This beloved breakfast dish is called by so many names. But no matter what you call it, it’s still the same great toast with an egg in the middle. And believe it or not, it can be made rather easily in the air fryer.
» You might also like these Air Fryer Hash Browns or Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls.
Super Useful Air Fryer Accessories
Once you’ve started using your air fryer more regularly, you’ll find there are so many other ways you *could* be using it, if you had a few extra useful accessories. Here are a few favorites that we use almost every day.
- 12-piece accessories kit for 3.7-5.8 quart air fryers – includes silicone cake pan, cake barrel, pizza pan, toasting/warming rack, skewer rack, silicone mat, bread rack and more
- Thermopen instant read thermometer for checking the internal temp of your meats
- Evo Oil Sprayer Bottle – BPA, latex, and dehp-free plastic, won’t clog or shatter, reusable, refillable, recyclable
Our air fryer egg in a hole is easy to make and it’s pretty fast, too. So you can get a good breakfast done and on the table in just a few minutes. Or you can use your air fryer as a backup to the stove top method when making more than one of these at the same time.
You may know this dish by a different name. Perhaps eggs in the middle, egg toast, or eggs in a basket. I think you grow up knowing it by the name that’s used in your particular region. All of them are the same dish.
For another great air fryer egg recipe try these egg bites.
Ingredients Needed for Eggs in the Middle
Of course we would love a piece of buttered toast with a fried egg in the middle. It’s genius really! I love making these for breakfast, because they feel like a treat.
Here’s what you need to make them:
- Bread – any kind of bread that you like will work – white, wheat, seeded.
- Butter – it’s best if it’s softened or melted so it will spread onto the butter easier.
- Egg – as long as your bread slices aren’t really small, you should be able to fit a large egg into the toast.
Equipment Needed
You’re going to need your air fryer, of course. As long as a slice of bread will fit into the base of the basket without folding up on the edges it will work well. I think this requires at least a 4-quart sized air fryer.
You’ll also need a glass with a large enough diameter that you can cut out a good sized hole in the center of the bread without reaching the edges.
Parchment paper rounds or a silicon mat that fits in your air fryer also comes in handy for this recipe. This helps to keep the egg from dripping straight through the holes in the air fryer basket.
What Bread to Use
While you can use most breads for this recipe, some may work better than others. Opting for a sturdy bread with a slightly denser texture, such as sourdough or whole wheat, works well in the air fryer. Regular white sandwich bread is a old classic but why not think outside the box. Try using a seeded bread, rye, pumpernickel, or even a crusty artisanal bread.
A great bread can ensure a delightful combination of crispy edges, a golden exterior, and a soft, well-cooked center for your eggs in a hole made in the air fryer.
Why Use an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an incredibly easy way to cook just about anything. You place the food in a fryer-style basket and hot air rapidly circulates all around the food, making the food crisp – much like deep-frying, but without the oil. You can cook anything you’d make in the oven.
- I use a Ninja MaxXL air fryer (pictured left). If you don’t have an air fryer yet, check out these options to find one that fits your needs.
- See reviews and prices for air fryers on Amazon.
- Here’s a printable Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet to get you started.
- Click to find more recipes to make in your Air Fryer.
- Learn how to make fun things in the air fryer, like potato wedges, pork belly bites, and chicken wings.
How to Make Air Fryer Egg in a Hole
Preheat the air fryer to 325° F for 3 minutes. Preheating isn’t necessary but it helps cook the egg quicker when it lands in the basket, which keeps it from potentially dripping through the holes.
Place a parchment paper round in the air fryer basket. Using parchment paper rounds isn’t necessary, but it will help keep the egg from potentially dripping through the holes.
Butter both sides of the bread. Use a wide-mouth glass or cookie cutter to cut a hole in the center of the bread. Crack the egg into the middle of the bread.
Cook at 325° F for 6 minutes. Use a spatula to carefully turn the bread over and cook an additional 2+ minutes, depending on how cooked through you want the egg yolk. If you want to add cheese on top, now’s the time.
Carefully remove the bread from the air fryer. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Notes & Suggestions
- No oil is necessary on the basket if you choose not to use parchment paper.
- If you don’t mind that both sides of the toast is browned, you can skip flipping over the toast. That will help ensure you don’t accidentally break the yolk in the flip. Just cook it for 8-10 minutes on one side and take it out.
- The yolk will cook to runny in 6-8 minutes, and will be completely hard at 10 minutes.
- You can cook the cut out pieces at the same time in the air fryer to get them crunchy. That’s one of my favorite parts!
OUR FAVORITE AIR FRYER
COSORI PRO LE 5-QT AIR FRYER
There are a lot of features to love about this air fryer, but top of our list are the tempered glass display, super easy to clean basket, and ability to add shake reminders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put raw eggs in an air fryer?
Absolutely! This recipe uses raw eggs to make eggs in a hole. But you can use it to make scrambled eggs and “hard-boiled” eggs as well. For scrambled eggs it takes between 8-10 minutes and for “hard boiled” eggs about 18 minutes.
How long do eggs take in the air fryer?
The air fryer is a surprisingly good way to cook eggs. If you are making fried eggs like the ones in this recipe then the yolk will cook to runny in 6-8 minutes, and will be completely hard at 10 minutes.
How do I know when the egg is done cooking?
You want to cook the egg until the white isn’t translucent. The rest is up to you! I like to have a runny yolk so I stick close to 7 minutes. My son likes a solid yolk so he cooks his for 10 minutes.
More Egg Recipes to Try:
- Smoked Salmon, Mushrooms & Egg Breakfast
- Keto Eggs Benedict Cups
- Perfect Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
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Air Fryer Egg in a Hole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 2 slices of bread
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 325° F for 3 minutes*.
- Place a parchment paper round in the air fryer basket**.
- Butter both sides of the bread. Use a wide-mouth glass or cookie cutter to cut a hole in the center of the bread. Crack the egg into the middle of the bread.
- Cook at 325° F for 6 minutes. Use a spatula to carefully turn the bread over and cook an additional 2+ minutes, depending on how cooked through you want the egg yolk.
- Carefully remove the bread from the air fryer. Season with salt and pepper and serve.
Notes
- *Preheating isn’t necessary but it helps cook the egg quicker when it lands in the basket, which keeps it from potentially dripping through the holes.
- **Using parchment paper rounds isn’t necessary, but it will help keep the egg from potentially dripping through the holes.
- No oil is necessary on the basket if you choose not to use parchment paper.
All air fryers have different wattage and may cook at different rates. You may need to adjust the time or temp for the best results.
Nutrition
🥧 If you’re interested in more great recipes, I share all my favorite recipes over at A Food Lover’s Kitchen, and you’ll find Instant Pot recipes at A Pressure Cooker Kitchen, and cocktails and drinks at Savored Sips. Check it out today!
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Laura is a passionate foodie and owner of Air Fry Anytime She is dedicated to sharing delicious recipes and helpful tips for using air fryers at home. With years of experience in the kitchen and a love for healthy, flavorful cooking, Laura has become an expert at using air fryers to create amazing meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
I’m a vegetarian, so I substituted the egg with a tofu scramble and followed the rest of the recipe as is. The air fryer gave the tofu a delightful crispness, and it was a fantastic twist on the classic egg in a hole.
Great idea, sounds delicious.
The bread had a delightful crunch, and the yolk was perfectly runny.
Eggs in the middle is a breakfast staple in our home but I never thought to make it in the air fryer. My kids can easily make their own breakfast. I love it!
Heather that’s awesome! I love it when kids are cooking.
I tried this air fryer egg in a hole recipe today, and it exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended!
Thanks Arthur. We like it too!
I added some grated cheese on top of the bread before popping it into the air fryer. The result was a gooey, cheesy delight.
Misty, that is a great idea! Yum!