Put an Egg on It

Finding your favorite burger a bit boring? Do your ultimate salads, rice bowls, and ramens need a protein boost? Ready to change the game on pizza, fries, or nachos and more? A secret ingredient that will instantly elevate a variety of dishes already lies in your kitchen...put an egg on it!

The unassuming egg has the amazing ability to transform special meals into something beyond. We're not talking about mastering the art of omelets or using eggs for structure in baked goods or as a binder in meatloaf, either. While it is a kitchen workhorse, this is all about using basic egg cooking techniques—fried, boiled, or poached—to take already indulgent foods over...the...top.

With an inexpensive carton of eggs on hand, countless opportunities arise. Whether hot or cold, eggs work really well in savory dishes—from a hearty burger to a fresh salad—or to offset the heat of spicy fare. It's brilliantly simple and that's why we love eggs!

Burgers

A fried egg is an excellent topping for any burger. Whether you're the classic cheeseburger type or enjoy more creative burger options, try the next one with a sunny-side up egg. That runny yolk makes every bite that much more irresistible, and very few toppings are needed (hold the lettuce for us). Too messy? Flip that egg, cook it over-easy, and dress it up as you please.

Cheese (umm... gouda), tomatoes, and bacon are wonderful on egg-topped burgers and don't rule out caramelized onions, roasted peppers, or even kimchi. Skip the ketchup and mustard, and opt for tomato jam, Sriracha mayo, or a savory "secret sauce" instead.

Type of Egg Used: Fried

• Avocado Bacon Burger
• All-American Burgers
• Juicy Grilled Burgers
• Air Fryer Burgers

Pizzas

Ready for a real adventure? Add eggs to your pizza topping list. A taste sensation awaits as the egg's richness simultaneously complements the melty cheese and contrasts a tangy tomato sauce. It won't work with every pie, though. Limit it to light and fresh toppings like prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, arugula, spinach, mushrooms, sweet peppers, and herbs.

Topping a pizza with eggs is easy: Bake the pizza like normal, but pull it from the oven before it's finished. Crack a few room-temperature eggs on top, season them with pepper, and continue baking (about 5 to 7 minutes for a runny yolk, and up to 10 minutes for fully cooked eggs).

Type of Egg Used: Baked as a topping

• Neapolitan-Style Pizza
• Prosciutto Pizza

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are no stranger to eggs, though a few egg-free classics are just a little better with this simple addition. We are not talking egg salad here, we are talking fried runny yolk how an egg transforms the French croque monsieur into an eggy grilled cheese called croque madame, and the BLT into a BLTE. In the sandwich world, eggs and cheese are the ideal pairing (we'll admit that it may even be a requirement), and let's not forget about the avocado!

Type of Egg Used: Fried

• Croque Madame
• Grilled Cheese With Avocado and Sriracha
• Bacon Lettuce Tomato and Egg Sandwich

Avocado Toast

Once viewed as just another foodie trend, avocado toast has serious staying power. And why not? It's an open-faced sandwich of sorts that's quick and healthy, and each bite is filled with creamy, crunchy deliciousness. While there are other topping options, it's a great excuse to perfect the poached egg.

Type of Egg Used: Poached or Fried

• Avocado and Poached Egg Toast
• Avocado Toast With Lemon Juice
  

Fries

Topping loaded fries, especially fries with cheese curds and zesty poutine gravy or yummy homemade chili and cheddar cheese, only gets better topped with a fried egg. Ask your server. At home it can be as simple as tossing frozen fries in the oven, or make your own homemade fries (they're easier than you think) and go ham with toppings and don't forget to "put an egg on it!"

Type of Egg Used: Fried

• Classic Poutine
• Chili Cheese Fries
• Twice-Cooked Chips
• Perfect Homemade French Fries
  

Salads

Salads are so easy and come with no limitations... Look in the fridge for greens and other veggies, cheese, dressing, and maybe some cubed meat, croutons, or crackers, and toss it up! The missing piece? An egg! A chopped hard-boiled egg as is often found in a Cobb or chef's salad , though a poached egg is fantastic over salty lardons and bitter frisée, too. For a lighter touch, try grating a hard-boiled egg over your salad...it's a delish add-on to this pear and blue cheese salad.

Type of Egg Used: Hard-boiled or Poached

• Lyonnaise Salad
• Classic Cobb Salad
• Kosher Chef's Salad
  

Nachos

Nachos with an egg or two? Yes indeed! Top that cheesy baked nachos platter with a few fried eggs, before loading it up with guacamole, salsa, sour cream, cilantro. Your guests (or just you, no judgement) will swoon.

Type of Egg Used: Fried Sunny-side Up

• Cheesy Chorizo Nachos
• Salsa Verde Chilaquiles
• Keto Nachos

Rice Bowls

Rice bowls are perfect just as they are. Savory and warm, they are topped with everything from beans, veggies, cheese, sauces, and meats. They are also a great vehicle for leftovers and are like a complete meal in, well, a bowl! Now take it "there" by topping it with a perfectly fried sunny-side up egg and letting that yolk swathe the bowl. A medium or soft-boiled egg is also not a bad idea.

Type of Egg Used: Fried Sunny-side Up

• Korean Ground Beef Bowls
• Katsudon
• Leftovers Fried Rice
• Loco Moco
  

Ramen

Ramen lovers know that the noodle soup offers a quick, light meal. When you need something a bit more substantial, slice a soft-boiled egg in half (or try Japanese soy sauce eggs) and add them to a bowl of homemade ramen.

And, some of us can even admit to stocking a few packages of instant ramens in the pantry (never the "chicken"-flavored variety, of course—we're talking good ramens). You're missing out if you have yet to poach an egg directly in that noodle-filled broth of convenient spicy goodness.

Type of Egg Used: Soft-boiled or Poached

• Miso Ramen Japanese Soup
• Japanese Nyumen
• Korean Rabokki