12 Ways To Season Fried Eggs For Better Flavor

There isn't a more filling, satisfying breakfast than perfectly fried eggs with a hard-cooked or creamy center, and golden brown, crispy edges. While fried eggs are delicious with just a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, they can be taken to new culinary heights with a variety of creative seasoning blends, produce, oils, sauces, and other mouthwatering ingredients. Some of the extra-flavoring techniques will take no more than the flick of your wrist, others may require extra prep time — but they're all oh-so-worth-it. 

You can use elements that you already have on hand, such as pantry or refrigerator staples, to create your own signature fried egg recipe. Combining old classics in new ways can result in kitchen magic. Or, consider testing out slightly more exotic ingredients — truffles, anyone? Some fried egg concoctions will be hits while others will be misses, but the pairings on this list are sure to please for everything from simple weekday breakfasts to fancy brunch buffets. 

If you've never tried frying your eggs in anything besides vegetable oil or butter, sesame oil will be a game-changer. All it takes is a few drops of the oil, which is a staple in some Asian cuisines, to infuse the eggs with a rich, roasted flavor. Just make sure you use toasted sesame oil, which has a deep nutty flavor, rather than the light version. Not only will the oil give the eggs added depth, but it'll also prevent them from sticking to your pan. Use the same amount of sesame oil as you would with another type, or feel free to mix it with canola or vegetable oil for a less-intense flavor. 

To put the finishing touches on this Asian-inspired breakfast dish, top the crispy fried eggs with a few squirts of sriracha sauce (which is named after a real place in Thailand). You can use as little or as much sriracha as you'd like, depending on your preferred heat level. Serve the eggs over a bowl of rice or pair them with ramen or rice noodles for a more filling meal. Other ingredient additions to try include chopped Thai basil or cilantro, chives, melty cheese, or a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for texture and crunch. 

Everyone knows that eggs and bacon are a match made in heaven, but you can also get that dynamic duo flavor without the meat. Even if you don't have any bacon on hand, you can fry your eggs in bacon grease to infuse them with a rich, smoky flavor. Of course, this will only work if you've saved bacon drippings in a can in the refrigerator, old-school style. Spoon some of the hardened bacon fat into a skillet, let it melt down, and crack the eggs into the greasy goodness. 

If you are lucky enough to have bacon, fry it up in a skillet, remove it when it's fully cooked, and then cook your eggs in the leftover fat. This is a brief but stern reminder to fry your eggs in bacon grease. Not only will you dirty one less pan, but the eggs will have extra flavor as well as a crispy texture. You can prepare your eggs any style in the bacon grease, including scrambled and sunny-side-up. As the eggs are cooking, spoon some of the smoky grease over the yolks to help them harden faster. Alternatively, you can also cut the bacon into pieces and cook it along with the scrambled eggs as a one-dish morning meal. 

Delicate eggs fried in fancy herbed butter may sound like something you'd only find at a gourmet restaurant or upscale breakfast joint, but you can make them in the comfort of your own kitchen with minimal effort. You can either buy prepared herbed butter from a store or make it yourself using a variety of fresh herbs. If you choose to go the homemade route, combine softened butter with a variety of finely chopped herbs, including parsley, thyme, basil, oregano, chives, and sage. You can use any combination of fresh herbs, or stick with just one or two. Making herbed butter is a creative way to put an abundant summer garden to good use. Add even more flavor with a bit of lemon juice or minced garlic. 

Melt the herbed butter in a skillet, and fry your eggs in the flavorful fat. Not only will the eggs taste incredible, but the vibrant green herbs will make a pretty presentation on a spring brunch table. As another option, you can add butter and any combination of fresh herbs to a skillet before cracking eggs into it. The herbs will fry to a crisp along with the eggs, making for a pleasant, unexpected touch. 

There's nothing like waking up in the morning to a plate of crispy fried eggs doused with a bit of heat. The combination of eggs and spice will give you a spring in your step for the rest of the day, or at least until lunch. You can either go the traditional route by squeezing some of your favorite bottled hot sauce over the fried eggs, or opt for a drizzle of hot honey instead. No matter what you choose, they will both complement any type of eggs, such as scrambled, over-easy, or sunny-side-up. 

If you choose to kick up your eggs with hot sauce, you have two options. Either mix up a bowl of eggs and add the sauce before scrambling, or sprinkle it over cooked eggs. Seasoning cooked eggs with hot sauce is the best option if you're preparing breakfast for your family, as each person can add as much or as little as they like. When it comes to hot honey, you can drizzle a bit of a store-bought version over the fried eggs, or make your own homemade version using chili pepper flakes. Consider melting cheese on the fried eggs for a creamy, crispy, sweet, and hot flavor sensation.

If you love fried eggs and tacos are your favorite meal, why not combine the two savory treats into one mouthwatering dish? There are several ways that you can make this combination work, so feel free to get creative. For an easy option when you're craving a lighter breakfast with a Mexican-inspired twist, just top your fried eggs with any taco fixings that you'd like. For instance, place the crispy eggs on a plate and season them with taco sauce, diced tomatoes, sliced black olives, and some shredded cheese. Serve the eggs with soft tortillas, which you can also use to dip into runny yolks.

For a lunch or dinner option, you can slide the fried eggs onto a bed of crunchy tortilla chips or into a hard taco shell. Top with the traditional taco fixings, along with heartier ingredients such as refried beans or seasoned ground beef. Finish the meal off with a dollop of sour cream and jalapeños, onions, salsa, and guacamole. 

Everyone knows about delicious, juicy chicken seasoned with tongue-tingling jerk seasoning, and now it's time to experience it with fried eggs. You can transport yourself to an island even on the coldest of winter mornings with just a sprinkle of the seasoning. Traditional jerk seasoning gets its heat from dried scotch bonnet peppers, which also lend an authentic flavor. The seasoning blend also typically contains a thyme, allspice, cumin, turmeric, and other spices. Since scotch bonnet peppers can be up to 40 times hotter than jalapeños, look for a jerk seasoning without them if you prefer a milder seasoning. 

Similar to other spices and sauces, you can sprinkle the jerk powder over the fried eggs for an instant upgrade. As another option, add it directly to eggs as you're cooking them so that the flavors are distributed throughout. If you're feeling really adventurous in the kitchen, add the seasoning both during the cooking process and after. Serve the jerk-seasoned eggs with rice and peas or fried plantains.

If you've never had the pleasure of trying za'atar, a Middle Eastern spice blend consisting of thyme, oregano, tangy sumac, toasted sumac, and other spices, let fried eggs be your introduction. Start by frying the eggs in olive oil until they're crispy and golden brown around the edges. As they're bubbling in the oil, hit them with a hefty sprinkle of either a store-bought or homemade za'atar seasoning blend. The earthiness of the spices will infuse the eggs with a vibrant flavor that you can't get from just basic salt and pepper alone.

As an authentic Middle Eastern touch, serve the herby fried eggs with hummus or lemony yogurt. There are several pro tips for making the creamiest hummus at home. You can also use fresh pita bread to dip into runny yolks or to create a breakfast sandwich to enjoy on the go. Other side dishes and toppings include fresh herbs, diced tomatoes, black olives, feta cheese, and roasted potatoes.

Everything tastes better with a sprinkle of Cajun seasoning, and fried eggs are no exception. Whole eggs are sometimes thrown into crawfish boil pots infused with a robust blend of Cajun seasonings, and fried eggs will benefit from the blend just as well. If you have a bottle of Cajun seasoning, you're on your way to some of the tastiest fried eggs you've ever had. If you don't have a store-bought option on hand, you can make your own spicy, Louisiana-inspired blend by combining garlic and onion powders, cayenne pepper, oregano, thyme, paprika, and salt. 

While your eggs are frying in a skillet, sprinkle the Cajun blend over top to awaken your senses. If you're making scrambled eggs, you can add the seasoning powder directly into the mixing bowl. For even more flavor and heat, top the fried eggs with Louisiana hot sauce and chopped green onions. Rather than traditional breakfast sausage, serve the spicy eggs with boudin, authentic Cajun sausage. 

A zesty sauce made with fresh herbs, delicious chimichurri will make your next batch of fried eggs burst with vibrant aromas. Bold and full of flavor, chimichurri is typically made with a bright blend of olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, red pepper flakes, and a lot of chopped fresh parsley, which gives the sauce its signature green hue. The aromatic Argentinian sauce is traditionally eaten with grilled meats, including chicken, beef, lamb, and seafood. You can buy it premade or easily whip up a fresh batch yourself to slather on your fried eggs for a unique taste.

To upgrade the eggs with this mouthwatering sauce, fry them in butter or olive oil until they're brown and crispy around the edges. Then spoon the chimichurri sauce over the eggs, using as little or as much as you desire. If you want even more zing, fry the eggs directly in the sauce. You can serve the eggs with roasted vegetables, hashbrowns, or rice, all of which will also benefit from the chimichurri sauce. 

Infusing your fried eggs with olive oil and smoked paprika may sound like a simple upgrade, but the combination will leave you craving more. For the crispiest fried eggs, basting them in oil is the way to go. Spooning the hot olive oil over the egg whites as they're frying in the skillet will ensure they're perfectly cooked through, while allowing the yolks to remain runny and golden if that's what you prefer. Along with an irresistibly crispy texture, the olive oil will also give the eggs a rich flavor. 

The only way to make this recipe even more delicious is by infusing the hot olive oil with smoked paprika. Before dropping your eggs into the pan, sprinkle some paprika into the oil and allow the spice to bloom. The paprika will give the eggs a pretty red color, as well as a smoky flavor without the added fat and calories of bacon. The olive oil and paprika combo turns into a simple sauce that you can also drizzle over the cooked, plated eggs. While paprika works well on its own, you can add a bit of heat with a pinch of chili pepper flakes or a drizzle of hot sauce. 

Of course, you've had sweet and sour chicken before, but now get ready for sweet and sour fried eggs. Thankfully, making restaurant-style sweet-and-sour sauce at home is easy and only requires basic ingredients such as ketchup, orange or pineapple juice, sugar, and vinegar. After you whip up a batch of the tangy sauce — or open a bottle of the store-bought kind — you're ready to season your fried eggs. 

There are two ways to prepare the sweet-and-sour eggs, depending on how you plan to serve them. If you want to eat them alone, just drizzle sauce over the fried eggs on your plate. As another option, add the sauce to the skillet with the fried eggs, warm it up, and then serve it over steamed white rice. Make it a well-rounded meal with a mix of Asian-inspired sauteed vegetables, including pea pods, broccoli, and water chestnuts. 

Truffle oil, caramelized onions, and honey, oh my. While this isn't a line from a food-inspired movie, it may be the secret ingredient combination that transports your basic fried eggs to a magical place. Fried eggs with any one of these ingredients would make your taste buds sing, but the combination of all three is the holy grail of egg upgrades. Start by caramelizing sliced onions in a liberal amount of truffle oil, which is made by infusing olive oil with bold truffles. The aromatic oil will make the onions taste decadent, especially with the other two ingredients. 

Once the onions have browned, crack the eggs into the oil and fry them until the edges turn crispy and golden brown. If you're in a hurry, try this trick to caramelize onions faster. Top the eggs and onions with a bit of regular or hot honey for a touch of sweetness, which will balance out the earthiness of the truffles. Enjoy the fried eggs simply or alongside toast or some type of crusty bread for dipping.