8 Recipes With Eggs That Aren’t for Breakfast

If you only eat eggs in the morning, you’re missing out. Make any meal, snack, or appetizer healthier and more satisfying by adding an egg.

iStock/CarlaMc

Top it with an egg

That’s what the recipe testers, developers, and editors in Bon Appetit magazine’s test kitchen say once they think they’ve perfected a dish. At home, you too can adopt their approach while making your dishes healthier: One whole egg provides 6 grams of high-quality protein, plus vitamins A, B, E, B12, iron, zinc, omega-3s, and more nutrients.

iStock/ShyMan

Whip up a simple spaghetti carbonara

This speedy version of the classic Italian dish from Bon Appetit is still traditional with its bacon, eggs, and cheese sauce; go lean by swapping in turkey bacon to save 3 grams of fat per ounce and by using whole grain pasta for extra fiber. Balance the meal with a green salad for a serving or two of veggies.

iStock/Lauri-Patterson

Make an egg-topped pizza

If you’ve never done this, you don’t know what you’re missing, claim fans who love the richness that slightly-runny yolks add to an already-delicious pie. Prepare your favorite homemade pizza recipe and bake until almost cooked. Then carefully crack a few eggs around the pizza’s surface and return to the oven until the whites are cooked but the yolks are still just a bit runny, suggests livestrong.com. This is why you should eat pizza with a fork and knife.

iStock/Lauri-Patterson

Make homemade fried rice

Who needs takeout? This healthier take on the Chinese restaurant classic from slenderkitchen.com recommends that you cook the eggs first, then stir in other ingredients to avoid soggy rice. (Using day-old rice from the fridge also helps prevent sogginess.)

iStock/allgord

Make a sliced egg and tomato sandwich with pesto mayo

This easy egg sammie recipe from fitnessmagazine.com can be ready for lunch in minutes when you start with an already-cooked hard-boiled egg. You’ll get a nice mix of nutrients: healthy fats from the pesto’s pine nuts, fiber from whole-grain bread, and vitamin C and cancer-fighting lycopene from tomatoes. Check out these tips to perfectly layer a sandwich.

iStock/alfonso90

Blend a protein-packed smoothie

This fruit smoothie from BHG.com calls for an egg to give you a protein boost. Cook the egg in a skillet first, then add it to a blender with frozen berries, grapes, banana slices, and low-fat yogurt. Each serving contains 9 grams of protein along with vitamins A, C, and potassium. Or try adding an egg to one of these other super-healthy fruit smoothies.

iStock/Lauri-Patterson

Make a speedy egg muffin sandwich

Because it’s so easy to make (and clean up), you can enjoy this Quick Egg Muffin sandwich any time. In a microwave-safe mug, beat one egg and a pinch of salt and pepper with a fork; microwave mug for 45 seconds. Done! Serve on a toasted whole-wheat English muffin with a slice of low-fat cheddar cheese, and add a few slices of tomato (1/2 cup) for 15 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin A and 20 percent of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C. Here are more treats you can make in a mug.

iStock/mcfields

Prepare classic deviled eggs

A slightly spicy deviled egg makes for a protein-rich party appetizer. This version from foodnetwork.com mixes the yolks with sweet relish, mayonnaise, mustard, and a pinch of cayenne, salt, and pepper. Slim down the recipe with low-fat mayo, which saves about 2 1/2 grams per deviled egg half. Add more cayenne if you want bold flavor to really shine.

iStock/foodphoto

Cook savory Brussels sprouts

Unexpected toppings add a creamy, elegant touch to this simple side dish. Separate a few handfuls of Brussels sprouts into individual leaves, then sauté in olive oil until browned and crisp. Season with lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and divide among plates; then top each helping with a sunny side up egg, a dollop of yogurt, and some hot sauce. Brussels sprouts are hands-down one of the healthiest vegetables you can eat.

Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest