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Toad in a hole is toasted bread with an egg cooked into the middle. It’s a simple breakfast classic, perfect for any morning.

Egg and toast is a classic combination, and Toad in the Hole is a quick and easy breakfast. For more quick egg dishes, try Healthy Egg Muffins, Avocado Eggs, or Scrambled Eggs.

Toad in the Hole on plate served with fresh strawberries.

Toad in the Hole

There are two breakfast dishes that share the same name. Toad in Hole, that bakes sausages in a Yorkshire pudding batter, is a British favorite. Toad in a Hole, using toast and eggs, is an American dish.

Other popular names for this recipe are Egg in a Basket, Egg in a Hole, Egg in a Hat—you get the idea. The dish has been around for a long time, but the first official recipe was published in the 1890’s. 

Toad in the Hole is a super fun and different breakfast recipe that my kids LOVE. Not only is it super delicious but it’s really fun to make! The ingredients are simple – eggs, slices of bread, butter, and a little salt and pepper.

It’s also a great “breakfast in bed” dish. Just add some fruit or oatmeal on the side and a big glass of orange juice smoothie!

How to Make Toad in the Hole Breakfast process pic.

How to Make Toad in the Hole

The best part about Toad in the Hole? It’s the easiest breakfast you’ll ever make – after cold cereal.

BREAD. Grab a circle cookie cutter or biscuit cutter that’s about 3 inches around. Cut out the holes in your slices of bread – I like to use white bread. (Save those holes to toast in the pan!)

EGG. Melt one teaspoon of butter in a skillet over medium heat. After the butter has melted, place your bread in the pan. Crack an egg and pour it into the hole.

COOK. Cook the egg/bread in the pan for about 2 minutes until the bread is lightly toasted. Flip the toast over and cook on the other side until the egg yolk is almost set and the bread is toasted.

ENJOY! Season with a little salt and pepper and eat the toast warm. You can vary the cooking times based on how you like your eggs – longer if you like your eggs more cooked or less if you like them runny.

Bread with an egg in the middle, toasting in a pan for toad in a hole breakfast.

Tips for this Recipe

Hole cutter. Instead of a cookie cutter, use a glass cup to cut the round part of the bread. This works the same although it isn’t as easy to pop the hole out of.

Add cheese. Toast the bread, add the egg and start cooking it. Add a slice of cheese on top of the egg followed by the round cut out of the bread. Toast until the cheese is melted to add even more flavor and cheesy-ness to this dish.

Bread options. Any slice of bread will work in this recipe, but some great options include Texas Toast, whole grain, or sourdough. 

Hole size. Try to aim for a hole with a diameter of 2-2 ½ inches. This gives ample room for large eggs to fry right in the center. If you wish, a larger hole also allows for you to add shredded cheese, bacon bits, green onions, spinach or crumbled pork sausages to the egg. 

Skillet. Cook in a non-stick skillet, a well oiled cast iron skillet, or a large electric griddle if you’re making several. To help keep it from sticking to the pan, set the heat to a medium-low so that the toast browns gently and the egg fries evenly. 

Spice it up. Easily season the dish with salt, black pepper, paprika, or even add some heat with sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes. You could even top with sausage or onion gravy!

storing + Healthy Pairings

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. If you’re in a hurry you can also use the microwave. 

I love a good healthy breakfast that will keep me full and energized until lunch time.

Serve this Toad in the Hole with healthy sides – fresh fruit, a bowl of hot oatmeal, a parfait, a green smoothie, or a couple slices of turkey bacon.

2 Easy Toad in the Hole stacked on a white plate.

Try these other healthy breakfast options:

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5 from 35 votes

Toad in the Hole Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Toad in a hole is toasted bread with an egg cooked into the middle. It's a simple breakfast classic, perfect for any morning.
Servings: 1
Cook: 6 minutes
Total: 6 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 slice bread
  • 1 tsp butter
  • 1 lg egg
  • salt and pepper to taste
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Instructions 

  • In a small skillet, melt 1 tsp butter. In the middle of your bread, cut a 3-in 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.

Video

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.

Additional Info

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
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About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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Recipe Rating




57 Comments

  1. Jock says:

    This is not toad in the hole, please research toad in the hole. It is an English dish that comes from Yorkshire, it has been around since at least the late end of the 1700’s
    just because you give a name to something doesn’t mean the dish is now known by that name.
    Please read this in a pleasant tone as that is how I mean it to come across……oh and read it with a scottish accent aswell.
    I do like a good slice of toast with an egg in the middle.
    Hope you are staying safe with “covid” floating about

  2. Moriaelini says:

    5 stars
    My mom made this all the time whEn I was a kid, and called it egg in a frame. Toad in the hole is an actual british dish that is nothing like this.

  3. Anonymous says:

    You idiot that’s a whole in the wall a road In the hole is an English dish with sausage and putting batter

    1. Big SALLY says:

      My DEAREST Anon-
      “Putting batter”? Putting batter where? In the (w)hole? On the toad? Im confused! Why did the batter cross the road? Who cares! You must be talking about “pudding batter”, something they put in several English treats… I’m so glad I’m not English… on the other hand, what in tarnation is a “road in a hole”? I saw one once while driving thru Texas, it was dark! Much like the comment you used by calling these amazing ladies idiots! Why all the anger? There’s a cure for that – it’s called “Toad in the Hole” I’ve tasted this very RECIPE, and just thinking about it makes me hungry!!! No, really… I’m hungry! Let’s do lunch… meet me at HANK’S, it’s just a little whole in the wall cafe. Wink wink, chow, Anon!

    2. Charlie says:

      Anonymous:

      There is no need to call anyone an idiot.

      Just because someone doesn’t know of something, doesn’t mean they are an idiot. They are just uninformed.

      We don’t call you an idiot because you can’t spell, we just assumed you weren’t taught properly.

  4. Waterburner06 says:

    5 stars
    Last week I made perfect Toads In The Hole., using 2 slices of bread, Ham and cheese.
    Today, I did everything the same
    WAy. But today, the butter started to smoke, and the eggs just didn’t want to get to the “over Medium” state. DISAPPOINted to say the least.
    Wonder what had everything all katterwompus? WX?

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I wish I knew?? It’s hard to know, since you did everything the same.

  5. Brenda says:

    5 stars
    Love this recipe. It has been a special treat since childhood. Thanks for sharing. By the way you might want to look at your post, at the very end it mentions that cooking time can be adjusted according to how you like your “kids” cooked. That auto correct feature can be a pain at times. Lol

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      LOL..thank you for catching that!! Yeah, I don’t think anyone wants to cook their kids!! Thanks again!

  6. GINA Davis says:

    5 stars
    this is such a cute recipe to make with my granddaughter she just loves it! you should consider going to justapinch.com and add their recipe box to your site so home cooks can access your recipes with ease!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      Thank you for sharing that!! 🙂 Glad she loves it!

  7. Amy L Huntley says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was so fun to make and the entire family LOVED it!

  8. Kara Cook says:

    5 stars
    My daughter would be thrilled if I would make these for breakfast every day. So easy, so tasty!

  9. Becca says:

    5 stars
    This was my favorite breakfast as a kid! We used a cup to cut the hole and we called it “camel’s eye” – still a family favorite.

  10. Sabrina says:

    what a fun favorite, haven’t seen this in years, yay and thank you!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      You are welcome! And, I agree 🙂