How to Season Scrambled Eggs: Tips for Flavorful Additions

Co-authored by Jennifer Levasseur and Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: November 10, 2022 References

Scrambled eggs are delicious on their own, but why not kick it up a notch? Since they've got such a mild flavor, it's really easy to liven up your breakfast scramble with ingredients you probably have on hand. Eggs are fantastic with spices, herbs, sauce, meat, and cheese. If you need a little inspiration, check out this definitive guide on how to season scrambled eggs. Your taste buds will thank you!

1

Spices

Sprinkle in some spices to add a ton of flavor. Sure, scrambled eggs taste good with salt and pepper, but a dash or two of spice can really pack a punch! You can use a single spice to let its flavor really shine or use a spice blend for really rich scrambled eggs. Whisk a few dashes of your spice or spice blend into the eggs before you cook them. Some good options include:^{[1]
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- Chili powder: smoky, slightly spicy flavor
- Cumin: rich warm flavor with a hint of lemon
- Smoked paprika: rich smoky flavor
- Cayenne pepper: really spicy flavor
- Cajun blend: smoky, garlicky, peppery flavor

2

Herbs

Reach for fresh or dried herbs to add instant flavor to your eggs. Freshly chopped light leafy herbs are an easy way to give bright, bold flavor — sprinkle your scrambled eggs with a few pinches right before serving. You can also use dried herbs, but just add a pinch or two to the eggs before you cook them since the flavor of dried herbs is more concentrated. Here are some herbs that really taste great in eggs:^{[2]
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- Parsley: light, peppery flavor
- Dill: earthy, fresh flavor
- Basil: mild peppery flavor
- Oregano: warm spicy flavor
- Rosemary: strong pine flavor
- Chives: onion flavor
- Sage: mild to strong peppery flavor
- Thyme: earthy and slightly lemony flavor
- Tarragon: mild licorice flavor

3

Cheese

Add shredded or crumbled cheese to add deep, salty flavor. Stir the cheese into the eggs while they're cooking or just before you serve them to customize the scrambled eggs. Add a small handful of a mild cheese like mozzarella if you want to add creamy flavor or use something like parmesan if you want a sharp flavor. Give these cheeses a try:^{[3]
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- Feta: salty creamy flavor
- Parmesan or pecorino romano: sharp salty taste
- Cheddar: mild to sharp salty flavor
- Gruyère: mild nutty taste
- Fontina: mild savory flavor
- Swiss: mild creamy taste
- Pepperjack: peppery, garlicky spicy taste

4

Dairy

Stir in a dollop of sour cream or cream cheese for a mild creamy taste. You could also use sour cream or creme fraiche—gently fold your choice of dairy into the scrambled eggs 1 to 2 minutes before they've finished cooking. This way the dairy doesn't cool off the scrambled eggs.^{[4]
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- Feel free to use your choice of low-fat or alternative dairy products.

5

Breakfast meat

Chop up a few slices of deli meat or cooked bacon for a savory smoky taste. Make your scrambled eggs even more filling by stirring breakfast meat into the eggs. It's important to cook the meat first since it won't have time to thoroughly cook along with the eggs. Add as much meat as you like—use a small sprinkling for a garnish or go heavy for meat-lovers scrambled eggs. Here are some yummy options:^{[5]
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- Canadian bacon or standard bacon
- Breakfast sausage links or crumbled patties
- Deli turkey or ham
- Chorizo
- Corned beef

6

Seafood

Cooked seafood can make your scrambled eggs feel extra special. Stir a few spoonfuls of cooked, flaked smoked salmon into your scrambled eggs, or mix in cooked and chopped shrimp, crab, or lobster. The scrambled eggs won't overwhelm the flavor of the seafood. Try seafood in your scrambled eggs the next time you're serving a special breakfast or brunch.^{[6]
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- Smoked salmon pairs really well with scrambled eggs, cream cheese, and chives.
- Try shrimp in scrambled eggs with pesto.

7

Sautéed vegetables

Cook onions or mushrooms for a nutritious serving of veggies. Sauté a handful of chopped onions, garlic, and mushrooms in the pan for a few minutes before you pour in the eggs and cook them. While onions, mushrooms, and garlic are a classic combination, you could mix and match any of these veggies:^{[7]
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- Chopped leeks
- Diced bell peppers
- Chopped asparagus
- Sliced shallots
- Chili peppers

8

Fresh vegetables

Add leafy greens or avocado for a way to include fresh veggies. Spinach is a wonderful addition to scrambled eggs—toss in a handful of spinach leaves or baby kale during the last minute or two of cooking. If you'd like to serve your scrambled eggs with creamy avocado, slice the avocado and fan it over the top of the eggs just before serving. Chopped tomatoes are also a refreshing addition.^{[8]
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- Try fresh baby spinach for a mild flavor and soft texture.
- Use baby kale or chopped Swiss chard for bold greens with a crunchy texture.

9

Sauces

Spoon salty, spicy, or fresh sauce onto the eggs to boost the flavor. If you want spicy eggs, reach for the hot sauce! For eggs that have a salty, smoky taste, drizzle a few drops of soy sauce or barbecue sauce on top. If you want to add a garlicky herby taste, spoon some fresh pesto or chimichurri sauce on the scrambled eggs. Of course, you can never go wrong with salsa either!^{[9]
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- Try salsa with scrambled eggs, cheddar, and cajun seasoning.
- Play around with soy sauce or teriyaki sauce on scrambled eggs with chopped scallions.

10

Umami-rich ingredients

Add mushrooms, miso, or fish sauce to add a savory depth of flavor. Umami is basically the flavor components that make something taste rich and almost meaty. Adding umami-rich ingredients can make your scrambled eggs taste more filling and satisfying. To add umami, try:^{[10]
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- Stirring a spoonful of miso into the eggs as they cook.
- Mixing kimchi or sauerkraut into the eggs a few minutes before serving.
- Adding a few drops of fish sauce or Worcestershire sauce.
- Mixing a couple of chopped anchovies into the cooked scrambled eggs.
- Furikake, sriracha, and hot sauce are all delicious condiments that go well with eggs.

11

Classic condiments

Serve your scrambled eggs with standard condiments. Sometimes, you don't think about seasoning the eggs until they're on the plate and you're ready to eat! That's okay—set out condiments like ketchup, steak sauce, and barbecue sauce.^{[11]
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- Eating scrambled eggs along with pancakes, waffles, or french toast? Try a little maple syrup with your eggs. You might just find a new favorite way to eat a classic.

12

Cooking tips

Cook 2 whisked eggs over medium heat for the best scrambled eggs. If you're ready to get cracking and cook some scrambled eggs, whisk 2 eggs per person in a bowl and add a pinch or two of salt and pepper. Melt a drizzle of butter or oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat and pour in the eggs. Turn the burner down to medium-low and use a spatula to stir the eggs occasionally—turn off the burner after 3 or 4 minutes.^{[12]
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- For the best texture, season and serve your scrambled eggs immediately.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do you spruce up your scrambled eggs?

Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator
Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University.

Ollie George Cigliano

Private Chef & Food Educator

Expert Answer

I like to add shaved veggies using a mandolin slicer — bell peppers or radish, and top with microgreens. You can also poach your egg in red wine to be really fancy! Finishing salts (like Maldon), fresh cracked rainbow pepper, and your best olive oil drizzled on top is also a nice touch. If you want to be a bit extra, edible flowers, such as nasturtium or dianthus, are a fun addition!