Name: Grilled Cheese Egg-in-a-Hole
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons Butter; 2 Slices Bread of Choice; 6 Small Pieces Cheddar Cheese; 1 Pasture-Raised Organic Egg; 1/2 Cup Arugula (tossed with lemon juice and olive oil); 1/2 Avocado; 1 Teaspoon Honey; 1/4 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes; 1/4 Teaspoon Flaky Sea Salt

If there’s anything that could make a gooey grilled cheese even better, it’s the addition of a perfectly-cooked, delicious fried egg. What could be better than that? My Grilled Cheese Egg-in-a-Hole is a twist on the classic grilled cheese sandwich that you know and love, but with an egg in the center for a fun surprise. This recipe comes together in just a few minutes and can easily be made gluten-free by using gluten-free bread!

A plate, topped with the grilled cheese egg in a hole, next to an arugula and avocado salad

Whenever you’re in doubt about what to make for dinner, there is no recipe better than the classic grilled cheese. Not only does it come together in a matter of minutes, and with very minimal ingredients, but it’s cheesy, filling, and always hits the spot. What else could you ask for?

So, when I saw this recipe float across Food 52 the other day, I knew that I needed to try it. After all, what could make a grilled cheese better than a runny fried egg in the center? Not only is it delicious, and a way to make your sandwich more filling, but eggs are also full of protein and healthy fats to make this sandwich more nutritious as well. Plus, the egg-in-a-hole trick makes it an exciting way for kids to get in some extra nutrients. My boys were amazed when I made this sandwich for them, and they couldn’t get enough!

And if you’re like me and want to take this sandwich to the NEXT, next level, then you have to try adding in some of my favorite toppings. Depending on my mood, I love to add some fresh arugula to this sandwich (dressed in equal parts olive oil and lemon juice), a pinch of flaky sea salt, some avocado, honey if I’m feeling like something sweet, or some crushed red pepper flakes if I want something spicy. The opportunities are endless, so feel free to get creative here!

All of the ingredients needed to make the grilled cheese egg in a hole, laid out on a countertop — To make this grilled cheese, you will need bread, butter, cheddar cheese, an egg, and the additional toppings, if desired

A piece of bread, sitting in a buttered skillet, with cheese layered on top of it — To make this grilled cheese, you will need bread, butter, cheddar cheese, an egg, and the additional toppings, if desired

The 4 Ingredients Needed to Make This Grilled Cheese

You only need 4 ingredients in order to bring this sandwich to life! Does it get any better than that?!

Bread: This recipe can be made with any type of bread that you enjoy! I prefer to make this recipe with a squishy, white sponge bread for that classic grilled cheese flavor, however any type of bread works. Even gluten-free bread!
Butter: One of the most common questions when it comes to grilled cheese is: butter or mayo? Personally, I am a butter type of gal, which means that I recommend using butter for this recipe! However, if you prefer mayo, you can try making it with my homemade mayonnaise recipe. Yum!
Cheddar Cheese: The age-old debate is: what type of cheese is best for a grilled cheese sandwich? Personally, my vote is cheddar! You can use a traditional cheddar cheese, or a white cheddar like I did. And if you prefer classic American cheese, that also works well too!
Egg: You’ll need one egg in order to get the egg-in-a-hole effect that this sandwich has!
Toppings: These are optional, but I love to add a few toppings to my grilled cheese, in order to jazz it up! Some of my favorite toppings are arugula (tossed in lemon juice and olive oil), flaky sea salt, avocado, honey, or crushed red pepper flakes. But of course, this sandwich is perfectly delicious when enjoyed on its own!

A pan, sitting on. a countertop, with the cooked grilled cheese egg in a hole sitting inside of it. Different ingredients can be seen spread across the countertop — Cut a hole in the second slice of bread and cook the sandwich until it is lightly toasted. Then, crack an egg into the center of the sandwich and cook until the egg whites are set and fully cooked through.

How to Make the Perfect Grilled Cheese in Under 10 Minutes

To make this sandwich, start by heating a pan, on the stove, over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add in the butter. Next, add one slice of bread to the pan and layer the cheese on top of the bread, leaving room in the center. If you aren’t sure how to do this, refer to the video tutorial! Then, cover the sandwich with the other slice of bread.

Cook the sandwich for approximately 4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3 minutes, or until the bread is nice and crispy on both sides. The amount of time will vary depending on your pan and stove, so just be sure to watch the sandwich carefully. Once the sandwich has browned, remove it from the heat.

A plate with a grilled cheese egg in a hole, sitting next to a salad of arugula and avocado — Once done, serve the sandwich and enjoy! I recommend adding in some sliced avocado, arugula dressed with olive oil and lemon juice, crushed red pepper flakes, or honey for added flavor. Yum!

Next, take a round cookie cutter or spoon and make a circular cutout in the center of the sandwich. Then, return the sandwich to the pan over low heat. Crack an egg into the center of the sandwich and cover the pan. Allow it to cook until the whites have fully set. Once it’s done, remove it from the oven, add your toppings of choice, and enjoy!

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.