Cheese Toasties
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Mar 3, 2025 
Cheese on toast is one of my favorite easy recipes when I need something that’s cheesy, crispy, savory and comforting – right now! My version of open-faced Irish cheese toasties is similar to a classic UK dish that features a simple combination of fluffy eggs, melty grated cheese, Worcestershire sauce and tangy Dijon mustard. But instead of messing with a pan or grill, I bake my cheese toasty in the oven for a convenient anytime snack that’s ready to devour in under 20 minutes!
Cheese toasties are a fabulously decadent breakfast, lunch, or snack in most parts of the UK. There are many variations between the United Kingdom countries, as well as regions within each country. A classic British Cheese Toastie is similar to an American grilled cheese sandwich, but also contains a bit of Worcestershire sauce, and sometimes herbs or mustard. It is then cooked in a grill pan to create defined grill marks. However, an Irish cheese toastie (also called cheese on toast) is most commonly served open-faced. But I like to mix up traditional dishes (take for example my potato pie recipe) with my own spin! So to make my recipe I mix the cheese with eggs etc., spoon it right onto the bread, and bake it in the oven. This method makes the egg extra puffy with evenly melted cheese. I personally like this version because it feels significantly different than American grilled cheese, but is still a familiar and comforting food!
Erin – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ These are the most flavorful eggs ever! So much better than regular scrambled eggs. Thanks for the recipe!
Table of Contents
Sommer’s Recipe Highlights
Quick, Easy and Tasty – It takes less than 20 minutes to make this cheese toasty recipe. Just mix up some eggs and cheese, spoon it onto pieces of bread, and bake in the oven. You’ve got this!
Indulgent Comfort Food – As you probably noticed, this isn’t exactly a healthy food. But just thinking about pieces of carb-a-licious bread baked with crispy edges, soft yet tender eggs, and LOTS of cheese makes my mouth water. Trust me, this recipe is totally worth the calories!
Versatile Recipe – The combination of toast, eggs, and cheese makes this a delightful recipe for breakfast, snack time, lunch or even dinner with a savory side dish or two. I recommend my cabbage and bacon Irish recipe as a great option to pair on the side!
Key Ingredients and Tips
- Sliced bread – Nothing fancy here! I use plain white bread, but brown bread, potato bread, or multi-grain bread are great options.
- Butter – I use unsalted butter so I have total control over the amount of salt and flavor. Soften the butter on the counter for a good 30 minutes before making the cheese toasties. This helps it to spread more easily over the bread so the butter doesn’t tear through.
- Eggs – I let my large eggs come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes before using. Cold eggs take longer to cook and can throw off the timing.
- Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce – Together these classic Irish cheese toasty ingredients adds great tangy and savory flavors to balance the heavier cheese and eggs.
- Aged Irish cheddar cheese – Aged Irish cheddar is a classic ingredient in this recipe. However, any shredded melty cheese will do! Medium or sharp cheddar, pepper jack, and Colby jack cheese are also great options.
- Black pepper – I always use fresh cracked black pepper, if possible. I like the coarser grain and the flavor is just overall better, in my opinion.
- Fresh chives – Sprinkling on some chopped chives, or green onions, adds a nice bit of freshness to brighten up the eggs and cheese.
How to Make
Find the full ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, storage tips, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Prep – I start by preheating the oven to 425°F and setting out a large baking sheet. While the oven preheats, I lay the slices of bread on the baking sheet and gently butter the top sides of the bread. Then I flip the pieces over, so the buttered side is facing down onto the baking sheet.
Make the Egg Mixture – Once the oven has preheated, I get out a medium mixing bowl. I add the eggs, Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce, and whisk well to combine.
Then I stir in the shredded cheddar and cracked black pepper.
Spoon it On – Now I use a spoon to carefully add the cheese and egg mixture evenly over each piece of bread. Use the back of the spoon to spread it out into an even layer. Try to keep about 1/4 inch around the edge of the bread clean, so the eggs don’t spread over and you’ve got a bit of room to easily hold onto the toast.
Bake – I place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 8 to 12 minutes. Check at the 8 minute mark to see if the the edges of the bread are golden brown and the center-most part of the cheese mixture is puffed up. If they’re not quite there, I keep baking the cheese on toast for another couple of minutes. But don’t let it over bake or burn! The egg and cheese mixture will get an unpleasant hard or chewy texture if it bakes for too long.
Finish – I remove the baking sheet from the oven when all of the Irish cheese toasties are beautifully golden with a firm center and melty cheese. Sprinkle them immediately with the fresh chopped chives, and an extra crack of pepper, if you like.
Serving Suggestions
This delicious rustic dish is excellent for breakfast or lunch or as a satisfying snack! You can top it with ketchup, more mustard, or even sweet fruit jam for a fun contrast of flavors.
Enjoy for breakfast or brunch with a side of fresh-cut fruit and/or with bacon or sausage.
Cheese toastie is great as a quick lunch with a simple green salad or cut-up veggies. In the fall and winter, I love to pair them with warm bowls of soup, like Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup and Cream of Celery Soup.
Storage Notes
I’ll go ahead and tell you that this is not a good recipe to make ahead, and leftovers do not hold over well. The baked cheese on toast definitely tastes best and has the perfect crisp, fluffy and tender texture fresh from the oven. Since they take less than 20 minutes to make from start to finish, you should have no problem toasting up a batch on demand!
Frequently Asked Questions
Definitely! The only problem with the air fryer is the capacity to hold multiple pieces of bread simultaneously. However, the air fryer would be perfect if you want to make one or two cheese toasties! Cooking time will vary, but you can check on the toasty after about 5 minutes to see if it is bubbly and ready to eat!
Sure! Place pieces of cooked ham, bacon, or sliced deli meats on the pieces of bread before adding the egg and cheese mixture.
Since these toasties are best eaten at the same time they are made, you can make half or even a third of the recipe to bake 2 or 4 toasties at a time!
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More Quick and Easy Recipes
Cheese Toastie Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 6 slices bread brown, potato, white, multi-grain
- 2 tablespoons softened butter
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 7-8 ounces aged Irish cheddar shredded (or sharp cheddar)
- ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoons fresh chopped chive
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Set out a large baking sheet.
- Lay the pieces of bread on the baking sheet. Gently butter the top sides of the bread. Then flip the bread over so the buttered side is facing down.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the eggs, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk well. Then stir in the shredded cheddar and cracked black pepper.
- Spoon the cheese mixture evenly over each piece of bread. Then spread it out into it even layer.
- Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, until the edges of the bread are golden and the center-most part of the cheese mixture is puffed up.
- Remove from the oven, sprinkle with fresh chives, and serve immediately.
These Irish Cheese Toasties look absolutely delicious! Perfect for a cozy snack. Can’t wait to try them! 😊
This really tastes good. We have tried for breakfast and we love it.
This was pretty simple to make and tasty too. Lots of cheese though. Don’t know how healthy that is. Had mine with a slice of turkey bacon. I used butter bread. I used just about half the amount of cheese and I still had extra. I also used only one tablespoon Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Had 2 slices for breakfast. Was very filling.
You knew it wasn’t “healthy” before you made it so why comment on it?
Just make the recipe, relax, enjoy it and don’t waste our time with you’re “not healthy” comment. I’ve made this and it is outstanding for what it is.
We use to have cheese on toast for tea. It was made under the grill, first toast one side of bread flip over lay slices of cheddar and grill till melted and if you feel daring spread tomato sauce (ketchup) or even better Branson pickle. The grill was eye level and I wish I had one today. Oh yes don’t forget a good cup of tea.
some times a little bit of curry powder is mixed in – that’s my favourite !!
These are the most flavorful eggs ever! So much better than regular scrambled eggs. Thanks for the recipe!
These were a huge hit in my house, everyone loved them! So yummy!
Open Egg and cheese sandwiches?? I think so! These turned out so good!! I will be putting these into rotation in our house!
I love a good cheesy toast recipe, and these flavors are amazing! thank you so much for sharing