Classic Deviled Eggs are the Quintessential Picnic Food

The constant companion to picnics, potlucks, and cookouts, deviled eggs are always a hit. They make a great side dish or snack for any holiday, but they make a particularly festive Easter appetizer. It’s hard to imagine eating more than one or two hard-boiled eggs, but this does not apply to the insanely snackable deviled egg; 3 or 4 can be consumed without hesitation. In the spirit of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” this is a classic, no-frills recipe starring shelled, hard-boiled eggs stuffed with a creamy filling of cooked egg yolks, mayonnaise, mustard, and tangy pickle juice. A vibrant garnish of paprika and a daring dash of hot sauce make this finger food the first to disappear at any party.

What puts the “devil” in deviled eggs?

From deviled ham to deviled crab to deviled eggs, what the devil is up with this food? No need to have sympathy, the adjective “deviled” is simply an old-fashioned culinary term for a highly seasoned dish. Spicy seasonings such as hot sauce, mustard, and ground red pepper originally brought about the comparison to fire and brimstone. For an extra “deviled” kick in these eggs, replace the dill pickle juice with pickled jalapeno juice! 

How do you get boiled eggs to peel easily?

Peeling hard-boiled eggs can be…frustrating. There’s nothing worse than watching a beautiful boiled egg transform into a mangled mess of egg whites and broken shells. While everyone seems to have a secret trick, from adding baking soda to the water to using old eggs, there’s no tip that guarantees flawless eggs every time. However, the easy process of lowering eggs into gently boiling water to cook for 12 minutes, and then dunking them in ice water works wonderfully for easy-peel eggs. 

Can you make deviled eggs ahead of time?

Yes, deviled eggs are the perfect party food because they can be prepared beforehand. The eggs can be boiled, peeled, and refrigerated up to 3 days in advance. The filling can be mixed up and the eggs assembled up to 24 hours before they are served. Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight plastic container or on an adorable deviled egg plate wrapped in plastic wrap.