Eggs are an affordable, nutritious kitchen staple that can be prepared in countless ways. Here’s how to build kitchen confidence with easy, family-friendly egg dishes. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Eggs are a mealtime superhero. When it comes to building healthy, delicious, easy snacks and meals, there’s nothing better. They’re packed with high-quality protein and important nutrients like vitamins A, D and E, and choline, which is important for brain development. Plus, they’re affordable, versatile and kid-friendly, which makes them a smart kitchen staple for any household. 

That said, many people don’t realize just how versatile eggs can be for anytime of day. They rely on the classics like omelettes and scrambled eggs (and there’s nothing wrong with that—who doesn’t love a good omelette?) without thinking about how easy it is to level up egg preparation. So, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to provide some egg-cellent inspiration for reinventing eggs in your house—including how to get the whole family involved. Read on to learn more. 

Hard-Boiled Eggs 

It seems like everyone has their own tried and true way of cooking hard-boiled eggs. Honestly, none of them are right or wrong; it can just take some trial and error to learn what works best for you. Here are a few of the simplest methods: 

Boiling in a pot: Place cold eggs in a single layer in a saucepan. Cover with at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) cold water over top of the eggs. Cover saucepan and bring quickly to a boil over a high heat. Immediately remove pan from heat to stop boiling. Let eggs stand in water for 12 minutes (large eggs). Drain water and immediately run cold water over eggs until cooled. 

Instant pot: Our friends at Get Cracking taught us this method (click here for the full instructions). This is a set-it-and-forget-it method that means you can get the eggs going and tackle a few other things from your to-do list while they cook—no babysitting required. The ice water bath is optional but they will continue to cook if you skip this step. 

Air fryer: Yes, believe it or not, you can air-fry your way to perfect hardboiled eggs. Set your air fryer to 270°F, then place the eggs in the air fryer basket (don’t overcrowd). Cook for 15 minutes. Remove and immediately place in an ice water bath for however long you like. 

Once you’ve hardboiled your eggs, the options are endless. Sure, they’re great with a little salt and pepper, but you can also make them into the best-ever egg salad, combine them with crudites for adorable veggie pops (kids love to help with this one!) or make them into flavour-packed pinwheels for lunchboxes.  

Egg Muffins 

And you thought your muffin tin was just for muffins. Egg muffins (sometimes called egg cups) are just as they sound: a delish mix of eggs and whatever fillings you want, baked to golden perfection. They’re super easy to make, too.  

Here’s a quick rundown: 

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease the wells of a 12-cup muffin tin.  
  • To make a dozen egg muffins, you’ll need 12 large eggs. Start by cracking the eggs into a bowl, adding a little milk and whisking until uniform.  
  • Next, dice any fillings to a manageable size (we love pepper, green onion, bacon…the list goes on). Add fillings to the bowl with eggs.  
  • Add a generous sprinkle of any grated cheese, as well as any seasonings you like (think onion powder, garlic powder, Italian herb blend, etc).  
  • Divide the mixture between wells of the muffin tin.  
  • Bake in the centre of the oven until a toothpick inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean, about 15-18 minutes. Let cool before serving or storing. 

These are the best for busy days—they can be a protein-packed breakfast, they travel well in school lunchboxes and they provide the fuel everyone needs to get through after-school activities. You can also please any particular palates in your household by letting them customize their own muffin cups (seriously, if they just want to add cheese, so be it). 

Meals on the Go 

Everyone knows about eggs for breakfast, but eggs can also be a great source of protein in your lunches and dinners, too. Making a large sheet pan of eggs at once can fuel breakfast sandwiches, serve as a quick protein for lunch or be added to burgers at dinner (if you’ve never added an egg to a burger, you’re missing out).  

You can also make a big batch of scrambled eggs to use as the filling for tacos or burritos—just change up the toppings depending on the time of day. For breakfast, add crumbled bacon, hashbrowns and cheese. For dinner, go with salsa and guac. 

Last but not least, don’t overlook a grab-and-go snack box. Hardboiled eggs serve as the protein, but these can be customized for every meal and taste. Add crackers or a couple of pieces of toast, fresh fruit, nut or seed butter, a handful of nuts and some cubes of cheese and you’re good to go with a balanced, on-the-move meal. See how to build a grab-and-go-snack box on Instagram: 

The Bottom Line 

Eggs can truly shine as a family friendly food that fits into any routine—no matter how chaotic! Once you learn what cooking methods work for your family, and how to use eggs to your advantage, you’ll no doubt be reaching for that carton of eggs throughout the day!  

Looking for more ideas? Check out the full hub here: Get Cracking With Eggs.