11 Delicious Reminders That Eggs Are Awesome for Dinner, Too

The average American consumes 273 eggs per year, and about 75% of these are part of our breakfast menu. The morning meal shouldn’t get all the golden-yolk glory, though. Individuals from cultures around the globe enjoy eggs for dinner, in everything from pasta and rice dishes to soups, sandwiches and beyond.

Whether you’re in the mood for a tour of Italy, feel like swinging by a pub in London or dream about slurping up a big bowl of ramen in Japan, these easy egg recipes showcase the versatility of this affordable protein option. The next time you head to the supermarket, invest in a dozen or two so you can take your taste buds to tour the globe — all without leaving your own kitchen.

Prior to becoming a Food Network Star, Sunny Anderson traveled around the world as a military radio broadcaster and host with the United States Air Force. During her service, Sunny was stationed in Seoul. That’s where she fell in love with Korean cuisine — including bibimbap. The quintessential Korean rice bowls come topped with meat, veggies and fermented chile paste. Finish by putting an egg on it, so you can stir it in while the ingredients are still hot. With each swirl, the yolk becomes more and more integrated and acts as a luscious, savory "condiment."

After more than 40 years of experience as a chef, Geoffrey Zakarian could teach a masterclass on the classics. So we trust him implicitly to coach us through how to make eggs for dinner as part of this iconic Italian recipe. (The 100+ 5-star reviews don’t hurt, either!) To ensure you don’t end up with scrambled egg and crispy pancetta pasta, the only secret is to scramble the eggs, egg yolk and cheese with some of the warm and starchy cooking water to temper the eggs. Otherwise, this easy pasta recipe is foolproof, fans say. “I have made carbonara for years, but never thought it was special until I used Geoffrey's recipe and techniques. This is a great pantry pasta that can be done on the fly,” one home cook cheers.

Curious how to make a healthy kale recipe you’ll actually look forward to eating? Marinate the veggies in lemon vinaigrette, toss that with smoked almonds and Parmesan, then you know what to do: add a fried egg or two. Even noted egg-averse Guy Fieri said, “I can’t wait to taste that one” after his pal chef Mark Stark talked him through how to DIY.

Described as a “HUGE hit” by home cooks who unanimously rate it worthy of 5 stars, this comfort food recipe brings the concept of “chicken soup for the soul” to life in your bowl. A beautiful balance of lightness (hat tip to the lemon-scented chicken broth and veggies!) and heartiness (shredded eggs and chicken thighs for the win), this Roman soup is a family favorite no matter the season. One fan exclaims, “I can’t believe more people haven’t made this!” If you haven’t, have eggs in your fridge and can carve out 40 minutes for the easy prep, we highly recommend that you make tonight the night.

By the looks of this bowl and its punchy cast of characters (sake-marinated pork belly, bacon-infused broth, chewy ramen noodles, chili paste…), you might think that the jammy eggs here are an afterthought. However, we’d deem it quite essential. Not only does an egg stay true to the Japanese roots of this recipe, but it also acts as a rich and mild counterpart to the umami-rich and spicy elements.

Morning, afternoon or evening, we’d gladly dive into this restaurant-quality noodle bowl any time of day.

Go ahead, close out of the delivery apps. “We have made this dozens of times, it’s even better than takeout,” a home cook confirms. Impactful ingredients like shiitake mushrooms, red chile flakes, fresh ginger, soy sauce, and toasted sesame oil ensure that each grain of rice and fleck of egg is loaded with savory, salty, and spicy flavor. By the way, if you happen to have leftover rice, this is the perfect vehicle for it. Day-old rice has less moisture and is firmer in texture, so it toasts (rather than clumping or steaming) and soaks up far more flavor than fresh.

What is Sunny Anderson’s favorite burger topping? A sunny-side up egg, of course! Sure, this might sound like a bad dad joke. But it’s true — and this is truly one of the best burger upgrades in our archives. It starts with a thick slab of Texas toast. Then comes a thick layer of garlicky lemon-infused mayo, followed by a juicy, smoky burger. Last but not least, egg and hot sauce round things out for a meal that’s a hit with home fries for breakfast or French fries for dinner.

Although Guy Fieri is based in California, he’s no slouch when it comes to Hawaiian fare. In fact, he has extensive experience feasting his way through the islands for Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and Guy! Hawaiian Style. Once he was back home, Guy put the lessons he learned to delicious use by recreating his favorites — including Loco Moco — at home. This Hawaiian recipe is a reminder that simple can be spectacular. Who could resist a mountain of rice topped with a juicy burger, a sunny-side up egg and a waterfall of mushroom gravy?

At Chinese-American restaurants, egg foo young is typically deep-fried and smothered in brown gravy, This lighter, less messy rendition calls for pan-frying and showering with thinly-sliced scallions. We take liberties with the technique, and give you permission to do so with the mix-ins. Our restaurant copycat recipe features Canadian bacon, mushrooms and peas. Feel free to pick any of your favorites…or any items that you need to use up in your crisper drawer. “I followed this recipe to a ‘T,’ and I’m strutting around the kitchen like I’m the next Iron Chef,” one fan jokes.

Leave the sourdough slices in the bread box today. Instead, try serving your eggs atop — actually baked inside of — hollowed-out marinated portobello mushrooms. Paired with an arugula and tomato salad, this is a dinner appetizer that’s elegant enough to serve at a dinner party but is easy enough to accomplish on even the busiest of weeknights. To amp up the heartiness factor, pair two Eggs in Da Port with salad, and top that all with a handful of crispy crumbled bacon.