Nothing beats a classic bacon egg and cheese, and it’s easily one of my all-time favorite sandwiches. If a BEC shows up on a menu, I’m ordering it without a second thought, and I love pretty much every version of it. The low-end Breakfast Jack from Jack in the Box, the classic greasy one from any of the little bodegas scattered across New York City, even the bougie higher-end versions you regrettably pay too much for at your favorite brunch spot. If it’s on the menu, I’m ordering it every single time, no questions asked. And because I probably love a bacon egg and cheese more than most people, I set out on a quest to build the best possible one at home… and to me, this is the perfect bacon egg and cheese sandwich.
Full disclosure before we go any further: this is not a quick sandwich you throw together in a few minutes. This one takes time, patience, and a little bit of technique, because we’re not just frying up an egg and some bacon. Instead, we make a custardy egg soufflé and bake the thick-cut bacon completely flat. The payoff is a uniform, stackable, incredibly satisfying sandwich that, in my honest and admittedly biased opinion, is the best bacon, egg, and cheese out there.
Key Components to Crafting a Perfect Bacon Egg and Cheese
Perfect sandwiches come down to the harmony of a handful of ingredients, and this BEC is no different. Here’s how I think about each individual component and why I make the choices I do.
The Buns
For this particular sandwich, a pillowy soft brioche or potato bun is the perfect vehicle to carry everything straight to your mouth. Now, I am not ashamed to admit I’m not much of a baker, so we go store-bought here and never look back, because the results are honestly better than anything I could bake at home. Plus it’s cheaper, and there’s less cleanup. Now, toasting the brioche bun is non-negotiable. I spread a thin layer of Kewpie mayo across the cut sides, edge to edge, then toast the buns in a dry pan until they turn golden brown.
You might be asking yourself, why spread mayo instead of butter? Mayo spreads in a smooth, even layer that coats the bread completely, and because it is mostly oil bound with egg yolk, it browns evenly and holds up to higher heat than butter does. Butter carries water and milk solids, so it can burn in patches and steam the surface before it ever crisps, which is crucial with a soft brioche bun. Mayo gives you an even golden toast every time. Once you try it, you’ll probably never toast a breakfast sandwich bun any other way.
The Eggs
The usual suspects are scrambled, fried, over easy, or sunny side up. All of those work just fine, I guess (although I will wholeheartedly proclaim that a sunny-side-up egg does NOT belong on a sandwich. Sure, it looks pretty for the gram, but eating it is just a mess). Now this egg souffle, though, blows every single one of them out of the water. Yes, it takes 30 to 40 minutes, but it is worth every second, because you get thick, uniform, gorgeous slices of egg that turn out so soft and custardy they practically melt with each bite.
Because the egg already brings so much richness and silk, I chose to skip the sauce on this sandwich entirely. If you’re a sauce boss though, a smear of spicy mayo or a hit of ketchup is completely fine.
The Bacon
Bacon is very subjective, and almost personal. Some people want it thin and crispy; others want it thick and meaty. I usually land on the latter, so a thicker cut of applewood-smoked bacon is what we’ve gone with today. Now, like the eggs, you could fry it in a pan on the stovetop, but then you’d have to fight the oil splattering all over your kitchen, and you end up with wrinkly, crinkly, uneven strips. So instead, I bake it flat, pressed between two baking sheets, so every strip comes out straight, even, and easy to stack. Flat bacon builds a more even sandwich, and when you factor in all the little variables that go into making the perfect BEC, this is the route I thought was most suitable.
The Cheese
This might ruffle some feathers, but for any breakfast sandwich, a Kraft American single simply cannot be beaten. It melts into that glossy, gooey, blanket-like layer that ties the whole sandwich together. Is it “real” cheese? Naaah. But is it objectively the best? Absolutely. That said, taste is subjective, and I wouldn’t hold it against you if you chose a different cheese, like sharp cheddar, havarti, or pepper jack.
The Perfect Bacon Egg and Cheese Sandwich
4
servings5
minutes1
hourIngredients
8 8 strips Thick-Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon
4 slices 4 American Cheese
- Egg Souffle:
8 8 Jumbo Eggs
2/3 cup 2/3 Whole Milk
1/4 tsp 1/4 Salt
1/4 tsp 1/4 Black Pepper
Water, for the Bain-marie
- Buns:
4 4 Brioche Buns
2 tbsp 2 Kewpie Mayo
Directions
- Egg Souffle:
- Preheat oven to 300F. Grease an 8 by 8 inch baking dish with cooking spray, and lay parchment paper over the top
- Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, and pepper until smooth but not foamy, then strain through a fine mesh sieve into the baking dish
- Set the dish in a larger roasting pan or rimmed baking tray and pour in water halfway up the sides. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until just set. Rest 5 minutes, then cut into 4 squares
- Bacon:
- Raise oven temperature up to 400F. Lay bacon flat on a parchment-lined baking tray, cover with parchment paper, and press a second tray on top
- Bake the bacon for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels, then cut each strip in half
- Assemble the BEC:
- Spread Kewpie mayo edge to edge on the cut sides of the brioche buns. Toast in a dry pan over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until golden brown
- Place an egg souffle slice on the bottom bun, then top with a slice of American cheese. If the egg has cooled, use a small torch to melt the cheese slightly. Layer on 2 slices of bacon, and add the top bun. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @feedthepudge on Instagram and hashtag it with #feedthepudge
If you like this recipe, make sure you pin it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the egg souffle ahead of time? Yes. Bake the custard, cool it, and refrigerate it whole or in squares for up to 3 days. Gently rewarm a slice in a covered pan or a low oven, melt the cheese right on top, and build from there. It saves you serious time on a weekday morning.
Why bake the bacon between two trays? Pressing the bacon flat between two baking sheets keeps every strip straight and even, renders the fat beautifully, and spares you the oil splatter you get on the stovetop. Flat strips also stack cleanly, which gives you a level, easy-to-eat sandwich.
Why use mayo instead of butter on the buns? Mayo spreads thin and even, browns the bread uniformly, and handles higher heat than butter without burning, giving you a perfectly toasted bun every time.
What cheese melts best on a breakfast sandwich? Kraft American Singles is my top pick. It melts into a glossy, gooey layer that ties the sandwich together like nothing else. If you want something sharper, a mild cheddar or Muenster also melts well, but American wins this matchup for me.
Can I make a faster version? Don’t follow this recipe; just fry up a couple of eggs and bacon on the stovetop. You’d still get a classic BEC, and those are still great.
