The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe (2024)

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ByBrandie Skibinski

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These classic, best ever deviled eggs are a must serve every holiday or cookout. Plus, tips on how to make the perfect hardboiled egg every time!

A FOOLPROOF DEVILED EGGS RECIPE

No holiday meal (or cookout) is complete without a plate of deviled eggs in my opinion. I don’t now what it is about these things but I promise, folks will not stop eating them and you will have wished you made two or three plates of them. I think it’s just one of those things we don’t make very often so when we see them turn up, we all get a little excited. Let me show you how to make best deviled eggs each and every time along with how to make the perfect hardboiled egg!

The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe (1)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Why is it called deviled eggs?

The word “deviled” actually comes from an 18th century English cooking term that referred to any dish that was fried or boiled.

What is deviled egg filling made from?

It is made from hard-boiled egg yolks, mayonnaise, mustard, salt, pepper and optional sweet pickle relish.

How do you make the perfect hard-boiled egg?

If you can find the Eggland’s Best Hard-Cooked Peeled Eggs, they will make this process SO much easier. They are the only store-bought hard boiled egg that I trust to taste good. I will also show you (below) how to make hard-boiled eggs come out perfect every time without getting that ugly green ring around the yolk!

Why put vinegar in deviled eggs?

Vinegar adds a hint of acidity which works well with the fats in the egg yolks to create a surprisingly light and fluffy filling (it also gives it a beautiful bright yellow color!) I am using mustard (which contains vinegar) instead of vinegar to get that same effect.

How many deviled eggs per person?

I always account for at least 2 deviled eggs per person when trying to decide how many to make. If you know your crowd are major deviled egg lovers, then you’ll want to double that amount.

How do I store leftovers?

Keep them in a covered container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe (2)

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

  • large eggs – I’ve always been told that super fresh eggs don’t peel as well as eggs that are a little older (but not too old).
  • mayonnaise – I prefer Hellman’s or Dukes but use a mayonnaise that you really enjoy. I am not a fan of Miracle Whip so I personally would not use that.
  • sweet pickle relish – some folks like dill relish instead of the sweet. That is totally a taste preference and up to you. I think it might be a regional thing. Based off comments, folks from the northern states tend to like the dill and the southern folks tend to like sweet. It would be the same amounts.
  • mustard – this might seem a bit strange but the vinegar in the mustard brightens up the other flavors and gives you a great yellow color in the yolks.
  • salt and fresh black pepper – I prefer basic seasonings here but you can get as fancy as you like.
  • paprika – I just use regular paprika but some people enjoy using the smoked.
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HOW TO MAKE THE BEST DEVILED EGGS:

Get a pot of water to boiling. Once it’s boiling, gently and carefully add the eggs into the pot. Set a timer for 12 minutes.

The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe (4)

Once the timer goes off, drain the water out of the pot and add the eggs into an ice both (just fill a large bowl with lots of ice and cool water. Let the eggs sit in that ice bath for at least 30 minutes.

The key to peeling hardboiled eggs is that little thin membrane that is attached the egg shell. Gently tap the fat end of the egg to get it to crack. Pick off the shell then look for that membrane. Take your fingers and pick off some of that membrane. Now, continue to slide your fingers or the inside of a spoon under that membrane to lift the shell off. Sometimes it helps to roll the egg gently on the counter to get that shell to loosen up a bit. You can also peel it under some cool running water.

Once you have them all peeled, set them on a paper towel and gently dry them off. Slice eggs in half lengthwise, and carefully remove yolks.

The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe (5)

Mash yolks with mayonnaise. Add relish, mustard, salt, and pepper; stir well.Spoon yolk mixture into egg whites.You can also put the filling mixture into a piping bag or a ziploc bag with the tip cut off and pipe it into the eggs. Sprinkle with a bit of paprika. Then enjoy! Keep eggs covered and refrigerated if not serving right away.

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The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe (7)

The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe

These classic, best ever deviled eggs are a must serve every holiday or cookout. Plus, tips on how to make the perfect hardboiled egg every time!

4.85 from 128 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12

Author: Brandie @ The Country Cook

Ingredients

  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 ½ Tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons sweet pickle relish (or dill pickle relish)
  • 1 teaspoon prepared mustard
  • teaspoon salt
  • dash of fresh black pepper
  • paprika (for garnish)

Instructions

  • Get a pot of water to boiling. Once it's boiling, gently and carefully add the eggs into the pot. Set a timer for 12 minutes.

  • Once the timer goes off, drain the water out of the pot and add the eggs into an ice both (just fill a large bowl with lots of ice and cool water. Let the eggs sit in that ice bath for at least 30 minutes.

  • The key to peeling hardboiled eggs is that little thin membrane that is attached the egg shell. Gently tap the fat end of the egg to get it to crack. Pick off the shell then look for that membrane. Take your fingers and pick off some of that membrane. Now, continue to slide your fingers or the inside of a spoon under that membrane to lift the shell off. Sometimes it helps to roll the egg gently on the counter to get that shell to loosen up a bit. You can also peel it under some cool running water.

  • Once you have them all peeled, set them on a paper towel and gently dry them off.

  • Slice eggs in half lengthwise, and carefully remove yolks into a bowl.

  • Mash yolks with mayonnaise. Add relish, mustard, salt, and pepper; stir well.Spoon yolk mixture into egg whites.You can also put the filling mixture into a piping bag or a ziploc bag with the tip cut off and pipe it into the eggs.

  • Sprinkle eggs lightly with a bit of paprika.

  • Then enjoy! Keep eggs covered and refrigerated if not serving right away.

Notes

  • I always boil a couple of extra eggs in case I have issues peeling one or two. Save those mistakes and use them for a little egg salad sandwich. Or use the extra yolks to add to your filling so that you have nicely stuffed deviled eggs.
  • If you don’t like sweet pickle relish, you can leave it out.
  • You can make these up to one day ahead of time.

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Sodium: 94mg | Sugar: 1g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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The Best Deviled Eggs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do you add vinegar to deviled eggs? ›

Why is vinegar added to deviled eggs? Deviled eggs are a naturally rich, decadent food so adding something acidic such as vinegar or lemon juice in the mixture can brighten the flavors and keep them from tasting too rich. It's not necessary, but it does add a layer of complexity and contrast to the creamy filling.

Why are my deviled eggs bland? ›

Adding a bit of fresh lemon juice (about 2 teaspoons per dozen eggs) to your yolk mixture is a super simple way to give your deviled eggs a bit of acidity and freshness, which is perfect for any springtime gathering.

How many deviled eggs per person? ›

How many deviled eggs do you need per person? Plan 2 to 3 deviled eggs per person for your get-together. A dozen eggs will make 24 deviled eggs, and that will be enough for 8 to 12 people. If you have leftovers you can store them in the fridge for 24 hours and snack on them the next day.

What can I use instead of vinegar in deviled eggs? ›

Dijon Mustard - Yellow mustard can be used as a substitute. Salt - Be sure to taste the yolk mixture to see if you need any additional salt before filling the eggs. Sweet Pickle Relish Juice- Relish juice is a good substitute for vinegar that many people use when making deviled eggs.

What does vinegar do for eggs? ›

"Vinegar is an inherently acidic material, so if we add a few drops of vinegar into that boiling water that is going to increase the rate of denaturing and it's going to make that happen faster and help the poached egg hold its shape better."

Why put paprika on deviled eggs? ›

Standard deviled eggs are undeniably good, but adding a touch of tomato paste and a generous pinch of smoked paprika makes them a bit more sophisticated. The flavor is gently sweet, forcefully spicy and perfectly smoky.

Why do I feel sick after eating deviled eggs? ›

Nausea after eating eggs

Eggs are a rich source of nutrients, making them a popular meal choice and ingredient. However, some people may experience nausea after eating eggs. If you feel nauseous after eating eggs, you may have an intolerance or allergy to egg yolks, egg whites, or both.

Can you mess up deviled eggs? ›

Bringing deviled eggs to a potluck is a no-brainer. They're fit for a crowd, you can make them ahead of time, there are endless flavor options, and there are rarely any left over (though that could be disappointing for some). They're also easy to mess up since they require just the right ratio of ingredients.

What happens if you put too much mayo in deviled eggs? ›

But when you're heavy-handed with this ingredient, not only will it overpower the taste of the filling, but it can also make for a loose, runny filling that's tough to pipe into the egg white. Follow this tip: Having just the right amount of mayonnaise in the filling makes for good flavor and good texture.

What to use instead of mustard in deviled eggs? ›

Ingredients
  1. 6 large eggs.
  2. 3 tablespoons mayonnaise.
  3. 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar.
  4. 2 dashes Tabasco or other vinegar-based hot sauce, optional.
  5. kosher salt to taste.
  6. pepper to taste.
  7. 1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives.
  8. paprika for garnish.
Mar 29, 2023

Is it better to make deviled eggs day before or day of? ›

Prep deviled eggs too far in advance, and you'll have dried out filling and stinky boiled egg whites. For the best results, prep your deviled eggs up to two days in advance and keep the egg whites and filling separate until you're ready to serve. This prepping method also applies if you're not even leaving the house.

How long should deviled eggs sit before eating? ›

At a minimum, you'll need to allow for 20 to 25 minutes of chill time before serving. You can make deviled eggs up to 2 days in advance; be sure to store the egg whites and the yolk filling separately.

How do you get deviled eggs smooth? ›

Peel eggs, halve; remove and mash yolks:

Peel eggs, and halve lengthwise; remove yolks, leaving whites intact. Transfer yolks to bowl with mayonnaise mixture, and season with salt and pepper. Mash with a fork until smooth.

Why add vinegar to egg mayo? ›

Along with the egg yolk, mustard helps emulsify the mixture, reducing the risk of our mayo breaking. Vinegar or lemon juice — Not only does a little acid like wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, and lemon juice add incredible flavor to the mayonnaise, it also helps to stabilize the mixture.

Does adding vinegar to boiled eggs help? ›

The addition of vinegar to the water is believed to make the peeling job easier. Since acetic acid, which is essentially vinegar, can break down the calcium bicarbonate found in egg shells, it is hypothesized this can aid in an easier peeling process.

Why does vinegar help peel hard boiled eggs? ›

Adding white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to your pot of water allegedly results in softer, easier-to-peel eggshells. That's because the acid in vinegar dissolves some of the calcium carbonate that makes up the egg's hard exterior.

Do you need vinegar for eggs? ›

Fresh eggs shouldn't need vinegar to help them set, but It can help with an older egg, whose white has started to go a bit runnier. Vinegar does leave a flavor, but if you're poaching your eggs ahead of time and putting them in iced water to stop them cooking, that does seem to wash it out.

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