If you keep your own chickens then you know how fast your flock can grow. That trip to the farm store quickly becomes a slippery slope to getting just a few more chicks. And then, bam. Just like that, you have dozens of extra eggs and are running out of ideas on how to use them. But fear not, after having found myself in this very situation recently I started to do some research and was able to come up with tons of ways to use extra eggs!
23 Best Ways to Use Extra Eggs:
- Recipes that use tons of eggs – Entire list below!
- Sell eating eggs
- Sell hatching eggs
- Give them to family and friends
- Hatch out the eggs
- Donate them to charity
- Feed them to your dog
- Feed them to your flock
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The Best Ways to Use Extra Eggs
If you’re feeding your hens a good diet with lots of beneficial herbs, you’ll probably have tons of eggs that you have no idea what to do with!
So I’ve broken it down into several categories – recipes you can use the eggs in, using them on your own homestead, and ways to get rid of the extras!
Recipes that use tons of eggs
Of course, the reason why you got chickens is to have fresh eggs for eating.
At least, that was the case with us.
Three cute little chicks at the farm store quickly turned into 10. And that quickly quadrupled into 41 chickens.
Crazy I know!
So naturally egg recipes top the list – and the other ways to use fresh eggs are just icing on the cake!
Here are some of my all time favorite recipes that will use up those eggs quick! But just be warned – once your friends and family get a taste of some of these, you won’t be able to get them out of your kitchen!
Crème Brulee
My all time favorite dessert is crème brulee.
So you can imagine my excitement when I learned that this is also a great opportunity to use up those eggs!
Honey, I had to make another round of crème brulee tonight before those eggs go bad!
*Immediately grows a 2 foot nose*
But seriously, this dessert is an amazing way to use up a bunch of fresh eggs, and it’s actually not as difficult to make as I initially thought!
You can make it in one big dish, or in several small ramekins – and I even caramelize the sugar in the oven so you don’t even have to buy a torch!
Top it with a dollop of whipped cream, some mint leaves, and a few blackberries for that perfect make-all-your-friends-jealous combo of sweet and sassy!
Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are my go to recipe for large family gatherings, game nights, and Super Bowl Sunday.
They’re always a crowd pleaser and they’re super simple to make.
Plus, you can easily vary the recipe and toppings to make them healthier – or more indulgent!
Here are some of my favorite ways to make deviled eggs:
- Substitute the mayonnaise for Greek Yogurt and add turmeric. Top with chives
- Add bacon pieces to the yolk mix and top with cheese
- Topped with paprika, chili powder, and cilantro
Homemade Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise never really made it into my kitchen ingredient staples list – probably because my family is Latin and mayonnaise just isn’t something we use very often in Latin dishes.
But recently my other half saw a recipe for homemade mayo and decided to annoy me endlessly (ahem, I mean kindly remind me) until I gave in and made a batch.
Now, I can’t say I will be making mayonnaise on the daily, but knowing that the homemade version is way healthier than the store-bought type, I’ll probably be using it a bit more from now on.
Plus, it’s actually quite easy to make. Although I will say that the type of oil you use makes a big difference!
So do yourself a favor and go with extra virgin olive oil or better yet, grapeseed oil!
Quiche
Quiche is a normal part of the menu in my house and I always have the ingredients on hand.
I love how you can make it ahead of time, in any size and shape you want, and it’s so easy to create new variations based on whatever you have in the fridge!
Plus, it only takes about 10-15 minutes to make and it can feed a whole bunch of people – which is great for impromptu get togethers!
I usually make a crustless quiche which makes it both easier and healthier. And it’s mostly eggs, which makes quiche a great way to use up at least 6+ eggs!
Homemade Pasta
Okay, so when I say homemade pasta I don’t mean pasta from a box that you boil and add the homemade sauce to.
I mean make the pasta – like from scratch.
And recently in my kitchen, pasta making has become somewhat of an obsession. And completely enabled by my new pasta roller, I have to admit!
But basically it’s just flower, water, and eggs!
I will say, it does take some time to get it to actually look like pasta, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature and completely worth it!
After all, the taste of fresh, homemade pasta is completely different than the pasta out of a box!
Shakshuka
I absolutely love Middle Eastern food.
And knowing that I can make Shakshuka for breakfast in about 15 minutes just makes me want to go collect eggs from my coop!
If you’re not familiar, shakshuka is an egg and tomato based dish that combines those two ingredients with a few spices, peppers, and some onions.
It’s not spicy, but has that delicious roasted taste – and it’s super easy to make!
And the best part?
You can add as many eggs as you want!
So this summer when my kitchen is overrun with both extra eggs and fresh vine-ripe tomatoes, you can better believe we will be having this dish on the regular!
Egg Drop Soup
Egg drop soup is such an easy soup to make – one of my favorites for rainy days in need of some comfort food!
It has only a few ingredients in it and the homemade version tastes so much better than anything you can buy at the grocery store!
So if you’re craving some Chinese inspired food, egg drop soup pairs perfectly with fried rice and homemade egg rolls!
Egg and Sweet Potato Hash
I’m happy to say that after many years of perfecting this recipe, I’ve gotten the whole recipe down to under 20 minutes!
Sweet potato, bell peppers, parsley, scallions, and as many eggs as you want!
Plus it’s a one-skillet recipe which makes it easy to clean up!
I often make this for breakfast, but lunch and dinner are fair game too!
Spanish Omelet
I grew up with Spanish Omelets and love making them – especially for dinner!
If you’ve never had one, it’s basically an omelet filled with sliced potatoes and onions, making it a perfect savory dish for a cool night!
You can add in some herbs, or leave it with just the basic salt and pepper for the classic taste!
Egg White Meringue
By my house growing up, there was a small hole-in-the-wall bakery which sold elaborate cakes and all kinds of puff pastries.
They also sold meringues and every time we passed by my dad would stop in and get a paper bag full of them for me and my sister to share.
Recently I saw a recipe in a magazine for chocolate covered meringues topped with nuts, and you won’t believe how fast I got out my baking sheet!
Meringues use a lot of egg whites to make, but don’t let that fool you. Combine those eggs whites with tons of sugar, and this dessert is the farthest thing from healthy!
Make this recipe for special occasions and get creative with variations. Your guests will be impressed for sure!
Egg Salad
Egg salad is another great way to use up a bunch of eggs and can be made in a healthier version too!
You can serve it as a side dish, on toast, or as an hors d’oeuvre toped with scallions!
Substitute the mayonnaise for plain Greek Yogurt, leave out a few egg yolks, and you have a light and healthy egg salad!
Salad with Eggs
In additional making egg salad, you can also make hard boiled eggs and add them to regular salads as well!
One of my favorite salad recipes includes kale, arugula, swiss chard, mustard greens, scallions, and parsley – topped with medium boiled eggs and French vinaigrette!
The perfect combination for a light (but oddly filling) summer salad!
Egg Curry
Egg curry is an amazing dish all on it’s own, but pairs great with other dishes to add a meat dish to the meal!
And while I can’t say I make this a lot – it has a lot of spices in it – I will say that every time I’ve had it, it’s the highlight of the meal!
Egg curry, as the name implies, is heavily based in eggs, so you should have no problem putting those eggs to good use!
Flan de Queso Crema
This isn’t your usual Mexican restaurant flan.
Flan is a staple dessert in many Latin countries, and my family often makes flan de queso crema (or cream cheese flan) for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions.
We’ve even had several Christmas flan competitions since everyone claims their flan is the best!
This recipe is an easy, and delicious, way to use up at least 4 or 5 eggs – or more if you’re cooking for a party!
Oh, and there are several variations of this recipe!
Add some pumpkin puree to the mix and you get pumpkin cream cheese flan. Like pumpkin cheesecake, but better!
Eggs Benedict
Now, originally I wasn’t going to include eggs benedict on my list since it’s only like one or two eggs.
But hear me out.
What’s the best part of eggs benedict?
The hollandaise sauce, of course!
And hollandaise sauce uses a lot of egg yolks!
I cannot think of another breakfast food I’d be totally okay with having every day. And whenever they’re on the brunch menus, you better believe that’s what I’m ordering.
So just imagine my excitement when I learned that eggs benedict sneaks in extra eggs through the hollandaise! Not that I needed an excuse to make it, but brunch at my house just got a whole lot better!
Pickled Eggs
Let’s just jump right to the point and say that the main ingredient in pickled eggs is, well, eggs.
So naturally, they are a great way to use up your extra fresh eggs!
You can use the classic recipe or add some variations.
Plus, pickling the eggs is a great way to preserve them for future use!
Sell Eating eggs
When my neighbors learned that we keep chickens for eggs, the word quickly spread and we were getting requests from everyone in the neighborhood to sell them some!
Not that I’m complaining, but people love farm fresh eggs!
Especially if you have colorful egg layers like we do!
Just be careful with selling your chicken eggs to strangers – the laws on selling eggs vary by state so be sure to do your research first!
Sell Hatching eggs
What’s the difference between eating eggs and hatching eggs?
Well, hatching eggs are fertilized. Meaning that a rooster and hen got busy within the past few weeks of that egg being laid.
You can totally still eat these eggs, though. We eat them all the time.
The only way those eggs will actually hatch is if you incubate them, or let a hen sit on them for around 21 days.
But a lot of people who raise their own birds will buy hatching eggs and incubate them themselves.
People buy local hatching eggs for several reasons:
- it’s usually cheaper than buying baby chicks
- to get a specific breed you can’t find elsewhere
- so that they don’t have to deal with broken eggs through shipping
Give them to friends and family
One of the benefits of having a friend or family member with chickens is that they will usually be willing to give you some of their extra eggs!
It’s always great to share the love and giving away extra eggs doesn’t cost me anything, so why not?
Plus, a dozen or so eggs is a great (and unique) gift to bring to dinner!
Hatch out the eggs
Hatching out eggs is a perfect way to use a bunch of eggs and get something in return!
And there’s nothing like hearing those little peeps coming from the incubator.
My incubator holds 41 chicken eggs – if that’s not a lot of eggs then I don’t know what is!
And after your chicks are born, you have several options on what to do with them.
You can sell them to other homesteaders who are looking to start or expand their flock. Or you could expend your own flock with the new chicks!
We raise chickens for meat and eggs, and hatching them out ourselves is the best option for sustainability.
Plus we no longer have to rely on the feed store or hatchery for new baby chicks!
Donate them to Charity
Just like donating extra food from your garden, donating eggs to the local food pantry is a great way to give back to those less fortunate.
Just keep in mind that some food pantries do not accept perishable foods, so be sure to call before taking them over!
And if you can’t find a food pantry willing to accept them – churches, homeless shelters, and even word of mouth are also great resources.
Feed them to your dog
Milo loves eggs.
And on more than one occasion I’ve caught him sneaking away from the kitchen with a whole egg between his teeth!
Now, feeding your dog raw eggs can get pretty controversial.
We feed Milo raw eggs every once and a while without any issues – he eats them whole, eggshells and all.
But if feeding your dog raw eggs makes you uncomfortable, you can always scramble them first!
Just avoid adding in any unnecessary ingredients to prevent an upset stomach. And always check with your vet first!
Feed them to your flock
As a chicken keeper (who likes to collect eggs for eating) I wouldn’t encourage you to feed your chickens raw eggs.
Not because it’s bad for them, but because if they get used to eating raw eggs, they might begin to crack their own eggs open to enjoy as a treat.
And that would mean less eggs for you.
But you can definitely feed them scrambled and cooked eggs without running the risk of them developing that habit!
Eggs, as ironic as it may seem, are a great source of vitamins and protein for chickens!
How to Preserve Eggs
So what happens if you don’t want to do anything with the eggs right now?
There are several methods to preserve fresh eggs that will allow you to use them at a later time. The method you choose will dictate how long your eggs will last, but all of these methods are tested and proven to work!
- Keep them refrigerated – this is the easiest method to use, just pop them in the fridge! Unwashed eggs in the fridge will last 2-3 months (although I don’t put unwashed eggs in the fridge due to the bacteria on them) and washed eggs in the fridge last up to a month
- Water glassing – this method includes preserving the eggs in hydrated lime and water. Eggs can last over a year!
- Freezing – while you shouldn’t freeze whole eggs, you can definitely freeze beaten eggs. Beaten eggs in the freezer last up to a year!
- Pickling – pickled eggs are not just for preservation, lots of people love eating pickled eggs. However, pickled eggs only last a few months.
- Salt preservation – not my preferred method since it does change the egg texture considerably, but you can preserve whole eggs or the yolks only in salt and they will keep for about 6 months
Raising backyard chickens is such a rewarding experience, so hopefully these 23 ways to use extra eggs will keep you motivated to raise a happy, healthy flock!
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