How to Make Fried Eggs

Fried eggs are the perfect breakfast, great for lunch in a sandwich, and a yummy burger topping!

For all of the ways to prepare an egg, fried eggs are a favorite (along with poached). Below I share my favorite tips (and cook times) for the perfect fried egg every time!

Ways to Fry an Egg

Eggs are a superfood and are loaded with essential nutrients. Two eggs will fill you up, have lots of protein, and clock in at only 150 calories! Eggs can be fried a few different ways:

• SUNNY SIDE UP (as in the photo below left): Sunny side up eggs are eggs that are fried in a pan on one side. They have a bright yellow yolk and can be cooked to soft, medium or hard yolks.  I like to turn up the heat just slightly to get a nice crisp on the edges.
• OVER EASY (or medium): This is like a sunny side up egg that has been flipped over and cooked on both sides.
• BASTED (photo below right): Basted eggs are cooked on one side but once added to the pan, a couple of tablespoons of water is added and this allows the eggs to steam. You can tell an egg has been basted as the yolks will be white on top (image below).

Best Frying Pan for Eggs

The best pan for frying an egg is a small non-stick pan.

I choose a pan about 6” to 8” around depending on how many eggs I am cooking. I find eggs cook and release better with a non-stick pan.

Crispy or Soft Edges?

Fried eggs can have either crispy or softer edges. It just depends on personal preference. I personally like a little brown crisp on the edges while I know some prefer a soft egg white all the way around.

For a crisper edge, cook at a higher temperature (for a little bit less time) per the recipe below.

How To Fry an Egg

1. Melt butter over medium-high heat (or oil if you’d prefer).
2. Crack an egg into a small bowl and add it to the pan. Repeat with remaining eggs.
3. Cook until whites are set but the yolks are still soft, about 4 minutes (per printable recipe below). If you’d like the eggs more set, cook a minute or two more.
4. For Over Easy eggs, flip the eggs over once the whites are set and cook an additional 30 seconds.
5. Slide eggs onto a plate or lift them out carefully with a rubber spatula taking care not to break them.
6. Season with salt & pepper, serve immediately.

Ways to Eat a Fried Egg

There are hundreds of ways to eat fried eggs because their flavor is so mild and the yolks are nice and creamy, they go with pretty much everything!

• Serve them on toast, or in a breakfast sandwich. Nothing tastes better on a chilly morning than a fried egg on top of homemade grits. Add a side of eggs to our fried chicken and waffles recipe for a fun Sunday brunch!
• For lunch, try a fried egg sandwich with tomatoes and onions, or add a fried egg to a juicy hamburger with cheese and salsa!

With so many different ways to make eggs, we bet you won’t go a day without them! However, if the egg yolks do break while they are cooking, simply give them a stir, add some milk or cream and make them into scrambled eggs!

Fave Ways to Cook Eggs

• Oven Poached Eggs
• Air Fryer Eggs (Boiled Eggs)
• Easy Baked Eggs
• How to Make Poached Eggs
• Fluffy Scrambled Eggs
• Microwaved Poached Eggs
• Homemade Eggs Benedict – with easy Hollandaise sauce
• Denver Omelet – loaded with ham, peppers, & cheese

What is your favorite way to serve fried eggs? Let us know below!