For years eggs have been a breakfast staple in this country. From scrambled to poached, hard-boiled to omelettes, millions of us eat eggs every day – and because they’re a rich source of protein, they can keep you feeling full for hours. But no matter how much you may love eggs, sometimes making and eating the same recipes can get repetitive.
The good news is that there are dozens of egg recipes that are not only quick and easy to make, and ideal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner – but are deliciously different too.
So, from Indonesian egg and rice dishes to Italian egg pizza, here are 10 quick and easy egg recipes from around the world.
1. Huevos rancheros
One of the most popular breakfasts in Mexico – and much of Central America – is huevos rancheros, which translates as ‘ranchers egg’, as traditionally it was eaten on Mexican ranches.
But this fragrant, fresh, and delicious egg recipe makes the perfect healthy breakfast, brunch, or lunch. Plus, enjoying the punchy flavours and vibrant ingredients of Mexico is a wonderful way to brighten up a dull British day!
Traditional huevos rancheros consists of a fried, fresh tortilla that’s smothered with fried eggs, refried beans, a rich, earthy tomato sauce, and zingy salsa. It’s flavoursome enough by itself, but adding some fresh coriander and crumbled salty cheese can make it even tastier. Cotija cheese is the most authentic, but feta makes a good alternative. Sliced avocado or guacamole is another great addition and provides some healthy fats.
To make huevos rancheros, try this recipe from The Modern Proper, or watch the video below to find out more.
2. Okonomiyaki
If you like pancakes and omelettes, you’ll love okonomiyaki! Okonomiyaki is a popular Japanese street food that originates from Osaka, and this egg and veggie fritter makes for a super quick lunch or dinner.
‘Okonomiyaki’ literally translates to ‘cooked as you like it’ – and the reason for this is that you can put pretty much anything in it, from meat to veg to seafood.
The only key ingredients are eggs and flour, though cabbage is always added to authentic okonomiyaki. After that, you can add whatever veg you have at home, be it corn, spring onions, peas, or bean sprouts, and then a protein of your choosing. Usually shrimp, beef, pork, seafood, or tofu.
It only takes 15 minutes to prepare and another 15 to cook, and then you just need to cut it into quarters and drench it with your favourite sauce.
To find out more about the art of making the perfect okonomiyaki, check out this article by The Guardian, or have a watch of the video below.
3. Shakshuka
If you like the sound of huevos rancheros but are trying to cut down on carbs – or just prefer the flavours of Middle Eastern food to Mexican – then shakshuka might be the dish for you.
Though there are similarities between these two dishes (for example, both feature eggs cooked in a rich tomato sauce), shakshuka doesn’t include tortillas and contains more veggies too. Plus, because the eggs are poached, not fried, it’s almost certainly healthier!
The base of a tasty shakshuka is actually the veggie mix, which is made with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and warm, pungent spices like cumin, paprika, and pepper. Then, the eggs are cracked into the mix and cooked until they’re set.
A scattering of fresh parsley makes this dish even more flavoursome (and colourful), and while you can eat it with bread if you like, the eggs and all those veggies will definitely fill you up!
To make shakshuka, try this recipe from BBC Good Food, or check out the video below.
4. Egg fried rice
Although egg fried rice is a popular side dish in Chinese restaurants, it also makes an excellent speedy dinner – and is one of the best ways to use up leftover food you have lying around, including rice.
Whether you have extra rice in the fridge from an Indian takeaway or from a big batch of chilli you made, the best way to use it up is to make egg fried rice. Inviting, healthy, and ready in minutes, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner.
Technically, all you need to make egg fried rice is eggs and rice, but it’s so much tastier when you add extra ingredients. It’s versatile too, so you can chuck in pretty much anything you have that needs eating. Spring onions, peppers, peas, spinach, carrots, corn, and garlic work well, and chicken, shrimp, tofu, or mock-meat will provide a protein boost. Then, just add your condiment of choice: soy sauce, sweet chilli, sesame oil, and sriracha work deliciously!
To make egg fried rice, try this recipe from Gimme Some Oven, or watch the video below.
5. Frittata
Frittatas are quick and easy Italian egg dishes that are high in protein and low in carbs. They’re basically a quiche without a crust, which means they’re much simpler to cook – and just like so many other recipes in this list, frittatas are really versatile, and a great way to use up leftover ingredients.
While they’re a popular breakfast dish, frittatas also make excellent lunches and light dinners, maybe served with some extra veggies.
Another perk of frittatas is that they only use one pan, so if you want a speedy supper and don’t want to deal with much washing up after, they’re ideal.
What makes frittatas distinct from dishes like omelettes is that they’re cooked in the pan first, but then finished in the oven. Onions, spinach, potatoes, mushrooms, peppers, cheese, bacon, and tomatoes are popular additions to your egg mix – but you can use what you like!
To browse a selection of diverse frittata recipes, head over to the Love + Lemons website, or check out the video below.
6. Nasi goreng
If you like egg fried rice but want to make something a bit fancier – or just you prefer your ingredients to be separate rather than mixed together – why not make nasi goreng?
Nasi goreng is basically Indonesian egg fried rice, although this is definitely a more stylish version of that comforting classic. Just like egg fried rice, though, nasi goreng is also usually made with leftovers, so it’s another really versatile dish (there’s a pattern here!).
To make nasi goreng, you need to mix the rice with the key ingredient: kecap manis, which is a deliciously deep, salty-yet-sweet sauce. Then, add whatever veg you have – traditionally it’s spring onions, shallots, garlic, and chilli.
The egg is fried and placed on top of the rice and slices of cucumber and tomatoes add a fresh twist. For extra protein and authenticity, add some tempeh, which is an Indonesian food made from fermented soybeans.
To make nasi goreng, try this recipe from Six Hungry Feet, or watch the video below.
7. Egg muffins
If you’re a fan of frittatas but don’t fancy hovering over a hot stove – and then an oven – why not make some egg muffins instead?
They’re basically mini frittatas and because they’re so easy to cook in big batches, you can bake a whole bunch on the weekend and then eat them throughout the week. Alternatively, why not freeze them, so you always have a grab-and-go breakfast ready and waiting?
This is an egg recipe that couldn’t be quicker or easier: simply scramble your eggs with a splash of milk and add whatever veggies you like, such as onions, tomatoes, courgettes, broccoli, mushrooms and/or spinach. You can add other ingredients if you like too, like cheese, chorizo, or bacon. Then, just pour your mix into muffin cups and bake until fully set. This dish can also be enjoyed hot or cold!
For a whole range of tasty and diverse egg muffin recipes, from sun-dried tomato and spinach to broccoli and cheddar, head over to Life Made Sweeter, or check out the video below.
8. Egg florentine pizza
Eggs florentine is a popular brunch dish, and no wonder: the combination of doughy muffins, wilted spinach, fresh eggs, and creamy sauce is difficult to resist. But it also makes an exceptional pizza and if you’ve never made a Florentine pizza, now’s the time to do so!
Legend has it that this dish originated in Florence (as the name suggests) as a breakfast pizza, but it’s one of those dishes that’s just as tasty at any time of day.
If you fancy making your eggs florentine pizza from scratch, it’s much easier than you think – just have a read of our guide to making the perfect pizza. Or if you’re looking for a quick fix and maybe like the idea of a quick breakfast pizza, you can just buy some flatbread to use as your base. Simply cook up spinach with garlic, spread the base with passata, mozzarella, and the spinach, then crack an egg on top and bake until set!
To make an eggs florentine breakfast pizza, try this recipe from Budget Bytes, or check out the video to find out more.
9. Eggs en Cocotte
For an egg recipe that looks and tastes wonderfully indulgent but is in fact deceptively simple, why not make eggs en Cocotte?
This elegant French dish makes the perfect weekend brunch. While the simple version just involves baking eggs individually in ramekins in a water bath until the whites are set and the yolks have a creamy, pudding-like texture, there are a few easy touches that can really elevate this dish.
Adding cream and cheese makes this dish taste even richer and more indulgent, and some recipes add ham too. Delia Smith likes to add steamed leeks to her egg, but other ingredients, like steamed asparagus tips, sliced mushroom, and salmon work well too.
For a heartier, healthier version, you can even bake the eggs in a rich tomato and cannellini bean sauce – then top with fresh herbs and serve with soldiers which you can use to scoop it all out!
To check out a few different eggs en Cocotte recipes, from mushroom and gruyère to tomato and onion with goat’s cheese, head over to Serious Eats, or watch the video below to find out more.
10. Soft-boiled egg and miso ramen
Another quick, easy, and appetising dish you can knock up in less than half an hour is miso ramen with soft-boiled egg.
Miso is a fermented soybean paste that’s a staple of Japanese cooking, and aside from being packed with umami flavour, it’s also incredibly good for your gut. Using miso paste (either red or white paste will work well), it’s simple to knock up a rich, savoury, and deeply flavoursome ramen broth.
One of the best things about ramen dishes is that you can add all kinds of veggies to them, from mushrooms to onions and aubergine to pak choi. But the star of the show here is the soft-boiled egg. If you poach it in the ramen broth, it’s even tastier, and with chewy ramen noodles to bulk things out, you’ll be left full for hours.
To make soft-boiled egg and miso ramen, try this easy recipe by Gousto, or check out Gordon Ramsay’s recipe in the video below.
Final thoughts…
We might still associate eggs with breakfast or brunch, but as this article shows, these kitchen staples are ideal for eating throughout the day. Though rather than relying on your usual egg recipes, why not gain some inspiration and new ideas from looking at some of the best egg dishes from all around the world?
Whether it’s a speedy and savoury egg ramen, a fresh and hearty huevos rancheros, or an astonishingly tasty egg fried rice, egg dishes are extremely diverse. They’re also usually cheap, quick to prepare, and high in protein.
For more recipe inspiration, you might want to check out the food and drink section of our website.