Food Cooking Tips & Techniques Sunny Side Up Eggs vs. Over Easy: How to Make Them Perfectly Both styles of fried eggs are delicious—and they're simple to make! By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on January 31, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article What's the Difference Between Sunny Side Up Eggs Vs. Over Easy Eggs? How to Make Sunny Side Up Eggs How to Make Over Easy Eggs Recipes That Call for Sunny Side Up Eggs or Over Easy Eggs Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Atlas Studio/Getty Images You've probably heard of sunny side up eggs and over easy eggs, but can you tell the difference between the two? They're both variations on fried eggs, which have had something of a ren-eggs-ance over the past few years, appearing atop salads, burgers, pizzas, waffles—and pretty much everything but cake. Learn what the difference is between the sunny side up eggs and over easy eggs, how to make them perfectly—and where you can use your new fried egg prowess. What's the Difference Between Sunny Side Up Eggs Vs. Over Easy Eggs? Sunny side up eggs and over easy eggs are simply two different ways to prepare fried eggs. For a sunny side up egg, the egg is cracked in the pan and cooked simply—no flipping required. That results in a golden, runnier yolk and a perfectly cooked white. How to Cook an Egg in the Microwave For over easy eggs, you'll flip the egg partway through cooking, which results in a more even cook for the egg overall. Over easy eggs still have a runny yolk like a sunny side up egg. If you want the yolk more cooked, you'd need to order your egg over medium or over well. How to Make Sunny Side Up Eggs Two tricks to cooking a sunny side up egg: Use a glass lid and a nonstick or cast iron pan to make it easy to remove it and to watch it cook, and use medium-low heat to avoid making your whites too crispy (unless, of course, that's how you like them!). Set the pan with a tablespoon of oil or butter over medium low heat, and let it melt and warm. Break the eggs into the pan, and cover with a glass lid. (That lets you keep track of its progress without releasing the steam.) When the whites are just set, remove the lid and let the egg cook until the whites are fully set. (That usually takes another two minutes.) How to Make Over Easy Eggs Over easy eggs follow similar steps as sunny side up eggs. Set your nonstick or cast iron pan over medium-low heat, and melt or warm a tablespoon of butter or oil in the pan. Crack your egg into it, and let it cook until the whites are just set, about two minutes. Flip the egg using a spatula, and cook for about 20 to 30 seconds on the other side. (If you leave it longer on the other side, you can end up with eggs over medium or eggs over well.) How to Make the Best Over-Easy Eggs in 5 Easy Steps Recipes That Call for Sunny Side Up Eggs or Over Easy Eggs Fried eggs are delicious on their own, or topping a toast, waffles, or veggies. Check out these different ways to use sunny side up eggs or over easy eggs. Crunchy Skillet Eggs With Herbs Jen Causey Panko breadcrumbs and fresh herbs elevate a plate of fried eggs for this simple dish. Here, eggs are served sunny side up. Crunchy Skillet Eggs With Herbs Black Bean and Eggs-Over-Easy Tostadas Fred Hardy Eggs over easy make these tasty tostadas a perfect addition to brunch—or a gorgeous lunch or dinner, too. Black Bean and Eggs-Over-Easy Tostadas Sunny Side Up Sheet Pan Breakfast Greg DuPree Whether you serve this as breakfast, or breakfast-for-dinner, this all-in-one sheet pan recipe isn't short on deliciousness. Potatoes, spinach, onions, and proscuitto make a perfect nest for sunny side up eggs. Sunny-Side-Up Sheet Pan Breakfast 31 Easy Breakfast for Dinner Recipes to Cook Tonight Feta Fried Egg Recipe This TikTok trendy recipe uses two favorite TikTok ingredients: feta cheese and eggs. And it couldn't be simpler to make! Feta Fried Egg Recipe Spring Greens Tartine With Prosciutto, Fontina, and Fried Egg Greg DuPree These pretty toasts are full of flavor, thanks to the prosciutto and fontina cheese. While the recipe calls for sunny side up eggs, sub in over easy (or medium, or well!), depending on the preferences of you and your family. Spring Greens Tartine With Prosciutto, Fontina, and a Fried Egg Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad With Pancetta and Fried Egg Fred Hardy A sprinkling of pancetta and a fried egg boost the protein count for this tasty winter salad. Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad With Pancetta and Fried Egg Recipe Cheesy Chive Waffles With Fried Eggs Greg DuPree Yes, waffles can be savory, too. Here, Gruyere cheese and chives give this waffle savory flair—and a topping of peppery watercress or arugula, a well-fried egg, and a tasty lemon mayo make this a treat for brunch or dinner. Again, this recipe calls for sunny side up eggs, but you can always opt to make them over easy instead. Cheesy Chive Waffles With Fried Eggs Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit