Eggs are a versatile food that can be prepared in many different ways. One of the most popular ways to serve eggs is with some type of sauce or topping. The right sauce can complement the flavor of eggs and make them even more delicious. But with so many sauce options available, how do you know which ones pair best with eggs?
Some key factors to consider when choosing an egg sauce include consistency, flavor, purpose, and personal preference. Thinner, runnier sauces like hollandaise or béarnaise work well on poached or fried eggs, allowing the sauce to drizzle nicely over the egg. Thicker sauces like gravy or tomato sauce pair better with scrambled or omelet-style eggs. Strong, savory sauces stand up well to the rich egg flavor, while creamy or tangy sauces provide contrast. And the choice ultimately comes down to your own tastes.
Popular Egg Sauces
Here are some popular sauces that are commonly served on or with eggs:
Hollandaise Sauce
Hollandaise is a rich, creamy, eggy sauce made from egg yolks, butter, lemon juice, and seasonings. It has a smooth, silky texture and a tangy, buttery flavor. Hollandaise goes well with all kinds of eggs but is classically paired with poached eggs like Eggs Benedict. The richness of the sauce complements the runny egg yolk.
Béarnaise Sauce
Béarnaise is a variation on hollandaise that is flavored with tarragon, chervil, shallots, and vinegar. It has a lighter flavor than hollandaise while still being rich and creamy. Béarnaise is excellent on top of poached or fried eggs. The tarragon adds a nice savory-sweet note.
Gravy
Basic brown gravy made from pan drippings is a simple but delicious sauce for eggs. Meaty, savory, and just a little thick, gravy soaks nicely into scrambled eggs, omelets, and breakfast casseroles. Sausage gravy is especially tasty on eggs.
Tomato Sauce or Ketchup
Ketchup may seem like an unconventional egg topping, but it provides the perfect balance of sweet, tangy tomato flavor. It goes well with fried eggs, omelets, and scrambled egg dishes. Marinara or tomato sauce can also be swapped in for ketchup.
Salsa
Fresh, chunky salsa makes eggs even more appetizing with its mixture of tomatoes, onions, chilies, and cilantro. Salsa adds zing to scrambled eggs, huevos rancheros, and breakfast burritos. Both red and green salsas pair nicely with eggs.
Pesto
Herby pesto sauce infuses eggs with the fresh flavor of basil, garlic, pine nuts, Parmesan, and olive oil. It’s excellent stirred into frittatas or drizzled over fried or poached eggs. The creaminess of the eggs tempers pesto’s assertive flavor.
Mayonnaise or Aioli
Spreading mayo or garlicky aioli on fried eggs is a breakfast tradition in many places. The cool richness of the mayo contrasts with the hot egg yolk. Japanese Kewpie mayo with its umami flavor is especially good on eggs.
Savory Sauce Ideas
Beyond the classics, all kinds of savory sauces can enhance eggs. Here are some ideas:
Mole Sauce
With its complex chili-chocolate flavor, mole sauce makes your eggs an instant fiesta. Use it on huevos rancheros or chilaquiles.
Marinara Sauce
Eggs love an Italian accent. Marinara sauce brings rich tomato flavor to frittatas, shakshuka, and egg sandwiches.
Tzatziki Sauce
Cool, creamy tzatziki sauce made from yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and dill perfectly balances hot eggs. It’s great on Greek egg scrambles.
Ranch Dressing
Ranch dressing seasoned with lots of herbs, garlic, and onions gives scrambled eggs a tasty flavor boost.
Barbecue Sauce
Smoky sweet barbecue sauce livens up basic scrambled eggs. Or use it to top a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich.
Steak Sauce
Bold, umami-rich steak sauces like A1 add meaty depth to eggs. Drizzle it on omelets or breakfast tacos.
Cheese Sauce
For ultimate cheesy eggs, you can’t beat a classic cheese sauce, especially cheddar or queso. It’s amazing on omelets and scrambles.
Sweet and Tangy Sauce Ideas
If you prefer a sweet note or tangy accent with your eggs, options include:
Honey
A drizzle of honey on eggs creates the perfect balance of sweet and savory. It’s lovely with ricotta, goat cheese, or mascarpone-filled omelets.
Maple Syrup
There’s a reason maple syrup is a classic pairing with bacon or sausage and eggs. The sweet maple flavor offsets the richness of the eggs beautifully.
Berry Sauce
Make a quick berry coulis by blending fresh or frozen berries with sugar. Spoon it over custardy eggs for an elegant breakfast.
Fresh Fruit Salsa
A tropical salsa of mango, pineapple, jicama and cilantro brightens up basic eggs with fruity flavor and crunch.
Chutney
Fruit-based mango chutney or tomato chutney add a savory-sweet kick to curries and other Indian egg dishes like masala omelets.
Hot Sauce
A few dashes of a vinegary hot sauce like Cholula, Tapatío, or Frank’s RedHot adds a lively flavor punch to any kind of eggs.
Creamy Dairy-Based Sauces
For rich, creamy sauces that coat eggs in luscious texture, consider these options:
Sour Cream
Cool, tangy sour cream makes scrambled eggs extra decadent. Mix it right in the eggs or dollop it on top.
Plain Yogurt
Stirring yogurt into curries and egg bakes gives them a lovely light texture contrast and mild tang. Greek yogurt works well.
Soy Sauce Hollandaise
Make hollandaise with a mix of butter and reduced soy sauce instead of all butter for an umami flavor boost.
Bechamel Sauce
Silky white bechamel sauce adds elegance and creaminess to any egg dish. Use it as the base for creamy casseroles.
Alfredo Sauce
For ultimate cheesiness, you can’t beat a from-scratch alfredo sauce on eggs. Toss it with frittatas, shakshuka or omelets.
Conclusion
With endless sauce possibilities, the question of what to put on eggs ultimately comes down to your own personal tastes. Play around with different textures and flavors to find your perfect matches. Hollandaise, salsa, pesto, tomato sauce, mayo, and maple syrup make classic pairings for good reason. But you can also get creative with mole sauce, fruit salsas, chutneys, ranch, barbecue sauce, and more. The savory richness of eggs balances well with both bright acidic flavors and indulgent creamy sauces. Keep an open mind, and your egg breakfasts and brunches will never get boring.
There are recommendations for literally thousands of delicious sauces that can complement eggs in all their preparations. Here is a recap of some of the most popular and versatile:
| Sauce | Good egg dishes to pair with |
|---|---|
| Hollandaise | Poached, fried |
| Béarnaise | Poached, fried |
| Gravy | Scrambled, omelets, casseroles |
| Ketchup/Tomato sauce | Fried, scrambled, omelets |
| Salsa | Huevos rancheros, scrambles, breakfast burritos |
| Pesto | Fried, poached, frittatas |
| Mayo/Aioli | Fried |
| Mole sauce | Huevos rancheros, chilaquiles |
| Marinara | Frittatas, sandwiches, shakshuka |
| Tzatziki | Fried, scrambled |
| Ranch dressing | Scrambled |
| BBQ sauce | Scrambled, sandwiches |
| Steak sauce | Omelets, breakfast tacos |
| Cheese sauce | Scrambled, omelets |
| Honey | Sweet omelets |
| Maple syrup | With breakfast meats and eggs |
| Berry sauce | Custardy eggs |
| Fruit salsa | Fried, scrambled |
| Chutney | Curries, masala omelets |
| Hot sauce | Any style eggs |
| Sour cream | Scrambled, baked |
| Plain yogurt | Curries, bakes |
| Soy sauce hollandaise | Poached, fried |
| Bechamel | Casseroles |
| Alfredo sauce | Frittatas, shakshuka, omelets |
The possibilities are endless! Try out new sauce and egg combinations and discover fresh ways to enjoy your breakfasts. A dollop of sauce can turn plain eggs into something special.