Everyone's favorite snack at picnics, potlucks, and cookouts, classic deviled eggs are always a hit. But they're an especially festive addition to a spread of Easter appetizers! Consider this your classically delicious, no-frills recipe starring shelled, hard-boiled eggs stuffed with a creamy filling of cooked egg yolks, mayonnaise, mustard, and tangy pickle juice. A vibrant garnish of paprika and a daring dash of hot sauce makes them even more inviting! After you master the classic, try different versions like sour cream and onion deviled eggs or crispy fried deviled eggs.

What puts the "devil" in deviled eggs?

From deviled ham to deviled crab to deviled eggs, what the devil is up with this food? No need to have sympathy; the adjective "deviled" is simply an old-fashioned culinary term for a highly seasoned dish. Spicy seasonings such as hot sauce, mustard, and ground red pepper originally brought about the comparison to fire and brimstone. For an extra "deviled" kick in these eggs, replace the dill pickle juice with pickled jalapeño juice.

How do you boil eggs?

Boiling eggs is easy! Just follow these steps:

1. Fill a large pot with enough water to fully cover the eggs and bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Using a slotted spoon or skimmer, lower the eggs into the boiling water. Cover, reduce the heat to a simmer, and boil for the eggs for 12 minutes.
3. Drain the eggs and immediately plunge into a bowl of ice water or run under cold water to stop the cooking process and cool.

How do you get boiled eggs to peel easily?

Peeling hard-boiled eggs can be... frustrating. There's nothing worse than watching a beautiful boiled egg transform into a mangled mess of egg whites and broken shells. While everyone seems to have a secret trick, from adding baking soda to the water to using old eggs, there's no tip that guarantees flawless eggs every time. However, the easy process of lowering eggs into gently boiling water to cook for 12 minutes, and then dunking them in ice water works wonderfully for easy-peel eggs.

How long can deviled eggs sit out?

Deviled eggs should never sit out for more than two hours at room temperature, or one hour if the temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It's best to keep these in the fridge anytime they're not being served.

Can you make deviled eggs ahead of time?

Yes, deviled eggs are the perfect party food because they can be prepared beforehand. The eggs can be boiled, peeled, and refrigerated up to three days in advance. The filling can be mixed up and the eggs assembled up to 24 hours before they are served. Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight plastic container or on an adorable deviled egg plate wrapped in plastic wrap.

What else can you add to deviled eggs?

There are tons of ways to make and garnish deviled eggs, and this recipe is a great place to start! You can stir a few tablespoons of dill relish or sweet pickle relish into the filing. Fresh chopped herbs such as dill would be tasty too. (Dill deviled eggs are the perfect spring appetizer!) For a fun twist, make horseradish deviled eggs. They have a little kick and are topped with crunchy barbecue chips!

What can you do with leftover deviled eggs?

If you're lucky enough to have extra deviled eggs, dice them up to make egg salad to spread on bread for sandwiches or enjoy with crackers or mash some to add to your potato salad.