I made breakfast sandwiches using 3 celebrity chefs' recipes, and Gordon Ramsay's fluffy eggs blew the competition away

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Anneta KonstantinidesJun 9, 2021, 20:04 IST
I made breakfast sandwiches using 3 celebrity chefs' recipes, and Gordon Ramsay's fluffy eggs blew the competition away

Insider

  • I did the ultimate breakfast sandwich showdown with Ina Garten, Gordon Ramsay, and Martha Stewart.
  • Stewart's sandwich took less than 10 minutes to make, while Garten's recipe uses a microwave.
  • But Ramsay's breakfast sandwich was the clear winner thanks to his incredible scrambled eggs.
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I've been on the hunt for the best breakfast sandwich by a celebrity chef.

I've been on the hunt for the best breakfast sandwich by a celebrity chef.
I decided to try recipes by Ina Garten, Gordon Ramsay, and Martha Stewart for my showdown. Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit

Ever since I left New York City (and my trusty local bodega) last year, my craving for a great breakfast sandwich has been at an all-time high.

So, over the last few months, I decided to give a few recipes by some very famous chefs a try.

For my ultimate cooking showdown, I put Ina Garten, Martha Stewart, and Gordon Ramsay's "perfect" breakfast sandwiches to the test. I've tried many fantastic dishes by all three of these chefs over the last year, so I figured they wouldn't let me down.

One sandwich took more effort than expected, and another was surprisingly dry. But the winner was easily one of the best breakfast sandwiches I've ever had — and I'll be making it for years to come.

Martha Stewart's sandwich was the most simple of the three.

Martha Stewart's sandwich was the most simple of the three.
Stewart's breakfast sandwich includes bacon, eggs, and fontina cheese. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

The recipe, which Stewart demonstrated on "Martha Stewart's Cooking School," only has four ingredients.

All you need is an English muffin, applewood-smoked bacon, an egg, and some fontina cheese.

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Stewart's recipe requires minimal work and very little cooking time.

Stewart's recipe requires minimal work and very little cooking time.
I cooked my bacon while toasting my English muffins. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

The only prep I had to do was slice the fontina cheese. Then I just needed to cook my bacon, fry my eggs, and toast my English muffins.

Since Stewart cracks her eggs right in the bacon grease, you can cook both at the same time if you have a big enough pan. It's very minimal clean-up, which is always a huge bonus!

After my eggs were ready, I built the simple sandwich. The entire process took less than 10 minutes.

After my eggs were ready, I built the simple sandwich. The entire process took less than 10 minutes.
It took me less than 10 minutes to make Stewart's sandwich. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I placed my crispy bacon on the bottom halves of my English muffins and slid the fried eggs on top.

Voila! Breakfast was already done.

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Stewart's breakfast sandwich is all crunch, with no creaminess to balance it out.

Stewart's breakfast sandwich is all crunch, with no creaminess to balance it out.
Stewart's breakfast sandwich was surprisingly dry. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Between the crispy bacon, the fried egg, and the toasted English muffin, Stewart's favorite breakfast sandwich was far too dry for my taste.

The sandwich needed another texture to balance it out. Avocado slices or a creamier cheese would've helped, and some sauce could've gone a long way.

I think Stewart's sandwich could be a super quick and easy breakfast staple, but it definitely needs a few tweaks.

Get the full recipe for Stewart's favorite breakfast sandwich here.

Next up was Ina Garten's breakfast sandwich, which also only has a few ingredients.

Next up was Ina Garten's breakfast sandwich, which also only has a few ingredients.
Garten's breakfast sandwich includes bacon, avocado, and sharp white cheddar. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Almost all of the ingredients in Garten's bacon, egg, and cheddar sandwich are pantry staples. You just need:

  • Extra-large eggs
  • Thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon
  • Sharp white cheddar cheese
  • English muffins
  • Avocado
  • Whole milk
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What makes Garten's recipe so unique is that she actually uses a microwave to cook her eggs.

What makes Garten's recipe so unique is that she actually uses a microwave to cook her eggs.
Garten cooks her eggs in a microwave for this recipe. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Per Garten's instructions, I microwaved the bowls with my egg mixture in 30-second intervals, stirring them each time before popping them back inside.

Garten recommends that you do this until the eggs "are puffed and almost cooked through."

It took about four minutes total to cook the eggs in the microwave.

It took about four minutes total to cook the eggs in the microwave.
I was surprised by how fluffy my eggs got in the microwave. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I had never cooked eggs in the microwave before, so I was surprised to see how similar they looked to eggs cooked on the stove. They actually looked nice and fluffy!

But since I was making breakfast for the whole family, I still had to repeat the process for two more bowls — which was definitely more time-consuming than I had expected.

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The eggs looked deliciously fluffy as I put my sandwiches together.

The eggs looked deliciously fluffy as I put my sandwiches together.
Garten's sandwich took me less than 15 minutes to make. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I still couldn't believe that the eggs had come out of the microwave, and they tasted deliciously creamy as well — especially with the cheddar cheese mixed in.

The thick-cut bacon was also the perfect choice for this sandwich. Its crispy texture contrasted nicely with the fluffy eggs, and it served as the perfect base with the avocado.

But I do think Garten's recipe could use just a bit more oomph. I recommend adding a bit more cheddar cheese — and some hot sauce if you like heat — to elevate the flavors even more.

Garten's bacon, egg, and cheddar sandwich is a great option if you're only making breakfast for one or two people.

Garten's bacon, egg, and cheddar sandwich is a great option if you're only making breakfast for one or two people.
I loved how creamy Garten's eggs were in the sandwich. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Garten's breakfast sandwich takes less than 15 minutes to make, which is a huge plus in the morning. And it's a really creative way to get your egg fix when you only have access to a microwave. I wish I'd known about this dish during my dorm days.

Get the full recipe for Garten's breakfast sandwich here.

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Last, but definitely not least, was Gordon Ramsay's breakfast sandwich - which has the most ingredients of the three.

Last, but definitely not least, was Gordon Ramsay's breakfast sandwich - which has the most ingredients of the three.
Ramsay's breakfast sandwich includes bacon, two types of cheese, and crème fraîche. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Ramsay has a couple of special ingredients to take his sandwich to the next level. To re-create his recipe, you'll need:

  • Eggs
  • Brioche buns
  • Goat cheese
  • Cheddar cheese
  • Thick-cut bacon
  • Shallots
  • Spring onions
  • Crème fraîche

The key to Ramsay's breakfast sandwich is his special technique for making scrambled eggs.

The key to Ramsay's breakfast sandwich is his special technique for making scrambled eggs.
Ramsay uses a special technique to make his scrambled eggs. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Rachel Askinasi, Insider's food reporter, has raved to me about Ramsay's scrambled eggs, which she tried for the first time in September. She loved his technique so much that she's been cooking scrambled eggs the Ramsay way ever since.

Ramsay's technique involves cracking your eggs into a cold nonstick saucepan, then repeatedly taking it on and off the heat while adding knobs of butter. First, I placed my saucepan on low heat and continuously stirred the mixture for one minute, per Ramsay's instructions. Then I took the saucepan off the heat while stirring my eggs for 30 seconds.

I repeated this method (one minute on, 30 seconds off) three times total until my eggs looked ready.

As Askinasi noted in her article, Ramsay believes that moving the saucepan on and off the heat helps prevent the eggs from overcooking, leaving you with a "custardy and silky texture."

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Then I added Ramsay's special ingredient - a dollop of crème fraîche.

Then I added Ramsay's special ingredient - a dollop of crème fraîche.
I added the crème fraîche and spring onions once my eggs looked ready. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I also sprinkled in the spring onions and seasoned everything with salt and pepper.

I could already tell how creamy the eggs were going to be as I built my sandwich.

I could already tell how creamy the eggs were going to be as I built my sandwich.
My eggs looked beautifully fluffy as I built my sandwich. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

I added the scrambled eggs on top of my bacon on the bottom half of my brioche buns and spread goat cheese on the top halves.

I then sprinkled some cheddar cheese on top of my eggs and got ready to dig in.

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Ramsay's breakfast sandwich didn't just beat Stewart and Garten's by a mile - it's also one of the best I've ever had.

Ramsay's breakfast sandwich didn't just beat Stewart and Garten's by a mile - it's also one of the best I've ever had.
Ramsay's breakfast sandwich was the clear winner of my showdown. Anneta Konstantinides/Insider

Ramsay's legendary scrambled eggs definitely deserve the hype. Mine were silky, fluffy, and luscious. I was so excited after my first bite that I wrote in my notes: "The eggs are so freaking creamy. Like, the creamiest I've ever had."

But they weren't the only great thing about Ramsay's sandwich. The bacon and spring onions gave a nice crunch to each bite, and I love that Ramsay uses a brioche bun instead of an English muffin — it's so fluffy, and it's a great vehicle for his smooth and creamy eggs.

I made this sandwich for my parents and they were still raving about it days later, describing it as "juicy, light, and fresh."

When it comes to the breakfast sandwich showdown, Ramsay is definitely my clear winner.

Get the full recipe for Ramsay's breakfast sandwich here.

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