Egg in a Basket (Hole in Ones)

Eggs in a Basket is a classic breakfast recipe. This quick and easy fried egg recipe creatively places an egg into the centre of a slice of buttered toast for a fun two-in-one breakfast recipe. Ready in 10 minutes or less.

I have so much love for Eggs in Baskets. This childhood favorite of mine was first made for me by a cousin who was cooking me breakfast one morning – at the time, she called it an Egg in a Hole (but I’ve come to learn that this easy egg recipe has approximately one gazillion different names).

this recipe

What is an Egg in a Basket

Known by several names, Egg in a Basket is a breakfast recipe made up of cutting a small circular hole inside a slice of bread, and toasting it in a skillet while frying an egg in the hole. This recipe is popular in many different places around the world. It’s very simple to do. And can be ready in less than 10 minutes.

It’s a perfect recipe to make for your kids, but just as fun to make for yourself or with a partner.

Other names

Eggs in Baskets are known by so many different names. Here are a few of the most popular versions: 

• Hole in Ones
• Eggs in a Hole
• Toad in a Hole (this is also the name of sausage cooked into toast) 
• Eggy in a Basket (anyone watched V for Vendetta?)
• One-Eyed Jack (this is my favorite)
• Gashouse Eggs
• Egg in a Hat (an early appearance in the 1890s Boston Cooking School Cookbook by Fannie Farmer uses this name)

A funny thing about Eggs in a Basket is that we most commonly refer to it in its incorrect plural form – there is only a single egg in the ‘basket’. But hey, it is what it is! 

Ingredients

• Slices of bread
• Butter
• Eggs
• Salt and black pepper

How to make Eggs in Baskets

This is possibly going to be one of the easiest egg breakfast recipes you ever make. Cut a circle into the center of each slice of bread. Set the center circles aside.

In a large nonstick pan/skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Swirl it around to make sure it coats the entire pan. Don’t worry about browning the butter or anything like that, you’re just looking to melt the butter and use it to coat the surface of the pan. 

Next, add the bread slices (and their respective center circles) to the buttered pan, and cook until light golden-brown and toasted, about three or four minutes. Flip the bread slices and circles to begin toasting the other sides. 

Crack an egg into each hole in the toasting bread. Be careful not to miss the bread, otherwise you’ll just have a boring ol’ fashioned fried egg. No one wants that when there are eggs in baskets available! Season the top of your eggs with some salt and pepper (and anything else you like seasoning with), and cover the pan to cook the eggs. Once the whites are fully cooked, and the yolks are set to your preference (I like runny, sunny side up-type yolks which take two to four minutes to cook).

Remove the cooked eggs in baskets (with slices of buttery toast) and serve alongside the toasted buttery circles. Enjoy immediately!

Tips

What kind of bread to use

One of the great things about this easy egg dish  is that it can be prepared with whatever bread you like. Simple sandwich bread or whole grain is great. If you want to use whole wheat bread,  pumpernickel (my favorite), or even brioche – the bread aisle is your friend…as long as it’s not a flatbread.

Simple cutting

While you can cut holes in your bread using a knife, it’s easier to use a cookie cutter or biscuit cutter  (ideally one with a sharp edge). Push, give it a twist, and done. Perfect circles with very little fuss.

Butter vs margarine

When I was younger, we used to make this Egg in a Basket recipe using margarine. It’s perfectly fine to use, but I find that using unsalted butter tastes best.

Don’t go crazy

Whenever there’s a recipe with limited ingredients, I usually suggest getting the best of each. In this case, you just need regular eggs. Don’t worry about finding some exotic egg to cook with.

Mind that yolk! 

Unlike something like oeufs en cocotte breaking your yolk before you want to can be a bit of a headache. It can result in the yolk running all over your frying pan, and losing the charm of the hole in one breakfast recipe.

If you find that you have a tendency to break your yolks, try cracking your eggs into a ramekin first (as opposed to directly over the bread).

Make it yours

I’m keeping it simple in this base recipe, but you can easily customize it by adding your preferred fresh herbs and/or spices. Fresh chives, dill, or a sprinkle of paprika all go a long way in making this recipe truly yours. My wife loves to cover hers with shredded cheese (because, cheese). 

The perfect consistency

Depending on your preference, you may need to cook the eggs a little longer. Personally, I like runny eggs, and usually that means I only need to cook the eggs for two to three minutes. However, for a firmer egg yolk, cook longer, up to around five and a half minutes.

Serving suggestions

I usually make Eggs in a Basket alongside breakfast sausages and a cup of coffee. However, if you’re looking for something more substantial, you can absolutely add a salad or something like avocado slices or chopped tomatoes for a bit of extra flavor.