Egg In A Hole

Love the convenience of one-pan cooking? Breakfast can be that easy with an egg-in-a-hole—an egg cooked to over-easy perfection inside a slice of bread. Why cook eggs and toast separately when you can have them nestled together, waiting for all that yolky gravy?

There are myriad names for the dish: egg-in-a-basket, toad-in-a-hole, egg with a hat, gashouse eggs, and even Moonstruck eggs after the 80s romantic comedy where Olympia Dukakis prepares Cher’s character Loretta eggs-in-a-hole topped with red peppers. 

No matter what you call it, the cooking process remains constant. It involves a thick slice of bread (minus the center) toasted in a buttered skillet with an egg slid into the hole to fry and flip. It’s an inexpensive breakfast that brings me back to a cast-iron pan hanging over a campfire, for a simple cookout breakfast in the woods.

Where Did Egg In A Hole Originate?

While this simple dish seems to be a favorite across a range of cultures, an official recipe for "egg with a hat" was first published by Fannie Farmer in the 1890s in the Boston Cooking School Cookbook. Around the same time, Italian immigrants brought uova fritte nel pane (fried eggs in bread) to the states, made in a similar way but with a side of tomatoes and peppers.

The dish is a favorite to be featured in movies and television, and gained notoriety over the years after being made in the 1987 film Moonstruck, 1941's Moon Over Miami with Betty Grable, V for Vendetta, and shows like Frasier, Friends, and more. What can we say? A dish this good just never goes out of style.

Ingredients for an Egg in a Hole

Just a handful of ingredients are needed to make this classic breakfast dish. To make an egg in a hole, you'll need:

• Sliced bread: The base of the dish, creating a border for the egg to cook in. Choose a thickly sliced bread for best results.
• Large egg: Dropped into the center of the toast for a protein-rich addition, and left slightly runny for serving.
• Butter: To toast the bread and add richness and flavor to the dish.
• Salt and pepper: Seasons the egg and toast.
  

How To Make an Egg in a Hole

This dish is so easy to make, it's a recipe the whole family can master. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

• Step 1. Cut a hole: With a cookie or biscuit cutter, cut a hole in the center of the bread. Crack an egg into a small container.
• Step 2. Melt butter: Heat butter in skillet over medium-low until melted. Add bread.
• Step 3. Cook bread and egg: Toast lightly and flip. Slide the egg into the hole, and sprinkle with salt. Cook until just set.
• Step 4. Flip: Gently flip and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the bottom is just set and serve.

Egg in a Hole Variations

To add a unique twist to this egg in a hole, consider these variation ideas:

• Cheese: Fill the hole with shredded Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Gruyère, or other preferred cheeses before adding the egg for a cheesy twist.
• Protein: Add cooked bacon to the hole before filling with egg, or sprinkle crispy bacon over the top of the dish before serving. You can also fill with cooked sausage, diced ham, or turkey for an extra dose of protein.
• Veggies: Fill the hole with sautéed bell peppers, onions, spinach, mushrooms, or other leftover vegetables before topping with the egg.
• Herbs: Sprinkle the egg with chopped parsley or cilantro for a fresh touch.
• Toppings: Top the egg in a hole with sliced avocado, tomatoes, onions, hot sauce, Parmesan cheese, or other toppings, as desired.
• Kid-style: Have your crew choose their favorite cookie cutters for the bread, so everyone gets to have a little fun creating their favorite toast shapes.

Our Tips for the Best Egg in a Hole

For the best egg in a hole, keep these tips in mind:

• Choose the right bread: Although any bread will do, choose a sturdy, thick-cut slice for best results.
• A large enough hole: Make sure to choose a glass or cookie cutter with a circumference large enough to accommodate the egg.
• Toast and flip: Toast the bread on one side before adding the egg to make sure the bread will be crisp by the time the egg is cooked to perfection.
• Crack into a bowl: To prevent egg shells from ending up in your toast.
• Serve immediately: For toasty bread and jammy or runny eggs.

What To Serve With an Egg in a Hole

Serve your egg in a hole as desired, with a side of crispy bacon, cooked sausage, breakfast potatoes, hash browns, ripe avocado, tomatoes, sautéed veggies, fresh fruit, or other breakfast favorites. It's a simple, satisfying dish that can pair well with just about anything.

More Simple Breakfast Egg Recipes You'll Love

When simple and quick is the name of the game, these easy egg recipes are each a perfect weekday option:

• Perfect Over-Easy Eggs
• Egg In A Biscuit
  
• Prosciutto Egg Cups
• Breakfast Egg Muffins
• The Best Scrambled Eggs
• Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
  

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.