Deviled eggs are a classic Southern staple, perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or holiday celebrations. With their creamy, tangy filling and irresistible flavor, these bite-sized delights always disappear in a flash. Whether you’re serving them as an appetizer or adding them to a party platter, this Southern-style deviled eggs recipe brings a touch of down-home charm to your table. Simple to make yet full of flavor, these eggs are sure to impress your guests and keep them coming back for more!

Please read the entire post before you begin this recipe. You might pick up some tips to make it better and easier. However, if you’re in a huge hurry, all you have to do is click on the jump-to-recipe button beneath the title, and you’ll be taken to a point directly above the printable recipe card.

Ingredients

There aren’t many ingredients in this deviled eggs recipe. In fact, you probably have what you need in your refrigerator. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Eggs
• Mayonnaise
• Mustard
• Sweet pickle relish or dill relish (optional)

I also like some paprika sprinkled over the top to make them pretty. You don’t have to do that, but if you do, people will notice them more quickly.

Alternative and Optional Ingredients

Other ingredients you might want to add are chopped olives, dill pickles, chopped celery, onion, sunflower seeds, bacon bits, chopped chives, ground cayenne, sriracha sauce, and jalapeno peppers.

Directions

The first thing you have to do is boil your eggs. I did this in my air fryer because it’s so easy and provides a consistent result.

You don’t want to work with hot boiled eggs, so put them in an ice water bath. It cools them off and makes them easier to peel.

Next, after you peel the eggs, carefully slice them lengthwise. And just as carefully, remove the yolks. Then, place the egg whites on a platter. Put the yolks in a separate bowl.

Now, mash the yolks with a fork. Then add the mayonnaise and mustard. If you choose to include sweet pickle relish, add that now. You can add more ingredients if you choose, but I think it’s yummy just like it is.

Next, stir until well mixed. Give it a taste to determine if it needs anything else. If you want, you can salt and pepper it, but I don’t think it needs additional flavor.

Carefully fill the egg white halves with the yolk mixture. Be careful not to tear the eggs. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve ripped the sides of eggs. But that’s okay because most people don’t care. 

You can either add them to the deviled egg plater or destroy the evidence by eating them. That’s what I do. Once you’ve filled all of the eggs, place them on a plate or deviled egg platter.

Now, sprinkle them with paprika, either regular or smoked.

Tips

Follow the instructions above, and you should be fine. Here are some tips that might help:

• Always start with well cooked eggs.
• Put them in an ice bath as soon as you remove them from the water. This will help when it’s time to peel them.
• Mash the yolks as much as you can before adding the other ingredients. This helps to keep the filling smooth.
• Add your favorite flavors to make them suit your taste. Don’t be afraid to try something different. If you’re not sure whether or not something will taste good, make a couple of extra eggs and test it first.
• Make enough for everyone to have several. Deviled eggs are always very popular at dinner parties and potluck events.
• Remember that they don’t have to be absolutely perfect.

Deviled Egg Salad

If you’re looking for a flavorful salad, you can chop up all of the ingredients in deviled eggs (except the paprika). Combine them in a large bowl and mix them well.

Sprinkle the paprika over the top, and you have a gorgeously delicious deviled egg salad. Or you can make this yummy egg salad that delivers a lot of flavor as well. In fact, it’s very similar.

Common Questions

Here are some answers to questions you might have about deviled eggs. These are the ones I hear the most.

How Far Ahead Can You Prepare Deviled Eggs?

If you have a lot of foods to make, you can prepare the deviled eggs up to 2 days in advance. Keep the yolk mixture separate from the whites until right before you plan to serve them. That’s the best way to keep them tasting fresh.

After you stuff the egg whites with the yolk mixture, cover them with plastic and refrigerate them for up to 12 hours.

Can You Freeze Deviled Eggs?

I don’t recommend freezing deviled eggs, mainly because the texture will change. However, they’re safe to eat after they’ve been frozen, but they’ll be grainy.

How Should You Transport Deviled Eggs?

If you’re bringing deviled eggs to a potluck or any kind of get-together, you’ll need to find a way to protect them. One thing you can do is purchase a deviled egg carrier that has indentions for one or two dozen eggs.

Or you can create your own deviled egg carrier. My favorite type of low-cost carrier is a repurposed egg carton. Save several of them so you always have them when needed. What I do is cover the inside with foil that I press down into each indention. Then flip the cover of them, and you have the perfect carrier.

You can also flip the egg cartons upside down in an aluminum pan. Cover it with foil and gently press down to create crevices to cradle the eggs.

Delicious Snack or Appetizer

Next time you want a snack or need to make an appetizer for a dinner party or potluck, make these southern style deviled eggs. They’ll disappear quickly, so make more than you think you’ll need.

Please feel free to share!