Next Time You Make Scrambled Eggs, Add One Can Of This Pantry Staple (It's So Filling)

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If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then a granola bar scarfed while running out the door isn't going to cut it. Still, that doesn't mean budget-conscious foodies have to shell out for a breakfast sandwich from the drive-thru. For a heartier, longer-lasting meal to fuel busy days, add one humble pantry staple to your next pan of scrambled eggs: canned potatoes. When folded into classic scrambled eggs, this versatile ingredient creates a richer, more comforting texture. Plus, the egg and potato combination is a cost-effective, vegetarian fill-up to suit myriad dietary needs.

Thanks to the long shelf life of canned potatoes, those spuds can be stocked in your cupboard, waiting on-hand for the next time you need 'em. Working with canned potatoes also spares the prep work of peeling and boiling fresh potatoes, an essential time-saving solution for busy mornings.

To incorporate, thoroughly drain and rinse those canned potatoes to avoid a soggy texture. Then, heat a few tablespoons of oil or butter in a skillet, add in the potatoes, and toast until the outsides reach a golden brown hue. At this point, any desired seasonings can be added into the mix. While those potatoes are browning, scramble a few eggs in a separate skillet as you normally might. To nail the ultimate scramble every time, take a cue from our soft and fluffy scrambled eggs recipe. Finally, gently fold the eggs in with the cooked, seasoned potatoes to combine.

Since canned potatoes and scrambled eggs are both relatively mild ingredients on the palate, the best way to zhuzh up this breakfast with major flavor is by loading on the spices. A blend of chili powder, dried cumin, coriander, and turmeric would pack subtle, dimensional heat. For a more savory take, you could add in red pepper flakes and garnish with sliced fresh green onions and shredded cheddar cheese. Or, kick out the umami jams by stirring red miso paste with a splash of soy sauce and a dollop of orange marmalade, then melting it in with the potatoes as a glaze. Pro tip: Cooking the potatoes in a flavorful fat element like toasted sesame oil or funky ghee can also impart more dimensionality to this simple, stripped-down dish. 

Canned potatoes offer the benefit of a customizable texture, too. Since they're already pre-cooked, they can be gently warmed through for a soft, plush bite, or fried into a mouth-watering crisp. Dealer's choice. Foodies can further customize the mouthfeel by opting for different shapes of canned potatoes. Walmart's store brand Great Value whole new potatoes run for just $0.96 per 15-ounce can, and are also available in a diced version for the same price.

To complete the meal, serve your potato-dotted scrambled eggs with a side of buttered rye toast, a steaming cup of coffee, and an orange. Got a bigger appetite this morning? Feel free to stir in other canned ingredients to spruce up those scrambled eggs, like red kidney beans and spicy green chiles. You could even add canned corned beef to those potatoes and eggs for a reimagined take on corned beef hash.