Grilled Cheese Egg in a Hole Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Joy Huang | The Cooking of Joy

October4,2022

4.3

6 Ratings

  • Prep time 5 minutes
  • Cook time 10 minutes
  • Serves 1

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

Can't decide whether to make a grilled cheese or an egg in a hole? Make both!

For this recipe, I use a pro-tip I learned from Five Guys: use mayonnaise instead of butter on the outside of the grilled cheese. It's way more spreadable and adds just a little oomph of flavor to the sandwich. —Joy Huang | The Cooking of Joy

Test Kitchen Notes

A nice way to add some more protein to a grilled cheese, while also providing something of a sauce from the egg yolk (depending on how you cook your egg).

This recipe is featured in the All For Farmers Market, sponsored by Tillamook.minipanda

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 2 slices soft bread, like white or potato
  • 1 to 2 teaspoonsmayonnaise
  • 1 to 2 Tillamook Extra Sharp White Cheddar Slices
  • 1 large egg
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • Sea Salt
Directions
  1. Start heating a non-stick pan on medium-low. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on one slice of bread and place the bread mayonnaise-side down in the pan.
  2. Cut the cheese into thirds. Place one-third on each side of the bread in the pan. Cut the remaining third in half and fill in the top and bottom of the gap between the other slices of cheese, leaving a cheese-less square in the middle. [Editors' note: You want to cover the entire slice of bread except for the square in the center where you'll be cutting a hole through the sandwich.]
  3. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the other slice of bread and place it on top of the cheese, mayonnaise-side up. Cook the sandwich for a few minutes until the bottom is golden brown.
  4. Flip the sandwich over. Using a cookie cutter or a drinking glass, cut out a hole in the middle of the sandwich about 2 1/2- to 2 3/4-inches wide. Remove the circle of bread (you can continue grilling this on the side of the pan) and crack the egg into the hole. Cover and cook until the egg is set to your liking.
  5. Slide the sandwich onto a plate. Season the egg with freshly ground pepper and sea salt (I used a red Alaea salt, which is why the egg looks like it has measles). Serve with tomato soup, if you like.

Tags:

  • Sandwich
  • American
  • Egg
  • Mayonnaise
  • Cheese
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Vegetarian
  • Breakfast
  • Brunch
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
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  • Your Favorite Way to Eat Eggs for Dinner

See what other Food52ers are saying.

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  • Linda Safianwhite

  • Lisa Ki

  • Pisanella

  • Joan

Popular on Food52

37 Reviews

When I make these, I take a slice of bread , butter or mayo both sides and cut an egg sized hole in it. Place slice butter/mayo side down in a frying pan on medium. Crack your egg into the hole, when white solidifies, flip. Top with slices of extra old white cheddar cheese and a second slice of bread with butter/mayo on the outside. When cheese starts to melt, flip to toast the last side. Eat with chutney. Mmmm!

Karen March 7, 2021

I made this this morning and just left the sandwich whole and put an over easy egg on top. So I guess you could say I really didn’t make this recipe but a grilled cheese (with bacon in it) with an egg on top. Recipe gave me the idea! Thanks!

Linda S. May 10, 2018

when my mother was a child, her brother, my uncle Charlie, came home from a friends house and told my grandmother about an egg in the middle of a piece of bread. My whole life these have been referred to, by my family, as Charlie eggs. never thought of adding cheese....love them plain, will probably love these even more. thanks for the recipe!

Mascome July 11, 2017

I believe it's called an egg in a basket. "Egg in a hole" sounds really awful.

beejay45 July 11, 2017

It has many different names depending on where you're from. When I was a little girl at brownie camp, we called them One-Eyed-Susans. ;)

Jenifgrr May 6, 2017

I read this, went into the kitchen and immediately made one. Sprinkled a little Fox Point seasoning on the top while the egg was cooking-delicious! I've always known them as one eyed Jack's and add shredded cheese on the top. Can't believe that I didn't think to take it one step further by just going full on grilled cheese!

Lisa K. January 31, 2017

Easy easy and one more easy to cook! I recommend use hand made mayonnaise. Do not use Kraft etc.

paseo March 7, 2017

Use Dukes

Pisanella June 5, 2016

The grilled cheese bit was lovely and the mayo is brilliant instead of butter. However, not sure the egg really goes with the cheese and I wish I hadn't eaten it!

Mary February 29, 2016

Pesto is another wonderful butter substitute on your grilled cheese. Should work here too.

Joan December 29, 2015

Ahhh memories! As a former Girl Scout these"egg in a hole" Breakfasts were one of the few things we could cook outside for our "Camping" badge.
With an upside down #10 can as a stove you could cook the bacon then the egg in a hole...Voila! Breakfast....

Chef D. November 22, 2015

that egg looks great, funnily enough I never did this

Rani C. November 20, 2015

We called these "Egg-in-a-Hole with a Hat" as the cut out circle went over the egg when finished. Used one slice of bread (so the sandwich part is missing in mine), slice of cheese after egg/toast was flipped and topped with toasted center. All done in the frying pan, of course. I like the mayo idea and will try it next time.

craptacular November 19, 2015

Needs bacon. Or ham!

Alina November 16, 2015

I love grilled cheese. Especially in the morning. When I was pregnant I was craving grilled cheese like crazy, wish I would have come across this recipe to try out for breakfast! This looks super delicious, I would certainly want to try this out one of these mornings to make for myself and daughter. I love this combination put together. It seems filling and satisfying.

Joan H. November 2, 2015

We call it Rocky Mountain Toast (without the cheese, of course, it will never be the same :)) because after you finish the egg in the bread, you put the toasted circle on top of the egg to serve it.

beejay45 October 20, 2015

We learned these in summer camp -- the egg part, but they were called One-eyed Susans there. ;) I never liked grilled cheese sandwiches because the bread was always so greasy. Then, one day, I realized that you could put just a tiny skim of mayo on the bread, instead of a slather of butter, and get the same golden, crispy outsides but without having to wring out the grease. So, you rock, Joy. I don't know who these Five Guys are, but I suspect that they rock, too. LOL! I particularly love the little toasted holes that are left over, so much so that every once in a while I do the little slather of mayo on both sides of a piece of bread and toast it in a pan just to eat with a bowl of tomato soup.

Joy H. October 20, 2015

Thanks! You rock, too!

Dayn R. October 17, 2015

Just made one to try and the entire family smelled it, came to the kitchen and ended up making like 5 of them! Used a rosemary and olive oil artisan sliced bread, added a chipotle hot sauce to the cheese while grilling, then browned on both sides after letting the egg settle a bit depending on who wanted what type of egg style... Big hit. Nice share! Oh, sprayed the pan w/ a non-stick, avocado oil spray. Did use the mayo. Nice touches...

Joy H. October 17, 2015

Yum, that sounds delicious!

Alina November 16, 2015

The chipotle hot sauce added on sounds like a nice touch to the grilled cheese. I love how universal this recipe can be. I would love to try that as well.

Trina S. March 26, 2020

I enjoy saricha on mine

carol August 9, 2015

Made this for hubby this a.m. and he loved it. GREAT RECIPE, THNX

Joy H. August 9, 2015

You're welcome!

judy December 10, 2014

Often had these growing up--called them "toad-in-the-hole" Yummy!

Michele Z. October 16, 2014

we use butter and it was called egg in a basket

Kimberly September 30, 2014

Mayo? Really? Seems like butter would be way better...

Joy H. November 13, 2014

Butter would work, too, but I'm a mayo convert for grilled cheese. Check out this article for why: https://food52.com/blog/10792-gabrielle-hamilton-s-grilled-cheese-sandwiches

Grilled Cheese Egg in a Hole Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

How to make grilled cheese Martha Stewart? ›

Place sandwiches in skillet (in two batches, if needed). Reduce heat to medium-low; gently top sandwiches with a lid slightly smaller than skillet for even cooking. Cook, flipping once halfway through, until crisp and golden on both sides and cheese is melted, 7 to 9 minutes. Serve immediately.

What is the best melting cheese for grilled cheese? ›

Comté/Raclette/Gruyère

(Raclette actually comes from the French verb “racler” which means “to scrape.”) These are also the cheeses used for fondues and French onion soups, so it follows that they are also some of the best options for gooey grilled cheese sandwiches.

What's healthier, butter or mayo? ›

Both are calorie-and fat-dense spreads that should be used in moderation, says Melissa Joy Dobbins, RD, of the American Dietetic Association. But your better bet is mayonnaise, which contains less saturated fat than butter (1.5 g per tablespoon versus 7.3 g in butter).

Is it better to make a grilled cheese sandwich with butter or oil? ›

Ina encourages using a mix of butter and olive oil because butter adds a rich flavor to dishes while the olive oil helps prevent the butter from burning.

Is it better to toast bread before making grilled cheese? ›

For the best results, toast your bread first. A quick toast will help your bread develop the golden edges and luscious crisp that you're after. It'll also help prevent the bread from getting soggy, no matter how many fillings you add.

What is a banjo sandwich? ›

A popular filling snack with British troops since at least World War I, the "egg banjo" is a sandwich of a runny fried egg between two thick slices of bread (if possible, buttered or with margarine), often accompanied by a mug of "gunfire" (a drink of tea and rum).

How many minutes to boil an egg? ›

Once the water is at a rolling boil, turn off the heat and cover the pot with the lid. Allow the eggs to sit in the hot water for the following times according to the desired doneness: 3 minutes for SOFT boiled; 6 minutes for MEDIUM boiled; 12 minutes for HARD boiled. Prepare a bowl of ice water.

What is the secret to the best grilled cheese? ›

Low and slow is the way to go.

Cook your sandwiches at medium-low heat. Try to speed up the process and you'll end up with a sandwich that's hot on the outside, but still cool and unmelted in the middle. It'll also be harder to get it to brown properly.

What makes grilled cheese taste better? ›

My two golden rules for a great Grilled Cheese
  1. Use TWO types of cheese – mozzarella for stretch and another for flavour (gruyere and vintage cheddar are my favourites)
  2. Give your sandwich press a miss. Use a pan on your stove! Just look at the superior golden buttery crust you get to bite into! ↓↓↓
Jul 28, 2023

Should I put mayo on grilled cheese? ›

If you undercook the bread, the sandwich is soggy and the cheese might not melt properly. If you overdo it, then all you taste is char. That's why the secret to perfect grilled cheese is mayonnaise.

Why do Americans put mayo on grilled cheese? ›

Mayo also has a higher smoke point than butter, so you can safely grill at a higher temperature. It seems to seal the moisture into the sandwich better, yields a softer, less crumbly bread on the inside with the cheese.

Why does mayo make sandwiches taste better? ›

why mayonnaise makes food taste better: it adds fat, salt, and acidity. Mayonnaise, colloquially known as. "mayo", is an emulsion of oil, egg and lemon juice.

Why does mayo make sandwiches better? ›

Mayonnaise is a perfect tool for this purpose; not only does its creamy consistency improve the flavor and texture of sandwiches, but it also repels water. This is because the oil in mayonnaise is hydrophobic, meaning its molecules don't mix with water.

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