The ultimate one-basket breakfast: crispy, buttery toast with a perfectly cooked egg right in the centre.
Also known as “One-Eyed Jack” or “Egg-in-a-Frame,” this nostalgic classic gets a modern upgrade in the air fryer. By cooking the bread and the egg together, the toast gets incredibly crunchy while the egg stays tender and golden. It’s fast, fun, and creates zero frying pan mess.
Prep time: 3 minutes
Cook time: 6–8 minutes
Serves: 1–2 people
Ingredients
2 Country Lane Foods Eggs
2 thick slices of sourdough or farmhouse white bread
Butter (softened)
Seasoning: Salt, cracked black pepper, and fresh chives for garnish.
Optional Sides: Cherry tomatoes or pre-cooked bacon.
Equipment
Air Fryer
A circular cookie cutter (or a drinking glass)
Baking parchment (optional, for easy cleanup)
Method
1. Prep the Bread
Spread both sides of your bread slices generously with butter. Using a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass, cut a hole out of the centre of each slice. Don’t throw away the “holes”—butter those too and cook them alongside for extra dipping!
2. Arrange the Basket
Place the buttered bread slices into the air fryer basket (line with parchment first if you’re worried about sticking). Place the circular bread cut-outs in the corners of the basket.
3. Add the Egg
Carefully crack one Country Lane Foods egg directly into the hole of each slice of bread. If a little white leaks under the bread, don’t worry—it just makes the toast even crispier!
4. The Air Fryer Cook
Set your air fryer to 180°C.
6 Minutes: For a classic runny yolk (perfect for dipping those bread circles into!).
8 Minutes: For a “set” medium yolk.
5. Serve
Use a flat spatula to lift the toast and eggs out of the basket carefully. Season with a pinch of salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of fresh chives.
Recipe Variations
The Full Basket: Add a small vine of cherry tomatoes or a few mushrooms to the basket at the same time to complete your breakfast.
Pesto Twist: Spread a thin layer of pesto on the bread before adding the egg for a Mediterranean flavour.
Top Tips
The “Press” Trick: Use your fingers to lightly press down the edges of the bread against the basket before cracking the egg; this helps create a seal to keep the egg contained.
Thickness Matters: If using very thin sandwich bread, check it at 5 minutes to ensure the toast doesn’t burn before the egg sets. Thick-cut sourdough is the gold standard here!