Here’s how to make sunny side up eggs with a perfectly runny yolk! Eat them for breakfast, sandwiches, rice bowls, and more.

How to make sunny side up eggs

Want to make anything into a meal? Put an egg on it! Alex and I learned that slogan early on in our cooking journey, and it’s rung true over the past 10 years. Eggs aren’t just for breakfast: they make a rice bowl or sesame noodles into a filling meal. So here’s one of our top kitchen basic skills for you: how to make sunny side up eggs! This easy technique makes perfectly cooked whites and a runny, gooey egg yolk: and it’s perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Ready to get frying?

Grab fresh eggs & non-stick or cast iron

How to make the very best sunny side up eggs? We’ve got your covered. There are a few tips you’ll need to know before you jump into the frying pan, so to speak! Here’s what to know:

  • Fresh eggs are best. You can use any eggs here. But take note: if your eggs have been in the fridge for a while, the white will spread a lot when it hits the pan. This doesn’t affect the flavor and you can move it back with a spatula to round out the shape. But the best sunny side up eggs are made with fresh eggs.
  • Use a non-stick or cast iron skillet. These pans are the best when it comes to cooking eggs. While you can still cook in an aluminum pan, non-stick is preferable.
Sunny side up eggs

How to make sunny side up eggs

Ready to start frying? Remember: you’ll want to cook eggs on medium low or low heat. The slower the better with eggs, since they’re delicate and can easily be overcooked. Here are the basic steps to a perfectly cooked sunny side up egg:

  • Heat the butter: Heat ½ tablespoon butter over medium low heat.
  • Add the eggs: Add 1 or 2 eggs and sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt and a few grinds black pepper. 
  • Cook: Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the whites are firm but the yolk is still runny. Don’t flip them!

The best spatula to use? Try a fish spatula for a cast iron pan, or a nylon spatula for a non-stick pan. And that’s it! It’s simple: but it does require a little finesse and confidence. The more you practice, the easier it becomes. Speaking of that…

Ways to serve sunny side up eggs

There’s not much that doesn’t taste better with an egg on it! You can literally add an egg to anything and it’s a fantastic boost of protein. (See below for more egg nutrition.) And eggs aren’t just for breakfast! Here are our top ways to serve sunny side up eggs:

Sunny side up eggs

Egg nutrition

Eggs are some of the most nutritious foods on the planet, though they sometimes get a bad rap! Recent research has found that instead of avoiding eggs for cholesterol reasons, they can increase the good cholesterol the body needs. Eggs are an affordable and easy-to-eat source of high quality protein. They’re also especially helpful for vegetarian diets as a natural source of B12. One egg has:

  • 75 calories
  • 7 grams of protein
  • Lots of nutrients

More egg basics

Want to know how to cook eggs…every way possible? Here are tutorials on the most popular ways to cook eggs:

How to make a fried egg

This sunny side up eggs recipe is…

Vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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How to fry an egg

*Perfect* Sunny Side Up Eggs


  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 0 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 minutes
  • Total Time: 3 minutes
  • Yield: 2 eggs 1x

Description

Here’s how to make sunny side up eggs with a perfectly runny yolk! Eat them for breakfast, sandwiches, rice bowls, and more.


Ingredients

Scale
  • ½ tablespoon butter (or neutral oil for dairy-free)
  • 2 fresh eggs (fresh is best*)

Instructions

  1. In a large cast iron or non-stick skillet, melt ½ tablespoon butter over medium low heat until starting to foam (eggs are best on low to medium low heat**).
  2. Add the eggs and sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt and a few grinds black pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the white is firm but the yolk is still runny (do not flip). 

Notes

*Fresh eggs are best for frying because the whites hold their shape. The whites on older eggs tend to spread: simply use a spatula to pull back the egg whites towards the middle (it just won’t look as pretty!). 

**The slower the better with eggs: they can easily get overcooked. Note that if you’re cooking a second batch, you may need to lower the heat to avoid overcooking the egg since the skillet is already hot. 

  • Category: Essentials
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Eggs
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Keywords: How to make sunny side up eggs, sunny side up eggs

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you'll want to make again and again.

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2 Comments

  1. thank you so much! I was having guets over and needed the perfect breackfest