Easy Perkins Tremendous Twelve Breakfast Copycat Recipe

on

Copycat Perkins Tremendous Twelve Breakfast


Copycat Perkins Tremendous Twelve Breakfast with pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, hash browns, syrup, and butter.
Bring diner morning comfort home with buttery pancakes, sizzling bacon, savory sausage, fluffy eggs, and crisp hash browns in this easy copycat breakfast.

If you love a big, hearty diner breakfast, this copycat Perkins Tremendous Twelve Breakfast is the kind of meal that makes a weekend morning feel extra special. It’s loaded, filling, and surprisingly easy to make at home. You get fluffy eggs, crispy bacon, savory sausage, golden hash browns, and soft pancakes all on one plate. In other words, it’s the full breakfast dream.

This recipe is inspired by the popular breakfast platter served at Perkins American Food Co. It is not the original recipe, but it does capture that same cozy diner-style feeling with simple ingredients you can find at any regular grocery store in the USA.

About Perkins American Food Co. and Why This Breakfast Is So Popular

Perkins American Food Co. has long been known for classic American comfort food, especially breakfast. It’s the kind of place many people think of when they want a warm stack of pancakes, sizzling breakfast meats, and eggs cooked just the way they like them. There’s a casual, family-friendly feel that has made the restaurant a familiar stop for road trips, weekend brunches, and everyday meals.

The Tremendous Twelve Breakfast stands out because it gives you a little bit of everything. It’s big, satisfying, and built for people who don’t want to choose between pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, and potatoes. Every bite gives you a different texture and flavor. You get the buttery softness of pancakes, the crisp snap of bacon, the savory richness of sausage, the golden crunch of hash browns, and the fluffy tenderness of eggs. It’s a diner breakfast platter that feels both nostalgic and indulgent.

While the dish name is associated with the restaurant, this is our copycat version inspired by the menu item. We are not claiming to represent Perkins or their exact formula.

Why You’ll Love This Copycat Perkins Tremendous Twelve Breakfast

  • It’s easy to make at home with everyday ingredients.
  • It feeds a hungry crowd or makes a fun breakfast-for-dinner meal.
  • You can mix and match the parts based on what your family likes.
  • It tastes like a diner-style breakfast platter without leaving the house.
  • It’s great for weekends, holidays, and brunch gatherings.

Ingredients

Servings: 4

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Total time: About 50 minutes

For the pancakes:

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 cups milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Butter or cooking spray for the pan

For the eggs:

  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon butter

For the breakfast meats:

  • 8 slices bacon
  • 8 breakfast sausage links or 8 small sausage patties

For the hash browns:

  • 20 ounces frozen shredded hash browns, thawed
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional

For serving:

  • Maple syrup
  • Butter

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

  • Large skillet or griddle
  • Nonstick pan for eggs
  • Sheet pan, optional for bacon
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Measuring cups and spoons

How to Make Copycat Perkins Tremendous Twelve Breakfast

Step 1: Cook the bacon.

Start with the bacon so it can cook while you prep the rest. You can cook it in a skillet over medium heat, turning as needed, until it reaches your favorite level of crispness. You can also bake it at 400°F on a sheet pan for about 15 to 20 minutes. Once done, place the bacon on a plate lined with paper towels.

Food safety note: Bacon should be cooked fully until crisp and hot throughout.

Step 2: Cook the sausage.

In the same skillet or a clean pan, cook the sausage links or patties over medium heat. Turn them often so they brown evenly. This usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes depending on size. If you are using patties, make sure the centers are no longer pink.

Food safety note: Pork sausage should reach an internal temperature of 160°F.

Step 3: Make the hash browns.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spread the thawed hash browns in an even layer. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder if using. Let them cook without stirring too much at first. That helps build the golden crust. After 4 to 5 minutes, flip sections and continue cooking until the potatoes are crispy and browned on both sides, about 8 to 10 minutes total.

If your hash browns seem wet, pat them dry with paper towels before cooking. That little trick makes a big difference. Think of it like trying to toast bread that’s damp. It just won’t crisp the same way.

Step 4: Mix the pancake batter.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. A few lumps are fine. Don’t overmix or the pancakes can become tough instead of fluffy.

Step 5: Cook the pancakes.

Heat a griddle or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Lightly grease with butter or cooking spray. Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake onto the hot surface. Cook until bubbles form on top and the edges look set, about 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for another 1 to 2 minutes until golden brown. Keep warm while you finish the rest.

A lot of home cooks rush the flip. If you wait for those bubbles, the pancakes will release more easily and cook more evenly.

Step 6: Scramble the eggs.

In a bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper until blended. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Pour in the eggs and let them sit for a few seconds. Then gently push the eggs from the edges toward the center with a spatula. Keep doing this slowly until the eggs are softly set and fluffy. Remove them from the heat before they look dry, since they keep cooking from the leftover heat.

Food safety note: Eggs should be cooked until fully set or to your preferred safe doneness. If serving older adults, young children, pregnant people, or anyone with a weakened immune system, it is safest to cook eggs thoroughly.

Step 7: Assemble the plates.

For each serving, add:

  • 2 pancakes
  • 2 eggs worth of scrambled eggs
  • 2 slices bacon
  • 2 sausage links or 2 small patties
  • A generous scoop of hash browns

Serve with butter and warm maple syrup on the side. If you want that true diner feel, bring everything to the table hot and let everyone build their perfect bites.

Tips for the Best Diner-Style Breakfast at Home

  • Use medium heat, not high, so the outside doesn’t burn before the inside cooks.
  • Thaw and dry frozen hash browns for better browning.
  • Do not overmix pancake batter. Lumpy batter is okay.
  • Cook eggs low and slow for softer, fluffier curds.
  • Keep cooked items warm in a 200°F oven while you finish the rest.

Easy Shortcuts and Time-Saving Ideas

Want to make this easy copycat Perkins breakfast recipe even simpler? Here are some shortcuts that work well in a home kitchen.

  • Use pancake mix: If you’re short on time, use your favorite boxed pancake mix.
  • Bake the bacon: Oven bacon is easier for big batches and makes less mess.
  • Air fry the sausage: Sausage links and patties cook nicely in the air fryer. Just make sure they reach 160°F.
  • Use frozen pancakes: Toasted store-bought pancakes can save time on busy mornings.
  • Cook hash browns on a griddle: A large flat top lets you cook more at once.

If you are making breakfast for a crowd, this setup works almost like a mini diner line at home. One station for pancakes, one for meats, one for eggs. It sounds fancy, but really it just keeps things moving.

Allergy-Friendly and Diet Preference Modifications

One thing I love about a breakfast platter like this is how easy it is to adjust. You can keep the same comforting feel while working around allergies, sensitivities, or food preferences.

Gluten-free:

  • Use a trusted gluten-free pancake mix or make pancakes with a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.
  • Check that your sausage is labeled gluten-free, since some brands use fillers.
  • Hash browns are often naturally gluten-free, but always check the package for cross-contact warnings.

Dairy-free:

  • Swap the milk in pancakes and eggs for unsweetened almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk.
  • Use dairy-free butter for pancakes and eggs.
  • Serve with dairy-free margarine or skip the butter topping.

Egg-free:

  • For the pancakes, use a liquid egg substitute or a flax egg if your pancake recipe allows it.
  • Instead of scrambled eggs on the plate, serve extra hash browns, turkey sausage, or breakfast potatoes.

Vegetarian:

  • Use plant-based sausage and veggie bacon.
  • Keep the eggs if that fits your diet, or use a tofu scramble with turmeric, black salt, and a little dairy-free milk for a similar breakfast feel.

Vegan:

  • Use vegan pancake mix or make pancakes with plant milk, vegan butter, and an egg replacer.
  • Swap scrambled eggs for tofu scramble.
  • Use vegan bacon and plant-based sausage.
  • Choose maple syrup and dairy-free butter for serving.

Lower-carb:

  • Skip the pancakes and double the eggs and meat.
  • Replace hash browns with cauliflower hash browns or sautéed peppers and onions.

Paleo-inspired:

  • Use grain-free pancakes made with almond flour or cassava flour.
  • Choose sugar-free compliant sausage and bacon.
  • Use sweet potato hash instead of regular hash browns if preferred.

Lower-sodium:

  • Choose low-sodium bacon and sausage if available.
  • Season eggs and potatoes lightly and let diners add more at the table if needed.

When making allergy-friendly breakfasts, keep cross-contact in mind. Use clean pans, clean spatulas, and separate serving plates if cooking for someone with a true food allergy.

Approximate Nutrition Per Serving

This is an estimate for 1 serving, based on 2 pancakes, scrambled eggs, 2 slices bacon, 2 sausage links, hash browns, butter, and a small amount of syrup.

  • Calories: 850 to 980
  • Protein: 30 to 36 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 55 to 70 grams
  • Fat: 50 to 60 grams
  • Fiber: 3 to 5 grams
  • Sugar: 10 to 18 grams
  • Sodium: 1200 to 1700 mg

The exact numbers will vary based on your brands, your portion sizes, and how much syrup or butter you serve.

What to Serve With It

This breakfast is already a full plate, but if you want to round it out for brunch, here are a few easy add-ons:

  • Fresh fruit
  • Orange juice
  • Hot coffee
  • Toast or English muffins
  • Sliced melon

Storage and Reheating

If you have leftovers, store each part separately when possible. That helps everything reheat better.

  • Refrigerator: Store in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
  • Pancakes: Reheat in the microwave, toaster, or skillet.
  • Eggs: Reheat gently in the microwave in short bursts so they do not turn rubbery.
  • Hash browns: Reheat in a skillet or air fryer to bring back some crispness.
  • Bacon and sausage: Reheat until hot throughout.

Food safety reminder: Reheat leftovers to 165°F before eating.

Final Thoughts

This copycat Perkins Tremendous Twelve Breakfast recipe is perfect when you want that classic diner breakfast at home. It’s hearty, comforting, and easy to customize. Whether you make the full platter for a holiday breakfast or just borrow parts of it for a lazy Saturday morning, it’s the kind of meal that brings people to the table fast.

Have you ever ordered a breakfast so big that you didn’t know where to start? That’s the fun of this one. A little pancake here, a bite of sausage there, then some crispy hash browns with fluffy eggs. It all just works.

If you try this recipe, please share it with friends and family, and leave a comment with your favorite breakfast side. Did you stick to the classic combo, or did you add your own twist? We’d love to hear how you made it your own.

Disclaimer

This recipe is a copycat recipe inspired by the Tremendous Twelve Breakfast served by Perkins American Food Co. It is not the original recipe, and no knowledge of the actual proprietary recipe is implied. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Perkins American Food Co.

Simply Copycat Recipes is also an Amazon affiliate. This means we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through affiliate links, at no extra cost to you.

Location: Georgetown, IN, USA

Comments

Post a Comment