Easy Classic Southern Deviled Eggs Recipe (Delicious)

What are deviled eggs:

Deviled eggs are a popular appetizer or side dish made from hard-boiled eggs halved lengthwise. The yolks are removed, mashed, and mixed with various ingredients to create a flavorful filling. The yolk mixture is then spooned into the egg white halves, creating a rich, low-carb, savory-tasting dish.

Ingredient notes and substitutions:

• Eggs – are the star of this simple recipe. I prefer extra-large because they are easier to work with, but you can use any size you like, even quail eggs. Also, you can purchase pre-cooked and peeled hard-boiled eggs at the grocery store if you are short on time.
• Mayonnaise – and egg yolks are the primary ingredients in the filling. I prefer Duke’s, but Hellman’s or Kraft also works. Keep in mind there is a taste difference between brands of mayonnaise that will translate to your dish.
• Yellow mustard – yes, old-fashioned yellow mustard is my mustard of choice for this recipe. You can substitute other types of mustard, but it will affect the taste.
• Dill pickles – specifically hamburger dill pickles and hamburger dill pickle juice provide the best taste and the right amount of tanginess in this recipe. Kosher dills, dill pickle relish, or sweet pickle relish can be substituted, but your filling will not taste the same.
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper – enhance the flavor of the filling. If you use table salt, only use half as much as is called for in the recipe.
• Paprika – is an optional ingredient. Just a sprinkle of paprika over the top of the filling gives it a pop of color and makes your southern deviled eggs irresistible.

Complete measurements are below in the printable recipe card.

Classic recipe variations:

1. Add cajun or creole seasoning, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or diced jalapeños to the yolk mixture for spicy deviled eggs.
2. Mix crumbled bacon into the yolk mixture for a savory and indulgent twist.
3. Incorporate chopped smoked salmon, crabmeat, or shrimp into the filling for a delicious and elegant flavor.
4. Mash ripe avocado with the egg yolks to create a creamy and nutritious filling. Add a squeeze of lime juice for a refreshing touch.
5. Mix finely chopped fresh dill and diced cucumber into the yolk mixture for a light and refreshing flavor.
6. Add crumbled feta cheese, chopped kalamata olives, and sun-dried tomatoes to infuse your eggs with Mediterranean flavors.
7. Combine mashed avocado, diced tomato, red onion, and lime juice with the egg yolks to create a guacamole-inspired filling.
8. Mix buffalo sauce and crumbled blue cheese into the yolk mixture for a tangy and spicy flavor reminiscent of buffalo wings.

Serving suggestions:

Southern Deviled eggs pair well with various foods, making them a versatile and complementary dish. Here are some menu ideas:

1. Relish tray: Serve them alongside a platter of fresh vegetables such as carrot sticks, celery, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber slices with black-eyed pea hummus or redneck caviar dip. The crispness and freshness of the vegetables provide a nice contrast.
2. Cheese and Charcuterie Board: Include them as part of a cheese and charcuterie board. They can be enjoyed alongside a selection of cheeses, cured meats, crackers, bread, fruits, boiled peanuts, tomato jam, jezebel sauce, tapenade, roasted pecans, and other condiments.
3. Salads: Southern Deviled eggs can be chopped up and paired with various types of salads. They are a tasty ingredient in my potato salad, seven-layer salad, and shrimp cobb salad and would be a tasty addition sprinkled over my romaine wedge salad.
4. Sandwiches and Wraps: Serve them as a side dish alongside sandwiches and burgers such as fried chicken burgers, shrimp burgers, smoked burgers, and shrimp po’boy sandwiches.
5. Brunch Spread: Include them as part of a brunch spread along with other breakfast and brunch items such as sausage bread, sausage and grits casserole, breakfast fruit salad, potato fritters, peach bread, sweet potato hash, and eggs benedict breakfast casserole.
6. Picnic Fare: Southern Deviled eggs are a classic addition to picnic baskets. Pack them alongside pimento cheese sandwiches, fruits, cheese crackers, and other finger foods such as caprese skewers or grilled chicken skewers for a portable and satisfying meal outdoors.
7. BBQ or Grilled Meats: Deviled eggs are perfect to serve at summer cookouts as a side dish with grilled meats such as peach glazed chicken, grilled pork tenderloin, beef short ribs, barbecue chicken, or baby back ribs.
8. Party Platters: They make a great addition to party platters and appetizer spreads. They can be served alongside other bite-sized finger foods such as bacon-wrapped shrimp, shrimp toast, fried crab claws, fried oysters, and chicken wings
9. For Halloween, they can be dressed up like my fun Halloween Spooky Spider-Deviled Eggs.
10. I also serve them with Ham, Turkey, and Broccoli Cheese Casserole or Pineapple Casserole for Easter and Christmas.

How to store leftovers and ideas for using them:

Deviled eggs are perishable and are best eaten within two days. Store them in a single layer wrapped securely in plastic wrap or an airtight container in the fridge.

Leftovers can be eaten as is or chopped up and made into egg salad. They can also be cut up and added to potato salad.

Specialized serving dishes for deviled eggs:

A deviled egg platter or egg plate comes in various shapes and sizes and features shallow indentations or depressions to hold the deviled egg halves so they won’t slide around on the plate.

They are designed to showcase the eggs beautifully and keep them in place while serving. These dishes often have a decorative design or pattern and are frequently ceramic or glass. You can almost always find vintage deviled egg plates at thrift stores, or they are readily available at any place where kitchen supplies are sold.

If you don’t have a deviled egg serving dish, place lettuce leaves on your plate first and then add your eggs. The lettuce leaves will help keep the slippery eggs from sliding around.