 6 oz sharp cheddar cheese (shredded (about 1 1/2 cups))
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (optional)

Instructions

Brown the sausage
Cook sausage links (1 lb) in the skillet over medium heat, turning often, until browned all over and 160°F in the center, about 8 minutes.
Move the sausage to a cutting board and slice into 1/2-inch rounds. Leave the fat in the pan.
Equipment: 12-inch skillet with a lid, instant-read thermometer, cutting board and chef's knife
Cook the potatoes and onion
Melt butter (2 tbsp) in the sausage fat. Add potatoes (1 ½ lb) and salt (¾ tsp), stir to coat and spread in an even layer.
Cover and cook, stirring once halfway, until the potatoes are nearly tender, about 8 minutes.
Uncover, add onion and cook, stirring only every few minutes, until the potatoes are browned and crisp and the onion is soft, about 10 minutes.
Equipment: 12-inch skillet with a lid
Add the apples and sausage
Stir in diced apples, the sliced sausage, salt (¼ tsp) and pepper (½ tsp). Cook, stirring gently, until the apples are just tender and the sausage is hot, about 3 minutes.
Equipment: 12-inch skillet with a lid
Melt the cheese and serve
Turn the heat to low and scatter cheddar (6 oz) over the top. Cover until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.
Sprinkle with thyme (1 tsp) and serve straight from the skillet.
Equipment: 12-inch skillet with a lid

Tomorrow's Meal

Sausage-Apple Hash Breakfast Burritos

Leftover hash warmed in a skillet with soft scrambled eggs, wrapped in tortillas and crisped seam-side down.

You'll need to pick up:

4 eggs4 large flour tortillas1 tbsp buttersalsa for serving

Quick overview:

  1. 1.Warm about 2 cups leftover hash in a skillet over medium heat 4 to 5 minutes, then push it to one side
  2. 2.Melt the butter in the empty side and softly scramble the eggs, then stir together with the hash
  3. 3.Fill the tortillas and roll them up
  4. 4.Return the burritos to the skillet seam-side down and cook 1 to 2 minutes per side until golden; serve with salsa

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