How to Make Deviled Eggs—Including Instant Pot and Air Fryer Techniques

Deviled eggs may sound scary (or evil?), but they're basically dressed up hard-boiled eggs. A halfway point between an egg dish and an egg salad, deviled eggs are believed to come from ancient Rome, when hard boiled eggs would be enhanced with spicy sauce. Of course, the recipe has undergone a few upgrades and tweaks over the past few centuries, but the concept is the same: Cook eggs, slice, add spice. There's plenty of room for your own riffs and preferences, so keep reading for details on how to make deviled eggs.

How to Boil Eggs for Deviled Eggs on the Stove-Top

To boil eggs on the stove-top, fill a medium to large pot (depending on how many eggs you're cooking) with water. Bring the water to a boil on the stove-top. Gently lower the eggs into the water with a slotted spoon, spider, or strainer, taking care not to drop the eggs in or they might crack. Reduce the heat to a lively simmer and cook for 12 minutes. While the eggs are cooking, fill a large bowl with ice water. Remove the eggs with the slotted spoon, spider, or strainer and transfer them to the bowl of ice water. Let sit in the water until cool. Now, the fun part. Peel the eggs and transfer them to a clean cutting board. Using a sharp, clean knife, slice each egg in half.

How to Cook Eggs for Deviled Eggs in an Air Fryer

If you don't want to turn your stove on, the air fryer can also help you whip up some hard-boiled eggs—no boiling required, says Nelson Serrano-Bahri, Chef and Director of Innovation at the American Egg Board. Just throw your cold eggs in the air fryer (don't crowd them) and cook at 250 degrees (boiling water is 212 degrees, but this is close enough) for 15 minutes. Then, let the eggs cool in an ice bath, and follow the steps to make the filling, which doesn't require heat.

How to Cook Eggs for Deviled Eggs in the Oven

Cooking eggs in the oven is another hands-off option. Preheat the oven to 325 F, directs Serrano-Bahri. Place eggs in a muffin tin. For a fully cooked yolk like you'd want for deviled eggs, bake them for 30 minutes. When they're finished cooking, transfer them to an ice bath using tongs to cool completely.

How to Cook Eggs for Deviled Eggs in an Instant Pot

Cooking eggs in the Instant Pot can also help speed up the process, though the multi-cooker will need to pressurize first. Just add a few inches of water to the pot, set the steamer basket in place, and add as many eggs as you want to cook. Pressure cook the eggs on high for five minutes. Once they're done, you know the routine: Ice bath, peel, slice, and fill!

How to Make Deviled Egg Filling

Once your hard-boiled eggs are cooked, it's all about the rich filling. For a basic deviled egg filling, follow these instructions. Feel free to customize the filling to your liking and taste preferences.

1. Using a spoon or your fingers, remove the yolks from each egg half, and put the yolks in a small mixing bowl.
2. Add about one tablespoon per egg of mayonnaise or plain yogurt, or a combination of the two. Softened butter is another option.
3. Add a dollop of Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, paprika, and a dash of your favorite hot sauce. You can also add cayenne, harissa, or other spices to play with the flavor. If you want to up the acidity, squeeze in some lemon juice or add a splash of good vinegar. You can also mix cheese into the filling.
4. Stir your filling to combine. You'll know it's ready once it's creamy. Taste for seasoning and add more salt, pepper, or acid if necessary.

How to Stuff Deviled Eggs

To stuff deviled eggs, spoon the filling mixture back into the empty egg white halves. You can also scoop the filling into a pastry bag (or a plastic sandwich bag, and cut off the tip) to pipe the filling into the hard-boiled whites, for a fancy effect.

How to Top Deviled Eggs

While a dusting of paprika can be enough to dress up a deviled egg, the two-bite appetizer is a place to play with different ingredients and your palate. Consider dressing it up by sprinkling some fresh herbs on top, like chives or dill. You can get fancy with salmon roe or caviar scooped on top, or try adding some protein via bacon crumbles or smoked salmon pieces. Pickled vegetables, like cornichons, capers, or kimchi add a nice funkiness, and a sprinkle of Everything Bagel Seasoning is never a bad idea. Truly, if you think it will pair well with deviled eggs, it probably will.

Our Best Deviled Egg Recipes to Try

Classic Deviled Eggs

It doesn't get much more traditional than this recipe. It uses a combination of mayonnaise and yogurt to for creaminess and Dijon mustard and lemon juice for a burst of tanginess. Skip nonfat yogurt in favor of reduced-fat or full-fat for best results.

Cacio e Pepe Deviled Eggs

The celebrated cacio e pepe combo (pecorino cheese and pepper) earned its fame as a pasta sauce in Rome. But, it has become ubiquitous for good reason. Here, deviled eggs get the cacio e pepe treatment. Simply mix the yolks with yogurt, pecorino cheese, chives, pepper, salt, and a little vinegar. Spoon into the egg whites and top with more pepper, cheese, and chives.

Spicy Deviled Eggs

These spicy deviled eggs get a Southern twist with the addition of jarred pimento peppers, cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise. Adding cayenne pepper gives them an irresistible kick. Looking for a perfect wine pairing? Choose Champagne or another dry sparkling wine for the win.