Perfect Sunny Side Up Eggs Recipe

Sunny side up eggs look beautiful whether on top of a piece of avocado toast or on a plate with a side of bacon. Learn how to make this style of fried eggs that involves zero flipping! With set whites and runny yolks, sunny side up eggs are as delicious as they look. 

Over the last month, I’ve shared a few different ways you can mix up your breakfast while using the same ingredient – eggs!

So far, we’ve covered how to make over hard eggs, over medium eggs, and Perfect Over-Easy Eggs. 

One of the prettiest ways to serve a fried egg in my opinion, though, is by cooking it the good old-fashioned sunny-side-up egg way. 

On the rare occasions we go out to breakfast, I love ordering sunny side up eggs. I was in awe of how they were able to make them so perfectly each time – the whites set just right and not overcooked, the yolk runny. 

So, I thought I’d try to master this style of cooking eggs at home. 

After a little practice, I got the hang of it. And now, I consider it to be one of the quickest and easiest ways to make eggs. 

With no flipping involved, the egg goes straight to the hot skillet for a few minutes and then straight to your plate. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

What is a sunny side up egg?

Unlike other fried egg techniques, you do not flip a sunny side egg. You only fry it on one side until the egg whites are set. They also have a runny yolk, similar to an over-easy egg. 

Why you’ll love this recipe:

Easy: Since you don’t have to flip sunny side up eggs, they are pretty simple to make and can be perfect with just a little practice. 

Impressive: They look so beautiful when served. You can impress your brunch your guests and family with this frying style. 

Nutritious: Eggs are one of the most nutrient dense foods. Packed full of protein and healthy fat. 

Simple Tips

• Heat over low heat. Cooking too high will overcook or potentially burn the egg whites without cooking the yolk enough.
• Depending on the size of your skillet, you may only want to do one or two eggs at a time. Otherwise, the egg whites can run together, and not hold their shape.
• To get the perfect sunny side-up egg, use fresh eggs. Older eggs tend to not hold shape as well and make it a little bit more difficult to get a nice sized egg.
• Cover your skillet while the eggs cook. The steam helps fully cook the white without burning it. I like to use a glass lid, so I can easily see when the egg whites are set.

Ingredients

​​Eggs: Fresh eggs work best. To make the best dish, it is best to use high quality pastured eggs. They give the most beautiful bright yellow yolk. Older eggs tend to separate and not stay together well.

Butter: I prefer to use grass-fed butter when cooking my eggs. However, you could also use lard, tallow, or bacon grease. 

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Tools you may need

​​Skillet: Well-seasoned cast iron pan like this one or a non-stick skillet like this pan.

Spatula: Use a thin spatula like this one to help you easily scoop up your sunny side up egg from skillet to plate. 

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FAQ:

Which type of fat should you cook sunny side up eggs in?

I prefer butter, but they also do well in lard, tallow, or even bacon grease. A neutral oil (like avocado or olive oil) works also, but not near as effective as an animal fat.

Avoid highly processed seed oils, canola, soy, or corn oil. These oils lack the nutritional benefits of animal fat or olive oil. 

Are sunny side up eggs the healthiest way to serve eggs?

This will all depend on how the eggs are cooked and what they are cooked in. As long as the egg white is cooked all the way through, all of the ways to cook eggs are a healthy way to eat this nutrient dense food. Yes. They are full of protein, vitamins and minerals.

How do you know when sunny side up eggs are done?

The egg whites will be completely set and no longer runny or clear. Make sure to cook on low heat to avoid burning the egg white. 

How To Make Sunny Side Up Eggs:

Heat your skillet

Heat a nonstick frying pan or cast iron skillet to low heat. 

Add about 1/2 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt. Use a spatula or gently swirl the pan to make sure the butter coats the bottom evenly.

Add your eggs one-by-one

Crack eggs into a separate dish one at a time and carefully transfer them to the heated pan. 

Allow the egg whites to cook and set completely 

Cover your skillet with a lid and let cook for about 2 to 3 minutes. Careful, you don’t want overcooked yolks.

No need to flip these! Once the egg white is cooked through and the yolk is slightly cooked, but no longer runny, take it right out of the skillet and onto your plate!

Top with a little bit of salt and pepper. 

Optional: Add herbs like parsley or thyme or even a little paprika on top of the egg for an extra kick.

Ways to serve sunny side up eggs 

• On sourdough toast (I love it with some avocado!)
• With biscuits and gravy 
• On top of a salad (you don’t have to just enjoy these for breakfast!)
• Next to sausage or bacon
• As a final touch to a breakfast hash
• On top of a sourdough breakfast pizza
• Over rice bowls with veggies and a delicious sauce (like my orange sauce recipe found here)

More delicious breakfast food from the farmhouse: 

• Sourdough Breakfast Strata
• Baked Sourdough Donuts
• Easy Potato Waffles – Two Ways
• Sourdough Croissants
• Einkorn Pancakes
• Hard Boil Eggs In The Instant Pot

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you could come back and give it 5 stars!

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