Easy method for how to cook PERFECT sunny side up eggs like a pro, resulting in soft whites and runny yolks. You'll get them right the very first time!
Sunny Side Up Eggs
Eggs are a touchy topic for many people. They are an ingredient that nearly all of us share, no matter what corner of the globe we are from...
They are a constant in baking, and frequently enjoyed at our breakfast tables as well as at other mealtimes.
In Brazil, we love to serve them on top of a grilled steak which we call Bife à Cavalo ("Horseback-Riding Steak"), or make Breakfast Egg Cups.
I wrote a tutorial here last year on how to hard boil eggs properly, with great response.
So I decided this time to present a simple and easy method for how to cook PERFECT sunny-side up eggs (also known as fried eggs).
What are sunny side up eggs?
Sunny side up eggs (also written sunny-side up eggs) are a type of fried egg that is cooked only on one side and never flipped over, difering from over easy eggs.
They have soft whites and runny yolks which are still raw and translucent. But it is safe to eat right away!
You can call them dippy eggs because you can dip a piece of bread into the yolks -- although it refers more to soft boiled eggs.
Are they healthy?
Yes! An egg has about 60 calories and a rich source of protein, vitamins A and B, calcium, phosphorus and iron. They are perfect for those on a keto diet!
How to Cook Sunny Side Up Eggs
Learn how to cook perfect sunny side up eggs and get it right every single time.
Essentials for Sunny Side Up Eggs
For some, cooking perfect sunny-side up eggs is as easy as riding a bike... but for many others, not so much!
Why? Well, many just cannot seem to get them to come out soft and silky instead of getting crispy whites ends with hardened yolks....
With the simple method that I am about to show you (my fave of several), we are going to wind up with set yet soft whites, and runny yolks.
You will see... Time and temp play a big role in how to cook a PERFECT sunny side up egg.
Ready to cook PERFECT sunny side up eggs like a pro? So then come along with me!
The Best Way to Cook Perfect Sunny Side Up Eggs:
- Lightly coat the bottom of a non stick pan with oil of your choice, butter, or bacon fat (about 1 Tablespoon).
- If using butter, let it melt. You don't need a large amount of fat to fry the eggs because the pan is non-stick and you don't want the eggs to turn out greasy.
- Crack the eggs gently into the pan to keep the yolks intact (note: do not overcrowd the pan. Rather, keep a space in between the two eggs).
Note: An egg ring can be used to keep the eggs round and yolks centered if desired. As the eggs cook, their color will change from clear to opaque white.
- Cook over medium-low heat until the tops of the whites are set but the yolk is still runny. This will take about 2 to 2-½ minutes. You can cover the pan to speed up the process!
- Meanwhile, if the oil starts to spit it is a sign that the oil is too hot...In this case, please turn the heat down to low.
- When sunny-side up eggs are ready, remove the pan from the heat. Use a large, metal spatula (not rubber) to remove the eggs from the pan one at a time and place on a serving plate.
- The metal spatula blade is thin enough to slide underneath the eggs without tearing them.
- And the large size of the blade will give more optimal support to keep the soft yolk intact while moving from the pan to the plate.
- Some people like to dab them gently with paper towel to soak up any excess oil but I don't dab mine because fat is flavor!!! 😉
- Sprinkle salt and pepper -- and also fresh or dried herbs if desired. Serve right away and enjoy! As youc an see, it is simple to make a perfect sunny side up egg !
Recipe Notes for Making Sunny Side Up Eggs the Easy Way
- If you follow all the cooking tips above, you will obtain perfect sunny side-up eggs every time.
- Crack the eggs into the pan gently.
- Cook them over medium-low heat using a non stick pan. You can cover the pan to speed up the cooking process!
- It takes about 2 minutes to cook them!
- Keep in mind that not using the egg ring will cook eggs faster. The ring shapes or makes the eggs round. I prefer to cook mine without the ring!
- Love eggs? Learn also how to hard boil eggs properly!
Difference Between Over Easy Eggs and Sunny-Side Up Eggs
Some people get confused because they are types of fried eggs and think they are the same, but no.
An egg “over easy” egg is fried on both sides, although not for very long on the second side, and so they yolk stays runny. To make one, cook the raw egg just until the white is set enough on the bottom to be quickly flipped over to cook the other side. “Over” refers to flipping the egg, and “easy” refers to the doneness of the yolk which must be soft and runny.
But using the same method, you can cook the white and then flip the egg to cook the yolk “over medium” or “over hard,” depending the level of doneness of the yolk.
On the other hand, a “sunny-side up egg” means that it is fried just on one side and so never flipped. The white is soft and the yolk is both soft and runny. There is no flipping or cooking on the other side.
What to serve with them
You can serve sunny eggs on toast or with baked coconut flour pancakes for a keto breakfast. French toast also make a great pair with it! Bacon is not the only thing that you can serve with eggs!
Of course, you can have them over creamy polenta and/or this Instant Pot Brussels Sprouts with bacon for lunch. They are a healthy and cheap source of protein that goes well with many dishes.
Other egg recipes:
PIN & ENJOY!
How to Cook Perfect Sunny Side Up Eggs
Equipment
- skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil bacon fat, or butter
- 2 large eggs
Instructions
- Heat a large, non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat.A large pan would be spacious enough to hold 2-3 eggs at a time with a bit of space between them and thereby prevent generating steam.
- Pour about ½ teaspoon of water into the heated pan. If water sizzles and evaporates on the pan, it means that pan is hot enough to hold the eggs in the right form.
- Lightly coat the bottom of the pan with oil of your preference, butter, or bacon fat (approximately 1 Tablespoon). If using butter, let it melt. You don't need a large amount of fat to fry the eggs because the pan is non-stick and you don't want the eggs to turn out greasy.
- Crack the eggs gently into the pan to keep the yolks intact (remember: do not overcrowd the pan. Rather, keep a space in between the two eggs). Note: An egg ring can be used to keep the eggs round and yolks centered if desired. As the eggs cook, their color will change from clear to opaque white.
- Cook until the tops of the whites are set but the yolk is still runny. This will take about 2 to 2-½ minutes. Meanwhile, if the oil starts to spit it is a sign that the oil is too hot...In this case, please turn the heat down to low.
- When sunny side up eggs are ready, remove the pan from the heat. Use a large, metal spatula (not rubber) to remove the eggs from the pan one at a time and place on a serving plate. The metal spatula blade is thin enough to slide underneath the eggs without tearing them.
- And the large size of the blade will give more optimal support to keep the soft yolk intact while transferring from the pan to the plate. Some people like to dab them gently with paper towel to soak up any excess oil but I don't dab mine because fat is flavor!!! 😉
- Sprinkle salt and freshly ground black pepper -- and also fresh or dried herbs if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
- If you follow all the cooking tips above, you will obtain perfect sunny side-up eggs every time.
- Keep in min that not using the egg ring will cook eggs faster. I prefer to cook mine without the ring!
- Love eggs? Learn also how to hard boil eggs properly!
Nutrition
** Nutrition labels on easyanddelish.com are for educational purposes only. This info is provided as a courtesy and is only an estimate, since the nutrition content of recipes can vary based on ingredient brand or source, portion sizes, recipe changes/variations, and other factors. We suggest making your own calculations using your preferred calculator, based on which ingredients you use, or consulting with a registered dietitian to determine nutritional values more precisely.
Please note that health-focused and diet information provided on easyanddelish.com is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Consult with your doctor or other qualified health professional prior to initiating any significant change in your diet or exercise regimen, or for any other issue necessitating medical advice.
Bunni says
Most un-useful info on sunny side up eggs. If You want to be helpful, please address the issue of getting the egg whites opaque without overcooking the yolk. Want the yolk not runny, but smooth, silky and thick like gravy. No offense. I just found your tips redundant.
Denise Browning says
It may be not useful for you but it is certainly useful for many others who continue to visit this specific post and found the tips helpful for them. There are recipes and how-to here for every cooking level. The time stated in the post to cook the eggs is for perfectly cooked sunny side-up eggs, that means, not overcooked, got it?
Cilla says
I just bought an egg ring, and tried it out. My first egg had a hard yolk after 3 minutes - I covered the pan so the top would cook. Then I found your site on google. My second egg cooked for 2.5 minutes uncovered. Much more tasty! However, the whites were still clear and runny towards the center. What should I do next time? Was the heat too low? The water steamed, and I turned down the heat when the oil started to splatter. Thanks for a MUCH tastier egg!!
Denise Browning says
Hi Cila! Thank you for trying out my method. Is your stove top electric or gas? If electric, the burner that you used was dual or single? If gas, was the burner large or small? I ask bc the cooking time will vary according to these. I cooked mine on medium-low heat on a gas stove top over a large burner. I also did not use a ring which usually can make the cooking time longer bc the whites are not spread out. The size of the ring also matters. A larger ring make the whites cook faster than a smaller ring. I hope these help you to get your eggs perfectly cooked. Remember the whites cannot be clear otherwise they are not cooked. Yet the yolk has to be set but still runny. Please try to cook your eggs without the ring over medium-low heat (large burner if stove is gas) or over dual burner if electric. If cooking over single electric burner or a small gas burner, set temp to medium. Please try and see they will cook better and faster than using the ring. When you perfect the method, try again with the ring.
Remember with the ring eggs will need to cook longer so the whites can cook well. Use medium-low heat at first and lower the heat only if oil start to splatter.
Joseph Kyle says
These are great instructions Denise! Thanks for posting this, and I’m glad so many have complimented you. It’s beautiful! I’ve also heard/and learned that if you use SUPER fresh eggs, or eggs that are almost out of date, they will hold together better when you cook them, as opposed to eggs just purchased from the market-which tend to spread pretty wide and crisp at the edges. —One more tip that has been helpful to me is, you never want to crack an egg on the side of a bowl or pan. Always on a hard flat surface. You’ll almost always avoid breaking the yolks and avoid broken pieces of shell. Thank you once again, as this was very helpful. Happy cooking!
Denise Browning says
Joseph, thank you so much! I am glad this has been helpful to you. It has certainly for me. I get them right every single time following these simple instructions. Have a wonderful week!
Healthy Kitchen 101 says
Sunny side up eggs are the first things my mind can think about for breakfast. It's simple and fast to make. Yummy~
- Natalie Ellis
Amy says
This was my first time making sunnyside up eggs and they turned out perfect after following your recipe! Thank you- I’m going to be making them on the regular now!
Denise Browning says
Amy: I am so glad you enjoyed this method. I have been using it for years and mine always turn out perfect too. Enjoy! Have a yummy day!
Adele says
Hi! I am an 11 year old, and u love eggs. But I don’t like making my own breakfast. These eggs are so good that they motivate me to make my breakfast! Thank you for the recipe!
Denise Browning says
Adele, my dear! You made my day. It is so good to hear that you are motivated to make your own breakfast in such an early age. Most of all, you enjoyed this method. I have an 11 year old daughter and just like you, she loves these eggs. Please, keep cooking. Wishing you a delicious week!
Travis Terrell says
I cannot help but notice that these pictures show the egg yok not intact! This is always the demise of your eggs. I am quite curious as to why you didn't do it again, with pictures following your advice
However, now that your pictures have broached the topic, I wonder if you have any tips for dealing with cracked yolks? I feel like the best policy is to simply trash them. (I generally go ahead and cook them the best they are, but they are certainly far from "sunny side up."
In any case, any advice? (Also, why did you use these pics?!
Denise Browning says
Travis, if you take a second look you will see the first picture shows the egg yolk intact. The second picture shows it runny because I pricked it to purposely get the runny effect. Have a good day!
Anutosh Roy says
It's a method that works well. Thank you for sharing it with us. Keep it up.
Howard says
The easiest way to make sunny side up eggs. Mine came up perfect!!!!!
Madison Smith says
Sent this recipe to my son, who's trying to learn how to cook 🙂 . No more overcooked eggs for him!
Riva Prue says
i tried the technique for these sunny side up eggs and worked perfectly. The yolks were soft and runny. so good.
Laurie Rasor says
Have A Good Day
Joe Buchanan says
Thanks for the tips! I have eggs every day and have some success at sunny side up with medium heat butter and H2o
The key is to watch for the white to solidify then remove
Right away.
claire says
It was soooo good I will probably make this every day!
Denise Browning says
So happy you enjoyed our sunny side up eggs.