From breakfast and brunch staples like omelettes and shakshuka to heartier dishes – think quiches, curries and spaghetti carbonara – plus a slew of sweet and sugary treats, the uses for eggs are practically endless. To prove just how versatile these handy little ingredients are, we've rounded up our best-ever sweet and savoury egg recipes, perfect for any time of day.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover 40 delicious egg-based recipes everyone will love.
This Mexican-inspired recipe takes brunch to another level, combining French toast–style crumpets, crispy pancetta, perfectly runny poached eggs and a flavour-packed chilli and sweetcorn salsa. Ready in half an hour, this vibrant, colourful dish tastes as good as it looks.
Get the recipe for eggy crumpets with avocado, poached egg, pancetta and Mexican salsa here
If you're in the mood for a salty, crispy, savoury breakfast, you can't go wrong with these French toast–style crumpets. To make them, dunk shop-bought crumpets into a mixture of egg, Parmesan, bacon and black pepper before frying to perfection. What could be easier?
This Spanish-inspired recipe from British TV chef James Martin combines artichokes, garlicky tomato sauce, eggs and charred red peppers in one tasty bowlful. It's perfect for brunch or a light lunch; just serve it with some crusty bread and a fresh green salad for a taste of sunshine.
Even if you're cooking for one, we still recommend making two omelettes – one to tuck into straight away, and the other to enjoy in a sandwich the following day. Spiced with green chilli, this easy breakfast will be your new go-to. Don't use fancy bread, though; the white bread makes it the satisfying dish that it is.
Shakshuka is a dish from North Africa, traditionally made with poached eggs, tomato sauce and spices. Our recipe adds sweet potato to the mix, which works well to soak up the eggs. Meanwhile, mature Cheddar gives the whole dish a wonderful richness.
Our recipe for this classic brunch favourite has a nifty trick up its sleeve – a cheat's hollandaise sauce that's pretty much foolproof to make. Just add poached eggs, ham and a toasted English muffin for a wholly satisfying breakfast.
This shakshuka-like dish is a healthy way to start the day. Our recipe swaps traditional tomatoes for green vegetables including asparagus, spring onions and cabbage – though you could adjust the ingredients depending on your preference. Chilli and feta add a touch of heat and saltiness that's hard to resist.
If you can't find fresh corn, canned would also be perfect for these moreish fritters. When they're done, our recipe suggests pairing them with smoked salmon – but you can add any savoury toppings you like. The oozy poached eggs are a must, though.
Get the recipe for corn fritters with smoked salmon and poached eggs here
This fancy version of fried eggs on toast looks like something you'd order for brunch in a restaurant – but not only is it deceptively easy to make, it can be on the table in just 10 minutes. It's a riot of flavour, featuring pesto-encrusted fried eggs, garlic and chilli smashed avocado, tangy ricotta and rocket, all piled on top of toasted sourdough. To make it even heartier, serve with wilted spinach and roasted vine tomatoes.
Get the recipe for red pesto fried eggs on sourdough with ricotta and smashed avocado here
This recipe takes a classic dish – the Italian frittata – and loads it up with spices, including fresh green chillies, chilli powder and earthy, fragrant cumin seeds and turmeric, giving the dish a lovely heat. Add grated Cheddar into the mix and you've got yourself a satisfying brunch or midweek dinner.
Here, breakfast favourites bacon, cheese and eggs combine to form tasty little packages of deliciousness. To make them, pancetta parcels are filled with wilted spinach, goats' cheese and an egg, then baked in the oven. Serve them with crusty sourdough for the perfect morning treat.
Ready in 10 minutes, these poached eggs – dressed in yogurt and paprika-spiked butter – are the easier, lazier cousin of shakshuka, and we couldn't be more on board. Don't forget the charred bread for dunking!
Kedgeree is an Anglo-Indian dish of rice – spiced with ginger, chillies, turmeric and coriander – and delicately poached, flaked haddock. Usually, it's topped with hard-boiled eggs, but why not give poached or fried eggs a go instead? You can burst the yolks and mix them into the rice. Delicious!
This luxurious recipe combines leeks, smoked haddock and double cream to make a deliciously indulgent dish. It's pretty easy to make, but it looks (and tastes) impressive. This one would be great served simply with wholegrain toast and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
Bring some Mediterranean flavour to the table by whipping up this crispy one-pan potato rösti with chorizo, baked eggs and smoked paprika. This dish makes a great brunch or light dinner – just serve it straight from the pan and allow everyone to tuck in.
This shakshuka is spicy, rich and absolutely delicious. Laced with garlic and cumin, it's made with aubergines, garlicky tomato sauce, feta and baked eggs, making it a really satisfying brunch dish. Serve it up with warm pitta or toasted sourdough – perfect for soaking up every last bit of the sauce.
Crispy sweet potato cakes and zingy guacamole are a match made in heaven – and when topped with a poached egg, they make a hearty breakfast. The rösti are straightforward to make, but you can save time by grating your sweet potatoes in a food processor.
Get the recipe for sweet potato rösti with poached eggs here
Complete with crispy fried eggs, British fry-ups are very hard to beat. This recipe is a one-pan take on the classic breakfast that'll make washing up a breeze. It features all the favourites (bacon, mushrooms, sausages and tomatoes), with the eggs bringing it all together – just don't forget to add a side of toast!
What's wonderful about a frittata is that you can incorporate your favourite flavours and ingredients into one tasty dish. Our recipe combines sweet potato with caramelised red onions and balances it with creamy, salty feta. It's just as great served cold as it is hot.
Get the recipe for sweet potato, feta and red onion frittata here
Dill and salmon are a classic pairing – and this simple frittata recipe not only combines the two, but it also adds rich Parmesan, eggs and single cream to the mix (with irresistible results). Serve it for brunch or a light lunch and your guests will thank you.
Devilled eggs might be a little old-school – but in our opinion, you can't go wrong with a classic. Here, the classic canapé is given a twist: the rich, creamy filling is a combination of yolks, nutty tahini, earthy za'atar and zingy lemon juice. When your eggs are ready, garnish them with chives and baby mustard leaves.
Get the recipe for devilled eggs with tahini and za’atar here
Cream cheese pastry is the key to this delicious dish; it balances the spicy filling of hot smoked salmon, eggs, chilli flakes and horseradish perfectly. The key to achieving a silky-smooth texture? Beat the cream and eggs until they foam and be careful not to overbake.
Salade Niçoise really sums up summer in the south of France: fresh, vibrant and full of colour. To make this dish shine, it's important to use the best-quality ingredients you can, think good tuna, ripe tomatoes, fresh eggs and ideally, olives in oil, not brine.
Ready in just 20 minutes, this vegetarian omelette is the best kind of chuck-it-all-in recipe. We think the ingredients – sticky, caramelised onions, spinach and tangy feta – are made for each other, but you can experiment with whatever vegetables and cheeses you have to hand.
Packed with fresh broad beans, peas and courgettes, these individual quiches are one of the tastiest possible ways to eat your greens. They're great to make in summer, when the vegetables are in season, but you can also make the recipe with frozen beans and peas in colder months, too.
Get the recipe for courgette, broad bean and pea quiches here
This is a vegetarian take on a classic Thai stir-fry that's traditionally made with minced meat. Featuring plenty of chilli and holy basil, it's packed with flavour – and we think the best part is the crispy fried egg on top. It's pure comfort food, but it's packed with health benefits, too.
Get the recipe for stir-fried runner beans with Thai holy basil here
A heartier take on salade Niçoise, this pleasingly easy dish would make a fabulous midweek dinner. To make it, potatoes, anchovies, tomatoes, green beans, tuna, hard-boiled eggs and olives are baked with a garlicky dressing, then topped with Parmesan shavings.
Can't choose between Italian and Thai food? Why not mix things up with this extraordinarily tasty noodle and pasta hybrid? Here, eggs and fried bacon are tossed through spaghetti, making it a whole lot like carbonara. Meanwhile, sweet soy sauce, soybean paste and fish sauce bring plenty of Thai flavours to the table.
Once you've nailed this simple egg fried rice recipe, you'll never bother with a takeaway again. You can include whatever extra ingredients you like, but we think our version – complete with succulent, wok-fried prawns and sweet, crunchy cabbage – is a winner.
To make this easy, tasty dish, scoop out the inside of a baked sweet potato, leaving behind a thick layer (so the skins don't collapse). Next, mash the potato filling and stir in spicy sausage, sweet fried onions, cheese and coriander. Add the mixture back into the potatoes, top with an egg and bake in the oven. It's the perfect all-in-one dinner!
Quiches are excellent all-rounders – great for lunch, quick dinners and (of course) picnics, as they're just as tasty served warm or cold. In this recipe, the saltiness of the Parma Ham and feta pairs wonderfully with the sweetness of the peas and pea shoots, making for a balanced and delicious meal.
This recipe is a revelation for those who don't eat dairy (here, almond milk replaces cows' milk and cream). Incredibly creamy and rich, it combines broccoli rabe, which is like broccoli but slightly bitter, with fresh herbs including parsley, coriander and dill. Don’t be afraid to add other greens to really pack in the nutrients.
This recipe is so easy and delicious, everyone should have it in their repertoire. Ready in 15 minutes, the guanciale (if you're being traditional; use bacon if not) is lightly browned to add salt and texture. Meanwhile, the eggs and pecorino work together to create a rich and tasty sauce.
A twist on the classic carbonara, this lovely (and speedy) pasta dish is the perfect way to use up leftover cooked ham or gammon – just add parsley, thinly sliced spring onions, mustard and honey. If you're not in the mood for meat, you could try making a vegetarian version with fried halloumi slices.
While you won't often find egg curries on the menu at Indian restaurants, they're a great dish to cook at home. Our recipe combines coconut milk, turmeric, chilli powder and garam masala – and it only takes 15 minutes to prepare. Not only that, but you can make the ginger and garlic paste in advance (or use shop-bought versions to save time).
This recipe is a fabulously tasty mix of omelette (here, made with cavolo nero and spring onions), crispy, garlicky pork belly and noodles flavoured with light soy sauce and black pepper. It's an indulgent yet nutritious dish the whole family can enjoy. Don't have any pork belly? Try making it with crumbled sausage meat instead.
Take one look at fancy French dessert îles flottantes, or 'floating islands', and you'll understand how it got its name. This dish makes excellent use of eggs – yolks are used in the custard, and whites for the meringues, which float prettily on top.
Crisp almond pastry, lemon custard and a huge Italian meringue dome; perfect for a dinner party, this impressive tart really is a wow-factor dessert. It's well worth investing in a cook's blow torch to get that fabulous, burnished exterior on the meringue.
This show-stopping dessert is surprisingly easy to make – simply layer shop-bought vanilla ice cream and raspberry sorbet between crisp meringue discs. Whipped cream and raspberries are the metaphorical cherry on top! It's decadent, light and fruity all at the same time.
This beautiful cake takes a little time to put together, but you can make the meringue discs a few days in advance. The layers are sandwiched with a yogurt, honey and icing sugar mix, which makes the cake slightly lighter than if cream was used. Add in any favourite berries to create a truly spectacular centrepiece.
Get the recipe for strawberry pavlova cake here
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Last updated by Lottie Woodrow.