Whip up this creamy and tangy Southern deviled egg recipe! They’re an easy appetizer to share at your next gathering.
Recipe Science
- Incorporating hot sauce or pickle relish into the yolk mixture adds a tangy or spicy kick, balancing the richness of the mayonnaise and enhancing the overall flavor complexity of the deviled eggs.
- The vinegar in pickle relish helps to cut through the fatty yolk mixture, adding brightness and a pickled note that complements the creamy texture.
- Hot sauce introduces capsaicin, which provides a heat element that stimulates the palate and contrasts nicely with the smooth, savory base of the egg yolk filling.
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Why It Works
My classic deviled eggs recipe is a popular appetizer for casual gatherings or holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. But to switch up the classic filling, try these Southern-style deviled eggs. Adding sweet relish, tangy yellow mustard, and hot sauce creates an exciting flavor combination.
You’ll be surprised how a tiny amount of pickles can transform the taste. For those who enjoy a hint of spiciness, grab your favorite hot sauce and add as little or as much as you like. This is the perfect protein-packed starter or delicious snack.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Eggs: I use large eggs for a hearty two-bite piece. Pre-cooked store-bought eggs are a convenient option if you are short on time.
- Mayonnaise: The rich emulsion adds creaminess to the filling.
- Mustard: Tangy yellow American mustard bumps up the taste of the mashed yolks.
- Relish: Use sweet pickle relish for chopped-up bites of pickles. The sugar balances the taste, while thin slices of gherkin add a burst of pungency and crispness.
- Hot Sauce: For a lingering hot red pepper flavor, use a vinegar-based hot sauce. My top choice is Tabasco or Crystal.
- Seasoning: Salt and pepper season the filling base. Sweet, smoked, or hot paprika is used for garnish, adding an earthy bell pepper flavor.
- Herbs: Delicate dill leaves add an elegant garnish with the slices of gherkin.
See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).
Ingredient Substitutions
- Pickles: Use finely chopped dill pickles or dill pickle relish for a less sweet taste.
- Mayonnaise Substitute: Sour cream or plain Greek yogurt adds a creamy texture and tangy taste. Balance with sugar or honey as needed.
- Mustard: Use Dijon mustard or whole-grain mustard.
- Spicy: Add more of your favorite hot sauce to the deviled eggs with relish for a hot taste! Garnish with cayenne or hot paprika for a lingering heat.
- Herbs: Sliced chives, green onions, chopped parsley, cilantro, green onions, or basil.
How to Make Southern Deviled Eggs
Step 1: Prepare the Eggs
After hard boiling the eggs, chill them immediately in an ice bath for 15 minutes before cutting them in half.
Remove the yolks, and transfer them to a bowl. Crumble the egg yolks with a fork to make it easier to mix the filling.
Tips for Perfect Execution: Learn how to hard boil eggs using either my boiling or steaming methods. Alternatively, if you have a pressure cooker, you can also use it to prepare Instant Pot hard boiled eggs.
Step 2: Make the Filling
A classic Southern deviled egg recipe has a tangy flavor with a hint of spice. To achieve this taste, combine hot sauce, yellow mustard, and sweet pickle relish. I like that a little bit of sugar balances the savory ingredients.
The mayonnaise and the rich egg yolks add creaminess to the yolk mixture. You can add more salt and pepper to taste. This flavor combination is so delicious that I even like to use them in my classic egg salad recipe.
Step 3: Fill the Eggs
Spoon or pipe the egg yolk mixture into the hollow cavity to fill the egg white halves. To make the presentation a little fancier, I use a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Create a swirl design inside each egg white.
Step 4: Garnish and Serve
Sprinkle with sweet, smoked, or hot paprika or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. I like to place a slice of gherkin on top for crunch and extra pickle flavor. A sprig of fresh dill leaf complements the relish in the filling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s great is that you can cook the eggs a week in advance, peel them when ready to fill, and prepare the filling two days in advance, making prep quick and easy on the day of serving. The eggs can be filled 1 day ahead and stored covered in the refrigerator. Wait to add the garnish!
To avoid using the word “devil,” the appetizer may be referred to as dressed, stuffed, or salad eggs.
Dill relish is much more pungent and significantly less sweet than sweet pickle relish. It will add a tangy flavor to the deviled eggs, which some prefer. Alternatively, you can finely chop up 1 tablespoon of dill pickle slices or chips. If you’d like to add sweetness to the filling mixture, add granulated sugar or honey, starting with ¼ teaspoon at a time.
Switch Up the Flavor
If you tried this Souther Deviled Eggs recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Southern Deviled Eggs
Ingredients
- 6 large hard-boiled eggs
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- paprika, sweet or hot, for garnish
- gherkins, sliced for garnish
- dill leaves, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Eggs – Cut the eggs in half lengthwise and transfer the yolks to a medium-sized bowl. Use a fork to crumble the egg yolks.
- Make the Filling – To the egg yolks, add mayonnaise, relish, mustard, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- Fill the Eggs – Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe into each egg half. Alternatively, spoon the mixture in.
- Serve – Top with paprika, sliced gherkin, and dill leaves. Immediately transfer to a platter or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Recipe Video
Notes
- To Make Hard-boiled Eggs: Fill a pot with water to cover the eggs by 1 inch once added. Bring to a low boil at 200°F (93°C), do not go above. Add the eggs and boil for 30 seconds. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 12 minutes. Alternatively, steam for 13 minutes. Immediately transfer to an ice bath for 15 minutes.
- Spicer Deviled Eggs: Increase the hot sauce to taste. Garnish with cayenne pepper or hot paprika.
- Make Ahead: Hard-boiled eggs can be made a week in advance. The filling can be prepared two days in advance.
- Storing: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Marie says
Read all your recipes and they all sound wonderful but I am diabetic
Can you possibly share any recipes that I can eat? Especially for Breakfast.
Eggs are too high in Cholesterol
Thank you,