Making the perfect fried egg is an art, but it’s not difficult! This Crispy Fried Egg recipe is perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: No need for complicated tools or ingredients! A crispy fried egg is as simple as it gets and only takes a couple minutes to make.
- Versatile for Any Meal: Fried eggs aren’t just for breakfast on avocado toast—they’re a delicious addition to meals any time of day! Try them over Crispy Rice with Shiitakes and Cabbage, on top of a Guacamole Cheddar Burger, or even tossed into a simple Ramen Noodle Stir Fry for an extra boost of flavor and protein.
- High in Vegetarian Protein: Eggs are a great source of protein, especially if you’re like me and have some vegetarian eaters in your house!
The Ingredients
- Oil: Any oil will work, you just want to make sure it has a pretty high smoke point. Olive oil, vegetable oil or even avocado oil are great choices.
- Egg: Eggs are super healthy for you and a great source of protein!
- Salt: The finishing touch to bring out the flavor of your egg.
How to Make a Crispy Fried Egg
Step 1: Heat a sauté pan over medium high heat.
Step 2: Add your oil (enough to coat the bottom of the pan) and heat for about 15 seconds. Then, crack your egg into the pan. Cook the egg for 2 minutes or until it turns crispy and golden around the edges. For a fully cooked yolk, cover the pan, turn the heat to low and cook an additional 2 minutes.
Tips and Tricks
- Use Hot Oil or Butter for Extra Flavor – To get that signature crispy fried egg texture, heat a generous amount of oil until it shimmers. If you prefer a richer taste, use butter, but watch closely to prevent burning.
- Don’t Move the Egg for Ultra-Crispy Edges – Once your egg hits the pan, let it cook undisturbed. This allows the edges to develop a perfect golden-brown crunch while keeping the yolk soft and runny.
- Spoon Hot Oil Over the Egg for Even Cooking – For the best crispy fried egg, tilt the pan slightly and spoon the hot oil over the whites. This helps them cook through while maintaining crispy, lacy edges.
- Add Toppings for Flavor Variations: The best thing about a simple fried egg is how easily you can customize it with flavorful toppings! Take your crispy fried eggs to the next level with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, a drizzle of fresh homemade basil pesto, or add some heat with sriracha or chili crisp.
FAQs
It depends on how you like your eggs! For a runny yolk (over easy), cook until the whites are fully set but the center still jiggles slightly when you shake the pan. For a medium yolk (over medium), let it cook a bit longer until it’s just slightly soft in the center. If you prefer a fully cooked yolk (over hard), cover the pan for the last minute or flip the egg and cook for another 30 seconds.
Both work! I prefer to fry my eggs in oil so that I can get a crispier texture. If you use butter, just be careful to cook at a slightly lower heat so the butter doesn’t burn.
More Recipes for Eggs
Now that you’ve got all the tips and tricks to cook a perfect fried egg, it’s time to get in the kitchen and start experimenting with your favorite toppings and recipes! Whether you enjoy it for a quick breakfast, lunch, or dinner, a perfectly cooked fried egg adds flavor and protein to any dish! Let me know what you think — leave a comment and rating below!
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Crispy Fried Egg
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, vegetable oil or avocado oil
- 1 large egg
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- Heat a sauté pan over medium high heat.
- Add the oil and heat for 15 seconds until the oil is shimmering, then gently crack in the egg.
- Cook the egg for 2 minutes or until it turns crispy and golden around the edges. For a fully cooked yolk, cover the pan, turn the heat to low and cook an additional minute or two.
Notes
- Use Butter for Extra Flavor – If you prefer a richer taste, use butter, but watch closely to prevent burning!
- Don’t Move the Egg for Ultra-Crispy Edges – Once your egg hits the pan, let it cook undisturbed. This allows the edges to develop a perfect golden-brown crunch while keeping the yolk soft and runny.
- Spoon Hot Oil Over the Egg for Even Cooking – For the best crispy fried egg, tilt the pan slightly and spoon the hot oil over the whites. This helps them cook through while maintaining crispy, lacy edges.
- Add Toppings for Flavor Variations: Take your crispy fried egg to the next level with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese, a drizzle of fresh homemade basil pesto, or add some heat with sriracha or chili crisp.
I think it is safe to eat runny eggs
Butter burns pretty easily, but you can use any oil you prefer!
Hi catherine, thanks of a truly wonderful site! I’ve often read that frying in olive oil is not the best as the oil changes composition and becomes ‘bad’ fat. What are your thoughts on cooking in butter which is higher in cholesterol but can withstand higher cooking temps? K
How do you get the white to fully cook? That’s always my problem :/
How long do you cook it? Is it safe too eat runny egg? I never know how long to cook the egg. I don’t like runny eggs and doubt my toddler will.
I think it would stay crispy, but don’t put it into an airtight container when it is still hot because it will create steam that will make it soggy!
Yum! My five year old loves her eggs, too. Do you think the edges would stay crispy if I made it 30 minutes prior to eating? I send breakfast with my daughter to school for her to eat at Before Care. I’ll bet a bit of garlic salt or lavender would be delicious!
I use extra virgin. You can use whichever type you prefer!
Do i use extra virgin olive oil or regular olive oil?