Much More Than Just Breakfast At Dinnertime
If we said, “eggs”, to a group of people nine out of ten would respond, “breakfast” or "brunch", but we are here to respond, “DINNER!” Yes, a gorgeous soft scramble on toast can serve its purpose for an easy supper and we are here to tell you, "but wait, there's more!" The incredible edible, the breakfast beast, the brunch salve, the egg, will transform from the sun-up food to a sun-down mood with a battery of recipes, tips, and instructions from us to you.
Here's the plan. We've got the essential egg basics so you are set up for success before we ease you into this food revelation with breakfast for dinner. Once you are fortified, we will take you on a world tour of eggs for dinner, no passport required, because we told you, "it's a thing!"
We've also peppered in some fun iconic pop culture references to aid in the whimsy of this spotlight and how transformative the simple egg can be a dinner time. Are you ready?! Let's get cracking!
Egg Pun Exposure
You will be eggs-posed to egg-cessive use of egg puns. This might result in eggs-treme self-eggs-pression in the kitchen. We like to have fun here, but this is no yolk. Thank you.
The Basics Eggs-plained
We know you know the basics of eggs, but just in case you need a quick cheat sheet for all the questions about how to shop, crack, cook, peel, and more are below:
Buy the Best Eggs
- Types of Eggs
- Organic, Free-Range, Cage-Free
- Egg Freshness
- Egg Storing and Preservation
All the Ways to Cook Eggs
- How to Crack an Egg
- Egg Cooking Styles
- Fried Eggs Guide
- Soft-Boiled Egg
- 7-Minute Boiled Egg
- Hard Boiled Egg
- Poached Egg
- Sunny Side Up
Our Go-To Egg Cooking Tools
- Best Pans for Eggs
- Best Frying Pans
- Best Egg Molds
- Best Spatulas
- Best Whisks
- Best Electric Egg Cookers
- Best Kitchen Timers
- Best Ramekins
Breakfast for Dinner
Now that you have the basics of buying and cooking eggs and the best tools for success, lets ease you into some of the fun and thoughtful ways you can bring br-egg-fast to the dinner table. It can be as simple or as eggs-tra as you like.
Eggs for dinner can be just like your favorite “All Day Breakfast” diner by whipping up your favorite omelet or frittata (what’s the diff?) filled with your favorite savory ingredients. And making a sweet bread pudding (also known as strata) savory with aromatics, cheese, and meats an easy switch. A big salad and wine make it a perfect meal for me.
There are infinite ways to bring breakfast eggs to the dinner table. Here are some of our ways:
- Perfect 5-Minute Omelet
- Vegetable Frittata
- Instant Pot Frittata
- Spinach Cheese Bread Pudding
- Savory Bread Pudding
- Chicken Omelet (a very meta omelet)
- Egg White Omelet (many yolk-tales have been told about this one)
- 15 Omelet Ideas
- 9 Amazing Frittata Ideas
Spanning The Globe
Like rice and flour, the egg is a great universal food equalizer ingredient. It appears in many foundational recipes around the world. From continent to continent and country to country, there is a d-ovo-tion for eggs for dinner.
Some of the most well known international egg dishes are shakshuka from North Africa of eggs poached in a spicy tomato stew; Italy's carbonara, that classic pasta swathed in egg yolk, bacon and cheese; egg foo yung from China, an umami filled omelet served with rice; tortilla Espanola from Spain, a potato and onion omelet served as a part of tapas.
It's time to reach new heights! (In my best announcer voice)…it's time to go Spanning The Egg-globe…
- Shakshuka (North Africa)
- Carbonara (Italy)
- Egg Foo Yung (China)
- Tortilla Espanola (Spain)
- Tamagoyaki (Japan)
- Tapsilog (Philipines)
- Anda Curry (India)
- Avgolemono (Greece)
- Scotch Egg (England)
- Omurice (Japan)
- Gaeran Mari (Korea)
- Cheese Souffle (France)
- Basque Piperade (Spain)
- Menemen (Turkey)
- Doro Wat (Ethiopia)
Put An Egg On It!
What began as a fever dream of all of my favorite foods where the chef’s kiss is a crown of a poached, fried or boiled egg turned into an homage to one of my favorite skits from the the iconic television show Portlandia. That skit? Put A Bird On It!
Put An Egg On It! is not about turning something average into something great. The list is about turning something great into something egg-pic by gilding that lily with a soft boiled, poached or sunny side up fried egg for the perfect runny yolk. You know what I am talking about – burgers, pizza, sammies, fries, salads, nachos, and more.
- BAE Burger: That’s bacon, avocado, and egg…it’s what’s for dinner.
- Prosciutto Pizza: Any pizza finished with fresh ingredients is prime for a couple of sunny side up eggs.
- Croque Madame: A little too on the “beak” for me how laying an egg on a croque monsieur turns it into a madame, but hey, that’s what hens do.
- Chili Cheese Fries: Or really any loaded fries situation is the perfect nest for a couple of eggs.
- Lyonnaise Salad: Like pizza finished with fresh ingredients, salads love an egg in any form but this bitter green one sings with bacon lardons, bright vinaigrette, and a poached egg,
- Nachos: One would think loaded nachos need nary one more element for fear of an eggs-plosion, but they are the perfect Put An Egg On It candidate to send them over the edge.
- Rice Bowl: Whether it is a composed bowl or some fried rice made from leftovers topping it with a sunny side up egg is a no-brainer.
- Ramen: This is self-eggs-planatory really, ramen calls for a perfectly soft boiled egg marinated in soy sauce but any noodle soup would welcome it too.
The Angel is in the Deviled Eggs
Normally "the devil is in the details," but when it comes to eggs for dinner the angel is in the deviled eggs. No longer just for afternoon tea, cookouts, and spring menus, deviled eggs are a boon of perfect joy to share at your n-eggs-t cocktail party.
When I think about this concept I reflect on the fabulous Cher in the film Mermaids playing Rachel Flax, a young mother who only made appetizers as a metaphor for her uncommitted life. Finger sandwiches, fruit kebabs, and of course a cocktail. Sometimes life does need to be this simple and singularly focused.
Our protein rich cocktail party concept is to take the classic, spicy horseradish or mayo-less guacamole deviled eggs and add decadent seafood and top with caviar (yes, eggs on eggs)!
Devilish Recipes
- Classic Deviled Eggs: The perfect finger food, our recipe for classic deviled eggs requires just a few ingredients and packs the slightly spicy punch from the use of mustard in the recipe. Try tangy yellow mustard or switch it up by substituting creamy dijon for a subtler deviled egg.
- Creamy Deviled Eggs With Cream Cheese: For the creamiest deviled egg, tangy cream cheese plays well alongside traditional mayo in this recipe.
- Guacamole Deviled Eggs: These deviled eggs get a boost from the crowd pleasing flavors of guacamole– creamy avocado, lime, cilantro, and a bit of red onion and enough jalapeno to your liking, are added to the yolks, resulting in a party-worthy deviled egg.
- Horseradish Deviled Eggs : If spice is what you’re after, these horseradish spiked deviled eggs are perfect. Adjust the amount of horseradish and mustard in this recipe to fit your taste, amping up the spice to whatever level you want.
- Dilly Deviled Eggs: Fresh dill is a classic accompaniment to eggs, and this dilly deviled egg is no exception. Fresh and bright, the dill in this recipe is any easy way to spruce up the classic recipe and makes for a gorgeous presentation.
- Easter Pastel Deviled Eggs: Whether for Easter brunch or just-because, the visual pop of these pastel colored deviled Eggs set these deviled eggs apart from the pack. These would make a divine, yet devilish addition to any brunch spread, including Mother’s Day and Spring picnics or birthdays.
- Bacon Deviled Eggs: Bacon and eggs are a breakfast classic for a reason. The crunchy, smokey and salted bacon is the perfect contrast in both texture and flavor to the rich, creamy yolk.
Egg Hen-tails
No eggs for dinner cocktail party is complete without a menu of the egg white cocktails like a gin fizz, a pisco sour or the non-alcoholic citrus fizz.
- 14 Best Egg White Cocktails
- Gin Fizz
- Pisco Sour
- Citrus Fizz
With a party like this your guests are guaranteed to come out of their shells, not separate easily, and laugh at all of your yolks. (Just when you thought I was done, I pull you back in!)
The Last Egg
We have come to the end of eggs for dinner so I decided to go back to where it all b-egg-an…
The first things that came to mind when I was wrapping my head around this concept were fried rice, egg drop soup, and eggs in a basket only, often because I want dinner quick-fast and eggs are usually the last fresh protein in my refrigerator. However, we have uncovered a world (literally) of recipes and moments for the simple egg to shine bright, at night.
With my last egg I can now make a coddled egg, a shirred eggs, avocado toast…loco moco wouldn't be right without an egg…I am not going to deny a simple egg salad or maybe a Korean egg sammie…I am definitely going to "put an egg on it" when I make kimchi fried rice…
- Fried Rice
- Egg Drop Soup
- Eggs In A Basket
- Coddled Egg
- Shirred Eggs
- Avocado Toast
- Loco Moco
- Simple Egg Salad
- Korean Egg Sandwich
- Kimchi Fried Rice
I told you eggs for dinner is a thing. Now go forth and eggs-press yourself!
Humpty Dumpty better look out!
