When my dad was young (some sixty plus years ago,) and the family was extra-large (it still is), my grandmother had to get creative in what she made for school lunches.
Lunch had to be tasty, and most importantly, whatever she made had to feed them all.
My grandmother often made eggs in pasta sauce sandwiches, a sandwich my dad says he’ll never forget. (I’m sure this dish has an Italian name, but whatever it is escapes me.)
She filled chunks of Italian bread with eggs cooked in leftover sauce, then wrapped them in wax paper. My dad’s brown bag dripped all the way to school—the bag saturated completely with oil and tomatoes. I’m sure he smelled like a walking deli because all the kids wanted his lunch.
Although very sloppy, the sauce is delicious and makes great sandwiches on hard rolls.

Eggs in Pasta Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups leftover Sunday sauce or Marinara sauce
- 4 eggs
- Italian bread or hard rolls
Instructions
- Bring pasta sauce to a boil in a deep skillet. Beat eggs well, then slowly add to pasta sauce until eggs are cooked and well blended into the sauce. The color of the sauce will change from tomato red to light orange.
- Fill a hard roll with the eggs in sauce and eat it as a sandwich, or cut up chunks of Italian bread and dip in the sauce.
Notes
Great story. I’ve seen whole eggs poached in a marinara sauce before (excellent), but never whisked in like this… need to give this a try, and I would love to sit next to that deli smell!
Dave
That looks so good! Like Dave, I’ve cooked cracked eggs in tomato sauce – interesting take whisking them in. 😀
Interesting story, Sherry! A perfect comfort food for your dad and family! I think I would rather dip the bread into the sauce rather than eat as a sandwich. I can imagine having this on a cold and wintry day!
This actually sounds pretty good to me, although I agree with Gail, that I could see it more as a dip, probably because of the messy factor involved. I’m sure this was a great way to stretch the meal to feed a growing family. Thanks for sharing!
Never thought of it as a dip, but it is messy. I think that’s part of the charm. Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve never tried this before. Thank you! Pinned to try! =D
It’s definitely an Italian-American dish, but I think you’ll like it.
Ohhh what a great way to use up left over pasta sauce and get a delish lunch! Thanks for the recipe for eggs in pasta sauce!
That is different. I am sure your dad was happy with his lunch.
I have never heard of this before, but I’d love to try it! I love the family recipes you share! 🙂
I loved the back story to this recipe, Sherry. It sounds tasty.