Start your morning with the tasty combination of crispy toast with an egg cooked in the center. This simple yet satisfying recipe for Egg-in-a-Hole, also called egg in a basket or egg in a nest, is easy to make and delicious to eat.
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When I was little, I considered Egg-in-a-Hole (also called egg-in-a-basket or egg-in-a-nest) to be a fancy breakfast. My Dad would take a slice of Wonder Bread, cut a hole out of the center with a juice glass, put it in his cast iron pan, and fry an egg in the middle. He would toast the little circle too and we would use it as an egg dipper. Just felt very fancy. Look, I was a kid.
I forgot about this for years, until I saw pop-up on Food Network, and I just had to re-create this childhood memory. Whether you prefer your eggs over-easy, or sunny side-up, my step-by-step instructions, and quick video, will teach you how to make this tasty dish so you can feel like a kid again!
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Ingredients & Substitutions
There's just a few ingredients standing between you and some delicious eggs-in-holes... egg-in-a-holes... eggses-in-holses... this delicious breakfast!
- Bread choices - My Dad used everyday white bread, but sometimes I like use sourdough, my no-knead bread, or brioche bread. Honestly, use whatever bread you have in the house. I've even seen this made with large English muffins and fluffy bagels!
Variations
Daddy never made this any other way but with white bread and a large egg, but times they are a-changing. Here are a few creative ways to play with this simple recipe for Egg in the hole.
- Avocado Toast-In-a-Hole - Use a slice of avocado toast as your base and cook the egg in the cut-out. Simply toast one side, mash some avocado on it, cut out the circle, and then toast the other side while you egg cooks. And don't forget to toast the other side of the circle.
- Bagel-In-a-Hole - Swap the bread for half a bagel and crack the egg into the hole (you'll need to widen it). Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning because that's delicious!
- Grilled Cheese Egg-in-a-Hole - Make a grilled cheese sandwich, then cut out a hole and cook the egg inside. The gooey cheese adds a gooey layer of flavor.
What's in a name? In America, some people call this Toad-in-a-Hole, but to me that will always be the British dish where you bake sausages in a pan of Yorkshire pudding. You should try that one too!
Quick Recipe Video
Instructions
This is such an easy breakfast recipe, and everyone is gonna love it so much, that you might find yourself making it at least two times, maybe three times, a week. I'm just guessing…
Step 1: Spread about a half a tablespoon of butter on one side of your bread. Use a round cookie cutter, biscuit cutter, or the rim of a glass, to cut a circle out of the piece of bread. Keep the bread circle to toast alongside your egg.
Step 2: Heat a nonstick pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add another ½ tablespoon of butter and let it melt, spreading it evenly across the pan.
Place the bread slice (and the cut-out circle) in the pan, butter side up. Toast on that side for about 1 to 2 minutes or until lightly golden.
Step 3: Flip the bread and crack the egg directly into the hole in the bread. Be gentle to keep the yolk intact.
Step 4: Lower the heat to medium-low, cover with a lid, and cook to your desired doneness, or until the egg whites are set but the yolk remains runny, about 2-3 minutes.
If you prefer your yolks cooked and your egg white more set, break the yolk and flip the toast over and cook on the other side for a minute or two.
Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and serve with your toasty dipping circle.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Olive oil, ghee, or even coconut oil work well as alternatives for spreading on the bread and greasing the pan. Just try to use a fat that adds some flavor to the toast so that you aren't left with a greasy taste or texture.
Use a nonstick or well-seasoned cast-iron skillet, and ensure you add enough butter or oil to coat the surface evenly before adding the bread and egg.
Lower the heat after toasting the bread’s first side. Cooking over medium-low heat ensures the egg cooks through without burning the bread.
Yes! A sheet an egg in a hole is a great way to feed a crowd. Toast the bread slightly, cut out your circles, then add the eggs and cook on a baking tray that has been sprayed with cooking spray in the oven at 400°F until the egg is set. You should be able to get 6 to 8 pieces of toast on the tray at the same time.
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-Cynthia
📖 Recipe
How to Make Egg-in-a-Hole (with Video)
Equipment
- Nonstick pan or ⤵️
Ingredients
- 1 slice bread your choice: white, whole grain, brioche, etc.
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Spread about a half a tablespoon of butter on one side of your bread. Use a round cookie cutter or the rim of a glass, to cut a circle out of the center of the bread slice. Keep the bread circle to toast alongside.
- Heat a nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add another ½ tablespoon of butter and let it melt, spreading it evenly across the pan.
- Place the bread slice (and the cut-out circle) in the pan, butter side up. Toast that side for about 1 to 2 minutes or until lightly golden.
- Flip the bread and crack the egg directly into the hole in the bread. Be gentle to keep the yolk intact.
- Lower the heat slightly, cover with a lid, and cook until the egg whites are set but the yolk remains runny, about 2-3 minutes
- If you prefer your yolks cooked and your egg white more set, break the yolk and flip the toast over and cook on the other side for a minute or two.
- Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and serve with your toasty dipping circle.
Save This Recipe! 💌
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later, plus you'll get great new recipes from me every week!
Video
Notes
- You can use olive oil, ghee, or even coconut oil as alternatives for greasing the pan. Just try to use a fat that adds some flavor to the toast so that you aren't left with a greasy taste or texture.
Toast the bread slightly, add the eggs, and cook on baking tray that has been sprayed with cooking spray in the oven at 400°F until the egg is set. You should be able to get 6 to 8 pieces of toast on the tray at the same time.
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