Growing up, I thought only my Mom made these. I enjoyed the egg in a basket for breakfast. I probably didn’t try it sooner because I ate eggs in a basket so often when I was younger, and I didn’t recognize how Cracker Barrel had made it even yummier.
Cracker Barrel has deliciously reinvented this dish using sourdough bread. The result is simply tasty elegance: grilled sourdough bread with an egg cooked gently inside a toasted sourdough delight.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
This Cracker Barrel Egg in a Basket copycat succeeds by incorporating several key elements that make the restaurant version so popular. First, using sourdough bread instead of regular white bread provides a sturdier structure that holds up well during cooking while adding a distinctive tangy flavor that complements the richness of the egg. The generous use of butter on both sides of the bread ensures a perfectly golden, crispy exterior that contrasts beautifully with the tender egg inside
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Sourdough bread – Provides tangy flavor and sturdy structure
- Butter – Creates rich flavor and perfect golden crust
- Egg – Forms the creamy, protein-rich center
- Salt – Enhances the natural flavors
- Ground black pepper – Adds mild spice and depth
How to Make Egg in a Basket
- Cut a circle in the center of the bread and remove the cutout circle.
- Spread butter on both sides of the bread.
- Place the buttered bread into a skillet over medium heat.
- Crack the egg into the hole of the bread.
- Cook the bread until it is toasted on the bottom side.
- Flip the bread over toast it on the other side.
- Season it with salt and pepper to taste.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
- Reheating: Not recommended for best quality and food safety with eggs
- Best served fresh: This dish is ideally enjoyed immediately after cooking
- Not recommended for storage: The texture significantly deteriorates once cooled
- Prep-ahead option: Cut bread holes ahead of time and store them in an airtight container
- Pre-buttering: Not recommended as it can make bread soggy if done too far in advance
Cracker Barrel Egg in a Basket Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 slice sourdough bread
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 egg
- salt
- ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Press a small biscuit cutter or juice jar into the sourdough bread slice. Twist slightly to cut a circle in the center of the bread.
- Remove the cut out circle.
- Spread butter on both sides of the bread.
- Place the bread into the pan.
- Crack the egg into the hole.
- When the bread is toasted on the bottom side (it takes about a minute), flip the bread over and allow it to toast on the other side.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition
Love Cracker Barrel? Try these copycat recipes!
- Coca Cola Cake
- Cracker Barrel French Toast
- Cucumber Tomato Salad
- Egg Bake with Ham
- Glazed Baby Carrots
- Meatloaf with Ritz Crackers
- Pumpkin Custard
Favorite Breakfast Recipes
- Blintz Recipe
- Eggs a la Goldenrod
- French Toast Sticks
- Fried Cornmeal Mush
- How to Cook Oatmeal
- McDonalds McMuffin
- Oven Baked Eggs
Check out my easy breakfast recipes and the best Cracker Barrel recipes here on CopyKat!
My Mama always made this.She called it a peek a boo egg.I never knew it had other names!
What a cute name!
I love this! I made this for breakfast everyday this week. I have never been to Cracker Barrel but it sounds delicious.
For me, it’s a classic from growing up.
I have had cracker Barrel’s Chicken Noodle soup once. It was wonderful. How about yurtake on it? I’d love to make it! Can you send it to me?
Thank you for that great suggestion!
Thanks, Stephanie. This is no longer on the menu : (
we called it a “peek-a-boo” egg…