Great Deviled Eggs Recipe (2024)

  • Stovetop
  • Boiled Eggs
  • Deviled Eggs

The best deviled eggs are creamy, savory, punchy, and light, made with good Dijon mustard, homemade mayo, and good olive oil.

By

J. Kenji López-Alt

Great Deviled Eggs Recipe (1)

J. Kenji López-Alt

Culinary Consultant

Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated September 25, 2023

Trending Videos

Great Deviled Eggs Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Using homemade mayo makes the dish stand apart from versions made with store-bought mayo.
  • Boiling the eggs until the yolks are perfectly done and shocking them in ice water prevents the egg yolks from developing off flavors.
  • Adding the oil in a steady stream while processing the filling makes for a light, fully emulsified deviled egg filling.

Growing up, I was never a fan of deviled eggs (or anything mayonnaise-related, for that matter). Then again, deviled eggs back then consisted mainly of overcooked, slightly sulfurous hard-boiled eggs, mashed up with Hellmann's mayo and a bit of yellow mustard and served too cold. They were the default "serve them anyway, someone will eat them after the guacamole's gone" option at the potluck. I thought I'd sworn them off forever.

Well, times have changed. Or, more likely, my ability to surround myself with people who know how to make awesome deviled eggs has changed.

To be precise, the first truly outstanding deviled eggs I tried as an adult were fromOleanain Cambridge, Massachusetts. I hadn't actually gone in intending to find the key to my devilish chastity belt, but as it happened, I was a poor college student at the time, and in way over my head pretending I could afford to be at a restaurant that I really couldn't. So I did what any well-intentioned but underfunded kid would do: I ordered a co*cktail and the cheapest dish on the menu. Both were outstanding.

For one thing, Chef Ana Sortun really knows how toproperly cook a hard-boiled egg.The key is starting them in cold water, bringing them up to a boil, then removing them from heat and letting them rest in the cooling water. Starting them cold helps them come up to temperature more evenly, preventing the whites from overcooking and, even better, preventing the dreaded green ring from forming around the yolk—a reaction between the sulfur in the egg white and the iron in the yolk, and a sure indication that your eggs are overcooked (and stinky).

At Oleana, Sortun combines these yolks with plenty of really good olive oil, tuna that's been slowly confited in more of that olive oil, along with some black olives and parsley. That's all well and good, and the tuna and olives are a nice addition to deviled eggs, but the real key to getting them to taste awesome is the perfect cooking, coupled with the great olive oil and plenty of acid and salt.Anythingtastes better with really good olive oil and more acid.

Since then, I've had plenty of great deviled eggs, and I like to boil more eggs than I need so that I can add extra yolks and overstuff each of the egg halves. (I eat the leftover whites with some Frank's RedHot—I also add a dash of it to the filling—or mix them into Hambone's dog food.) You can never have too much egg yolk. Chives or parsley, with some nice crunchy Maldon sea salt and a sprinkle of good paprika or crushed red pepper (Spanishpiment d'Espeletteif you're lucky, or a good planner) finish 'em off.

The only other bit to look out for is that, just like when you're making a mayonnaise, if you try to add too much olive oil to your egg yolks too fast, the filling will break, turning grainy and greasy.The key is to slowly drizzle the olive oil in while your food processor is running(or while whisking vigorously, if you like to go manual).

2:21

How to Make Deviled Eggs That Are Really Deviled

September 2011

Further extensive testinghas demonstrated that starting eggs in already-boiling water or steaming them is a superior method for easier peeling.

Recipe Details

Great Deviled Eggs

Active20 mins

Total20 mins

Serves16 deviled egg halves

Ingredients

  • 12 large eggs, not too fresh (see notes)

  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) mayonnaise, preferablyhomemade

  • 1 tablespoon (15ml)Dijon mustard

  • Up to 1 tablespoon (15ml)white wine vinegar

  • 1/2 teaspoon (3ml) Frank's RedHot sauce

  • 1/4 cup (60ml) extra-virgin olive oil, divided (see notes)

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • 3 tablespoons (85g) thinly sliced chives

  • Crushed red pepper or hot paprika

  • Crunchy sea salt, such as Maldon

Directions

  1. Add 1 tray of ice cubes to a large bowl and fill with water. Fill a large pot with 1 inch of water. Place steamer insert inside, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Add eggs to steamer basket, cover, and continue cooking over high heat for 12 minutes. Immediately place eggs in bowl of ice water and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before peeling under cool running water. Slice each egg in half lengthwise.

  2. Place all yolks in the bowl of a food processor. Select 16 of the best-looking egg white halves and set aside; reserve remaining 8 for another use. Add mayonnaise, mustard, 1/2 tablespoon (7ml) vinegar, and hot sauce to food processor and process until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary.

  3. With machine running, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil. Season mixture to taste with salt and remaining vinegar (if desired). Transfer to a zipper-lock bag. Filling and egg white halves can be stored in the refrigerator up to overnight before eggs are filled and served.

  4. Cut off a corner of zipper-lock bag and pipe filling mixture into egg whites, overstuffing each. Drizzle with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with black pepper, chives, crushed red pepper or paprika, and sea salt. Serve immediately.

Notes

For the best results, use really, really good olive oil.

I like overstuffing the eggs, which leaves you with a few extra whites. Just eat 'em (or feed them to the dog). Eggs that are a couple of weeks old will peel more easily than very fresh eggs.

Special Equipment

Large pot with steamer insert, food processor

Make-Ahead and Storage

You can boil the eggs and make the filling one day ahead of time.

Read More

  • Deviled Eggs With Confit Tuna, Olives, Tomato, and Olive Oil
  • 9 In-Your-Face Deviled Egg Variations
  • Two-Minute Mayonnaise
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
96Calories
8g Fat
0g Carbs
5g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories96
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g11%
Saturated Fat 2g9%
Cholesterol 140mg47%
Sodium 192mg8%
Total Carbohydrate 0g0%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg2%
Calcium 23mg2%
Iron 1mg4%
Potassium 57mg1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Great Deviled Eggs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you add vinegar to deviled eggs? ›

A light-colored vinegar, like the white-wine vinegar we use in these creamy deviled eggs, brings a touch of acidity to the filling and balances the richness of the yolks and the mayonnaise.

Is it better to make deviled eggs day before or day of? ›

For the best results, prep your deviled eggs up to two days in advance and keep the egg whites and filling separate until you're ready to serve. This prepping method also applies if you're not even leaving the house.

What is the difference between angel eggs and deviled eggs? ›

There is no difference between angel eggs and deviled eggs; they refer to the same dish. Angel eggs are just another way to refer to the popular appetizer. The term is popular among southerners, church folks, and anyone else who just doesn't want to refer to them as “deviled eggs.”

What is deviled egg filling made of? ›

Deviled eggs are hard boiled eggs where the yolk is mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. The little sprinkle of paprika on top is the perfect finishing touch.

What to do when you put too much vinegar in deviled eggs? ›

  1. If you have added too much vinegar to your recipe, don't panic. There are some simple ways to balance the acidity and save your dish. ...
  2. - Add some sugar or honey to the dish. ...
  3. - Add some baking soda to the dish. ...
  4. - Add some dairy products to the dish. ...
  5. - Add some herbs or spices to the dish.
Mar 19, 2021

How do you get lumps out of deviled eggs? ›

The best part of deviled eggs is the creamy filling. And it's at its best when it's super smooth and free of lumps of whole egg yolk. Follow this tip: For a smooth, lump-free filling, use a fork or a potato masher to thoroughly break up the egg yolks before adding the other filling ingredients to the bowl.

How many deviled eggs per person? ›

How many deviled eggs do you need per person? Plan 2 to 3 deviled eggs per person for your get-together. A dozen eggs will make 24 deviled eggs, and that will be enough for 8 to 12 people. If you have leftovers you can store them in the fridge for 24 hours and snack on them the next day.

Why are my deviled eggs runny the next day? ›

Making them too far in advance

Deviled eggs can be watery, dry, or lose flavor the longer they sit, so don't make them too far in advance. For the best results, prep your eggs and make the filling up two days in advance, and store them separately. Assemble the eggs before serving.

What can I use instead of mustard in deviled eggs? ›

Ingredients
  1. 6 large eggs.
  2. 3 tablespoons mayonnaise.
  3. 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar.
  4. 2 dashes Tabasco or other vinegar-based hot sauce, optional.
  5. kosher salt to taste.
  6. pepper to taste.
  7. 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives.
  8. paprika for garnish.
Mar 29, 2023

What do Christians call deviled eggs? ›

At church functions in parts of the Southern and Midwestern United States, the terms "stuffed eggs", "salad eggs", and "dressed eggs" occur instead, to avoid reference to the word "devil". For this reason, the term "angel eggs" is also occasionally used.

What is a true deviled egg? ›

With eggs, especially spicy and zesty eggs made with mustard, pepper, or other ingredients like paprika stuffed into the empty yolk cavity of half an egg, they are called “deviled,” though in some places they're also referred to as stuffed eggs, dressed eggs, or even Russian eggs.

What is a fun fact about deviled eggs? ›

If we rewind time, we find deviled eggs in ancient Rome, where boiled eggs flavored with spicy sauces were so commonly served as an appetizer that a Roman saying, “ab ovo usque ad mala,” meaning “from egg to apples,” referred to the expected bookends of a meal.

What goes on a deviled egg tray? ›

You can also use these practical platters for serving gougères, profiteroles or cream puffs, tartlets, escargots, and even mini cheese balls. When considering what to serve on a deviled egg tray, the culinary world is your oyster—another thing you can and absolutely should present on an attractive deviled egg tray!

How long should I boil eggs? ›

How long to boil an egg
  1. 5 minutes: set white and runny yolk – just right for dipping into.
  2. 6 minutes: liquid yolk – a little less oozy.
  3. 7 minutes: almost set – deliciously sticky.
  4. 8 minutes: softly set – this is what you want to make Scotch eggs.
  5. 10 minutes: the classic hard-boiled egg – mashable but not dry and chalky.

What does adding vinegar to eggs do? ›

"Vinegar is an inherently acidic material, so if we add a few drops of vinegar into that boiling water that is going to increase the rate of denaturing and it's going to make that happen faster and help the poached egg hold its shape better."

Why add vinegar to egg mayo? ›

Along with the egg yolk, mustard helps emulsify the mixture, reducing the risk of our mayo breaking. Vinegar or lemon juice — Not only does a little acid like wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, and lemon juice add incredible flavor to the mayonnaise, it also helps to stabilize the mixture.

Why does vinegar help peel hard boiled eggs? ›

Adding white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to your pot of water allegedly results in softer, easier-to-peel eggshells. That's because the acid in vinegar dissolves some of the calcium carbonate that makes up the egg's hard exterior.

Does adding vinegar to boiled eggs help? ›

The addition of vinegar to the water is believed to make the peeling job easier. Since acetic acid, which is essentially vinegar, can break down the calcium bicarbonate found in egg shells, it is hypothesized this can aid in an easier peeling process.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rueben Jacobs

Last Updated:

Views: 5864

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rueben Jacobs

Birthday: 1999-03-14

Address: 951 Caterina Walk, Schambergerside, CA 67667-0896

Phone: +6881806848632

Job: Internal Education Planner

Hobby: Candle making, Cabaret, Poi, Gambling, Rock climbing, Wood carving, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.