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Nothing beats waking up on the weekend like a simple, yet hearty breakfast to start off the day. That morning is even more cherished when you are cooking for a big family, or hosting a Sunday brunch. So when possible, I try to make big batch breakfasts, an enlarged but simple version of things everyone loves individually. Individual pancakes? Nope, sheet pan pancakes. French toast slices? Try French Toast Casserole! Sunny side up eggs and toast? Not today! This big batch egg-in-a-hole recipe uses pre-packaged Hawaiian dinner roll loaf for a cheesy, bacon filled, breakfast fit for a crowd.

Egg In a Hole

What, exactly, is egg in a hole? Well it is as literal of an explanation as you can get. It is an egg, cooked inside the hole of a piece of bread. Often times, this is done in a frying pan. A slice of bread is buttered on both sides, and a biscuit or round cookie cutter is used to cut a large circle in the center. The egg is place in a hot pan, and an egg is cracked in the center hole and cooked until medium. The center of the bread that was cut out is sometimes toasted in the pan along with the egg.

A wonderful way to have eggs and toast all in one for breakfast, but to be honest, not the kind of dish fit for a large crowd. Imagine making 10-12 of these on a Sunday morning. The first batch is either gone or cold by the time you wrap up the second or third. So let’s make this easier!

Prepping Hawaiian Roll Egg in a Hole

This simple classic egg in a hole is actually not hard to make in a big batch. The secret? Dinner rolls! And in this case, Hawaiian dinner rolls! That’s right, swap out individuals slices of bread for a full, pre-cooked, loaf of dinner rolls. To begin, you will want to par-cook the bacon first, since it takes the longest. If you are not using bacon, skip straight to hollowing and filling the rolls.

Take 6 strips of bacon and cut each in half. Cook them in a skillet over medium high heat until some of the fat is rendered out, but they are still pliable and a little bit shy of being crispy. Remember, they will continue to cook in the oven, but you want them to bend and fit into the rolls. Now, in a baking/casserole dish, place one pack of dinner rolls(still connected). Using a pairing knife, cut a circle in the top of each roll and use your fingers to scoop out the centers of each, careful not to put a hole all the way through the bottom or sides. Use your index and thumb to press the sides in more and create a larger well.

In a smaller bowl, melt 3 tbsp of butter and mix in 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp of Italian herbs, 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper. Brush all over the tops and inside wells of each roll. Now, at the bottom of each well, place 1 heaping tbsp of shredded cheese, and top the cheese with ½ slice of bacon, packing it down to leave as much space as possible for the egg. Crack 1 egg into each well. it is fine if some of the white runs over.

Baked Hawaiian Rolls Egg In a Hole

Season the tops of the eggs with salt and pepper to taste and place them in a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the whites are mostly set but still a bit loose. Anything past this and the yolks will be overcooked. When the come out of the oven, the tops of the rolls should be a beautiful golden brown!

Use a knife to cut along the edges of each roll and garnish with green onions, hot sauce, or your favorite egg toppings. Serve immediately, as the eggs may continue to cook a bit, so serving right away helps prevent overcooking. This recipe, one pack of rolls, makes about 6 servings (2 eggs per person), but feel free to double or even triple the recipe depending on the occasion! Weather is is Easter morning and you need something quick after church service, or you just want to whip of something delicious for your family, this Hawaiian roll egg in a hole recipe will be a hit.

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