After the Easter Bunny has come and gone and you’ve celebrated your Easter traditions, you may be left with a stash of brightly colored, hard-boiled Easter eggs in your refrigerator. For anyone who cringes a bit at the thought of simply throwing out perfectly good food, you might be wondering if and how you can salvage these leftovers. Or if you enjoy the taste of hard-boiled eggs but have a hard time envisioning eating a whole bunch of them as-is, you also might be wondering what else you can do to jazz them up.
Not only can these eggs make for a variety of delicious dishes, but they’re packed with protein and healthy omega fatty acids. But could there really be that many enticing recipes with hard-boiled eggs? As it just so happens, yes! Before we get to those, though, we also cover the 411 about safely preserving them so that you’re eating them while they’re still fresh. If you’ve confirmed that yours are good to go, then we’ve got 18 tasty recipes you can try to bring some extra magic to those leftover hard-boiled eggs.
Food safety tips for Easter eggs
Generally speaking, any eggs you’ve dyed for Easter are safe to eat, provided they’ve been colored with food-safe dyes. What’s actually a better determinant of whether or not they’re safe to eat is if you’ve properly stored them amid all your Easter activities.
Refrigeration and timing are key
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, hard-boiled eggs can be stored in your refrigerator for up to seven days. However, it’s further suggested that you ensure they’ve been refrigerated within two hours after cooking. And, if you remove them from the refrigerator, it’s advised not to leave them out at room temperature for more than two hours. So, if you’ve spent hours decorating your eggs, or they were left out for prolonged periods during your Easter egg hunt, it’s probably best to discard them, as disappointing as that might be.
Freezing hard-boiled eggs
What about freezing them? You can do so, but it’s recommended that you peel the eggs and only save the yolks because the egg whites become tough and watery if frozen. You can bring the yolks to a quick boil with some water, allow them to stand, covered, in the hot water for 12 minutes, and then strain and package them for freezing.
Composting hard-boiled eggs
If nobody in your family can be tempted to eat your hard-boiled Easter eggs, or you have to throw them out because of their refrigeration timing, all hope isn’t lost. If, by chance, you or your community has a food waste composting system, then you can absolutely contribute your eggs for compost. The worry is that they will attract rodents or pests and leave an unpleasant smell, which can be avoided by crushing the eggs with the shells and burying them in the center of the compost.
Tasty recipes with hard-boiled eggs
1. Avocado Toast with Tomato and Hard-Boiled Egg
Think creamy avocado and refreshing slices of tomato, with egg sprinkled on top. Like some of the TikTok recipe videos that have gone viral, this recipe will show you how to grate your hard-boiled eggs so that the end result is extra yummy and indulgent.
2. 7 Layer Salad
When a salad looks extra pretty, it’s all the more inviting to eat. And yep, you guessed it, hard-boiled eggs are one of the layers.
3. Greek Yogurt Egg Salad
Not a mayo fan or prefer a tangier alternative? This recipe swaps in Greek yogurt for a resulting egg salad that’s at least as delicious as the classic style.
4. Classic Macaroni Salad
With only a handful of simple ingredients and 10 minutes of prep time, you’ll have a tasty macaroni salad in no time. The creator swears that even if olives aren’t your favorite, you won’t mind the way they’re subtly blended into this recipe.
5. Protein Fruit & Veggie Bistro Box
If you’ve ever grabbed a bistro box from Starbucks, then you know how convenient it is. It will taste even better (and fresher!) when it’s made hassle-free, right at home.
6. Avocado Deviled Eggs
Recipes with hard-boiled eggs often gravitate to deviled eggs, so we wanted to make sure you were covered. For a deviled egg filling that’s extra airy and smooth, try this recipe that integrates avocado into the mix. The bacon garnish makes for a fun and crispy effect, too.
7. The BEST Potato Salad
For potato salad devotees, you’re going to be a fan of this lively recipe that includes all the classic ingredients, as well as some unique topping suggestions if you’re feeling creative.
8. Cauliflower Potato Salad
Skip the carbs or turn the spotlight on a cruciferous, rather than root, vegetable by whipping up a lovely twist on ‘potato’ salad. No, it doesn’t have the soft, starchy potato texture—but in terms of taste approval, you’ll see, the secret is in the sauce!
9. Avocado Egg Salad
There’s something about adding a hard-boiled egg to an avocado that makes the overall taste that much more nourishing. This green goddess-y play on egg salad is clean and wholesome, pairing well with toast, tortillas, crackers, fresh pepper wedges, and more.
10. Miso Ramen
Miso ramen is brimming with all kinds of warm spices and hearty add-ins. While this recipe calls for soft-boiled eggs, there’s no reason you can’t add a couple of slices from your hard-boiled eggs into this soup instead!
11. Cobb Salad
Why wait for your favorite restaurant to order your next Cobb salad? As far as dreaming up easy recipes with hard-boiled eggs goes, it doesn’t get more obvious or straightforward than this!
12. Low-Yolk Egg Salad
Perhaps you’re avoiding egg yolks for health reasons or just find that their taste comes on a little strong. This recipe has the perfect proportions for an egg salad variation that keeps the yolks to a minimum.
13. Egg Avocado Tuna Sandwich
If you’ve never combined tuna, avocado, and hard-boiled egg before, then you’re in for a healthy, filling, and easy-to-prep lunch or dinner at a moment’s notice with this recipe.
14. Creole Shrimp Egg Salad
Transform egg salad into something way more adventurous. This recipe dresses up hard-boiled eggs, shrimp, and bacon with Creole seasoning and spicy mustard sauce for an overall explosion of mouthwatering flavors.
15. Dill Pickle Potato Salad
Love the juicy vinegar-bathed crunch of a refreshing pickle? Then you’ll adore the way this potato salad not only has pickles but pickle juice incorporated into this flavorful recipe.
16. Auntie Rose’s Deviled Eggs
If you’re somebody who likes to create the quintessential version of something before veering off into new adaptations, then this tried-and-true deviled eggs recipe is definitely for you.
17. Avocado and Egg Breakfast Meal Prep
Start your morning off right by creating a brown rice, kale, hard-boiled egg, and avocado breakfast hash. Your brain and belly will thank you!
18. Olive Oil Flatbreads with Fried Aubergine, Boiled Eggs and Harissa Mayo
This recipe proves that repurposing hard-boiled eggs does not limit you to deviled eggs and egg and potato salad. A scrumptious medley of veggies and spices comes together in this homemade grilled flatbread recipe that’s sure to excite taste buds.
