Want a treat yourself? This Open-Faced Grilled Cheese Sandwich is topped with mild cheddar cheese and a Spanish fried egg. It’s total decadence.
I’ve recently become enamored with Spanish fried eggs. It’s a technique for frying eggs that gets the whites puffy and crisp while still leaving a nice running yolk (though you can cook it a bit longer if you prefer solid yolks).
Recently I’ve been treating myself with this incredibly decadent open-faced grilled cheese sandwich that uses a mild Wisconsin cheddar and is topped with one of those gorgeous Spanish fried eggs, as well as coarse sea salt and cracked black pepper. It’s simple, perfect comfort food. Before I talk more about the recipe, I want to tell you about an incredible contest from Wisconsin Cheese.
Do you love grilled cheese as much as I do? Help celebrate National Grilled Cheese Month by entering this year’s Grilled Cheese Recipe Showdown! To enter, submit your best original grilled cheese recipe for a chance to win $15,000. That’s quite a prize, isn’t it? The contest will run through May 15, and you are welcome to enter as many recipes as you like!
A few notes about the grilled cheese, even though it’s a pretty straight forward sandwich: the success of simple recipes really depends on high quality ingredients for best results. I used fresh multigrain bread from a local bakery. A sharp cheddar would also work, but I thought the mild cheddar was more balanced and didn’t overpower the delicate flavor of the egg.
The Spanish egg frying technique might sound intimidating at first, but it’s not difficult. You can probably find some quick YouTube video tutorials to watch. You could also try practicing on one egg first to get the hang of it. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked!
Open-Faced Grilled Cheese + a Fried Egg
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 slice hearty bread, such as multigrain or sourdough
- 2 ounces mild Wisconsin cheddar cheese, sliced thin
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup clarified butter or extra virgin olive oil
- coarse salt and cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Move a rack to one of the top oven shelves and preheat the broiler to low.
- Over medium-high heat, melt the unsalted butter in a medium, oven-safe skillet. When it begins to sizzle, add the bread and allow it to toast on one side, approximately 2 minutes. Once golden, flip the bread and continue browning on the other side. Remove from the heat and top evenly with the cheese.
- Carefully place the skillet under the broiler until the cheese has melted, approximately 20-30 seconds (keep an eye on it). Set aside.
- Preheat a small or medium cast iron or heavy-bottom skillet over high heat. Crack the egg into a ramekin or small bowl. Spread some paper towels on a small plate and place nearby.
- Once the pan is smoking hot, add the clarified butter or oil, and then carefully add the egg (I recommend wearing oven mitts during this process as the butter might splatter). The egg will immediately puff up and bubble. Holding the skillet handle and tilting the pan slightly away from yourself to avoid splatter, use a large, heat-resistant spoon and repeatedly ladle the butter over the egg to help the white set. This should not take longer than 60 seconds total. The bottom of the egg should be caramelized and crisp. Remove the pan from the heat and transfer the egg to the paper towels to briefly drain some of the excess oil.
- Place the fried egg on top of the prepared bread and cheese (the heat from the egg will remelt the cheese if it has started to cool down).
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Please read my full post for additional recipe notes, tips, and serving suggestions!
Nutrition
Recipe Troubleshooting
For immediate help troubleshooting a recipe, please email me using the form on my contact page. I’ll try to respond to urgent questions as quickly as possible! For all general questions, please leave a comment here :)
(This post is sponsored by Wisconsin Cheese. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Savory Simple.)
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles.com says
You make eggs and cheese look so darn pretty. I have everything to make this. Right now!
Matt says
You’ve got my vote, this is a perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Amy @BellyFull says
1,000x yes to all of this.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
I have never heard of Spanish fried eggs, but I can tell by looking at them that I would love them. And this sandwich is simply perfect! :)
Naomi says
that is actually my fav way to have a fried egg- this sandwich – on point!!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
The egg looks really good! My mother used to fry eggs like that. I’m going to take a peek to see if it’s similar to how she does it (I too love the crispy white and the soft yolk). What a delicious looking recipe :D
Sarah @ Snixy Kitchen says
I think I might need to treat myself with this pronto! You know how much I love cheese and with a runny egg on top? Perfection.
gerry @ foodness gracious says
I have trouble staying back from licking my screen here, seriously!!
Megan {Country Cleaver} says
Carbs, cheese and eggs – this is like my daily must have!! Beautiful!
Aysegul says
Such a simple recipe yet mouthwatering. I am a huge fan of egg sandwiches, but this one is my number 1 as of now. :)
Tessa | Salted Plains says
This is one happy meal!! Looks amazing!