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This weekend, I rediscovered how good and healthy it feels simply to sit and be. Whether you choose a well-worn easy chair or plastic lawn chair, sometimes nothing is more marvelous than resting in your favorite place, reflecting on your favorite things. This weekend, I spent extra time on our back porch with my plate filled with Bagel Egg in a Hole with Smashed Avocado and my heart filled with the memories of the past three weeks.

Egg in a Hole on white plate

Between mid-April and mid-May, I traveled 15 out of 24 days, visited six cities, turned 30, and published 11 recipes. I watched Tabasco sauce be made on a small island off of Louisiana, ate and drank my way through Nashville (twice), walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, sipped wine in Sonoma, and learned that my step dad officially beat cancer. My Kansas family surprised me by coming to visit, and my new Wisconsin family threw me a birthday party that was more special and beautiful than anything I could have imagined.

Egg in a hole with tomatoes topped with parsley

About This Egg in a Hole Breakfast Bagel

I’m exhausted and happy and full in every sense of the word. Now that I’m back home, it’s been tempting to be instantly overwhelmed by the tasks I neglected while away. Our yard needs weeding, the storage room has exploded all over the basement, and I am completely out of clean socks.

Before I throw myself into the to-dos, however, I want to take a few moments to appreciate the special experiences that have filled this last month. One way I’ve carved out a few extra minutes to reflect is by keeping our meal prep extra fast and simple.

Although it’s hardly a recipe, this avocado-topped bagel egg in a hole is delicious, satisfying, and perfect for when you are in need of a quick but nourishing meal (same with this Curried Chickpea Hash). Think of it as a combined riff between a standard egg in a hole (a classic breakfast dish in which an egg is fried inside a hole in a piece of bread—other names include “toad in a hole,” “egg in a nest,” and my personal favorite, “one-eyed sailor”), avocado toast, and a bagel breakfast sandwich. For another quick but nourishing meal, check out my English Muffin Pizzas or this Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Frittata.

Instead of punching a hole in a slice of bread, I used the pre-existing hole inside of a whole wheat bagel. I hadn’t bought a bagel in ages, and until I made this bagel egg in a hole, I forgot just how much I love their chewy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside texture.

bagels sliced in half with knife

To make this bagel egg in a hole, start by buttering and toasting one side of the bagel in a skillet, then spread it with smashed, lightly seasoned avocado.

Then, return the bagel to the skillet (avocado-side up), and just as you would for regular egg in a hole, crack an egg in its center, and toast the other side while frying the egg.

bagel topped with mashed avocado

You can cook the egg all the way through if you like, but I’m partial to keeping the yolk runny, then using buttery, toasty bites of bagel and avocado to mop it up.

Recipe Adaptations + Dietary Swaps

This bagel egg in a hole recipe is lovely as written, but it’s also a concept you can customize however you like. Here are a few ideas:

  • Everything Bagel Egg in a Hole. Use an everything bagel as your base or sprinkle everything bagel seasoning over the top of the avocado.
  • Spicy Bagel Egg in a Hole. I like adding a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to wake up my taste buds.
  • Bagel Egg in a Hole with Tomatoes. A drizzle of olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and a layer of tomatoes would be wonderful (or maybe cucumbers). Add some crumbled bits of Baked Bacon over the top for a little BLT flair.
  • Bagel Egg in a Hole with Cream Cheese. Swap the smashed avocado for a layer of cream cheese.
  • To Make Gluten Free. Use a gluten free bagel.
  • Prefer toast? Try this Kale Feta Egg Toast.
Fred egg inside a bagel

Tools Used to Make This Recipe

Bagel Egg in a Hole with Smashed Avocado

4.25 from 8 votes
A tasty spin on classic egg in a hole, this recipe features an egg fried inside a bagel with avocado on top. Perfect quick, healthy breakfast or dinner!

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes

Servings: 2 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole grain bagel
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 small ripe Hass avocado
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus additional to taste
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • Chopped fresh herbs: cilantro parsley, chives, etc.

Instructions
 

  • Slice bagel in half. If the hole is very small, tear out some of the center to make it larger or use a round cookie cutter, small juice glass, or biscuit cutter to cut a larger hole. Lightly spread the cut sides of the bagel with butter. In a small bowl, mash the avocado with the salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Taste and add additional seasoning if desired.
  • For each bagel half: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium. Place the bagel in the skillet butter-side down. Let toast a few minutes until golden, then flip and place on a plate, toasted side up. Spread the cut side with mashed avocado. Return the bagel to the skillet, avocado-side up. Crack an egg in the center of the hole (for easier transfer, you can also crack the egg in a small bowl, then gently pour it into the hole), then cover the skillet and let cook until the egg is set, about 3 minutes for a medium-soft yolks (if your skillet does not have a lid, you can also place a sheet pan over the top—the idea is to trap heat to cook the egg more quickly). Transfer to a serving plate, sprinkle with any desired toppings. Enjoy immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 2)Calories: 304kcalCarbohydrates: 28gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 200mgFiber: 6g

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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Recipe Rating





23 Comments

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  1. This is so perfect! I love egg in a hole! I really need to try it with a bagel and some avocado!

  2. What a perfect breakfast idea and one I’d gladly enjoy.
    It was so nice meeting you on Avery Island and enjoying that crawfish boil dinner, too.  Sounds like you’ve had quite the busy schedule, but filled with loved ones, good food and fun. Cheers.

  3. hey girl this looks really good! Glad you have had a great time going here and there lately! And Happy Belated Birthday! Mine is coming up in June!

  4. This looks amazing! I love eggs with avocados and bagels are my guilty pleasure ! Pinning :) 

  5. I wish you would have said to cover it in the text above the recipe card. I read the text and not the recipe card. I guess I should have read both, but mine ended up burnt on bottom and runny on top. :(

    1. Hi Amanda, I’m sorry the recipe didn’t turn out for you. With every recipe, I add all the details needed for a recipe to be successful in the ingredient list and specific directions. I hope you try the recipe a second time! If you follow the steps in the instructions, I think you’d really enjoy it!

  6. We also had problems cooking this like an egg in a hole… The top which runs into the avocado does not get hot enough to cook, leaving raw egg even under a cover. The bottom also burns even on medium heat long before the egg cooks. Did you pre-cook or poach the egg in the photo?3 stars

    1. Katie, I’m sorry this didn’t come out perfectly for you! No, I did not precook the egg in the photo in anyway. I cooked it just as described in the recipe directions. Next time, I’d suggest using an even lower heat so that the egg cooks more to your liking. You could also make the hole in the center of the bagel larger so that the egg is more spread out. I hope it goes better the next time around!

  7. Unfortunately this didn’t work for me. Not sure if i did something wrong or not. Heat was on low/medium…. my egg did not cook but I had a very burnt bagel. Such a bummer because I was looking forward to this. 

    1. Hi Brittani, enlarging the hole in the bagel more would help the egg have more surface area in contact with the pan, which will help it cook evenly. Every stove and pan is different, so it may have also needed lower heat. I’m sorry to hear this recipe didn’t come out perfectly for you!

  8. Thank you for the recipe. I cooked the egg separately and heated the bagel in the oven, but compiled everything it in the end as shown in your recipe. I needed a new breakfast/lunch recipe, and this is definitely a keeper. I make sure to buy extra avocados because my husband really enjoys this recipe.5 stars

    1. So happy to hear this Doll! Thank you for trying the recipe and taking time to leave this lovely review.

  9. This recipe didn’t work for me at all. Bottom was burnt and the egg wasn’t cooking. I definitely do not reccomend, such a disappointment. 

    1. Hi Anel, I’m sorry the recipe didn’t come out for you! I’d suggest using an even lower heat so that the egg cooks more before the bagel gets too brown. You could also make the hole in the center of the bagel larger so that the egg is more spread out. I hope it goes better the next time around if you decide to try again!

  10. My eggs took forever to cook, and so the bottoms burned. It would work better to prepare the toast and fry the egg separately and place it on top.2 stars

    1. I’m sorry to hear that you had trouble with the recipe, Emh. The method and timing has worked well for myself (and others) but I know how frustrating it can be to try a new recipe and not have it work out, so I really wish you would’ve enjoyed it!

  11. I have made this for 2 days and each time the bottom of the bagel burns before the egg gets cooked. I put the lid on it. Also made the hole bigger for egg to fit better and be down in pan. Love this but don’t like bottom burnt!

    1. Hi Meretta, I would recommend decreasing the heat of your skillet. This would likely help it to stop burning! Hope this helps!.