The Latest Viral Crispy Egg Hack Is My New Obsession

Eggs are a staple ingredient in my house. Keeping them stocked in my refrigerator is a strategic move, because I know that everyone likes them and everyone knows how to cook them (sort of). That’s why when someone yells, “I’m hungry!” at my house, I quietly answer back, “there are eggs in the refrigerator.” While scrambling tends to be the “go-to” preparation, I love introducing my family to the latest and greatest egg variations circling social media.

We've seen no shortage of crispy egg hacks go viral in the last couple of years, but the most recent version is my current obsession: Cooking eggs in pile of crispy breadcrumbs. The recipe, shared by Wes Martin Cooks, the Director of Culinary Production at Christopher Kimball's Milk Street, on Instagram, looked so delicious, I had to give it a try.

How to Make the Viral Crispy Breadcrumb Eggs

The dish, a riff of a recipe created by Judy Rogers, of Zuni Cafe fame, begins with crunchy panko. Martin tosses it with Parmesan cheese, dried thyme, smoked paprika, sherry vinegar and olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet and cooks it over medium-high heat until toasty. Once the breadcrumbs are golden, he uses a spoon to make four indentations. To each indentation he adds a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and an egg. He scatters a handful of baby spinach over the top, then covers the skillet with a lid and bakes until the egg whites are set. After a quick dusting of salt and black pepper, the dish is ready to be enjoyed.

I Tried the Viral Crispy Breadcrumb Eggs

I whipped up this creation at home and couldn't wait to dive in. It's no surprise, but it’s the perfect bite every time. I love the contrasting crunchy breadcrumbs with the creamy, buttery, lightly fried egg. Cracking that yolk adds even more enjoyment as it spills over the crispy crumbs and creates a jammy-crunchy masterpiece. It’s pretty darn perfect, especially if you like eggs. It’s also simple to recreate, but I have a few suggestions to make it even better.

Tips for Making the Viral Crispy Breadcrumb Eggs Even Better

• Mix everything in a cold skillet: Breadcrumbs can cook and burn quickly. To make sure yours don’t, mix them with the other ingredients (minus the eggs and spinach) in the pan, then set it over medium-high heat for cooking. Keep stirring and don’t walk away from them. It should take about 3 to 4 minutes to get the golden color you’re after.
• Work off the heat: The most intense moment of making this dish is creating the indentations then adding the oil and eggs. To take the pressure off, take the skillet off the heat to do these steps. You won’t have to worry about your breadcrumbs burning or that you’re not working fast enough.
• Crack the eggs in a bowl first: Finding a crunchy piece of shell in your cooked eggs isn’t a great experience, nor is trying to fish the shell out of a hot skillet. To avoid this nuisance, crack each egg into a bowl before dumping into the indentations. This also makes it easier to add the eggs carefully, so that they end up where they belong and without any broken yolks.
• Add more seasonings: I added a bit of minced garlic and crushed red pepper to my breadcrumb mixture, which I loved. You don’t have to stop there either. Consider finishing the dish with vinegar-forward condiments like jarred banana peppers, sliced jalapeños, and/or pickled red onions. If you do that, you can skip the sherry vinegar.
• Cook to your preference: If you’re not into a runny egg yolk, keep your eggs covered for a bit longer. It can take up to 7 or 8 minutes to set the yolk a bit, so just leave it on the stove until then.