The Satisfying Swap For Quicker Egg Sandwiches

Egg sandwiches are one of the world's best breakfast foods. They are delicious, economical, and portable for those who are on the go. They can adapt to all types of bread and additional fillings, making the egg sandwich one of the most versatile ways to satisfy your morning hunger.

Most egg sandwich recipes call for either fried or scrambled eggs — maybe even poached for those who know how to poach an egg. But while they are very delicious, it is not always the most convenient and time-efficient way to make breakfast. If you are in a hurry and have no time to stand at the stove to wait for the eggs to cook every morning, you might think a proper egg sandwich is out of your reach. 

Fortunately, there is a fast, convenient, and foolproof way to satisfy your egg cravings without finding extra time to cook in the morning. Whether brown or white, these eggs can be made in advance and taken straight from the fridge. What's the answer? Hard-boiled eggs. They're easy to batch cook, can be sliced and layered on bread, and they're pretty darn versatile!

Unlike fried or scrambled eggs, which taste great fresh but are hard to reheat, boiled eggs can be made ahead of time. On days when you are in a hurry, having ready-to-eat eggs straight from the fridge saves time by eliminating cooking and avoiding creating dirty pans and spatulas for cleaning.

To make perfect hard-boiled eggs, bring a pot of water to boil over high heat. Once the water comes to a roiling boil, turn the heat to low and gently place the eggs in the water. Turning the heat to low prevents the eggs from bouncing inside the pan and cracking. Once all the eggs are in the pot, turn the heat up immediately and bring back to a boil. Set your timer to 10-12 minutes depending on the size of your eggs. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, create an ice bath. When time is up, quickly transfer the eggs to said ice bath with a slotted spoon. Leave them there until they've completely cooled.

You can store the eggs as they are, unpeeled in a bowl in the fridge, and peel them when using. Alternatively, you can peel them and store them in an airtight container, so they're ready to be eaten immediately. Either way, they should last about seven days in the refrigerator.

Once you have a batch of perfectly boiled eggs ready to use, the possibilities for breakfast are endless.

For an easy morning sandwich, place sliced boiled eggs on toasted bread along with cheese and pre-cooked bacon for a quick, ready-to-go meal. Halved or sliced eggs are also fantastic companions for a ham and cheese sandwich on toasted rye. If you are craving something more luxurious, spread some cream cheese on a toasted everything bagel, layer it with some smoked salmon and top it with easy-to-make pickled red onion, and slices of hard-boiled eggs for a decadent bagel sandwich that is perfect for breakfast or Sunday brunch.

Speaking of brunch, hard-boiled eggs are also the perfect topping for mashed avocado, creating healthy protein-rich avocado toast. When chopped and mixed with diced tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, and hummus, boiled eggs can be part of a healthy, vegetable-forward filling for a breakfast pita bread. Of course, you can keep things classic, and simply opt for a slice of cheese with your sliced hard-boiled egg, and maybe, if you're feeling spicy, a hearty splash of hot sauce.