Air Fryer Egg Toast

This air fryer egg toast is one of my favorite quick breakfasts. It looks fancy but takes less than 10 minutes to make.

You get crispy buttered bread, a perfectly cooked egg right in the center, and melted cheese on top. It’s simple, filling, and really satisfying.

The air fryer does all the heavy lifting here. It crisps up the bread and cooks the egg at the same time, so there’s barely any cleanup.

You can make the yolk runny or firm depending on how you like it. Just adjust the cooking time by a minute or so.

If you’re tired of the same old toast and eggs routine, this is a nice little upgrade without any extra effort.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Crispy Buttery Toast With a Perfectly Cooked Egg – The air fryer makes the buttered bread golden and crunchy while the egg cooks gently inside the nest.

That Runny Yolk Though – Breaking into that soft yolk and letting it soak into the crispy toast is honestly one of the best breakfast experiences.

Melty Cheese Makes Everything Better – The bubbly melted cheddar around the edges adds a rich savory flavor that pairs so well with the egg.

Ingredients

• 4 slices Thick-Cut Bread (brioche or sourdough work great)
• 4 Large Eggs
• 1 tablespoon Butter, softened
• 1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Salt, to taste
• Black Pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon Fresh Chives, chopped
• Pinch of Smoked Paprika

How To Make

Step 1

Using a round cookie cutter or the rim of a glass, press a circle about 3 inches wide into the center of each bread slice to create a well. Push the bread down in the center to form a shallow cup, but do not cut all the way through. You want a nest that will hold the egg.

Step 2

Spread the softened butter evenly on the top surface and edges of each bread slice. This helps the toast crisp up beautifully in the air fryer.

Step 3

Preheat the air fryer to 340 degrees F for 2 minutes.

Step 4

Place the bread slices in the air fryer basket. Carefully crack one egg into the center well of each slice. Season the eggs with salt, black pepper, and a pinch of smoked paprika.

Step 5

Cook at 340 degrees F for 5 to 6 minutes. At this point the whites should be mostly set. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese around the edges of each toast.

Step 6

Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the egg whites are fully set. For a runny yolk, pull them at 2 minutes. For a firmer yolk, go the full 3 minutes.

Step 7

Carefully remove the egg toasts from the air fryer, top with fresh chives, and serve immediately.

Tips

Make the Well Deep Enough

When you press down the center of the bread, make sure it’s deep enough to actually hold the egg. If the well is too shallow, the egg will slide right off the bread as soon as you crack it in.

Brioche works really well here because it’s soft and easy to press down without tearing. Sourdough is a bit firmer, so press slowly and use a little more force.

Just make sure you don’t push all the way through the bottom. You need that base layer intact so the egg stays in place.

Crack the Eggs Into a Small Bowl First

Don’t crack the egg directly over the bread in the air fryer basket. It’s awkward to do, and if the yolk breaks or a piece of shell falls in, it’s really hard to fix when the bread is already sitting in the basket.

Crack each egg into a small bowl or cup first, then gently pour it into the bread well. This gives you way more control and keeps the yolk intact.

340 Degrees Is the Sweet Spot

It might seem like a low temperature, but 340 degrees F is exactly what you need here. If you go higher, the bread will brown too fast and the egg white will still be raw in the middle.

At 340 the bread toasts up slowly while the egg cooks evenly. This is what lets you get that perfect combo of crispy buttered bread and a set white with a runny yolk.

Every air fryer runs a little different though. If your first batch comes out with undercooked whites, bump it up to 350 next time.

Related Recipes

• Egg Bacon Toast Air Fryer Recipe
• Air Fryer Egg Bites
• Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
• Air Fryer Perfect Bacon
• Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular sliced bread instead of thick-cut?

You can, but regular sliced bread is usually too thin to hold the egg without it spilling over the sides. Thick-cut bread gives you enough depth to press down a well that actually keeps the egg in place while it cooks.

If all you have is regular bread, try stacking two slices together and pressing the well into the top slice only. It is a bit of a workaround, but it can do the job in a pinch.