Fried Eggs
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Nothing says breakfast like perfectly fried eggs with tender whites and rich yolks. This no-flip recipe teaches you how to make them sunny side up, over-hard, and everything in between.
Why You’ll Love This Fried Eggs Recipe
- Versatile: Make them in a bell pepper ring, add feta, or sprinkle them with spicy cayenne pepper.
- Beginner-friendly: Say goodbye to broken yolks with this no-flip method for frying eggs.
- Quick: You only need 5 minutes per egg!
What You’ll Need
Things don’t get much easier than butter and eggs. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card.
- Butter: I prefer unsalted butter, but salted works too.
- Eggs: Make sure they’re large eggs to prevent over-cooking. Liquid eggs don’t work for this.
How To Fry Eggs
Covering the pan will depend on whether you’re cooking the eggs sunny side up or not. Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card.
- Prep the pan: Add the butter to a pan over medium-high heat. Swirl it around until melted. Crack 1-2 eggs into the pan. Cook them for 3-5 minutes depending on how set you like the yolk.
- Sunny side up: The whites are fully cooked but the yolk will be golden and completely liquid inside. It may have slightly transparent bits around the edges of the yolk.
- Cook the eggs (uncovered) for 3 minutes.
- Over-easy: The yolk will have a slightly thickened layer, but will still be mostly runny on the inside. The whites are completely set.
- When the egg whites start turning opaque, cover the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Over-medium: The yolks are quite custardy but still have a slightly liquid interior (not completely set). The whites are completely cooked.
- Cook the eggs (uncovered) until the egg whites start looking white. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Over-hard: The yolk is completely set on the inside, so no liquid should come out when you cut into it. The egg whites are fully set, with slightly crispy edges.
- Cover the pan when the egg whites turn opaque. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the top of the yolk looks white.
- Sunny side up: The whites are fully cooked but the yolk will be golden and completely liquid inside. It may have slightly transparent bits around the edges of the yolk.
Tips & Variations
Keep an eye on the pan once you add the butter for tender, diner-style eggs every time.
- Add veggies: Slice a bell pepper or onion ring for every egg you use. Set it on the pan and crack an egg inside each ring. Cook the eggs as usual.
- Make crispy feta eggs: This is a viral breakfast trend. Grab 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese and place it on a cold pan. Shape it into a ring, leaving a hole in the center. Turn up the heat to medium-low for 1 minute. Crack an egg inside the hole and cook it to taste and until the cheese is crispy.
- Choose non-stick: While stainless steel pans are great, non-stick ones are better for eggs because there’s less risk of sticking and burning.
- Watch the pan: Don’t leave the pan unattended once you add the butter or oil. Cook the eggs right away because butter burns quickly and so does oil after a while.
- Spice it up: Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon dried parsley, dill, paprika, cayenne pepper, or garlic powder on each egg for extra flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Fried eggs are the perfect breakfast option with my Crispy Bacon. Toast and American Biscuits are great too. If you prefer potato sides, go for my Cowboy Potatoes or Hash Browns.
Proper Storage
Fried eggs are best the day they’re made, but leftovers can be stored for later.
- Fridge: Place them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- To reheat them: Microwave them 20 seconds at a time until warm. You can also heat them in a pan (covered) over medium-low heat for 6-7 minutes.
More Egg Recipes
Fried Eggs
Ingredients
- Butter about 1/2 tablespoon per egg
- Eggs
Instructions
- Heat small skillet over medium high heat. When hot, add enough butter, about 1/2 tablespoon, so butter spreads across the pan and when tilted, pools to one side. You may also use olive oil, bacon grease or sausage drippings.
- Once butter is melted, add eggs and fry according to desired doneness:
For Sunny Side Up Eggs:
- Crack eggs and heat for 3 minutes. Remove from pan and serve immediately. Do not cover eggs when cooking.
For Over Easy Eggs:
- Place egg into hot butter, in about a minute, or when edges and egg white begin to turn opaque, cover and reduce heat to medium low. This steams the egg. Do this for 1-2 minutes or until top of egg is cooked white, and yolk is runny. Serve immediately.
For Over Medium Eggs:
- Place egg into hot butter, in about a minute, or when edges and egg white begin to turn opaque, cover and reduce heat to medium low. This steams the egg. Do this for 3-4 minutes or until top of egg is cooked white, and yolk is partially runny. Serve immediately.
For Over Hard Eggs:
- Place egg into hot butter, in about a minute, or when edges and egg white begin to turn opaque, cover and reduce heat to medium low. This steams the egg. Do this for 4-5 minutes or until top of egg is cooked white, and yolk is cooked hard. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
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