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Deviled Eggs have always been a pretty staple party appetizer for me. People can knock them all they want, but they are always the first to disappear.

Deviled eggs are something that is requested—a LOT in our house. As long as my husband and I have been together, he has always loved this deviled egg recipe. It's of the most requested things he asks for besides my potato salad, but that is a recipe for another day.

I grew up in the South, so of course, I learned how to make deviled eggs the Southern way from early on. They were literally at everything from church picnics to ball games to every family function under the sun! Deviled eggs are constantly popping up somewhere.

I am sure by now; there are TONS of various deviled egg recipes floating around the internet. Some are made so thin you can run them through a piping bag, and even some are made with avocado. I am sure some of them are good, if not amazing, but these have beat all the others I have tried over the years, so this recipe has always been my go-to.

Deviled eggs made and sitting on a white plate topped with fresh chopped chives.

Ingredients in Deviled Eggs

Eggs

Mayo - Store-bought or make your own homemade mayo.

Pickle Relish - I use Bubbies dill relish. Check and make sure the one you use is gluten-free.

Mustard - Regular yellow mustard is what you want. Note that not all mustards are gluten-free.

Salt

Garlic

Chipotle Powder

Stop using Paprika

I know I will get crucified by some of my favorite Southern friends and family for this, but please STOP putting paprika in or on your deviled eggs. I know that traditional southern deviled egg has that light dusting of red over the tops; however, it can ruin the flavor profile of the deviled egg itself. Paprika comes in various strengths and flavor complexities. However, the most commonly sold form is sweet paprika. The sweetness on top of the deviled egg can leave an almost bitter taste to some people, and no one wants a bitter deviled egg.

How to get the Best Hard Boiled Eggs

If you want your deviled eggs to be as pretty as they taste, you will want to make sure they get boiled correctly to where the shells side off easily without the egg being stuck to it.

Check the age of your eggs

This might sound weird, but the fresher the egg, the worse when hard-boiling. Most store-brought eggs are okay (about two weeks old). If you happen to be using fresh farm eggs, you might not want to use them.

Don't let the eggs completely cool before peeling

Warm eggs peel easier than cold eggs. The shells shrink back and stick to the egg inside as the eggs cool. Peel them while they are still warm, and then let them completely cool.

Crack the egg from the fat end

This part of the egg tends to have a little pocket of air. Cracking the egg here to peel opens up that pocket and allows you to get under the shell and membrane, making the egg easier to peel.

How to Boil Eggs?

I know there are many methods of boiling eggs, including the "magic instant pot boiled egg method". I prefer the good ole fashion pot on the stove. It's always worked and never steered me wrong. Except for the time I got completely distracted when our daughter hurt herself and left the eggs on the stove, and they cooked so long I burned the pot. That's not normal, though.

Put about 6-8 eggs in a medium-sized pot. You want to ensure the eggs sit completely on the bottom and do not overlap.
Cover with enough water that the eggs are submerged.
Turn the stove on to medium-high heat and bring the water to a boil.
Once the water is boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a lid and set a timer for 13 minutes.
Once the timer goes off, drain the water from the eggs and place them into an ice bath.
Let them sit for about 5-10 minutes. At this point, the shells should have been pulled away, and the eggs are cold enough to handle.
There you have it, the perfect boiled eggs with pretty whites and beautiful fluffy yellow centers.

Let's get cooking!

Boil and peel the eggs.
Cut the eggs in half and scoop out the yolks. Set the whites aside.
Mash the yolks with the remaining ingredients.

Scoop the yolk filling into the reserved whites.
Let them chill and enjoy.

Homemade deviled eggs up close looking at the texture of the filling that makes each one delicious.

Can you make deviled eggs ahead of time?

The answer is yes. I like to keep the egg whites and the filling separated in sealed containers and then fill them the day I plan to serve them.

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