Toad in the Hole is one of those simple breakfast recipes we love because it takes basic ingredients and turns them into something fun. A slice of bread gets toasted in butter with an egg cooked right in the center, making it crisp on the edges and soft in the middle.

We love this for quick breakfasts, kid-friendly mornings, and easy weekend brunch because itโ€™s fast, filling, and made in one skillet. Serve it warm with fruit, bacon, or a little extra salt and pepper for a simple meal everyone can make.

Egg and toast is a classic combination! For another quick egg dish try our perfect Scrambled Eggs.

Why you’ll love it + Why it works:

  • Only 3 ingredients!! Bread, eggs, and butter- it couldn’t be simpler!
  • Simple. Perfect for busy mornings, weekend breakfasts, and brunches.
  • The butter crisps the bread. Cooking the bread in melted butter gives it golden edges and great flavor.
  • The hole keeps the egg in place. Cutting a 3-inch hole gives the egg space to cook neatly in the center.

Toad in the Hole Ingredients

  • Bread (1 slice): Holds the egg in the center and toasts up golden in the skillet. We used white sandwich bread, other great options include Texas Toast, whole grain, or Sourdough.ย 
  • Butter (1 teaspoon): Adds flavor and helps the bread brown.
  • Egg (1 large): Adds protein and makes this simple breakfast filling.
  • Salt and pepper (to taste): Seasons the egg and bring out the flavor. Try paprika or add heat with sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes.
  • optional ingredients: Makes a slightly larger hole and include bacon bits, green onions, spinach, or crumbled pork sausages in the egg.ย 

How to Make Toad in the Hole

PREP. In a small skillet, melt 1 teaspoon butter. In the middle of your bread, cut a 3-inch hole and place it in the skillet.

COOK. Crack 1 egg and pour in the hole. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes or until the bread is lightly browned. Turn and cook the other side until the egg yolk is almost set. Season as desired with salt and pepper. Enjoy warm.

Kristyn’s Recipe Tips

  • Use a biscuit cutter, cookie cutter, or small cup to cut a clean hole in the bread.
  • Cook over medium heat so the bread browns while the egg cooks through.
  • Flip gently with a wide spatula so the egg stays in place.
  • Cook a little longer if you prefer a firmer yolk.
  • Make several at a time: Use the skillet to make one at a time, or use a large electric griddle that can cook several at a time.
  • Make-ahead tip: this is best served fresh, but you can cut the bread centers ahead to make breakfast even faster.
Two slice of toad in the hole on a white plate.
Toad in the Hole recipe on white plate with strawberries to the side.
5 from 38 votes

Toad in the Hole Recipe

Toad in the Hole is a quick breakfast with buttery toast and an egg cooked in the center, perfect for kids, brunch, or busy mornings.
Servings: 1
Cook: 6 minutes
Total: 6 minutes

Video

Ingredients 

  • 1 slice bread
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 1 large egg
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions 

  • In a small skillet, melt butter. In the middle of your bread, cut a 3-inch hole and place in the skillet.
  • Crack egg and pour in the hole. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes or until the bread is lightly browned. Turn and cook the other side until egg yolk is almost set. Season as desired with salt and pepper. Enjoy warm.
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Notes

Make a large batch by using an electric griddle.ย 
Store leftovers in a container in the fridge for 1-2 days. The best way to reheat them is in a toaster oven, broil in the oven, or heat in a frying pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 112kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 182mg, Potassium: 50mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 125IU, Calcium: 39mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

How to store?

Store leftovers in a container in the fridge for 1-2 days. The best way to reheat them is in a toaster oven, broil in the oven, or heat in a frying pan.

This recipe was originally published February 2019.

About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipesโ€”each one tested in her kitchenโ€”that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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5 from 38 votes (17 ratings without comment)

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79 Comments

  1. Chef Marky says:

    I absolutely Loved making 2 at a time for a Really Cool Dude named โ€œJohn Corbettโ€ The Famous Actor Guy ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜‹๐Ÿ˜Ž

  2. Ma says:

    That is not toad in the hole. Toad in the hole is sausage cooked in batter, more precisely yorkshire pudding. What you have is egg in the hole.

    1. Lil' Luna Team says:

      Youโ€™re right that traditional British toad in the hole is sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding. Names can definitely vary by region though. In many parts of the US, this egg and toast version is often called toad in the hole, while others know it as egg in a hole. Same idea, different names depending on where youโ€™re from!

  3. WGBHIsCool says:

    5 stars
    It’s good but, you should refer to it as egg in the basket.

    1. Lil' Luna Team says:

      You are right that this recipe is also called egg in a basket, which is a really fun name! In the US other common names include egg in a hole, birds nest, and the one I have always used, Toad in the Hole.

  4. Stephen says:

    This is NOT
    Toad in the hole.
    Toad in the hole is
    Sausages in Yorkshire puddings

    1. Lil' Luna Team says:

      The traditional British version is sausages baked in Yorkshire pudding. This one is the American-style version often called the same thing. Funny how recipes share names but can be different depending on where you live!

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