How to Make the Best Over-Easy Eggs in 5 Easy Steps

Master your go-to diner order, and don’t forget the buttered toast!

You probably know how you like to order eggs at a diner—scrambled, sunny-side-up, poached, and so forth—but do you know how to make your order at home? Although cooking eggs may seem simple, it takes some know-how to cook eggs to your liking every single time. One popular egg order is an over-easy egg, which results in tender, perfectly cooked whites and a runny yolk. Adding a fried egg is one of our favorite tricks for elevating a simple meal, from this Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad to this Spring Greens Tartine. An over-easy egg is an excellent option for these purposes, because the yolk breaks and serves as a decadent sauce for the dish.

Related: How to Poach an Egg in the Microwave

Over-easy is similar to sunny-side-up, but it requires a single flip to cook the egg briefly on the other side. Keep reading to learn how to cook over-easy eggs as consistently as your favorite diner does. With our tips (and the correct skillet!), you’ll find that over-easy eggs are truly easy to make at home.

How to Make Over-Easy Eggs

When making eggs, it’s best to use a nonstick skillet or a well-seasoned cast iron skillet to avoid any sticking. It’s also important to make sure your skillet is big enough for the amount of eggs you want to make, as eggs can spread quite a bit once cracked. The instructions below are for a single over-easy egg. From start to finish, the process shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes.

Related: 7 Major Mistakes You're Making With Your Cast Iron Cookware (Including Skipping Soap When Washing It)

1. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter or oil in a nonstick skillet or well-seasoned cast iron skillet over medium heat, making sure to tilt the skillet so it’s coated in fat.
2. When the skillet is hot, crack an egg straight onto the surface and season with salt and pepper.
3. Let the egg cook undisturbed until the whites are almost fully set, but not quite. This step will likely take 2-3 minutes.
4. With a flat spatula, flip the egg to let it cook briefly on the other side, just until the whites are set, which will only take about 20 seconds. While it cooks, you can season this side with salt and pepper.
5. Carefully slide the over-easy egg onto a plate so as not to break the runny yolk.

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