10 Ways to Turn Hard-Boiled Eggs into Lunch

updated May 1, 2019
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(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

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.

(Image credit: Jerrelle Guy)

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

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

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

(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

9. Fold them into a quesadilla.

Hard-cooked eggs add subtle oomph to your quesadillas, playing nicely with cheese, beans, and veggie fillings.

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