These over hard eggs are easy to make and incredibly flavorful! This recipe is great for breakfast sandwiches, salads and more. These fried eggs over hard are healthy, delicious, and tasty! Serve for a filling and satisfying breakfast, hearty snack, or even for dinner!

Over hard eggs on white plate

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • These over hard eggs are easy, hearty and savory.
  • Use in breakfast sandwiches, on salads, and on top of burgers.
  • The whites are crispy!
  • This recipe is high in protein, low in carbs and low in sugar.
  • Great for any time of the day.
  • Eat them for breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner.
  • The yolks are cooked through entirely. They are without a runny yolk.
  • Cook them in butter or bacon grease.
  • This recipe is Whole30 compliant, Paleo, Keto, sugar free, low carb, gluten free, nut free and easily made dairy free.
  • Check out these Keto Deviled Eggs and these Hard Boiled Eggs in Microwave for more great recipes!

What is an Over Hard Egg?

An over hard egg is a fried egg where the yolk is cooked through until hard. The yolk tastes similar to that of a hard boiled egg.

Over hard eggs, also known as well-done eggs, are fried eggs cooked until the yolk and white are completely firm.

The yolk is fully cooked and not runny. The white is fully set and not translucent.

They are cooked for a longer period of time than over medium or over easy eggs. This creates a firmer texture.

They are preferred by those who do not like the texture or taste of runny yolks.

Ingredients & Substitutions

These are the main ingredients and substitutions. Scroll down to the recipe card for full ingredients list and instructions.

Use fresh eggs! These have the best flavor. If possible, organic free range eggs are great. They have bright yellow yolks.

Use butter or bacon grease to fry the eggs. If using butter, both unsalted and salted work well. If using salted, omit sprinkle of sea salt on top of eggs. Butter obviously adds that signature buttery flavor!

If using bacon grease, consider omitting the salt on top of eggs. Bacon grease adds some extra crispiness and flavor!

A sprinkle of sea salt and pepper adds a subtle and delicious seasoning.

Eggs, butter, salt and pepper in small white bowls

Which Eggs To Use

For best results, use fresh free range eggs. Find them in all grocery stores.

Farm fresh eggs are great too! The more fresh, the better.

Butter Versus Oil Versus Bacon Grease

What cooking fat is the best for making eggs over hard? There are advantages to butter, oil and bacon grease.

Butter adds a classic buttery flavor! It is readily available, easy, and produces a great flavor.

Bacon grease provides an extra hearty flavor. In addition, bacon grease produces extra crispy eggs. This is a great option if you have leftover bacon grease. Additionally, bacon grease is dairy free.

While oil would be my last choice, it does have an advantage. Oil is a pantry staple and it is dairy free.

Taste & Texture

These eggs fried over hard taste most similarly to a hard boiled egg. The yolk resembles a hard boiled egg. The egg white is similar to a fried egg.

The egg white edges are crispy. In addition, the egg yolk is completely cooked through and not runny.

How to Make

Step 1

First, add butter to a large skillet over low medium heat. Once butter has melted, add eggs to skillet. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper if desired.

Step 2

Cook for 3 minutes on medium low heat or until egg whites have become completely opaque.

Step 3

Carefully flip over eggs. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 4

Finally, remove from pan and serve!

Bacon Grease Method

To make fried eggs with bacon grease, follow these steps. Be mindful of frying too quickly or with too much heat. Bacon grease tends to get very hot easily.

Step 1

First, add leftover bacon grease to a large skillet over low medium heat. Once bacon grease is runny, add eggs to the skillet. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper if desired.

Step 2

Cook for 3 minutes on medium low heat or until egg whites have become completely opaque.

Step 3

Carefully flip over eggs. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 4

Finally, remove from pan and serve!

Expert Tips & Tricks

The biggest tip is to be patient! Perfectly hard over eggs take time. Do not rush this process.

Do not skimp on the butter or bacon grease. If your pan starts to dry up, add more.

Be careful flipping them.

You will notice the egg yolk begin to puff up once the egg flips. This means the yolk has cooked through.

Over Hard Eggs, Over Medium Eggs, Over Easy Eggs

There are many ways to cook eggs! Here are some of the most popular and the differences between them.

Over hard features a fried egg with the yolk completely cooked through. The yolk is hard and not runny.

Over medium is a fried egg where the yolk is somewhat runny.

Over easy eggs are fried but the yolk is runny.

Lastly, sunny side up eggs are fried until the yolk is runny, but they are not flipped. These eggs are served with the yolk side up.

Healthy breakfast buffet spread

The top one was cooked in bacon grease. The bottom one was cooked in butter.

How to Serve & Store

Serve eggs over hard hot from the pan! They go well with bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, toast, and a side salad. These eggs are great in breakfast sandwiches, on top of salads and burgers, and by themselves. Delicious with these Air Fryer Home Fries.

Or, use these eggs in Healthy Breakfast Burritos!

Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 24 hours. To reheat, place back in a buttered pan and heat until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pan should I use?

A nonstick pan is the best for this recipe. Even though it is nonstick, use butter or bacon grease for easy flipping and extra flavor.

Can eggs be over hard?

Yes!

Is a fried egg and an over hard egg the same thing?

Not necessarily. A fried egg is any egg fried in a skillet. An over hard egg involves frying the egg until the yolk is completely cooked through.

Breakfast sandwich with bacon

The top one was cooked in bacon grease. The bottom one was cooked in butter.

You May Also Like

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate a review! You can find me on InstagramFacebook, and Pinterest. I would love for you to follow along!  For more ideas, check out these Breakfast Recipes.

Over hard eggs on white plate

Get the Recipe: Over Hard Eggs

These over hard eggs are easy to make and so tasty. The egg white edges are crispy while the egg yolks are cooked through perfectly. These eggs are great for breakfast sandwiches, salads and more!
5 from 18 votes

Ingredients

Instructions 

  • First, add butter to a large skillet over low medium heat. Once butter has melted, add eggs to skillet. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper if desired.
  • Cook for 3 minutes on medium low heat or until egg whites have become completely opaque.
  • Carefully flip over eggs. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. The eggs are done once the yolk has puffed up (see photos above for visual reference) and egg whites have crispy edges.
  • Finally, remove from pan and serve!

Notes

  • Both butter and bacon grease can be used.  See photos above for how to use bacon grease.
  • These eggs are best cooked low and slow.  Do not try to rush through this process!  Perfectly cooked over hard eggs take time.
  • Once the yolk has cooked through, it will begin to puff up.  See photos above for reference.  This is how you can tell the egg is done cooking.
  • Omit sea salt and/or pepper if desired.
Calories: 99kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 174mg, Sodium: 98mg, Potassium: 62mg, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 363IU, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 1mg

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