Today I’m sharing my quick and easy take on a classic southern deviled eggs recipe. Don’t worry, these keto deviled eggs still feature the same deliciously creamy and perfectly seasoned flavor we know and love.
Howdy, friends! Today I’m bringing you a southern classic along with an easier way to make it. I grew up with deviled eggs. They were the pride and joy of every holiday dinner table, family reunion, and picnic in the park. As a kid, I remember putting a couple on my plate and then anxiously waiting while everyone else finished preparing their plates so I could see if there were enough left for seconds!
Well, folks, deviled eggs are making a comeback in a big way thanks to the low-carb diet craze, and with good reason! If you’re eating low carb, these little treats can easily add that old-fashioned flavor back into your diet, making you feel that you aren’t so very different in your eating habits after all.
My southern deviled eggs recipe includes a delicious combination of mayonnaise, mustard, sweet pickle relish, salt and pepper, and a dash of paprika on top (totally optional). It’s creamy, flavorful, and keto-friendly. Plus, they’re ready to eat in 15 minutes. I love quick and easy side dishes like these deviled eggs.
If you’re looking for more Southern recipes to grace your table during your next family gathering, check out these posts: Easter Menu Ideas, Thanksgiving 2022 Menu, and Favorite Family Reunion Recipes.
Recipe Ingredients
- Eggs
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Sweet pickle relish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Paprika (optional)
How to Make Classic Southern Deviled Eggs
First you need to make a batch of hard-boiled eggs. I share some tips down below, but these days you can boil your eggs in the instant pot, air fryer, on the stovetop, or with an egg cooker like I do.
Allow them to cool a bit before you peel them and cut them into halves. Remove all of the yolks (yellow part) to a small to medium bowl.
Add mayo, mustard, sweet relish, salt, and pepper to the bowl.
Now take a fork and together with the other ingredients really well until it’s creamy and well blended.
The exact amounts I use are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but you can vary it a little according to your taste.
Once the yolk mixture is all mashed together and well blended, spoon or pipe it back into your egg white halves.
An easy way to do this is to place it in a gallon zipper seal bag and just cut the corner off, then squeeze it into your little halves. I like to then top my deviled eggs with a sprinkling of paprika.
Because when I was a little girl “the ones with the red stuff” were always my favorite!
Put them on a pretty egg plate, cover with cling wrap, and place in the fridge until ready to eat. VOILA!
A taste from the past that is still perfectly acceptable for today’s diets.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Recipe Notes
- You can use your preferred mustard in this classic deviled egg recipe, whether that’s yellow mustard or Dijon mustard.
- You can also swap the sweet pickle relish for simply dill pickle relish.
- Besides paprika, here are some other topping suggestions: chopped fresh parsley, dill or chives, capers, or cooked and crumbled bacon.
- For extra heat, add a couple of dashes of Tabasco hot sauce.
Recipe FAQs
What kind of eggs should I use?
Use older eggs. If you’re planning on making deviled eggs, buy the eggs for them at least a week in advance and let them sit in your fridge until you need them.
How else can I cook the eggs so the whites aren’t pitted looking?
The one thing I hear the most often from folks about making deviled eggs is that the eggs aren’t always so easy to peel. In fact, some of them put up quite a fight and leave you with ugly pitted egg whites that you may not be so proud to place on the table. Have no fear because there are ways to avoid this. Mainly, you can cook them in an instant pot or use an egg cooker! This egg cooker is worth the counter space. It’s less than $20 and makes absolutely perfect hard-boiled eggs. But the best part is that the shells come off easier than anything you’ve ever seen.
Can I make this Southern deviled eggs recipe in advance?
Yes, you can make deviled eggs ahead of time. For best results, I’d only make them up to one day in advance. Store them in a single layer in an airtight container in the fridge until it’s time to serve.
If you like this recipe you may also like:
Cranberry Orange Holiday Meatballs
9 Favorite Holiday Dinner Desserts
Ingredients
- 6-7 piece eggs
- 3-4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1-2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- salt and pepper to taste
- paprika to sprinkle on top optional
Instructions
- Place eggs in a pot and add enough water to cover by one inch. Add a pinch of salt. Place on medium to medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cover, then let sit for 15 minutes. Alternatively: you can place the eggs in the egg cooker found here. Add the required amount of water, turn it on, and walk away until it chimes that the eggs are done.6-7 piece eggs
- Allow eggs to cool until easy to handle then carefully peel. Slice each egg in half and spoon out the yolk into a separate bowl. Add all other ingredients and mash with a fork until creamy and well blended. Spoon contents into a plastic bag and seal. Cut off the corner and squeeze back into egg halves. Sprinkle with paprika, if desired.6-7 piece eggs, 3-4 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon mustard, 1-2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, salt and pepper to taste, paprika to sprinkle on top
This is recipe I’ve always used but about 20 years ago I started putting a small amount finely shredded Colby Jack cheese in with all the egg yolk mixture. And then a little on top when I filled them and of the”red stuff”, paprika. My family loves them this way.
Great ideas!
My BFF gifted me with an egg cooker. I love it. Your recipe is yummy. I never thought I’d like sweet relish but I’m using it in your recipes (I love the copycat Potato Salad). TY
Thank you Barbara, really appreciate you and your comments 🙂 And so happy you love the recipes.
Seen this the other day and tried it, it worked great. I used 12 eggs and covered them in cold water and added 3 0r 4 slices of Lemon, brought them to a boil and boiled them for 13 minutes. Then I dumped the hot water and added cold water and ice on them to cool. Had great success getting them peeled.
So glad it worked for you. Thanks for sharing your method 🙂
I’ve loved deviled eggs my whole life. Recently when I grew a bit bored with the “same old” yolk/relish flavor, on a whim I added a half tsp of poppyseed dressing to the yolk mixture and BOOM. . .a new favorite! Don’t need much!
I ordered the egg cooker. The easy peeling of the eggs is what clinched the decision to buy.