This pork roll egg and cheese breakfast sandwich is a New Jersey staple and it's also one of my favorite ways to start the day. It’s loaded with crispy pork roll (aka taylor ham), a fried egg, lots of cheese and it’s all piled onto a kaiser bun or hard roll.
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What is Pork Roll Egg and Cheese
A Pork Roll Egg and Cheese is, in my opinion, the ultimate breakfast sandwich!
It's a heavenly combination of ham, egg and cheese all perfectly piled onto a toasted Kaiser roll.
If you're unfamiliar with Pork Roll (also called Taylor Ham if you're from North Jersey), you can think of it as a hybrid of salami, bologna and Canadian Bacon. It's traditionally served pan fried because it gets insanely delicious when crispy!
In addition to the meat, I always pair it with a medium fried egg as it's the perfect amount of yolk so that it doesn't drip all down your shirt while you're eating it.
As for cheese, I'm using fontina because it creates a layer of melty, gooey goodness.
For bread, a kaiser bun, hard roll or a toasted bagel is how it's traditionally prepared.
It's also one of my favorite WEEN songs, too! So there's that.
Is your mouth watering yet?! Let's do it!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Salted Butter - Regular butter with a pinch of salt also works just fine. You could use olive oil too but butter is better!
- Egg - No sub for egg. If you don't do eggs, feel free to leave it off.
- Pork Roll - Taylor Pork Roll is the star of this sandwich but you can use salami, bologna, or even mortadella.
- White Cheese - I recommend Fontina because it melts beautifully and it pairs really well with salty meat. You could use whatever melting cheese your heart desires.
- Kaiser Roll - Feel free to switch out the kaiser bun for a hard roll or even a toasted bagel.
How to make it
Anyone can make pork roll egg and cheese breakfast sandwich!
You'll want to begin by cutting two quarter inch slits on each slice of pork roll so that it can fry flat and not puff up.
Then add the cut pork roll to a large fry pan or griddle over medium heat; flipping as the bottom gets slightly crispy.
While it’s cooking, add the butter to the other side of your cooking surface and crack your egg on top. Be sure to sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Fry the egg to your liking - flipping half way through. I recommend cooking it over medium so the egg yolk isn't too liquid-y.
Now add two slices of cheese on top of the egg and let it melt.
Stack the fried pork roll on top of the cheesy egg to help the cheese melt.
Turn the heat off and split the kaiser bun and place it on the skillet, moving it around to absorb all the grease and butter remaining in the pan.
Now toast it for about a minute or until the bread is warmed and slightly toasted.
Place the toasted bun on a cutting board and get ready to build your sandwich.
I like to add a drizzle of ketchup on the bottom bun, the the egg cheese pork roll stack.
To finish it off, I add hot sauce to the top bun for a little heat before placing it on top.
Now close the sandwich up and cut it in half to expose the yolky center
Serve this sandwich right away or wrap in tinfoil for later.
What goes with Pork Roll Egg and Cheese
This Pork Roll Egg and Cheese goes perfect with Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes.
But if you want more tasty like this one try this easy copycat Eggslut Sandwich recipe or this Dishoom Bacon Naan Breakfast Sandwich!
For something sweet, try this salted caramel churro french toast or this easy cake mix banana bread.
Frequently asked question
Where is Pork Roll Egg and Cheese from?
Pork Roll (known as Taylor ham back then) originated in 1856 in Trenton New Jersey.
What do they call pork roll in the South?
The argument between taylor ham and pork roll is a dividing factor among people from New Jersey. People in the south call it pork roll while people in the north call it Taylor Ham. In the early 1900s, they legally had to change the name of Taylor Ham (because ham is a specific cut of meat). Southern New Jerseyans picked up on the new name while Northern New Jerseyans kept calling it the traditional name that they'd always known.
Is a Pork Roll a Pennsylvania Thing?
Not specifically! While Pennsylvanians love it and do have thier own brands of pork roll, it originated in New Jersey.
Save this recipe for later
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Recipe
Pork Roll Egg and Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pat Salted Butter
- 1 large Egg
- 3 slices Pork Roll
- 2 slices White Cheese (such as fontina)
- 1 Kaiser Roll
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Cut two quarter inch slits on each slice of pork roll so that it can fry flat and not puff up.
- Add pork roll to a large fry pan or griddle over medium heat. Flipping as the bottom gets slightly crispy.
- While it’s cooking, add the butter to the other side of your cooking surface and crack your egg. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Fry the egg to your liking - flipping half way through. I recommend cooking it over medium.
- Add two slices of cheese on top of the egg and let it melt
- Stack the fried pork roll on top of the cheesy egg to help the cheese melt.
- Turn the heat off and split the kaiser bun and place it on the skillet, moving it around to absorb all the grease and butter remaining in the pan.
- Toast it for about a minute or until the bread is warmed and slightly toasted.
- Place the toasted bun on a cutting board and add ketchup if you’re into that. Top with the egg cheese pork roll stack. Add hot sauce to the top bun if you like a little heat. Close the sandwich up and serve right away or wrap in tinfoil.
