There are deviled eggs, and then there are these Million Dollar Deviled Eggs. This is my favorite, best recipe, and it includes a secret ingredient that notches up the filling to the next level. Top everything off with paprika and bacon (if you feel so inclined) and enjoy!
The Best Deviled Egg Recipe
Let’s start the week off with a classic. While Monday morning might have you reaching for a peach bellini kind of classic, I have something slightly different for you today: the best deviled egg recipe that I have in my repertoire.
It’s also a little different from the classic deviled egg recipe that you might have stowed away, scribbled on a scrap of paper in the back of your kitchen cabinet, and that’s largely due to my addiction to secret ingredients.
That’s right, there’s a secret ingredient in these deviled eggs. Can you spy it below?
What Ingredients Do I Need for Deviled Eggs?
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Mayo
- Butter. This is it, the secret ingredient! We’re going to talk a little bit more about why we add butter below, but this is what makes these “Million Dollar” Deviled Eggs.
- Mustard (you’ll need yellow and dijon mustard)
- Sweet pickle juice
- Sugar (just a pinch!)
- Salt & pepper
- Tabasco sauce (optional, just a dash of heat is a great addition, though!)
- Optional toppings: paprika, sweet pickle slices, crumbled bacon.
The Secret Ingredient
Do you see it? Right there ⬆️⬆️, at 11 o’clock. That’s one tablespoon of pure, delicious, sweet cream butter.
Have you ever made deviled eggs with butter before? It’s a sneaky secret ingredient, nearly imperceptible except that the filling is just a touch creamier, just a tad more velvety, there’s just something about it that you probably won’t quite be able to put your finger on…
Something really, really good, but not overpowering. Just a little bit extra without being overwhelming, subtle, but so important.
In addition to preferring my deviled eggs with a spoonful of butter, I also prefer them to be slightly on the sweet side of things. To this end I’ve added a splash of sweet pickle juice and a sprinkling of sugar.
I’m told sweeter deviled eggs are a southern thing (while sweeter cornbread is a northern thing, go figure), but I happen to live just a notch above the Mason Dixon Line and can vouch for their deliciousness here, too.
I topped off about half of these eggs with bacon (mostly for my Zach’s benefit, he prefers deviled eggs with bacon) and cross-sections of sweet pickles, and all of them got a sprinkle of Paprika.
How Far In Advance Can I Make Deviled Eggs?
For best results, you should not assemble your deviled eggs more than a day in advance. If you’d like to make them two days in advance you can boil, cut, and remove the yolks from the whites. Make your filling and then store the eggs and the prepared filling in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to serve the eggs, give the filling a quick stir and everything can be quickly assembled.
Deviled Eggs should always be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Let me know what you think!
And if you happen to have some really amazing tricks for peeling fresh eggs, I want to hear them! My parents have chickens so I’m lucky to have a constant flow of farm-fresh eggs BUT those eggs cling to their shells like they were laid by hens with superglue diets. We’ve tried the baking soda trick, the ice bath trick, the spoon trick… none of it has worked here! I’ve heard great things about using an Instant Pot, though, and am considering getting one solely for this purpose!
Other Recipes You Might Like:
- Broccoli Salad
- Macaroni Salad
- Ramen Noodle Salad
- Corn Salad
- Pulled Chicken
- If you appreciate secret ingredients, check out my “Worst” Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Million Dollar Deviled Eggs
Ingredients
- 12 large eggs
- ¼ cup (55 g) mayo
- 1 Tablespoon butter softened to room temperature
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons sweet gherkin pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- dash Tabasco sauce optional
- paprika for sprinkling
- bacon pieces optional
Instructions
How To Hard Boil Eggs
- Place eggs in a large saucepan and cover with water.12 large eggs
- Transfer to stovetop over high heat until water begins to boil.
- Boil for one minute, cover with lid, and remove from heat. Allow to sit for 17 minutes and then drain and transfer to an ice bath.
- Peel eggs and set aside.
How To Make Deviled Eggs
- Slice eggs in half lengthwise.
- Remove yolks and transfer to a medium-sized bowl.
- Add mayo, butter, mustards, pickle juice, sugar, salt, pepper, and Tabasco sauce. Use a fork to mash well.¼ cup (55 g) mayo, 1 Tablespoon butter, 2 teaspoons yellow mustard, 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, 2 teaspoons sweet gherkin pickle juice, 1 teaspoon sugar, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon pepper, dash Tabasco sauce
- Spoon filling into each egg white. Sprinkle with paprika and bacon (if using) and serve.paprika, bacon pieces
- If desired, top with a small slice of sweet gherkin pickle, as seen in pictures.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
This Million Dollar Deviled Egg recipe was originally published 07/24/2017. Recipe remains the same but post has been updated as of 05/08/2019.
Eddy
I live in Nicaragua and we have chickens. I learned that adding a 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the water makes it very easy to peel the eggs. I boil the water and vinegar then carefully add the eggs. I am going to make your recipe tomorrow. Thank you for sharing.
MONICA MILLSON
have not tried recipe yet but you want to know how to peel hard boiled eggs. if you havent discovered it yet you have to get the ninja foodi!! you can put a cup of water in bottom of pot load as many eggs as you can fit in and cook on hi temp in pressure cooker for 5 min. let remain in pot under pressure for 5 more minutes then release pressure and immediately put eggs in ice cold water for 5 min. its called the 5-5-5 method. PERFECT EGGS EVERY TIME AND SHELLS JUST FALL OFF.
Shelly R Bryant
I’ve always brought water, eggs. and baking soda to a boil. Then slow boil for 10 minutes. Wait a few minutes, then peel and begin the mixing process
Lauren
Can I use white vinegar instead of the pickle juice?
Sam
That will work just fine. 🙂
Jamie
Thank you very much! I am looking forward to making these!
I put vinegar in the boiling water with the eggs and then put the eggs in cold water. It’s helped with the peels coming off.
Amy
Thanks for an amazing deviled egg! Both of my kids finally tried one and liked it! Garnished some with bacon and some with jalapeños! Cannot wait to share with my girls tonight!!
Mycats59
Instant pot, ice bath snd you will be happy!
Patti Farnum
I have a quick pot( instant pot), the eggs come out perfect every single time!
5 minutes cook, 5 minutes natural release on pot, do not remove eggs until this 5 minutes is up. At this time, finish releasing the pressure. Immediately put in an ice water bath….again for 5 minutes. Take out of water, they will peel in seconds!
HH
It’s the ice bath. The ice bath causes the membrane inside the egg shell to rapidly contract around the cooked egg, and that’s where it all goes sideways—making it almost impossible to cleanly shell the egg.
I have used the following method for 40+ years and it has rarely failed me. It’s not so much how you cook the eggs, it’s how you peel the eggs. Don’t ever let them cool down until after you get them out of the shell.
When the timer goes off, start running hot water at the sink—the hottest water you can stand to put your hands in, and let the run. Pour off the boiling water and shake the eggs in the pan. You want the shells to crack all over. The more cracked the better, but you don’t want to break the eggs open. Stick the pot full of cracked eggs underneath the hot running water and let it run right over the eggs. The hot water will seep inside the egg shells. Now walk away for at least two minutes and wait. Grab an egg and hold it under the (turned down to a small stream) of hot running water, and it should easily peel. Sometimes the force of the running water is enough to make the shells come off the eggs. The hot water keeps the membrane inside the egg shell soft and pliable, which makes the egg easier to peel.
Having said all that, farm-fresh eggs are the dickens to peel under the best of circumstances, but see if this method works better for you. Best wishes.
Tim
Disagree. Steam eggs for exactly 12 minutes. Place directly in ice water bath for 10 minutes. Easily peel eggs under cool running water. Never failed. Ever.
Liz
Deviled eggs are now my official dish to bring to every event. 😁😁😁
Liz
Best eggs ever!
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed them so much! 🙂
jan
The best way to cook hard boiled eggs is to steam them.
Place a couple inches of water in a large pot, place your steamer basket in the pot and place your eggs in the basket. Wait until water boils, then time your eggs for about 13 minutes. I time mine for about 15 minutes.
Rinse in cold water.
crack the eggs and the shell just peels right off.
Kris
Add white vinegar to boiling water then gently add your eggs
Kristen
Easy & delicious recipe the whole family loves!!
Brcky
We put baking soda in the pot while boiling, put them in cold water when done, a little water in a short glass, drop in the egg, shake until the water has been shaken out of the glass and the shell cracked, and 99% of the time the shells pop right off. Looking forward to trying this recipe next time. (I always add some sugar to mine, too!)