10 Ways to Turn Hard-Boiled Eggs into Lunch
It’s incredible. It’s edible. And it’s an amazing powerhouse of protein that fits almost any budget. It is, of course, the egg.
And since I learned how to hard-cook eggs in my pressure cooker, well, they are an ever-present constant in my fridge as well as on my menu. Hard-cooked eggs make a great snack, are incredibly portable, and can make lunch into something special without much effort at all.
1. Make them the star of the snacky lunch.
Some cafes call them “bistro boxes”; some pubs call them a Ploughman’s Lunch. At our house we call them snacky lunches. Gather together bread, cheese, fruit, veg, some pickled type foods, and a few hard-cooked eggs. It’s easy and delicious.
Get the recipe: The Ploughman’s Lunch
2. Turn them into a classic egg salad sandwich.
A longtime classic, chopped hard-cooked eggs are just begging to be mixed with some mayonnaise and spices and served in a sandwich or in a lettuce wrap. What comfort food!
Get the recipe: Classic Egg Salad
3. Go au naturel.
Want to hold the mayo? No problem. Hard-cooked eggs taste great layered in baguette or other sandwich rolls along with vegetables and vinaigrette dressing. The French call their version un sandwich crudité nature. It’s très bon — trust me.
Get the recipe: Egg Plus Salad Sandwiches
4. Take sausage and eggs to a new level.
Considered picnic food in the United Kingdom, Scotch Eggs are hard-cooked eggs, wrapped in sausage, deep-fried, and served with dipping sauces. Talk about incredible! You can make a big batch on the weekend and enjoy them for lunches early in the week; they should be good in the fridge, covered, for two to three days.
Get the recipe: Scotch Eggs
5. Get your salad on.
Hard-cooked eggs serve as a hearty protein on salads, considered standard for recipes such as the Cobb, the Niçoise, or the chef’s salad. Add whatever meats and veggies you have on hand for a filling but healthy salad lunch.
Get the recipe: Cobb Salad
6. Put them in a pita pocket.
Sabich or sabih is a traditional Jewish Iraqi sandwich made with fried eggplant, hard-cooked eggs, hummus, and veggies stuffed into a pita pocket. What a tasty way to travel the globe!
Get the recipe: Egg and Eggplant Sandwich
7. Enjoy them on a pizza.
English muffins serve as easy bases for everyday pizzas. Give them a non-traditional twist by adding sliced hard-cooked eggs on top. Meatless yet protein-rich, they’ll give your afternoon a great boost.
Get the recipe: English-Muffin Egg Pizzas
8. Play nice-ly.
A common street food in Nice, France, the pan bagna makes a filling sandwich, featuring both canned tuna and hard-cooked eggs. Don’t worry if it’s messy, dripping with dressing — it’s supposed to be.
Get the recipe: Pan Bagna
9. Fold them into a quesadilla.
Hard-cooked eggs add subtle oomph to your quesadillas, playing nicely with cheese, beans, and veggie fillings.
Get the recipe: Make a Better Quesadilla with Hard-Boiled Eggs
10. Stir them into pasta.
Hard-cooked eggs have long been a favorite macaroni salad add-in. They add protein without making the dish heavy or overpriced.
Get the recipe: The Best Macaroni Salad