How Long to Boil Eggs for Deviled Eggs

Despite the name, deviled eggs are known for their lush, decadent filling and are usually served as an appetizer or side dish for cookouts, potlucks and special occasions. However, they’re simple enough to make just about any time – the most difficult step is boiling the eggs to perfection before using the yolks to make the rich, tangy filling.

Many people struggle with this step, not because boiling is difficult, but because they second guess themselves when deciding how long to boil eggs for deviled eggs. This guide covers all of that and more, so keep reading to learn how long to boil deviled eggs and the answers to other frequently asked questions.

Basic Steps for Making Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs aren’t difficult to make if you’re patient! Though everyone has his/her own preferences when it comes to recipe specifics, the same basic process is used to make almost all deviled egg recipes. Here is a rundown of the usual steps to make deviled eggs:

1. Carefully place eggs in a single layer at the bottom of a saucepan or pot and cover with cold water. Make sure you have at least 1 ½ to 2 inches of water above the eggs.
2. Bring the water to a boil and allow the eggs to boil for the recommended time.
3. Once the eggs have cooked to the desired consistency, gently transfer them into a bowl of ice water, using a ladle or a slotted spoon, to stop the cooking process.
4. Once the eggs have cooled, begin peeling the shells. Work slowly and carefully to avoid breaking the eggs inside.
5. Once all the eggs have been peeled, cut them in half from top to bottom and remove the yolks, putting them in a bowl.
6. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl with the yolks and stir until completely combined.
7. Once you’ve made the yolk mixture, transfer it into a piping bag and pipe it (or use a spoon to scoop the mixture) into the cavity of the yolk left in the halves of the egg whites.
8. Top with desired garnishes, cover with plastic wrap, chill and serve!

As you can see, even with numerous steps, this dish is actually fairly simple. Now, let’s dive into how long you boil eggs to make deviled eggs.

How Long to Boil Eggs for Deviled Eggs

No matter how you do it, you’ll need to know how long to cook boiled eggs for deviled eggs. For the most basic deviled egg, you’ll need to boil the eggs for about 1-2 minutes, with a ten-minute rest in hot water to make sure the yolks are solid enough to whip into the mixture.

Deviled Egg Variations (and How Long to Boil Eggs)

There’s more than one way to devil an egg! Here are just a few variations on deviled eggs and how long it takes to boil eggs for each variation. You may want to experiment with the different methods to find your favorite.

Traditional Deviled Eggs

For a traditional deviled egg, boil the eggs for 1 minute and allow them to rest in the hot water for 10-12 minutes to make sure that the whites have been cooked through and the yolks are solid but not overcooked.

Hard-boiled Deviled Eggs

If you need to know how long to cook hard-boiled eggs for deviled eggs, it’s essentially the same as the traditional deviled egg. Cook hard-boiled eggs for 1 minute and allow them to cook in the hot water with the heat turned off for 15 minutes before removing them from the heat and stopping the cooking process.

Soft Deviled Eggs

These are deviled eggs made with a soft-boiled egg with a jammy yolk instead of a fully solid yolk. For a soft-boiled deviled egg, boil the eggs for 4 minutes. This method may make removing the yolks a bit more difficult, so make sure to do it over a bowl to catch any runny yolk. The texture of the mixture will be a little looser than the traditional deviled egg.

Batch-prepping Deviled Eggs

You may need to make different quantities of deviled eggs, depending on whether you’re serving them as a simple snack, side dish at home or feeding a crowd at a gathering. This section will help you determine how long to boil 6 or 12 eggs to make deviled eggs.

How Long to Boil Six Eggs for Deviled Eggs

If you’re boiling only half a dozen eggs to make deviled eggs, boil them for 1 minute and allow them to rest for 12 minutes before transferring them to the ice bath.

How Long to Boil 12 Eggs for Deviled Eggs

When boiling 12 eggs at a time to make this dish, you should aim to boil them for approximately 1-2 minutes and allow them to rest in the hot water to continue cooking for around 12-15 minutes.

Table: How Long to Boil Eggs for Deviled Eggs

Type or Quantity of Eggs	How Long to Boil (in minutes)
Traditional deviled egg	1 minute (12-minute rest)
Hard-boiled egg	1 minute (15-minute rest)
Soft-boiled egg	4 minutes
6 egg batch	1 minute (12-minute rest)
12 egg batch	1-2 minutes (12–15-minute rest)

How Long to Boil Deviled Eggs (Easy Recipe!)

Ingredients

12 eggs

½ cup mayonnaise (homemade or store-bought are both fine)

2 teaspoons white vinegar

2 teaspoons stone-ground mustard

Pinch of salt

Ground black pepper

Paprika

Optional chopped chives for garnish

Instructions

1. Place eggs in a pot or saucepan and cover with 1-2 inches of cold water.
2. Bring the water to a boil and boil the eggs for 1 minute, then remove from the heat for 15 minutes.
3. Transfer the eggs into an ice bath for up to 5 minutes, until cool enough to handle.
4. Peel all the eggs and cut them into halves from top to bottom.
5. Remove the yolks, place them in a bowl and add the mayo, mustard, white vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
6. Spoon or pipe 2-3 teaspoons of the yolk mixture into each half of the eggs and arrange them on a tray.
7. Sprinkle the eggs with paprika and the optional chive garnish.
8. Cover with plastic wrap, chill for at least 15 minutes and enjoy!