Making sunny-side-up eggs is simple. All you need are eggs and butter. Making this breakfast classic takes just a few minutes when you follow this How To Make Sunny Side Up Eggs tutorial.
It costs approximately $1.18 to make this recipe. The recipe serves two for about $0.59 per egg.
If you are looking for more ways to cook an egg, check out my tutorials on How to Make Scrambled Eggs, How to Make Hard Boiled Eggs, and How to Make A Fried Egg.
What are Sunny Side Up Eggs?
Making eggs is an essential kitchen skill everyone needs to have. It is a great skill to teach your kids, and this is the perfect tutorial to use to teach them.
No one likes a rubbery, greasy, raw, or undercooked egg. This tutorial shows you exactly how to make the perfect Sunny Side Up Eggs.
Sunny Side Up Eggs are fried eggs that are not flipped. Instead, the whites are cooked until set, leaving the yolk golden and slightly runny. These eggs are perfect for breakfast, as a snack, on top of a sandwich or hamburger, or top of a noodle bowl.
Sunny Side Up Eggs ingredients and estimated cost
Per Serving Cost: $0.59
Recipe Cost: $1.18
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter – $0.18
- 2 eggs – $1.00
NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have. I updated the pricing for this recipe in January 2023.
How to make a Sunny Side Up Egg
- First, let the eggs come to room temperature.
- Then, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Next, turn the heat down to low before cracking the eggs into the skillet.
- Cook the eggs for two to four minutes until the whites are firm and the yolks are slightly runny.
- Finally, remove the eggs from the pan and season with salt and pepper before serving (optional). For an extra flavor boost, add some thinly chopped green onions (optional as well).
***For complete recipe instructions, see the recipe card below.
Sunny Side Up Egg recipe variations
- Instead of butter, you can use vegetable oil or bacon grease.
- This recipe calls for just two simple ingredients: butter and eggs. You can also add salt, pepper, and thinly sliced green onion for an extra flavor kick.
Eggs Sunny Side Up storage tips
SERVE: You can keep the cooked eggs out for about 90 minutes before they need to be covered and refrigerated.
STORE: Place leftover eggs in an airtight container and store them for 4-5 days.
FREEZE: You can freeze the cooked eggs, but be forewarned that the egg whites will be rubbery. To freeze:
- Cool the eggs, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Freeze until frozen solid, about two hours.
- Transfer to a freezer-safe container or zipper-top bag and freeze for up to six months.
THAW: Thaw the egg(s) overnight in the refrigerator.
REHEAT: Place the egg(s) in a skillet with a teaspoon of butter. Place the skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until the eggs are heated through.
How to serve Sunny Side Up Eggs
To serve sunny side up eggs, follow these steps:
- Presentation: Place the sunny side up eggs on a plate, positioning them with the cooked egg white side facing up and the uncooked yolk side facing down.
- Seasoning: Optionally, sprinkle a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper over the eggs to enhance their flavor.
- Accompaniments: Serve the sunny side up eggs with your choice of accompaniments. Common options include toast, English muffins, bagels, or even a bed of sautéed vegetables.
- Garnish (Optional): If desired, you can garnish the eggs with some chopped fresh herbs, such as chives, parsley, or cilantro, for added color and flavor.
- Serve Warm: Sunny side up eggs are best while still warm, so serve them immediately after cooking.
Eggs Sunny Side Up FAQs
It will take approximately two to four minutes to cook these eggs. The exact time will vary depending on how well done you want the yolks to be.
A sunny-side-up egg is not flipped over during the cooking process. Because the yellow yolk still shows, this style of an egg is called sunny side up. It is like seeing the sun facing up. An egg flipped over during the cooking process is called over easy.
I prefer to use butter when making sunny-side-up eggs. The butter helps the egg not stick to the pan and adds a nice flavor to the eggs.
“Sunny side up” and “over easy” are terms used to describe different ways of cooking and serving fried eggs, each with a distinct level of doneness for the egg yolk.
The difference between sunny side up and over easy is primarily in how the yolk is cooked. Sunny side up eggs has a completely runny yolk on top, while over easy eggs have a yolk that’s runny in the center but slightly cooked on the outer layer due to the flipping process. The choice between these two methods depends on personal preference and how you enjoy the egg yolk texture.
“Fried” and “sunny side up” are terms often used interchangeably when referring to eggs, but they can also have slightly different connotations depending on the context. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:
All sunny side-up eggs are fried eggs, but not all fried eggs are necessarily sunny side-up. “Fried eggs” is a broader term encompassing a range of cooking styles and levels of doneness for the egg white and the yolk. “Sunny side up” refers specifically to a style of fried egg where the yolk is runny and unbroken on the top side. Other styles of fried eggs, such as over easy, over medium, and over hard, involve flipping the egg to cook both sides and can have varying degrees of yolk doneness.
Ultimately, the distinction between these terms relates to how the eggs are cooked and flipped and the desired level of yolk doneness.
The yolk is not raw in a sunny side up egg; it is partially cooked but remains runny. The egg is fried on one side, with the yolk facing up and the egg white cooked on the bottom. This cooking method sets the egg white while keeping the yolk semi-liquid.
The yolk in a sunny side up egg has a creamy and slightly thickened texture due to the gentle heat it receives from cooking. It’s not fully solidified like a hard-boiled egg yolk, but it’s not raw.
There are several ways to cook fried eggs, each with a different level of yolk doneness and egg white texture. Here are five common types of fried eggs:
Sunny Side Up: In a sunny side up egg, the egg is cracked into a skillet, cooked on one side only, and not flipped. The yolk remains runny and unbroken on the top side while the egg white cooks on the bottom.
Over Easy: An over easy egg is initially cooked sunny side up until the egg white is mostly set. It’s then carefully flipped over using a spatula to cook the second side briefly. The yolk remains runny in the center but is slightly cooked on the outer layer due to the flipping process.
Over Medium: Similar to over easy, an over medium egg is cooked sunny side up initially, then flipped over and cooked a bit longer to set the yolk partially. The yolk is less runny than in over easy eggs and has a slightly thicker consistency.
Over Hard: In an over hard egg, the egg is flipped over and cooked on both sides until the yolk is fully cooked and no longer runny. The yolk becomes completely solid, resembling the yolk of a hard-boiled egg.
Basted Egg: A basted egg is fried similarly to sunny side up eggs but with the addition of steam. After the egg white has set, a small amount of water is added to the pan, which is covered with a lid. The steam created helps cook the top of the egg and partially sets the yolk.
More Breakfast Recipes
- Buttermilk Syrup
- Homemade English Muffins
- Eggs Benedict with Blender Hollandaise Sauce
- Loaded Breakfast Sandwich
- Easy Broccoli Quiche Recipe
- Freezer Breakfast Burrito Recipe
- Strawberry Smoothie
- Easy Baked Breakfast Potatoes
- Healthy Huevos Rancheros Breakfast Bowls
- Apple Muffins with Crunchy Brown Sugar Topping
- Easy Chia Seed Pudding
Eggs Sunny Side Up
Equipment
- skillet
- spatula
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 eggs
FOR SERVING:
- Salt and pepper to taste optional
- thinly sliced green onions
Instructions
SET OUT EGGS:
- Set eggs out on the counter to come to room temperature for 20 minutes.
PREHEAT PAN:
- In a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, add butter and allow to melt.
- Turn the heat down to low.
COOK EGGS:
- Crack eggs into the heated skillet and cook for 2-4 minutes until the whites are firm and the yolks are still runny.
SERVE:
- Remove the eggs from the pan and season with salt and pepper before serving (optional).
- For an extra flavor boost, add some thinly chopped green onions (optional as well).
- Serve and enjoy.
Video
Nutrition
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It’s so great to have these specific directions and photos for making perfectly cooked sunny side up eggs! Love them with the sliced scallions as you suggested!
This was such a helpful guide to making sunny side up eggs! My eggs usually end up scrambled because I end up breaking the yolks, but I’m looking forward to trying your tips to get perfect sunny side up eggs every time!
It’s a simple technique but hard to master. Thanks for the tips! It’s my favorite way to eat eggs!
Great tutorial. My son loves sunny side up eggs, and this is very helpful to get those picture perfect eggs.
This is my husband’s favorite eggs to eat. Always turn out so perfect.