Go Back
Two sunny-side up fried eggs with buttered toast on a plate

Easy Fried Eggs

Simple fried eggs cooked in butter with tender whites and yolks done the way you like them. Ready in 5 minutes with timing for every style.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 4 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 1 servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons butter or oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Melt the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat.
  2. Crack the eggs into the pan, leaving space between them. Cook for 2–3 minutes, until the whites are set and no longer clear.
  3. For sunny-side up, cover the pan for the last 30–60 seconds so the top of the whites sets, then slide the eggs onto a plate.
  4. For over easy, gently flip each egg with a thin spatula and cook for 30 seconds more. Cook for 1 minute for over medium or 2 minutes for over hard.
  5. Season with salt and pepper and serve right away.

Notes

  • Crack each egg into a small bowl first if you’re worried about shells or a broken yolk, then slide it into the pan.
  • If the edges are browning before the whites set, the heat is too high. Turn it down.
  • Butter adds flavor. Oil gives slightly crispier edges.
  • Runny yolks aren’t fully cooked. For anyone who should avoid undercooked eggs, cook them over hard.