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This egg and cheese sandwich is a breakfast classic for a reason. With a perfectly cooked fried egg, melty cheese, and toasted bread, it’s simple, satisfying, and ready in minutes—making it one of the best egg sandwich recipes for busy mornings.
Another awesome way to do an egg sandwich is with egg salad, and this Egg Salad Recipe is a reader favorite! For breakfast, you’ll also love my Cheesy Egg and Potato Breakfast Casserole.
Why you’ll love this fried egg sandwich recipe!
Are you in a sandwich rut? Tired of the same ham-and-Swiss for lunch day after day? Or maybe you need some grab-and-go breakfast ideas. Well, this egg and cheese sandwich is the perfect way to shake up your mealtime routine!
This delicious sandwich is so easy to make and it can be adjusted to suit different tastes, so everyone in the family will love it. It only takes minutes to fry an egg in a pan on the stovetop, then layer it with cheese and some peppery arugula. Simple! Although this recipe makes one serving, it’s easy to scale up—the only limit is how many eggs fit on your griddle.
- Quick & easy: Ready in under 10 minutes, with no muss or fuss.
- Comfort food classic, with a gourmet spin: Trust me, that handful of arugula really takes this fried egg sandwich to the next level!
- Customizable: Use your favorite bread and cheese.
- Perfect any time: I love to have this sandwich for breakfast, but it’s equally delicious at lunch or as a breakfast for dinner.
(Not a fan of fried eggs? Then try this scrambled egg sandwich!)
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Egg and Cheese Sandwich
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Thick sliced bread – You can use white bread, but I love a hearty sourdough for this recipe. A bagel is good too!
- Salted butter – Unsalted butter is fine too; you just may want to add a little extra salt to the recipe to make up for it.
- Egg – Here’s the best way to crack an egg.
- Swiss or fontina cheese – Or another cheese you like!
- Fresh arugula – Arugula adds a nice peppery bite. Spinach works too if you’d like something milder.
Variations
- Try using a tortilla wrap or pita instead of bread.
- Add crispy bacon, ham, or a sausage patty for extra protein.
- Top it all off with some sliced avocado or guacamole.
- Spread one side of the bread with some spicy mayo or mustard.
- Swap the fried egg for a basted egg.
- Instead of frying the egg in a skillet, try this method for fried eggs in the air fryer.
How to Make an Egg and Cheese Sandwich
- Get Started: Butter two slices of bread and fry the egg. In the same pan used to cook the egg, add one of the slices of bread with the butter side down. Sprinkle the cheese over the top, then add the egg.
- Keep Layering: Add the arugula.
- Finish Assembling: Top with the remaining slice of bread, buttered side out.
- Toast: Cook until the bread is golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes, then flip and cook the other side for about 3 minutes more.
How to Store Leftovers
This is definitely the kind of sandwich that is best eaten immediately. If you do have any leftovers, you can wrap them tightly or place them in an airtight container for up to a day. Reheat the sandwich in the microwave or a 325ºF oven until warmed through.
Serving Suggestions
- For lunch, I like pairing this egg and cheese sandwich with a cup of hot soup, like Butternut Squash Soup or Pumpkin Soup.
- When serving it for breakfast, I usually pair it with fresh fruit on the side. This Fruit Salad would be perfect!
Frequently Asked Questions
Egg and cheese are a classic combination that go together perfectly in sandwiches, breakfast casseroles, breakfast burritos, breakfast quesadillas, and more.
This egg and cheese sandwich is a great source of protein and if you choose a whole wheat bread, it’s also a good source of healthy whole grains.
Cheddar, Swiss, havarti, fontina, and pepper jack are excellent choices for an egg and cheese sandwich. I like using a cheese that melts well and that brings a lot of flavor to the table.
Because this recipe is made with fried eggs and fresh arugula, it’s not ideal for freezing, thawing, and reheating.
More Egg Recipes
Breakfast
How to Poach Eggs
Breakfast
Eggs Benedict
All Recipes
How to Make Soft-Boiled Eggs
Breakfast
Eggs Florentine
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Egg and Cheese Sandwich
Ingredients
- 2 slices thick sliced bread
- 2 tablespoons salted butter room temperature, divided
- 1 egg
- pinch kosher salt
- pinch black pepper
- ¼ cup Swiss or fontina cheese shredded
- handful fresh arugula
Instructions
- Spread 1 tablespoon of the butter on one side of each slice of bread. Set aside.
- In a small nonstick pan, heat the remaining butter over medium high heat. Add the egg, then season with the salt and pepper. Cook the fried egg to the desired doneness, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a spatula, remove the egg from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan used to cook the egg, add one of the slices of bread, butter side down. Sprinkle the cheese over the top. Add the egg to the cheese, followed by the arugula. Top with the remaining slice of bread, buttered side out.
- Saute until the bread is golden brown and crispy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Flip, then brown the other side, another 3 minutes.
- Remove from the heat, slice in half and serve.
Notes
- Grate your own cheese: If you have time, use freshly grated cheese instead of the bagged shredded cheese from the grocery store. It melts much more smoothly!
- Forget to soften the butter?: You can melt it in a small bowl and use a brush to brush it onto the bread.
So simple and satisfying. Perfect any time of day!
Such a simple, satisfying classic! Perfect any time of day!
This is the kind of sandwich that hits every time 🙌
I made this last night and everyone loved it! Definitely keeping this one.
So simple yet so good! I make this almost every week 😍