• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
State of Dinner
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen Tips
  • State Dishes
  • Start Here
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Kitchen Tips
  • State Dishes
  • Start Here
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Kitchen Tips
    • State Dishes
    • Start Here
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Breakfast Recipes » Pork Roll Egg and Cheese Sandwich Recipe

    Pork Roll Egg and Cheese Sandwich Recipe

    Published: Mar 9, 2021 · Modified: Mar 22, 2021 by Erin · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    • Share
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe
    Pinteret pin: pork roll egg and cheese

    There are some days when you just need a salty, cheesy breakfast sandwich, and the Pork Roll Egg and Cheese Sandwich is one of the best! It is a New Jersey staple that can be found at diners across the state, but it is also simple to prepare at home!

    Pork roll egg and cheese sandwich on a white plate with a cup of coffee.

    Posts on this site may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure documents for more information.

    Jump to:
    • What is Pork Roll?
    • Ingredients
    • How to Keep Pork Roll From Puffing
    • How to Cook Pork Roll
    • Assembling the Sandwich
    • Other Breakfast Recipes You May Enjoy
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Americans across the nation know how delightful the combination of salty pork and yolky eggs can be, especially when combined with buttery toast! But unless you are from New Jersey, you may not have been introduced to their version of this delicious meal. Let me tell you, it is worth a try!

    We made the Pork Roll Egg and Cheese Sandwich for our New Jersey state dinner. Well, we actually made this one a brunch.

    For the next several days my son asked for this sandwich for breakfast. He was sad when we ran out of pork roll! I am already considering another order!

    What is Pork Roll?

    Pork roll is cured pork that has a blend of spices, salt, and sugar. It looks similar to bologna and spam, but pork roll fans would argue these pork products could not be more different.

    Pork roll has a bold sweet and salty flavor that is perfectly designed to be enjoyed as a breakfast sandwich.

    Ingredients

    As the name of the sandwich suggests, in order to make a Pork Roll Egg and Cheese sandwich you have to have pork roll, egg, and cheese.

    Pork roll is an ingredient that is most commonly found in the New Jersey area, but it is available to order online for those of us who cannot get it local.

    American cheese is the traditional cheese used for this sandwich, but you can substitute your favorite cheese. I think it would be delicious with pepper jack! Just slice the cheese thinly so that it can melt without the egg overcooking.

    For an authentic pork roll egg and cheese sandwich, make it on a toasted Kaiser bun! Though even the most loyal New Jerseyan can be found enjoying this sandwich with a different type of bread. I'll share some other ideas for buns at the end of this post.

    Pork roll egg and cheese sandwich ingredients: Kaiser bun, American cheese, eggs, Pork roll, and butter.

    How to Keep Pork Roll From Puffing

    The heat from the griddle will cause the center to puff up and make a little dome. This keeps the center from browning.

    To prevent that from happening, just cut little slits around the pork roll. 4 slits seems to be the magic number.

    Plate of pork roll slices.

    How to Cook Pork Roll

    Pork roll should be cooked over medium-high heat. This will allow it to brown and caramelize without drying out the meat.

    It takes about 3 minutes for one side to brown.

    At that point, flip the slices over and cook the other side until they are browned as well.

    Grilling pork roll slices that have slashes in them, so they look like pinwheels.

    How to Cook an Over Easy Egg

    It is best to cook the egg and the pork roll in separate pans, or you could also cook them in the same pan one after the other. That's because the pork should be cooked on medium-high heat, but the egg needs to be cooked on medium-low.

    Cooking on a lower heat will allow the egg whites to cook thoroughly without getting crusty and brown on the bottom.

    Once you have melted your butter, crack your eggs into your pan.

    Leave them perfectly still for 2 minutes, cooking on medium-low heat.

    Pour a little bit of water into the pan around the eggs and place a lid on the pan. The water will evaporate creating steam. Doing this allows the top of the eggs to cook without having to flip your eggs and risk breaking the yolk.

    These eggs will cook for a total of 3 minutes, start to finish. For the last 30 seconds of cooking, top them with cheese and place the lid back on the pan so that the cheese can melt.

    Don't forget to season with salt and pepper!

    Two over easy eggs with a slice of American cheese on each.

    Assembling the Sandwich

    Put the sandwich together in this order:

    1. The bottom of a toasted Kaiser roll
    2. Pork roll slices
    3. Egg and cheese
    4. The top of a toasted Kaiser roll

    Okay, it really doesn't matter what order you put it in. You do you. But that's how I made my sandwiches!

    Other Breakfast Recipes You May Enjoy

    • This first one isn't really a breakfast recipe, but this sandwich would pair fantastically with these Truffle Fries!
    • Sausage Green Chile Breakfast Casserole
    • Sausage Gravy
    • Gooey Butter Coffee Cake

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is pork roll precooked?

    Pork roll is a fully cooked meat. However, it is not meant to be eaten cold. Frying the pork roll brings out the best flavor from the meat.

    Can I serve it on a different type of bun?

    Pork roll sandwiches can also be made using bagels, English muffins, and even croissants!

    What toppings are good on a pork roll sandwich?

    In New Jersey, the most common topping for the sandwich is ketchup! But I love it with dijon mustard, and my husband prefers his sandwich with some Frank's hot sauce.

    Pork roll egg and cheese cut in half, with knife on plate and a cup of coffee next to it.

    Let me know how you like this recipe by leaving a review! And follow along on Instagram @stateofdinner for behind the scenes and to be among the first to know when new recipes post!

    Recipe

    Pork roll egg and cheese cut in half.

    Pork Roll Egg and Cheese Sandwich

    Recipe by: Erin
    The Pork Roll Egg and Cheese sandwich is an iconic New Jersey diner staple. It is a satisfying breakfast, and also makes an awesome midnight snack!
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 662 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 16 slices pork roll (12 ounces)
    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 4 Kaiser rolls
    • 4 large eggs
    • salt and pepper, to taste
    • 4 slices American cheese
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Split Kaiser buns and butter each half. Toast to your desired doneness and set aside.
    • Score 4 cuts into pork roll slices to keep them from puffing while cooking.
    • With medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter on a large skillet or griddle. Place the pork roll slices onto the buttered skillet and cook for 3 minutes, then flip the slices and cook an additional 3 minutes, or a total of 6 minutes.
    • Place 4 pork roll slices onto each of the bottom toasted buns.
    • Using medium-low heat, melt an additional tablespoon of butter. Crack eggs into the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes. Salt and pepper the eggs, then pour about 2 tablespoons of water around the outside of the eggs. Cover with a lid for 30 seconds.
    • Remove the lid and add a slice of cheese onto each egg. Replace the lid and cook an additional 30 seconds to melt the cheese. The total cook time of the egg should be 3 minutes to allow for the yolk to still be runny. Cook longer if you prefer your yolk cooked through.
    • Place one egg on top of each set of pork roll. Finish with the top Kaiser roll and serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 662kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 22g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 230mg | Sodium: 807mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 731IU | Calcium: 304mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
    Share a photo of your creation with your friends!Mention @stateofdinner or tag #stateofdinner!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Patti K

      April 30, 2021 at 6:39 pm

      5 stars
      We left the NJ in 2004 and missed our favorite breakfast sandwich for a couple of years. But then we found out that Pork Roll can be purchased at BJ's wholesale clubs for about $30.00 for a 6 pound roll. We get ours in Jacksonville Florida. You can take the girl out of Jersey but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl,

      Reply
      • Erin

        May 04, 2021 at 10:09 am

        That is fantastic that you have found it locally! We don't have a BJ's here in Dallas. I haven't found it at Costco or any of our local grocery stores.

        Reply
    2. H Neil Morris

      April 29, 2021 at 10:49 am

      4 stars
      I'm a North Jersey native, but thanks in part to the whims of the Secretary of the Navy, I've resided in 9 different states, and the District of Columbia.
      I can report that wherever I have lived in the US, I have never had difficulty finding Taylor Pork Roll in my local grocery store.
      Time spent overseas was another issue entirely...

      Reply
      • Erin

        May 04, 2021 at 10:10 am

        How lucky you are to have been able to enjoy pork roll no matter where you lived! It's so interesting to me that in a large metroplex like Dallas I haven't been able to find it. Surely there is a local gem that carries it, but I haven't found it yet.

        Reply
    3. Scott

      April 29, 2021 at 9:35 am

      5 stars
      I’ve been eating Taylor’s Ham pork roll my entire life,I’m currently 63 years old,growing up in Rockville Maryland. This iconic pork roll shaped my early food tastes and was always in the fridge waiting to be sliced and fried up and assembled into a cavernous array of sandwiches. I think having grown up with it I’m more adapted to its salty ting and yang compared to those late comers that don’t appreciate it. This sandwich is what breakfast on the go or a leisurely sit down meal is all about.

      Reply
      • Erin

        April 29, 2021 at 9:57 am

        That is so cool, Scott! It truly is a classic sandwich. I bet you have great memories of enjoying pork roll!

        Reply
    4. Jacqueline

      March 11, 2021 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      I am from New Jersey and grew up on pork roll! This looks exactly like how I remember them! I can't wait to try the recipe.

      Reply
      • Erin

        April 29, 2021 at 9:56 am

        Thanks, Jacqueline! Please let me know what you think of the recipe!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Photo of Erin Gierhart

    Welcome! I'm Erin, wife, mom, and lover of great food. I am passionate about cooking mostly from scratch recipes that bring comfort, without spending all day in the kitchen. Most recipes on this site can be made in under 30 minutes! This approach to cooking allows me to provide delicious meals for my family while freeing up time to spend with those I love.

    Let's Get Started→

    Popular Recipes

    • Cardamom Shortbread Cookies with Orange Glaze Recipe
    • No-Bake Peanut Butter Buckeye Bars
    • Sweet Potato Pie (With Sweetened Condensed Milk)
    • Homemade Whipped Cream Recipe for a Dispenser
    • How to Stabilize Whipped Cream with Cream of Tartar
    • Sour Cream Enchilada Casserole

    Winter Favorites

    • 30-Minute Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
    • No Bean Steak Chili
    • Marshmallow Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Oven Pot Roast with Red Wine
    • Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken
    • Creamy Knoephla Soup (Potato and Dumpling Soup)
    • Peppermint Mocha Cookies

    As Featured In

    Logos of the various publications where State of Dinner has been featured.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Get Started Here
    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

    Accessibility

    • Accessibility Policy

    Let's Work Together

    • Collaboration

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 State of Dinner