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.
Table of Contents
If you want more ways to cook an egg, check out my tutorial on 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.
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 2025.
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.
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.
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.
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Eggs Sunny Side Up
Video
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.
Notes
- 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.
Nutrition
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Recipe 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.
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This is my husband’s favorite eggs to eat. Always turn out so perfect.
Great tutorial. My son loves sunny side up eggs, and this is very helpful to get those picture perfect eggs.
It’s a simple technique but hard to master. Thanks for the tips! It’s my favorite way to eat eggs!
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 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!