Egg Recipes: 25 Ways to Turn a Carton of Eggs Into a Meal
Easy egg recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner: shakshuka, frittata, fried rice, tortilla, egg curry and more, plus how to cook eggs perfectly.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Eggs are the ultimate "nothing in the fridge" ingredient: cheap, protein-rich and ready in minutes. Here's how to turn a carton into breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Master the basics
| Style | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Soft-boiled | Into boiling water, then ice bath | 6–6½ min |
| Jammy | Same | 7 min |
| Hard-boiled | Same | 9–11 min |
| Fried (crispy edges) | Hot oil, medium-high | 2–3 min |
| Scrambled (soft) | Low heat, constant stirring, butter | 3–4 min |
| Poached | Barely simmering water, fresh eggs | 3 min |
Times are for large eggs straight from the fridge; adjust for size.
Breakfast
- Soft scrambled eggs on toast with chives.
- Breakfast burritos with potatoes and salsa.
- Egg muffins (mini frittatas) for meal prep.
- Huevos rancheros.
- Turkish eggs (poached eggs on garlicky yogurt with chili butter).
More in easy breakfast ideas.
Lunch
- Egg salad sandwiches.
- Ramen with a jammy egg.
- Niçoise salad.
- Egg and avocado toast.
- Savory crepes with ham and cheese.
Dinner
- Shakshuka: eggs poached in spiced tomato and pepper sauce.
- Frittata with any leftover vegetables.
- Spanish tortilla (potato and onion omelet).
- Egg fried rice.
- Egg curry with tomatoes and onions.
- Pasta carbonara (the eggs make the sauce).
- Bibimbap with a fried egg.
- Menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs with peppers and tomatoes).
- Kuku sabzi (Persian herb frittata).
- Okonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage pancake).
Snacks and sides
- Deviled eggs.
- Soy-marinated eggs (ajitama).
- Tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelet).
- Egg drop soup.
- Scotch eggs for a weekend project.
Egg storage and safety
- Store eggs in the fridge in their carton, not the door.
- Use cracked eggs promptly and cook them fully.
- For dishes with runny yolks for vulnerable people (pregnant, elderly, very young), consider pasteurized eggs.
Out of eggs?
For baking, see egg substitutes for baking. For a high-protein breakfast without eggs, see high-protein breakfast.
Save your egg favorites
Create an "Eggs for dinner" collection in SmartChef AI, and ask Cook AI "What can I make with 6 eggs, a potato and an onion?" when you need ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What can I make with just eggs?
Omelets, frittatas, egg fried rice (with leftover rice) and shakshuka (with a tin of tomatoes) need very little else.
How many eggs per person for dinner?
Typically 2–3 eggs per person for an egg-based main like a frittata or shakshuka.
Can I meal prep eggs?
Yes. Hard-boiled eggs keep about a week in the fridge in their shells; egg muffins keep 3–4 days.
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