Once you try this pork roll, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich, you will be addicted! This New Jersey specialty is my all time favorite!

If you’re not from NJ or the Philly area it’s possible you’ve never even heard of pork roll, or Taylor Ham as it’s also called.
You don’t know what you’ve been missing out on!
Every diner and bagel shop in NJ has pork roll on the menu and I grew up loving this local delicacy. Now I make it at home on the flat top grill and it’s the first thing my daughter asks for when she’s home from college.
The salty pork roll is packed with flavor and when combined with eggs and melted cheese it’s quite possibly the best breakfast sandwich in the world.
To be clear, this is not a healthy breakfast option. You definitely don’t want to be eating this everyday. But as an occasional treat when you’re in the mood to splurge, it’s perfection.
What Is Pork Roll?
Pork roll is a processed meat product made with pork, salt, sugar, and spices. It’s formed into a log shape and smoked. You can purchase either the entire log or a pre-sliced portion.
Pork roll is a New Jersey institution and the question “Is it pork roll or Taylor ham?” divides residents in a good-natured rivalry where people in North Jersey call it Taylor ham while those from South Jersey call it pork roll.
Put simply, Taylor ham is the original and most widely known brand of pork roll. So all Taylor ham is pork roll, but not all pork roll is Taylor ham.
How To Make Pork Roll, Egg, And Cheese On A Flat Top
This breakfast sandwich is super easy and takes no time to whip up.
Here’s all you need:
- Pork roll (or Taylor ham if you prefer)
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Kaiser Rolls
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preheat your griddle so one side is medium heat and the other is medium-low.
Coat the griddle with some nonstick spray or butter and add the pork roll to the medium heat side. Cook for about 2 to 4 minutes per side until browned to your liking. Remember, it’s already cooked so you’re really just warming it up and crisping it.
Pro Tip – score the edges of the pork roll in 3 or 4 places before adding to the grill. This will help it remain flat and keep the middle from buckling up and not getting browned.
When the pork roll is finished cooking remove it from the grill and place on a paper towel to absorb excess grease. Slice a roll and place face down where the pork roll cooked until it gets nicely browned.
On the side of the grill with medium-low heat, add some nonstick spray and then crack the eggs onto the griddle. Break the yolk with your spatula and add a little salt and pepper. Let the eggs cook for about 2 minutes and then flip. Add the cheese and cover with a cooking dome for about 30 seconds.
Assemble the sandwich by adding the pork roll, egg, and cheese to the roll. Slice in half and enjoy!
Variations and Substitutions
This recipe is my standard way to make pork roll, egg, and cheese. But you can mix it up in various ways such as:
Bread. Kaiser rolls are standard but bagels are not far behind. You can also use toasted bread, an English muffin, or a croissant.
Eggs. Sometimes I break the yolk and fry them up. Sometimes I leave the yolk intact and make sunny side up eggs. Sometimes I just make an omelet and fold the cheese inside.
Cheese. American cheese is most commonly used but any good melting cheese will work well.
Here’s a picture of a breakfast sandwich I made this weekend. It has two sunny side up eggs, two slices of cheese, and 3 slices of pork roll on a toasted bun. Yum!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is pork roll, egg, and cheese strictly for breakfast?
Absolutely not! This amazing sandwich can be eaten anytime. You can also skip the eggs and just make a pork roll and cheese sandwich. Or make a breakfast burger by grilling a burger and then topping it with pork roll, egg, and cheese. YUM!!
Is pork roll the same as Canadian bacon?
Nope, it’s completely different.
Is pork roll, egg, and cheese a good “on the go” meal?
You bet! Cook this baby up and wrap it in aluminum foil and you can take it on the road with you. Or pop it in the fridge and heat it up in the microwave later.
Pork Roll Egg And Cheese
Once you try this pork roll, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich, you will be addicted! This New Jersey specialty is my all time favorite!
Ingredients
- 4 slices pork roll
- 4 large eggs
- 4 slices American cheese
- 2 Kaiser rolls
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your griddle so one side is medium heat and the other is medium-low.
- Score the edges of the pork roll in 3 or 4 places to keep them flat while they cook.
- Coat the griddle with some nonstick spray or butter and add the pork roll to the medium heat side. Cook for about 2 to 4 minutes per side until browned to your liking. Remove from the griddle and place 2 slices on each toasted roll.
- On the side of the grill with medium-low heat, add some nonstick spray and then crack the eggs onto the griddle. Break the yolk with your spatula and add a little salt and pepper. Let the eggs cook for about 2 minutes and then flip.
- Add the cheese and cover with a cooking dome for about 30 seconds until melted.
- Place 2 eggs with melted cheese on each roll, cover with the other half of the roll and serve.
Notes
The pork roll is already pre-cooked so you’re really just warming it up and crisping it.
Score the edges of the pork roll in 3 or 4 places before adding to the grill. This will help it remain flat and keep the middle from buckling up and not getting browned.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 462Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 460mgSodium: 1270mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 27g
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