9 Recipe Ideas For Leftover Hard-Boiled Easter Eggs

Eggs have long been viewed as a symbol of life and renewal, and because of this, they have always been an important part of springtime and Easter celebrations. And when the 18th century came around, eggs were painted bright colors and became part of games such as the egg roll, which we still enjoy today.

Most of us relish the fun that Easter festivities bring, whether it is coloring eggs or hiding them and rediscovering them. But once the holiday is over, many of us are probably at a loss over what to do with all the leftover hard-boiled eggs we have. In that case, these recipes might inspire you to try different approaches to making egg salad, adopt a surprising twist on deviled eggs, or use a spice blend you might not have thought of before.

But before you begin, it is important to remember that Easter eggs can only be safely consumed if they have been out of the refrigerator for under two hours, per the USDA. If they've been out for longer, you're better off throwing them away and cooking up a new batch of hard-boiled eggs for these recipes.

Deviled eggs are a staple in the American South, and mayonnaise is a key ingredient for this crowd favorite. But in our version, this particular condiment takes a back seat to crème fraîche, which our recipe developer Michelle McGlinn describes as a "little bit like sour cream and yogurt combined; slightly tangy, but not sour, and super creamy." Thanks to the addition of this ingredient, these deviled eggs will have more character, as well as a different flavor and texture profile.

Recipe: Easy Deviled Eggs

While some of us might normally view egg salad as just a satisfying sandwich filling, we think this one might be good enough to eat as a protein-rich side. Mayonnaise works hand-in-hand with Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, chives, and parsley to elevate this salad, making it a rich and memorable meal. If you have leftovers, they can be stored for up to two days in the fridge after the dish is made.

Recipe: Creamy Egg Salad

Turn your Easter eggs into a star ingredient in this classic Indian curry. The robust tomato-based gravy in this recipe is made from scratch, using a mix of spices that includes chili powder, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, and coriander — with the optional addition of fresh chilis for a kick. On any given day, an egg curry can take less than half an hour from prep to finish if eggs are boiled ahead of time. Enjoy it with rice or naan.

Recipe: Spicy Egg Curry

This post-Easter egg salad gets its flavor kick from a homemade za'atar blend, which includes thyme, oregano, white sesame seeds, and sumac, the berry-red Middle Eastern spice that adds a tang to anything it is sprinkled on. The combination of sumac and labneh (or yogurt) may add an unexpected sour note to the egg salad, so you'll want to add a little bit of za'atar at a time until you are left with a sandwich filling that your taste buds are happy with.

Recipe: Za'atar Egg Salad Sandwich

Here's a shortcut to hitting your five-a-day requirement of fruit and veg. This classic Cobb salad celebrates spring by offering up a range of vibrant colors and textures: watercress, romaine lettuce, sliced baby tomatoes and avocados, crumbled blue cheese, and generous servings of different proteins — chicken breasts, hard-boiled eggs, and bacon.

Recipe: Classic Cobb Salad

If you love your deviled eggs, here's a recipe that turns the traditional concept of the dish on its head. Yolks are combined with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, pickle relish, white balsamic vinegar, and paprika — creating a bright yellow blend. The chopped egg whites are then added, resulting in a vibrant Easter egg salad with a textural difference. This twist on deviled eggs is a great topping for a mouthwatering open-faced sandwich, served with your choice of bread and salad greens.

Recipe: Deviled Egg Salad

It might be difficult to imagine that hard-boiled eggs belong to the family of foodstuffs you can pickle, but they do. Your Easter eggs become an altogether different type of snack when they are kept in a jar full of pickling liquid seasoned with fennel seeds, garlic, thyme, and tarragon. The eggs need to stay in the herby vinegar for at least a week before they can be fished out of the jar and enjoyed as-is or as a yummy addition to sandwiches. Just be sure to store them in the fridge once the jar has been opened and eat them within two weeks.

Recipe: Herby Pickled Eggs

This colorful Niçoise salad is everything you're looking for in a healthy entreé. Hard-boiled eggs and canned tuna offer a protein boost, while new potatoes provide a carby element. And the heirloom tomatoes and green beans do more than just provide pops of color — they contain fiber too. While some versions of Niçoise salad might come with a serving of love-'em-or-leave-'em anchovies, this recipe stays away from that, making it easy to adapt for vegetarians; just take out the tuna.

Recipe: Colorful Niçoise Salad

We might love our avocado as well as our egg salad, but we probably haven't given much thought to the possibility that both ingredients could come together to create a dish full of creamy, nutritious goodness — yet here we are. This recipe might start off with a bit of mayo, avo, leftover Easter eggs, red onion, lemon, spring onions, and dill, but it also dares you to color outside the lines by getting playful with the ingredients. Add and take out what you will to make the egg salad your palate will love.

Recipe: Avocado Egg Salad