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My eggs in a basket recipe has always been a childhood favorite of mine, and now it gets a grown-up makeover with the addition of smoky paprika and a garnish of green onions. With that gooey yolk center and buttery, toasted crispy bread, this easy breakfast is one that my whole family loves! It’s quick enough to whip together on a weekday morning, but special enough to enjoy for Sunday brunch too.

When I was a kid I have fond memories of waking up to the smell of fried eggs and bread! I knew it was going to be a special day when I saw we were having eggs in a basket, or as some call it eggs in a hole!

Toasty, buttery bread, finished off with a fried egg, it’s simple and delicious! I’m excited to bring back this classic with a healthier twist and a bit more sophistication.

And if you love egg based recipes as much as I do, be sure to also check out my healthy omelette recipe and my 68 favorite egg breakfast recipes!

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🥘 Ingredients

My recipe for eggs in a basket calls for simple ingredients easily found in a pantry or at the local grocery store! For the full recipe and directions, see the recipe card below.

Sprouted Whole Grain Bread: I always go with sprouted whole grain, although any bread will work. This choice ensures that I’m getting plenty of healthy fiber and nutrients.

Large Eggs: I make sure to choose cage-free and organic whole eggs. However, if that’s not an option for me, I opt for the highest quality eggs available at the grocery store.

Organic Unsalted Butter: When I include ingredients like butter in my recipes, I always go for the real thing—no fake margarine for me! Organic unsalted butter is a higher quality option that offers better flavor. I also use olive oil cooking spray as a substitute.

Spices: To spice things up, I add smoky paprika, salt, and pepper to this recipe. The paprika adds a delightful pop of flavor that elevates the dish.

Chopped Green Onion And Fresh Herbs: I love garnishing my gashouse eggs with chopped green onion or chives for an added bite and crunch. Sometimes, I also top it with my favorite fresh herbs like parsley or dill for an extra boost of flavor!

🔪 How To Make Eggs In A Pocket

Here’s how to make my gashouse eggs recipe! Be sure to check out my video below to see the step by step details in action!

Prepare Slices Of Bread: I start by using a round cookie cutter to cut out the center of each slice of bread. I butter both sides of each slice, including the cutouts. If I don’t have a cookie cutter, I use the top of a glass or a biscuit cutter to press into the bread and create a round cutout.

Fry The Bread: Next, I place a non-stick skillet over medium heat, but I can also use a griddle. I add the buttery toast slices, including the cutouts, into the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes until they are a light golden brown color and crispy.

Add The Egg: After that, I flip the bread slice and the cutout, adding one egg into each hole.

Spice It Up: To enhance the flavor, I season the eggs with salt, pepper, and paprika.

Cover And Cook: I cover the skillet and keep it on medium heat until the sunny side up egg is cooked to my preferred doneness. I typically like the egg whites to be firm while leaving the yolks slightly runny.

Garnish And Serve: I remove the toast from the pan using a large spatula, and I’ll serve the dish immediately, sprinkled with green onions for a fresh touch.

📖 Variations

While the traditional style of one-eyed jack eggs is perfect as is, there are a few other ways I like to change up this recipe:

Gashouse Eggs With Avocado: I love adding thin avocado slices on top of the toasted bread and egg for a creamy addition that complements the dish beautifully.

French Toast Style: Instead of the usual salt and pepper, I sometimes sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top for a sweet twist. Alternatively, I can make a healthy French toast version by cutting a hole out of the center, adding it to a skillet, and cooking an egg in it instead of topping it with maple syrup or fruit.

Add Cheese: As the egg cooks, I like to add my favorite shredded cheese on top and let it melt, forming a nice crust that enhances the overall flavor.

Change The Bread: I also enjoy switching up the bread by using a whole wheat bagel instead of regular whole grain bread. This makes it easy because I don’t even have to cut out the center—the work is already done for me! Plus, I can make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free bread.

Make It Scrambled: For a fun change, I sometimes skip the fried egg and use an egg scrambled with some chopped spinach, tomatoes and onions in the center of my egg toast instead!

🍽 Serving Suggestions

I recommend serving this easy recipe with a little salt, fresh cracked pepper, and a garnish of green onions. Here are a few other ways I like to pair this breakfast.

Sides: If you’re serving as part of a bigger spread, eggs on toast go great with hash browns or with these fried potatoes with onions. A fruit salad or a sweet potato breakfast hash would also be a delicious pairing! 

Drinks: Wash it all down with this delicious mixed berry smoothie, raspberry smoothie, or savory tomato smoothie.

🫙Storage Instructions

Fridge: Gashouse eggs are really best enjoyed fresh, but they will keep in the fridge if you have leftovers. To store, I let them cool completely before storing any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. I find that the toast stays fresh up to 24-48 hours (max) but after that it gets soggy.

Reheating: When I’m ready to reheat, I simply place the toast in a skillet over low heat until warmed through. You can also reheat it in the oven or toaster over until the toast is crispy and warm again.

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