How To Make Over Easy Eggs
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Jun 27, 2025 
This no-fail guide shows you How To Make Over Easy Eggs that are perfectly soft, runny, and deliciously fried, in under 5 minutes!
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Over Easy Eggs, or Eggs Over Easy. Although the word “easy” is in the title, some people feel this is far from the truth.
Today I’m going to show you the best recipe for Over Easy Eggs that are gently cooked on both sides with a runny yolk in the center. This recipe is, in fact, quite simple. You just need to keep a few key things in mind, and then take the time to practice on a few eggs to get the hang of it.
Why You’ll Love Over Easy Eggs
- Protein-packed – Eggs are one of the best sources of protein, and this recipe makes the most delicious eggs!
- Seriously easy – Make these quick and easy eggs over easy in under 5 minutes.
- Great for beginners – This easy recipe is PERFECT for amateur cooks looking to ace their egg game.
Whether you serve these eggs over easy on their own, on a sandwich or over a breakfast bowl, one thing is certain, this dish will be a hit.
Ingredients and Tips
- Egg – Use fresh eggs that are large and brown for the best results.
- Oil spray – Up to you, but butter, canola or olive oil spray are some of our favorites.
- Seasonings – You’ll need the classics – salt and black pepper.
Recipe Variations and Dietary Swaps
- Spices – Add other optional seasonings like smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and garlic salt.
- Low-sodium – Skip the salt for a low-sodium alternative.
- Dairy-free – Swap the butter with olive oil.
How To Make Over Easy Eggs
These perfect over-easy eggs come together in less than 5 minutes. Start with a skillet and cook these slowly with great care, so as to get those perfectly orange runny yolks.
Find the full Over Easy Eggs recipe with detailed instructions and storage tips in the printable form at the bottom of the post!
Tips For Success
- Remember to keep the temperature low. If your eggs are turning golden or brown within the first two minutes the heat is too high.
- Crack the egg very low to the skillet, so the yolk doesn’t break, being careful not to touch your fingers to the hot pan.
- Lift to flip when the edges are dry.
- Make sure the yolk is as centered as possible before flipping.
- Make sure to get the spatula completely under the egg before you attempt to flip it.
- It’s perfectly normal for the white to be an irregular shape. This can even be a feature of what makes over easy egg special. However, if you want them to be perfectly round, you can find silicone molds to sit in your skillet. Make sure to spray the molds with nonstick spray before using.
Storage Instructions
Over-easy eggs are best enjoyed fresh right off the skillet, but you can store them if you happen to have leftovers.
Storing Leftovers – Let the dish come to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Reheating Leftovers – Place them in a nonstick skillet over low heat or on a microwaveable safe plate in the microwave for a few seconds. Be careful not to overcook the yolk.
Serving Suggestions
Sprinkle with a bit of spice, dash on some hot sauce, add a squirt of ketchup, or a scoop of salsa… There’s no wrong way to add a little extra flavor to a perfectly cooked egg!
A soft and runny egg is just right to pair with Avocado Toast and Irish Cheese Toasties. And of course, this iconic protein is perfect alongside other breakfast classics! Here are some of our favorite recipes:
- Pancakes and Sheet Pan Pancakes
- The Best Waffles
- Traditional French Toast and Air Fryer French Toast
- Fluffy Southern Cat Head Biscuits with Sausage Gravy
- Oven Cooked Bacon
- Breakfast Salad
But don’t stop at breakfast! This recipe is also egg-cellent to include any time as part of your savory dishes. Enjoy on top of Buttermilk Biscuits, Huevos Rancheros, Korean Bibimbap, or Mean Green Buddha Bowl.
How To Make An Over Easy Egg(Recipe + VIDEO)
Video
Ingredients
- 1 Egg
- Oil spray
- Salt and pepper
- Additional seasonings: smoked paprika cayenne pepper, garlic salt
Instructions
- Set a small nonstick skillet over low heat. Spray the skillet once with oil or butter spray. It’s important that you have a very fine layer of fat in the pan, but not too much.
- Tap the egg on the side of the skillet, or on the counter. Holding your hands low to the skillet, gently break the egg into the center of the skillet, being careful not to crack open the yolk. *If you are feeling very particular, you can even use the edge of the shell to hold the yolk in the center of the white for a few seconds so that it stays there instead of moving to the side.
- Cook the egg on low for about two minutes, making sure the egg white is set but does not turn golden or brown.
- Gently slide a flat nonstick spatula completely under the egg. Carefully flip the egg over on the other side in the center of the pan. *Larger spatulas work better than a little rubber spatulas.
- Cook on the second side for approximately one minute, just until the white is cooked through, but not a minute longer.
- Move the egg to a plate and season as desired.
- Repeat as many times as needed.
Notes
- Remember to keep the temperature low. If your eggs are turning golden or brown within the first two minutes the heat is too high.
- Crack the egg very low to the skillet, so the yolk doesn’t break, being careful not to touch your fingers to the hot pan.
- Lift the egg to flip it when the edges are dry.
- Make sure the yolk is as centered as possible before flipping the egg.
- Make sure to get the spatula completely under the egg before you attempt to flip it.
- It’s perfectly normal for the white to be an irregular shape. This can even be a feature of what makes over easy egg special. However, if you want your over easy eggs to be perfectly round, you can find silicone molds to sit in your skillet. Make sure to spray the molds with nonstick spray before using.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunny side up eggs are only cooked on one side, so the yolk sits on top as a bright yellow orb and very loose. Eggs over easy are gently cooked on both sides, so the yolk is tucked inside an egg white pocket, but still loose. Both are considered fried eggs, but very runny eggs.
Good question. It really depends on how you like your yolks! Over easy yolks are runny and smooth, but ever so slightly more cooked. An egg cooked sunny side up tends to have a yolk that is more raw in texture.
Over low heat, fried eggs should cook for 1-3 minutes per side, depending on how runny you like your yolks. We recommend the egg cook time of 2 minutes on one side, then 1 minutes on the second side.
No, you really don’t want to make these ahead of time. If done properly the yolk will stay rather runny, but runny eggs are definitely most delicious freshly cooked.
Thank you for sharing this recipe! The instructions were super easy and the eggs turned out perfectly!
Thank you so much for this! It is so easy to follow and turned out really amazing!
For the first time, I made a soft and runny fried over easy eggs! The instructions are very easy to follow and turned out so delicious!