Love sweet and savory together? This sausage, apple and cheddar skillet is the breakfast skillet for you. Bays English muffins are the secret ingredient!
10ouncessweet Italian sausageremoved from the casing
1medium red onionchopped
½teaspoonpoultry seasoning
2Gala applespeeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
2cupsshredded sharp white cheddar cheese
Instructions
Beat the eggs, milk, paprika, nutmeg and salt together in a large bowl until well blended.
Add the muffins and stir gently to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Alternatively, refrigerate the mixture for several hours or overnight.
Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a 12-inch oven-safe skillet (such as stainless steel or a well-seasoned cast iron pan) over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking into smaller pieces with a spoon, until browned, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer sausage to a bowl with a slotted spoon.Melt 1 tablespoon of the remaining butter in the skillet and add the onion and poultry seasoning. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the
onion has softened slightly, about 4 minutes. Stir in the apples and sauté until they are
crisp-tender, about 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer apple mixture to the bowl with the sausage
and mix well. (This step may be done and refrigerated overnight if desired).
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Wipe out the skillet and brush it with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Arrange half of
the muffin pieces in the bottom of the skillet. Spoon the sausage mixture over the
muffins in an even layer then sprinkle with 1 1/4 cups of the cheese. Top with the
remaining muffin pieces and pour the remaining egg mixture into the skillet.
Bake until puffy, lightly browned and the eggs are set, about 45 minutes. Sprinkle the
top with the remaining 3/4 cup cheese and bake until melted, about 5 minutes longer.
Remove from the oven and let cool 5 to 10 minutes before cutting into wedges.
Notes
Seasonal Alternatives: For the Spring substitute 8 ounces of diced cooked ham for the sausage, 12 ounces of steamed or roasted asparagus (cut into 1-inch pieces) for the apple and 2 cups shredded Swiss or Gruyere cheese for the cheddar. For the Summer substitute 4 ounces of chopped smoked salmon for the sausage and 2 cups sautéed mixed summer vegetables such as zucchini, yellow squash, bell pepper and grape tomatoes. Sprinkle the filling with 1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese and bake without any additional cheese on top.