Eggs are one of the most versatile and widely consumed foods worldwide. Whether scrambled, fried, poached, or boiled, eggs provide a nutritious and satisfying meal. However, what truly elevates a simple egg dish to something extraordinary is the sauce you put on eggs. The right sauce can enhance the flavors, provide a creamy texture, or add a tangy or spicy kick, making each bite more exciting and delicious.
But with so many different options, you might wonder, what sauce can I put on eggs? In this guide, we’ll explore a variety of sauces for eggs, from classic choices like hollandaise to more adventurous options like sriracha mayo and pesto. By the end of this article, you’ll have plenty of inspiration to transform your eggs into gourmet meals.
Why Sauce Matters When Cooking Eggs
Eggs are relatively neutral in flavor, which means they can easily take on the flavors of the sauces and seasonings you add to them. Here’s why adding sauce to your eggs is a game-changer:
- Moisture: Eggs, especially when scrambled or fried, can sometimes be dry. A sauce provides the moisture needed to make the dish more palatable and satisfying.
- Flavor Enhancement: A well-chosen sauce enhances the natural flavors of the eggs while complementing other ingredients like cheese, vegetables, or meats.
- Balance: Sauces can add balance to rich egg dishes by cutting through the richness with tangy, spicy, or creamy notes.
- Variety: Changing the sauce you use on your eggs allows you to enjoy the same dish in different ways. For example, adding pesto to scrambled eggs creates a fresh, herby flavor, while hot sauce adds a spicy kick.
Now, let’s explore some of the best sauces to pair with eggs, starting with classic options and moving into more creative territory.
1. Hollandaise Sauce: A Classic for Eggs Benedict
When it comes to eggs, hollandaise sauce is a classic choice, particularly for dishes like eggs benedict. This rich and buttery sauce is made from egg yolks, lemon juice, and butter, creating a smooth and tangy flavor that complements poached eggs perfectly.
- Flavor Profile: Buttery, tangy, rich
- Best Paired With: Poached eggs, eggs benedict, asparagus, ham
- How It’s Made:
- Whisk egg yolks and lemon juice together.
- Slowly drizzle in melted butter while continuing to whisk until the sauce thickens.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Why It’s Great: Hollandaise adds luxurious richness to eggs, particularly poached eggs. Its tangy flavor cuts through the richness of the yolk and butter, creating a balanced and delicious meal. While it’s most famously used in eggs benedict, hollandaise can also be drizzled over scrambled eggs or served with roasted vegetables and eggs.
2. Hot Sauce: A Spicy Kick for Scrambled or Fried Eggs
For those who enjoy a bit of heat, hot sauce is a must-have condiment for eggs. Whether you’re scrambling, frying, or poaching your eggs, a splash of hot sauce can add a tangy, spicy flavor that elevates the dish.
- Flavor Profile: Spicy, tangy, vinegary
- Best Paired With: Scrambled eggs, fried eggs, omelets, breakfast burritos
- Popular Varieties:
- Tabasco: A classic hot sauce with a vinegary tang.
- Sriracha: A spicier option with a slightly sweet flavor.
- Cholula: A milder hot sauce with a smoky flavor.
Why It’s Great: Hot sauce cuts through the richness of eggs and adds a spicy kick, making it a perfect choice for those who love bold flavors. It works well on its own or mixed with other condiments like mayonnaise or ketchup to create a spicy egg sauce.
3. Pesto: Fresh and Herby for a Gourmet Touch
If you’re looking for a fresh, herbaceous option, pesto is an excellent choice to pair with eggs. Made from fresh basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, and olive oil, pesto brings a burst of green flavor that works beautifully with scrambled or fried eggs.
- Flavor Profile: Herbaceous, garlicky, nutty
- Best Paired With: Scrambled eggs, fried eggs, egg white omelets, roasted vegetables
- How It’s Made:
- Blend fresh basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese in a food processor.
- Slowly drizzle in olive oil until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Why It’s Great: Pesto adds brightness and freshness to egg dishes, making it a great option for a gourmet breakfast. It’s perfect for egg white omelets or scrambled eggs with vegetables, adding both flavor and moisture.
4. Cheese Sauce: Creamy and Indulgent
Cheese sauce might not be the first sauce you think of for eggs, but it’s a decadent option that pairs beautifully with dishes like scrambled eggs or breakfast casseroles. This sauce is rich, creamy, and cheesy, adding a comforting, indulgent touch to your egg dishes.
- Flavor Profile: Creamy, cheesy, rich
- Best Paired With: Scrambled eggs, breakfast casseroles, omelets, hash browns
- How It’s Made:
- Melt butter in a saucepan and whisk in flour to create a roux.
- Slowly add milk, whisking until the mixture thickens.
- Stir in shredded cheese until melted and smooth.
Why It’s Great: Cheese sauce adds a rich and creamy element to eggs, particularly scrambled eggs or egg-based casseroles. It’s a great choice for those who enjoy indulgent breakfasts and love the combination of eggs and melted cheese.
5. Sriracha Mayo: A Spicy and Creamy Option
Sriracha mayo combines the heat of sriracha with the creaminess of mayonnaise, making it an ideal sauce for eggs. It adds both spice and a smooth texture, working particularly well with fried or scrambled eggs.
- Flavor Profile: Spicy, tangy, creamy
- Best Paired With: Scrambled eggs, fried eggs, breakfast sandwiches, breakfast wraps
- How It’s Made:
- Mix mayonnaise with sriracha sauce to taste.
- Add a squeeze of lime juice for extra tang if desired.
Why It’s Great: Sriracha mayo adds a creamy, spicy kick that pairs well with eggs. It’s particularly good for adding flavor to breakfast sandwiches or wraps with eggs, bacon, and cheese.
6. Avocado Sauce: Creamy and Nutritious
Avocado sauce is a healthy and creamy option that works well with eggs. Avocados are rich in healthy fats, and their creamy texture complements eggs beautifully. You can mash avocado into a sauce with lime juice and seasonings, or blend it into a smooth sauce with Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Flavor Profile: Creamy, slightly tangy, fresh
- Best Paired With: Scrambled eggs, egg white omelets, poached eggs, breakfast burritos
- How It’s Made:
- Mash ripe avocado with lime juice, salt, and pepper.
- For a smoother sauce, blend avocado with Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Why It’s Great: Avocado sauce is both nutritious and flavorful, providing a creamy texture that pairs well with eggs without being too heavy. It’s a great alternative to heavier sauces like mayonnaise or hollandaise and is perfect for health-conscious eaters.
7. Ranch Dressing: Creamy and Herby
While ranch dressing is typically used for salads, it also works surprisingly well with eggs, especially in breakfast wraps or burritos. The creamy, tangy flavor of ranch pairs well with the richness of eggs, adding an extra layer of flavor.
- Flavor Profile: Creamy, tangy, herby
- Best Paired With: Breakfast wraps, scrambled eggs, egg burritos, fried eggs
- How It’s Made:
- Mix mayonnaise, buttermilk, and fresh herbs like dill, parsley, and chives.
- Add garlic and onion powder for flavor and whisk until smooth.
Why It’s Great: Ranch dressing adds a tangy, herby flavor that complements egg dishes with bacon, cheese, or vegetables. It’s an easy sauce to drizzle over eggs in wraps or burritos for added moisture and flavor.
8. Garlic Aioli: A Rich and Flavorful Sauce
Aioli is a garlicky, rich sauce that’s similar to mayonnaise but with a stronger flavor profile. Made from garlic, olive oil, and egg yolks, aioli adds a bold, savory flavor to eggs, making it perfect for breakfast sandwiches or eggs served with roasted vegetables.
- Flavor Profile: Garlicky, creamy, rich
- Best Paired With: Breakfast sandwiches, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, roasted vegetables
- How It’s Made:
- Whisk together egg yolks, lemon juice, and minced garlic.
- Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until the mixture thickens.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Why It’s Great: Aioli adds a rich, garlicky flavor that enhances the savory aspects of eggs, especially in breakfast sandwiches. Its creamy texture also helps to keep sandwiches moist, making it a versatile sauce for a variety of egg dishes.
9. Tahini Sauce: A Nutty, Savory Option
Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds, commonly used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. When mixed with lemon juice, garlic, and water, it becomes a smooth, nutty sauce that pairs beautifully with eggs, especially in dishes like shakshuka or scrambled eggs with vegetables.
- Flavor Profile: Nutty, creamy, slightly tangy
- Best Paired With: Scrambled eggs, shakshuka, poached eggs, roasted vegetables
- How It’s Made:
- Whisk together tahini, lemon juice, minced garlic, and water until smooth.
- Adjust the consistency with more water or lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper.
Why It’s Great: Tahini sauce adds a unique, nutty flavor to eggs, making it a great choice for those looking for something different. It’s particularly well-suited for Middle Eastern-inspired egg dishes like shakshuka, but it also works with simple scrambled or poached eggs.
10. Soy Sauce: A Salty, Umami Boost
For a more savory, umami-rich option, soy sauce can be drizzled over eggs to add depth and saltiness. This is a popular choice in Asian cuisine, particularly for fried or scrambled eggs served with rice.
- Flavor Profile: Salty, savory, umami
- Best Paired With: Scrambled eggs, fried eggs, egg fried rice, omelets
- How It’s Made:
- Simply drizzle soy sauce over cooked eggs.
- Alternatively, mix it into scrambled eggs while cooking for an even distribution of flavor.
Why It’s Great: Soy sauce adds a salty, umami flavor that enhances the natural taste of eggs. It’s perfect for those who prefer savory breakfasts and works well with Asian-inspired egg dishes like fried rice or omelets.
11. Chimichurri Sauce: Fresh and Zesty
Chimichurri is a fresh and zesty sauce made from parsley, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar. It’s traditionally used with grilled meats, but its bright and tangy flavor also pairs beautifully with eggs, especially fried or poached eggs.
- Flavor Profile: Garlicky, tangy, herby
- Best Paired With: Fried eggs, poached eggs, egg white omelets, breakfast sandwiches
- How It’s Made:
- Finely chop parsley and garlic, then mix with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of chili flakes.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Why It’s Great: Chimichurri adds a fresh, zesty flavor to eggs, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy bright, herby sauces. It’s perfect for drizzling over fried or poached eggs, or serving with roasted vegetables and eggs.
Customizing Your Own Egg Sauces
While these sauces are all excellent on their own, you can also experiment with combining different ingredients to create your own unique egg sauces. Here are some tips for customizing egg sauces:
1. Add Heat
If you enjoy spicy food, try adding heat to your sauces:
- Mix sriracha or hot sauce into mayonnaise for a spicy egg sauce.
- Add chili flakes or hot peppers to pesto for a zesty kick.
2. Make It Creamy
For creamier sauces, you can incorporate ingredients like:
- Greek yogurt or sour cream to lighten up rich sauces like aioli or hollandaise.
- Mayonnaise into herb-based sauces like chimichurri or tahini for extra creaminess.
3. Brighten It Up
To balance rich egg dishes, add some acidity:
- Squeeze in lemon juice or vinegar to brighten up sauces like tahini or ranch.
- Add a splash of lime juice to sriracha mayo for a tangy twist.
FAQs
What sauce goes best with scrambled eggs?
Some great options for scrambled eggs include hollandaise sauce, pesto, hot sauce, and cheese sauce. Each adds its own unique flavor, from creamy and rich to spicy and tangy.
What sauce is best for eggs benedict?
Hollandaise sauce is the traditional sauce for eggs benedict, adding a rich and buttery flavor that pairs perfectly with poached eggs and ham or smoked salmon.
Can I mix sauces with eggs?
Yes! You can experiment with different combinations, such as mixing pesto with aioli, or blending sriracha with mayonnaise for a spicy and creamy sauce.
What is the healthiest sauce for eggs?
Avocado sauce or pesto made with olive oil and fresh herbs are great healthy options. They provide healthy fats and a burst of flavor without added sugars or preservatives.
Conclusion
The right sauce can turn a simple egg dish into a gourmet meal. From the rich and buttery hollandaise to the spicy kick of sriracha mayo, there’s a sauce for every type of egg dish. Whether you prefer your eggs scrambled, fried, or poached, experimenting with sauces is a fun and flavorful way to take your breakfast to the next level.
So, the next time you cook eggs, don’t just season with salt and pepper—try adding one of these delicious sauces to elevate your breakfast experience!