Are you guys as obsessed with grilled cheese sandwiches as I am? I am a true grilled cheese lover. And adding a egg just blows all other grilled cheeses out of the water. Technically this recipe isn’t a grilled cheese at all, just a single slice of bread with cheese fused to it’s outsides, but it’s cheese and it’s grilled so I’m not going to argue technicalities. If we did want to get into the technicalities of naming of recipes, I think the egg-in-toast part of this recipe confuses me as well.
What do you call egg-in-toast? I’ve heard them referred to as toad-in-a-hole, egg-in-a-basket and egg-in-a-nest. Whatever you call them, they are delicious. Unlike lots of dreamy memories I’ve heard from my childhood friends, I didn’t grow up eating egg-in-toast. I can just imagine how my parents would react if I asked them to make it for me. “You cut a hole in the bread!? Why would you cut a hole in the bread? Who eats the bread cut out? Me? I have to eat your leftovers?!”
I actually love eating the little cut out of toast, so I don’t think of them as leftovers at all. In fact, they are perfect for dipping. This recipe looks pretty impressive, especially when you cut into the egg yolk, but it’s incredibly simple to make. Crisping up the cheese on the outside of the bread instead of the inside, changes the texture of the cheese from gooey to incredibly crispy and addictive. Think of it like an inside out grilled cheese.
How is everyone’s 2014 going so far? Mine has been filled with long walks around Tokyo and a quiet dinner making takoyaki in front of When Harry Met Sally. It’s an oldie, but a classic, especially for New Years. Hope everyone’s new year is off to a great start and I hope you have lots of grilled cheese in your future!
Grilled Egg and Cheese Recipe
serves 1
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar (I like a fine shred as opposed to a coarse one, when it grills up it’s lacier and crispier)
- 1 slice thick toast, a hole cut out
- 1 egg
In a non-stick pan, over medium-low heat, melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter, swirling the pan to evenly coat. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of cheddar in the rough shape of your toast with the hole cut out. Add the bread on top and grill on medium-low until the cheese is crispy and golden.
Remove the toast from the pan, melt the other half of the butter and swirl to coat. Arrange the remaining cheese in the shape of the bread and place your toast in the pan, cheese-less side down and crispy cheese side up. Crack your egg into the hole and cook on medium-low, covered (use a glass lid if you have one so you can see) until the egg is done to your liking. Enjoy immediately with salt and pepper.
PS – Some other obsession worthy grilled cheeses: Pierogi Grilled Cheese, Classic Grilled and Crab Rangoon Grilled Cheese.
70 Comments
corrine says:
January 3, 2014 at 10:57 am
I just love it!!!!! Great idea and so good looking pictures!
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Tanya Bardash says:
January 3, 2014 at 3:09 pm
I just tried to make this…mine didn’t look as pretty as yours ( I didn’t make the hole big enough for the egg and had to flip it over to fully cook it so the other side of the bread wouldn’t burn). However…It was still delicious and I will be attempting it again!
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Merleena says:
January 3, 2014 at 3:21 pm
Such a great looking recipe from so simple ingredients!
Thanx
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January 4, 2014 at 7:22 am
I am digging this soooo hard! I love that there’s only one piece of bread! More egg and cheese!
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Amanda says:
January 4, 2014 at 2:21 pm
Yuuummmmm. I’ve made these before but never with the cheese crust. What a brilliant idea!
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Breanna says:
January 5, 2014 at 10:04 am
JUST TRIED THIS! Im actually eating it right now. Im making my parents some but honestly the first one is mine!!! So good. :) ooxoxoxo
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January 6, 2014 at 12:20 pm
I am a fan of the grilled cheese. I have definately had my fair share. I like the crunchy cheese in your version!
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Traci says:
January 6, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Wow, interesting! My boyfriend would love it if I made this for him. As for me, I’m just getting into eating eggs on things–I normally don’t like eggs with runny middles, but a recent egg-topped hamburger I ate changed my mind about this. So maybe this is going to be an EGGcellent year for me after all! ;]
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quickchai says:
January 7, 2014 at 5:01 am
I’m going to try this out.. this looks absolutely delish :)
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Louisville Breakfast says:
January 7, 2014 at 6:52 pm
Ah simply amazing food! I must try this!!!
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Ryan says:
January 8, 2014 at 3:31 pm
I tried it and loved it so I decided to add hash browns and bacon :D even better!
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kaelan says:
January 9, 2014 at 5:49 am
when my mom made toad-in-a-hole’s for breakfast she would make a bunch of tiny grilled cheese’s with the circles cut of of the bread.
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Jamie says:
January 9, 2014 at 1:40 pm
Holy crap. Also, has anyone ever told you how beautiful your image and text design is? Because, Damn.
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Jack Vermicelli says:
January 10, 2014 at 10:50 pm
The recipe calls for “1 SLICE THICK TOAST,” but per the images it looks like just regular-thickness untoasted bread (and for some reason white bread at that).
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Atwas911 says:
January 12, 2014 at 1:19 pm
It drives me insane that you didn’t center that hole in the bread. >:(
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Helen @ Scrummy Lane says:
January 12, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Ooh, yum! I’m going to try this for sure! It’s screaming ‘Sunday evening snack’ at me!
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Picass says:
January 13, 2014 at 5:14 am
This is just great, we can call that a croque madame façon tatin!
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jo says:
January 15, 2014 at 11:45 am
Should probably specify a Small Egg for this recipe. I doubt a large or jumbo egg would end up as pretty as the photo.
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GrilledShane says:
January 19, 2014 at 7:23 am
The grilled cheese looks delicious but I am very impressed by the photography and the design of your blog. Great stuff all around. Long live the grilled cheese…
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Annie Clark says:
March 10, 2014 at 9:17 am
Have eaten egg-in-a-hole all my life, but never with cheese. This will blow my kid outta the water!
I’m going to bet that this was invented to use up bread that was home-baked and had a big bubble inside of it, rendering it useless for sandwiches, etc.- and not wasting any bread from the middle, because there was none to begin with!
Thanks for this fun & cheesy idea!Reply
steph says:
March 14, 2014 at 11:24 am
Everything is better with cheese! Hope your kid likes it Annie!
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Lolo says:
March 16, 2014 at 2:43 pm
We made this when we were kids. It was called “Egg In A Frame”.
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Cashone says:
April 7, 2014 at 3:02 am
wow, I just love egg sandwich. This Grilled Egg and cheese recipe is outstanding. As it is looking delicious, I must try this at home.
thanks to share this great recipe.Reply
Yo says:
April 10, 2014 at 9:57 am
Cheese looks overcooked and burnt…basic idea is good though.
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f*ck goof says:
April 11, 2014 at 4:00 am
Heart attack by the time you finish it
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Milfyway says:
April 23, 2014 at 7:54 pm
The cheese is NOT over cooked or burnt :(
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amanda says:
May 9, 2014 at 9:26 pm
My mom used to make grilled cheese sandwiches with the crispy cheese outside and they were awesome. It’s really great if you make them using a nice round loaf of italian bread that’s oval shaped when you slice it. Also, as a crispy cheese addict, I would judge your cheese to be perfect.;)
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Corina says:
May 10, 2014 at 4:26 pm
It looks very impressive. Maybe something to try to get my daughter to eat egg!
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June 11, 2014 at 6:49 pm
I made this exact thing growing up! Love it.
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steph says:
July 3, 2014 at 9:55 am
Took a try to get the egg hole thingy just right, but i’ve got it now. Yummy, but it takes a bit longer & is messier than I expected. Go for it– what a wonderful breakfast/lunch/brunch!
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John says:
July 10, 2014 at 10:29 pm
very creative…
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Naomi says:
July 11, 2014 at 2:54 pm
My eyes just rolled WAY back in my head!
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LarryG says:
July 19, 2014 at 11:17 am
When I was younger I used to make those but without the cheese and I called them one eyed jacks. It still looks good after all these years.
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Emily Marie says:
September 15, 2014 at 6:34 am
What an awesome alteration to what I call egg-in-a-hole. Just looking at the pictures I can imagine the cheesy goodness. This is definitely on my to try list!
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Grace says:
September 15, 2014 at 8:51 am
INSANELY CHEESY AND DELICIOUS LOOKING. I normally am not a fan of capital letters, as they’re rather intimidating…but the excitement over cheese on toast made me as giddy as a hungry kid.
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October 9, 2014 at 6:28 pm
OMG…this is outrageous and I can’t wait to make it! It takes a Toad in the Hole to a whole other level!
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Richyrich1 says:
December 1, 2014 at 6:12 am
saw it… made it… loved it!!!
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Sharon @ savormania says:
December 15, 2014 at 2:03 am
Grilled cheese is my absolute favorite thing! Never had it with egg though… Can’t way to try this at home!
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Jo says:
December 26, 2014 at 9:02 am
My mom has made this since I was a kid, it is delicious.
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Zoe says:
January 9, 2015 at 11:19 am
The photos here are amazing and I’m sure that this egg “grilled cheese” is delicious. I love making egg in a basket, but I’ve never thought of adding cheese, but I’m definitely trying this out the next time I make it. There’s something about putting an egg in bread that makes it better, don’t you think?
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Stephanie says:
January 17, 2015 at 5:57 pm
This looks awesome!!! I just found you on StumbleUpon. So glad I did!
Stephanie @ managingahome.comReply
Wendyhere says:
March 21, 2015 at 3:46 pm
I make extra cutouts for dipping! Also, I grew up with the name being an “egg in the hole”. Yummy, & this recipe sounds great!
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Jimbo says:
April 6, 2015 at 2:37 pm
It’s called an egg-in-the-hole. Duh!
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Farha - faskitchen says:
June 20, 2015 at 9:17 pm
I love calling it egg in a nest.. it looks as if the egg is nesting cosily in the bread
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November 6, 2015 at 9:17 am
We call them egg in a nest. I’ve never used cheese. And melting it first? That’s plain brilliant.
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Amanda (@mommygorun) says:
February 11, 2016 at 6:57 am
We call these “Egg in a hole” or “Eggs in a basket” but I have NEVER thought to put cheese in the pan first. That looks insanely delicious!
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noor says:
August 18, 2016 at 12:34 am
super i l ike it
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Maria Aranas says:
May 7, 2017 at 7:04 pm
This looks to delicious and I’m sure my kids will love this one, especially my daughter who loves eating egg daily. Thank you
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Thomas Darby says:
June 14, 2017 at 12:05 pm
I love this! I’m 65 and remember my dad making them for me when I was about 6 or 7. He only put cheese on one side, though, and buttered the bread instead of the pan; he called them “One-Eyed Egyptians.”
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Justin Bales says:
September 22, 2017 at 3:26 pm
Cheese, egg, and toast for a perfect breakfast! Add along a cup of coffee, then you have your morning food set up and ready to go. Thanks for sharing!
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Zou Yang says:
February 14, 2018 at 5:11 pm
a one eyed Egyptian sandwich
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