Perfect sunny side up eggs have a fully cooked white and a runny yolk. It sounds easy, but making sunny side up eggs can be a tough skill to master. Use this technique and you can make a perfect sunny side up egg in just about 3 minutes!
Sunny side up eggs are one of the easiest and most satisfying breakfasts, but preparing the perfect sunny side up egg can take a bit of practice. The key is to completely cook the white, while leaving the yolk runny.
Does it drive anyone else nuts when you order a sunny side up egg at a restaurant and the top part of the white isn’t fully cooked? This is an easy problem to correct, you just need to cover the plan. If you follow my technique you will have perfect sunny side up eggs.
First, heat a non stick skillet for 10 seconds over high heat. Getting the pan hot helps to prevent the egg white from spreading out too much. Turn the heat down to low, and crack the egg into the skillet.
Immediately cover the pan. This will trap the heat and cook the top of the yolk. If your skillet doesn’t have a lid, use a plate or a cutting board. I used a lid from a pot.
Next, turn the heat up to high for 15 seconds, this speeds up the process of cooking the egg white. Keep the skillet covered.
Then, turn the heat back down to low, and keep the pan covered for 2 – 2 ½ minutes. It is important to keep your eye on the eggs as they cook. In just 20 seconds the egg can go from having a fully cooked white to having an less than runny yolk.
Voila! You will have a perfectly cooked sunny side up with a cooked white and runny yolk.
If you want to make an over easy egg, flip the egg and let it cook for 15 seconds. And if you are going to make more than one egg, I recommend cracking them into small bowls so that you can get them into the pan quickly so that they will cook at the same rate.
I have this theory that a runny egg can make most foods even better. Some of my favorite ways to eat sunny side up eggs include:
Ways to Serve Sunny Side Up Eggs
Sunny Side Up Eggs on Avocado Toast
Let’s start with the basics. Most people first think of breakfast when they think of eggs. A sunny side up egg with toast is a delightful thing that should never be underestimated. The way that the crisp bread sops up the runny yolk is wonderful. My standard Saturday breakfast is an egg on top of avocado toast.
Sunny Side Up Eggs on Chilaquiles
Sunny side up eggs are equally delicious on chilaquiles, which is a traditional Mexican meal, and you probably have the ingredients at home already.
Sunny Side Up Eggs on a Breakfast Bowl
I recently created a recipe for Potato Hash with a Sunny Side Up Egg topped with Mornay Sauce (the same sauce that is used in mac and cheese), served with a slice of bacon. It might be my favorite homemade brunch ever. (photo by Regan Baroni)
Sunny Side Up Eggs on Leftover Pizza
This is a game changer. Sometimes leftover pizza can be a little dried out, so top it with a sunny side up egg!
Sunny Side Up Eggs on Fries
French fries get even better when you put an egg on top. A few restaurants in Chicago serve this.
Sunny Side Up Eggs on Pasta
Here is a restaurant hack. Order cacio e pepe with a sunny side up egg and a side of bacon – and then mix it all together. It’s heavenly.
Sunny Side Up Eggs on Chimichangas
I discovered this combination at Port Fonda in Kansas City and have since learned to recreate the meal at home. It might be hard to see the egg under the radish and cilantro, but it was there, and it was glorious.
Perfect Sunny Side Up Eggs
Ingredients
- 1 Egg
Instructions
- First, heat a non stick skillet for 10 seconds over high heat. Getting the pan hot helps to prevent the egg white from spreading out too much. Turn the heat down to low, and crack the egg into the skillet.
- Immediately cover the pan. This will trap the heat and cook the top of the yolk. If your skillet doesn't have a lid, use a plate or a cutting board. I used a lid from a pot.
- Next, turn the heat up to high for 15 seconds, this speeds up the process of cooking the egg white. Keep the skillet covered.
- Then, turn the heat back down to low, and keep the pan covered for 2 – 2 ½ minutes. It is important to keep your eye on the eggs as they cook. In just 20 seconds the egg can go from having a fully cooked white to having an less than runny yolk.
- Voila! You will have a perfectly cooked sunny side up with a cooked white and runny yolk.
Recipe Notes
If you want to make an over easy egg, flip the egg and let it cook for 15 seconds. And if you are going to make more than one egg, I recommend cracking them into small bowls so that you can get them into the pan quickly so that they will cook at the same rate.
When I posted a poll on my Instagram account, 75% of people said that they love sunny side up eggs. Do you? What is your favorite way to serve them?
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