Fennel & Sausage Breakfast Hash

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Fresh and bright, this sausage fennel hash is a simple one-skillet breakfast.

Sausage and fennel hash with two eggs in a cast iron skilletThis is actually a recipe we threw together during a camping trip last spring. At the time, we were in Durango, Colorado, it was March, and what most people would consider camping “season” was still a far ways away. It was a brisk 40 degrees in the noonday sun. This was definitely pre-season, or even pre-pre-season. But being the intrepid campers we are, we put on a hat and made the best of it.

One of the best ways to power through a chilly morning is with a hot breakfast. Cooking something warming and heartening is, of course, a big morale booster, but really the act of eating anything fires up your metabolism and warms your body. (So you can skip breakfast if you want, but just don’t tell us you’re cold.) Making something simple is also helpful by reducing the amount of time your fingers need to be exposed to the cold air. So, a one-skillet meal like this is a great option on a cold morning.

Building one layer at a time, this recipe consists of three easy steps. First, cook the diced potatoes and fennel. Second, crumble in the sausage until browned and the thyme until fragrant. Third, move the hash to the side and drop in two eggs. We prefer our eggs sunny side up, so we cover the skillet for a minute or two and let the steam from the hash cook the tops of the eggs. This produces firm whites and perfectly runny yolks.

So if you need some additional motivation to get up and brave a cold morning, this warming sunny-side-up breakfast skillet may just be the answer.

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Michael cooking sausage in a cast iron skillet on a camping stove A cast-iron skillet on a camping stove with a tent in the background

Why It Works For Camping

‣  One skillet breakfasts are simple to make and even simpler to clean. By containing everything into a single pan, you can make a delicious breakfast that is built one ingredient at a time. And if you use the skillet as your plate, then you only have a single pan and a few forks to clean up afterward.

Mastering the Technique

‣  For sunny side up eggs, the trick is to use the steam inside the pan to get them to perfection. If you have a lid for your pan, great! If not, you can use aluminum foil to cover, or even another skillet flipped upside down. On low to medium heat, cover for a minute or two and then check. You want the whites to be firm, but the yolk to remain yellow and runny.

Ingredient Notes

‣  The smaller you dice your potatoes and fennel, the faster they will cook. Because we’re impatient and want our breakfast as quickly as possible, we try to dice the potatoes and fennel into no larger than ½ inch cubes. Of course, this is camping and nothing is precise. But that’s what we’re aiming for.

‣  Vegetarian and vegan options? Glad you asked! Whether it’s Tofurky or Field Roast, nearly every grocery store these days carry a vegan sausage alternative. While these usually don’t “crumble” per se, they can be diced up into ½ inch cubes and browned just the same. And if eggs aren’t your thing, feel free to skip them. The potato, fennel, and “sausage” make a pretty well-balanced trio of flavors.

Sausage and fennel hash with two eggs in a cast iron skillet Next to a cup of coffee

Fennel & Sausage Hash

Author: Fresh Off The Grid
5 from 1 rating
Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 bulb fennel
  • 1 medium Yukon gold potato
  • 6 sausage links, (chicken or pork)
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  • PREP THE VEGETABLES: Chop the fennel and potato into ½-inch dice.
  • COOK THE VEGETABLES: Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the fennel and potatoes and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • COOK THE SAUSAGE: Crumble the sausages into the skillet with the vegetables and add the thyme and salt. Sauté until the sausage is browned and cooked through and the potatoes are tender, about 7 minutes.
  • ADD THE EGGS:  Once the hash is almost ready, create a well and drop in your eggs. Reduce heat and cover with a lid, a sheet of foil, or a large plate. The heat from the pan will cook the eggs from the bottom and the trapped steam will cook them from the top. It takes about 2-3 minutes to cook the eggs so that the whites are firm, but the yolks are still runny.
  • SERVE & ENJOY!

Notes

MAKE IT VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

This recipe could be made vegetarian by replacing the sausage with a vegetarian alternative. You can make it vegan by omitting the eggs.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

Cast iron skillet
Lid (or something else to cover the skillet)
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Spatula

Nutrition (Per Serving)

Calories: 477kcal

*Nutrition is an estimate based on information provided by a third-party nutrition calculator

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Sausage and fennel hash with two eggs in a cast iron skillet Next to a cup of coffee

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5 Comments

  1. Love the recipe, haven’t had me some good hashbrowns and some sunny side up. Thanks for the recipe, maybe this weekend!5 stars

  2. The article has actually peaks my interest really impressive style to cook and great recipe thanks

  3. Thanks for the tip on steaming the pan for eggs. I’m typically way more concerned with steam when I’m poaching and wouldn’t have thought of it for sunny side up eggs.

  4. Kimberly Beasley says:

    Any advice for cooking strong smelling meat like sausage in bear country?

    1. The American Bear Association has some great tips on camping & hiking in bear country: https://www.americanbear.org/education-awareness/hiking-camping/
      Most relevant to cooking is that you should cook and clean up at least 100ft (downwind) from your tent and make sure your food & garbage is stored securely.
      We don’t have any experience camping in grizzly country but I do think there are some tighter guidelines if you’re not in established campsites.