The perfectly cooked egg with a runny yolk is just 8 minutes away thanks to this easy, step-by-step tutorial!
If you’re like us and prefer a runny yolk but cooked whites, this is the recipe for you. Let’s do this!
All you’ll need for this recipe is a quality cooking pan (we prefer cast iron over stainless steel or non-stick), a bit of oil to grease the pan, good quality eggs (we prefer organic pasture-raised), and seasonings of choice (we prefer salt and pepper).
Once your pan is hot over medium heat, add a bit of oil, swirl to coat, then crack your eggs in, being careful not to break the yolks.
Then season with a pinch each salt and pepper (or desired seasonings) and cook for a few minutes uncovered (this allows the whites to start cooking without the yolks getting cooked).
Around the 3-minute mark, just before the whites are cooked, cover with a lid. This will allow the whites to firm up without overcooking the yolks.
Ah, perfect eggs every time. There you have it!
Enjoy these as is or with our favorite breakfast potatoes, sweet potato hash browns, or avocado toast!
If you try this recipe, let us know how it goes! Leave a comment, rating, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram!
How to Cook an Egg (Runny Yolk!)
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp avocado oil (or other neutral oil with high smoke point)
- 2 large eggs (farm fresh, organic, pasture-raised whenever possible)
- Seasonings to taste (e.g. sea salt + black pepper // optional)
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add just enough oil to coat the pan, then carefully wipe with a paper towel to remove excess. You want the pan oiled but no oil sitting in the pan (this makes the eggs bubble).
- Crack egg(s) in pan and cook for 3 minutes uncovered (add seasonings — optional — at this time). This allows the whites to partially cook and the yolk to begin cooking slightly.
- Then cover with a lid in the last 1-2 minutes to help the whites cook while the yolk stays soft for a “sunny side up” with cooked whites.
- Serve immediately! Best when fresh. See serving options linked above!
Rob says
How long do you cover the eggs for?
It just says cover them at the 3 minute mark and you have perfect eggs, yet no time scale
Hi Rob! You cover the eggs and cook for 1-2 more minutes! This direction is in step three. Hope this helps!
KD says
When you cover the eggs with the lid, do you remove from the heat?
The eggs should stay on the heat once covered with the lid. Hope this helps!
BaS says
Wow, ignore the negative comments. Good grief some people are just rude. Anyhow, this recipe was perfect! I don’t have a cast iron skillet, but my eggs were perfect after following this quick and easy recipe. Two thumbs up!
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the recipe! xo
Rachel James says
@minimalist baker I feel like it’s only fair if you offer to Venmo me money for the lunch that was ruined by this recipe. I’m not someone with disposable money and these eggs could’ve been used for a good recipe instead.
Rose Atha says
This makes me laugh. Any real cook knows you don’t cook an egg on medium heat. If you do this recipe, the egg will bubble and pop the yolk, giving you scrambled eggs! I wondered why my friend told me their eggs kept coming out like trash. This right here is the reason. Slow and steady when it comes to cooking. If you want perfection, you have to wait.
Hi Rose, Have you given the recipe a try? Several readers have had success with this method.
Emmett says
This is the best recipe I have ever done and it actually works ! 100/10
Thanks, Emmett!
La mom says
Yes!!! I think that covering the pan is the step I’ve been missing *all these years* — have never before been able to get them *just* right. Thank you!
(As a side note re: some of the other comments, I don’t eat beef, and you know how I handle it? I SIMPLY DON’T CLICK on recipes for beef!!! Who even has so much free time on their hands to comment like that?! Sheeeeesh!) :) :) :)
We’re so glad that trick was helpful! Thank you for sharing! xo
Kris says
10/10! The eggs I made came out perfectly, and they tasted delicious. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves runny eggs!
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Kris. We are so glad they turned out well! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
zeruu says
This was great! Although my first attempt wasn’t very clean (I broke the yolk), my second was good, although I didn’t season it in the pan. (My mistake, lol.)
Melissa says
I just made eggs with runny yolks correctly for the first time in my 26 years on this earth. Thank you very much!!
Whoop! We’re so glad you found this helpful, Melissa! Thanks for sharing! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Daisy says
I clicked on this link because it has the Vegan symbol and was curious to know what in the world this was, to find out it’s not Vegan. Please update this recipe, those who might be actually on a new Vegan lifestyle might get confused and think eggs are Vegan :(
Hi Daisy, sorry for the confusion! This recipe has the vegetarian symbol (see key on the right side of the screen), but we’re not seeing a vegan symbol. Please let us know if you see “VG” on it somewhere.
Ai says
I think it’s admirable that you have clear color coded symbols for vegetarian and vegan but the confusion may rise from the fact that most restaurants use VG to depict vegetarian and V to depict vegan. Not a criticism of your system, just an observation.
Ah, that could be. Thanks for sharing!
Rachel James says
Made this and it ruined a dozen eggs. The eggs immediately broke in the yolk, then over cooked multiple times. Now I’m out 3 bucks and nothing for lunch and I’m starving. Awesome.
Sorry to hear you had a negative experience, Rachel. It sounds like the pan could have been too hot when the eggs went in. Or, there are many other reasons that egg yolks can be prone to breaking more easily (you can learn more about that here).
Nyla Coles says
Wow it was Father’s Day so I made some eggs with this recipe and my dad said he loved it xx
We’re so glad he enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Elizabeth says
This was so helpful! Fried eggs have always been really tricky for me.
Edina says
Our family really enjoys some of your recipes. I am however disappointed that you’re still using dairy and eggs in your recipes. There is now a confirmed link between dairy and breast cancer, not to mention the enormous environmental impact animal agriculture has on our planet. (It is the second leading contributor to climate change – watch- “Cowspiracy”.)
Probably the worst part about dairy and eggs is the immense cruelty prevalent in both industries. Dairy literally comes from grieving mothers that get separated from their babies immediately after birth -so humans can consume dairy products. Females are repeatedly impregnated and all male babies are sent to slaughter immediately as they are a waste product of the industry. Hens in the egg industry are severely confined and forced to lay an excessive amount of eggs -destroying their reproductive systems. All hatched male chicks are ground up alive or suffocated in large garbage bags. Google a video called “farm to fridge”
It is beyond heartbreaking. Please consider a kinder diet and transitioning towards a plant based blog. Thank you
Thanks for your feedback, Edina. We’re glad you enjoy our other recipes. But we do ask that you please eep the discussion kind and non-judgmental here. Minimalist Baker is a community where all eaters are welcome and we don’t adhere to any one diet.
Alayna Matlock says
That’s your opinion, my guy
Love these eggs!!
Big fan of this recipe says
I loved the recipe. Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to post this handy trick. Eggs turned out delicious.
No offence tho, but some ppl in the comment section should keep their moouth shut instead of copying and pasting from random websites and stuff. Unlike u guys, i bet they aren’t professional chefs to begin with. Well big L for them ig
We’re so glad the recipe was helpful! Thank you for your kind words! xo
John says
Sad to see chickens have to suffer just so we can eat their eggs.
Go egg free!
Sophia says
Chickens naturally produce eggs and it doesn’t cause them any pain, no? Surely we should end factory farming but certainly people who raise chickens for their eggs are not to blame…
Sue says
I’m actually vegan but eat certified humane raised eggs. (I have too many food allergies and need protein and I’m grateful for certified humane raised eggs.) There are a few brands I’ve seen at multiple grocery stores and of course there are local farmers’ markets where you can actually talk to the farmers and inquire as to how they raise and treat their chickens.
With certified humane eggs the chickens that get to normal, natural lives — plenty of pasture, fresh air, and sunshine and they get to be normal chickens and engage ion normal chicken behaviors.
annette says
with respect Sue then you are not vegan. It’s like a vegetarian saying but I eat a bit of chicken.Eggs and veganism are non compatible
Lisa Still says
Trying them this way today! I’ve always flipped them in the past. Thanks for the tips ❤️
Let us know how it goes!
Lisa Still says
My cast iron pan got too hot so it cooked faster than I expected. Nothing burned, the bottoms just got a little too crispy and done. Next time I’ll turn down the heat ?
Michelle says
Hi! Are you able to do a how to on cleaning your cast iron pans? I bought them as your website inspired me, but I feel like I’m doing something wrong, and therefore never use them!
You can find those instructions saved in our Instagram story highlights!
Robert says
Immediately after seeing this video, and most of your other great vids that use cast iron pans, I wanted to inquire about your upkeep methods for cast iron also!! can you post that link in your reply to the Instagram highlights?? …maybe a great idea for a how to video! especially for one that gets as much use as yours appears too. Thank you. :)
Unfortunately there’s not a way to link to Instagram highlights at this time. Just visit our Instagram page and scan the highlights right under our bio!