11 Different Ways to Cook Eggs (That Are All Delicious)

From scrambled to hard boiled, poached to sunny side up—discover the delicious magic of all the different ways to cook eggs!

Eggs are the ultimate do-it-all food. They make sense for breakfast, lunch, dinner—and even snacks, too.

They can be gooey and runny or hard boiled for the perfect on-the-go food. Plus, eggs play well with other foods, so you can create really yummy dishes on a whim.

Knowing that, you’re going to want to know all the different ways to cook eggs. (And there are many!)

Why eat eggs? First, eggs are packed with protein. Each egg packs 6 grams of protein for just 72 calories.

They are also rich in other nutrients, such as vitamin B12, biotin, selenium, choline (which supports the health of your brain and nervous system), vitamin D, and lutein and zeaxanthin (antioxidants that protect your vision), among others.

I’m often asked about eggs and heart health, and the bottom line is that eggs can be included in a heart-healthy plant-based diet. Eating one egg per day is in line with recommendations from the American Heart Association.

There are so many delicious ways to cook up an egg, so no doubt you can find a few that you will become your go-to methods.

Here’s how to do it, what you’ll need, and recipe ideas to get you started for all the different ways to cook eggs. Let’s get cracking:

1. Hard boiled

Tools: You’ll need a large saucepan, steamer insert, and a spoon or tongs.

How to make them: There are countless methods for hard boiling eggs, but the one that produces consistent results is as follows.

Heat half an inch to an inch of water in a large saucepan over high heat, until boiling. Place a steamer insert into the pan and add the eggs using a large spoon or tongs.

Cover the pan and cook for 12 minutes. Drain the eggs and cool in cold running water or in an ice bath.

Recipe ideas: Try the Vegetarian Chopped Salad with Boiled Eggs, a hearty, filling salad with chickpeas, cukes, cherry tomatoes, and hard-boiled eggs—all tossed with a tangy mustard vinaigrette.

2. Soft boiled

Tools: You’ll need a pot of water, a slotted spoon, and a bowl.

How to make them: Bring a pot of water to boil and reduce the heat to a gentle boil. Add the egg to the pot using a slotted spoon.

Simmer for 4 to 7 minutes, depending on how drippy you prefer the yolk. Once eggs have cooled, remove them from the water with a slotted spoon and place in an ice or cold-water bath.

After a few minutes, gently crack the egg and peel them under cold running water. (Be gentle! Soft-boiled eggs are fragile.)

Recipe ideas: Try Hummus Toast with Everything Bagel Seasoning, a recipe that takes just minutes to whip together. Once the egg is cut into, the yolk soaks the toast in the most delectable way. This one’s even good for breakfast.

3. Over easy

Tools: You’ll need a skillet and a spatula.

How to make them: When it comes to all the different ways to cook eggs, over easy is one of my favorites. Add a small amount of butter or olive oil to the bottom of a hot pan. Crack the egg and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Flip, being careful not to break the yolk and cook for a few seconds. The white should be set but the yolk should be runny. Remove from pan.

Recipe ideas: Over easy eggs are messy—in a good way. You can eat one on its own for breakfast, add it to avocado toast, or top a grain-based salad or a rice bowl. Try this Farro Breakfast Bowl from Kara Lydon Nutrition.

You can easily swap out the poached egg for an over easy egg in this recipe, especially if you find that over easy eggs are easier to make or you prefer their taste and texture.

4. Sunny side up

Tools: You’ll need a skillet and a spatula.

How to make them: Add a small amount of butter or olive oil to the bottom of a hot pan. Crack the egg and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Do not flip. Cook until edges are crisp and the whites are (barely) cooked. Remove from pan.

Recipe ideas: Try Vegetarian Lentils with Egg Toast, which features smoked paprika- and chipotle-spiked lentils and sliced avocado, alongside a sunny side up egg topped with a piece of toast, perfect for a hearty breakfast or a light dinner.

Want something more breakfast-y? This Healthy Protein French Toast, topped with an egg, has got you covered.

5. Over hard

Tools: You’ll need a skillet and a spatula.

How to make them: Add a small amount of butter or olive oil to a hot pan. Crack in an egg and season with salt and pepper. Once the white is set, flip the egg and cook until the yolk is set.

Recipe ideas: Use an over hard egg anywhere you’d use an over easy one.

They’re great alongside a piece of fruit and a yogurt or piece of whole grain toast for breakfast and go equally well with roasted veggies, like this Roasted Lemon Pepper Asparagus, for a quick dinner.

6. Poached

Tools: You’ll need a pot, slotted spoon, ramekin or small bowl, and vinegar.

How to make them: When it comes to different ways to make eggs, this is another favorite. Crack an egg into a ramekin or small bowl. Set aside. Bring a pot of water with two teaspoons of white vinegar to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.

Carefully drop the egg into the water. (The vinegar should help keep the white from spreading.)

Cook for about 3 minutes, or until the white looks set. Carefully remove the egg with a slotted spoon.

Recipe ideas: Add a poached egg in a soup or atop a salad. Poached eggs are also a natural pairing for avocado toast, like this Smashed Avocado Toast with Poached Eggs from Tara Rochford Nutrition.

7. Scrambled

Tools: You’ll need a bowl, whisk, nonstick skillet, and a large wooden spoon or spatula.

How to make them: In a bowl, crack your egg(s). Add a bit of milk (or unsweetened non-dairy milk) to the eggs, about a teaspoon or two per egg (optional). Season with salt and pepper. Beat with a whisk or fork.

Once skillet is hot, add some butter or olive oil to the pan. Add the egg mixture. Let sit undisturbed until some of the egg begins to set. Using a spatula, stir the egg until light and fluffy. Eggs should be cooked through but moist.

Recipe ideas: Scrambled eggs are ideal for a breakfast sandwich. Try the Italian Flatbread Breakfast Sandwich, a Panini that’s packed with flavor thanks to the mozzarella, tomato, and basil, plus chewy flatbread.

8. Omelet

Tools: You’ll need a pan and a spatula.

How to make them: Crack eggs into a bowl and add about one tablespoon of water. Season with salt and pepper. Get a pan nice and hot and add butter or olive oil, swirl to coat the bottom of the pan.

Add egg mixture to the pan. Once the bottom is slightly set, use your spatula to push the edges in to the center and slightly tilt the pan so the raw egg runs to the empty side of the pan where it can cook.

Continue to do this until the omelet is set. This is a classic omelet. Fold in half and serve as is.

Need some filling to jazz it up? Once the top is set, add your fillings to one side—chopped veggies, spinach, some grated cheese—fold over, let the cheese get gooey, remove from the pan carefully and serve.

Recipe ideas: You can get pretty creative with the fillings in an omelet. Case in point: try this Apple Omelette with White Cheddar from registered dietitian Anne Mauney.

Don’t forget the rosemary—it adds an amazing savory counterpoint to the sweeter apples.

9. Baked

Tools: You’ll need a muffin tin or ramekins.

How to make them: Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a muffin tin or ramekins with nonstick cooking spray. Crack an egg into each muffin well or ramekin. (You can also top with cheese at this point, if desired.)

Cook for 10 minutes until the egg is set to your desired doneness.

Recipe ideas: Baked eggs can be customized according to your tastes or what you happen to have in the fridge.

They’re also a great way to sneak in more veggies in breakfast, especially if you’re running out the door.

Colorful Veggie Egg Muffins from Caroline Green Nutrition will hit the spot with bell pepper, spinach, cherry tomatoes, Italian herbs, and cheddar cheese.

10. Deviled

Tools: You’ll need a large saucepan, steamer insert, spoon or tongs, bowl, spoon, and a zip-top plastic bag.

How to make them: Hard boil eggs (see instructions above). Peel and allow to cool. Slice eggs in half lengthwise and remove the yolks, adding them to a bowl.

Smash together the yolks with the deviled egg ingredients according to the recipe, and mix until smooth. Add the mixture to a zip-top plastic bag and cut off a ¼-inch piece at the bottom corner of the bag. Pipe the yolk mixture into the halved egg whites.

Recipe ideas: Try Avocado Green Deviled Eggs, a mayo-free spin on the classic app that adds heart-healthy avocado spiked with lemon juice and Dijon. Break out a dish of these at your next party and watch them get snatched up quickly.

11. Quiche/frittata

Tools: You’ll need a wide-bottomed pan, spatula, and knife.

How to make it: Preheat your oven to 400° Fahrenheit. Lightly coat a quiche or pie pan with spray oil. Pour In your egg mixture, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until cooked through.

Recipe ideas: Try the Gluten-Free Egg Casserole with Salmon, a fantastic way to fit in a serving of heart-healthy fish.

Final thoughts

Eggs are packed with protein and packed with brain-healthy nutrients.

They’re also incredibly versatile and can be made in a large variety of ways, so you’re sure to find the cooking method that best suits your tastes and preferences whether you’re whipping some up for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Eggs-quisite.

Sources

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture FoodData Central
• The American Heart Association
• Kara Lydon Nutrition
• Caroline Green Nutrition
• Anne Mauney, RD