Perfect Fried Egg in the Air Fryer
You can make a perfect fried egg in the air fryer with no skillet, no flipping, and almost no cleanup. Preheat an oven-safe ramekin, crack in one egg, and choose four, five, or six minutes for a runny, jammy, or more fully set yolk.
Watch the Air Fryer Fried Egg Video
A jammy fried egg cooked in a preheated ramekin, ready for toast or a breakfast sandwich.
Why the Preheated Ramekin Works
The preheated ramekin acts like a hot skillet. As soon as the egg touches the dish, the white begins setting while the yolk stays soft. That quick start gives the egg a fried texture without flipping it or heating a pan on the stove.
Once you find the right time for your air fryer, the method is easy to repeat. Four minutes keeps the yolk runny, five minutes makes it jammy, and six minutes produces a more set center.
Air Fryer Fried Egg Recipe
Make one egg on its own or cook a sausage patty beside it for an easy English muffin breakfast sandwich.
Ingredients
For the Air Fryer Egg
- 1 large egg
- Olive oil spray or cooking spray
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Optional Breakfast Sandwich
- 1 English muffin, split
- 1 breakfast sausage patty, or 2 to 3 ounces sausage shaped into a thin patty
- 1 cheese slice, optional
Nutrition note: The estimated 70 calories are for one large egg only. Oil spray, sausage, English muffin, and cheese are not included.
Instructions
Cook the Fried Egg
- Prepare the ramekin: Lightly coat a room-temperature Glass Ramekin with the Olive Oil Sprayer.
- Preheat the ramekin: Place the ramekin in the air fryer basket and heat at 400°F/204°C for 4 minutes.
- Add the egg: Carefully pull out the basket, crack one egg into the hot ramekin, and season with salt and black pepper.
- Air fry: Lower the temperature to 360°F/182°C and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on your preferred yolk.
- Serve: Carefully remove the egg with a spoon or small spatula and serve immediately.
Optional Breakfast Sandwich
- Shape the sausage: Form the sausage into a thin patty about the size of the English muffin.
- Cook beside the egg: Place the raw sausage patty in the basket beside the ramekin when the egg begins cooking at 360°F.
- Toast the muffin: Lightly coat the English muffin with the Olive Oil Sprayer and add it during the final 4 minutes.
- Check the sausage: Remove the egg when it reaches your preferred doneness. Continue cooking the sausage separately until its center reaches 160°F/71°C when checked with a Meat Thermometer. The USDA recommends 160°F for uncooked sausage containing ground beef, pork, lamb, or veal.
- Brown and assemble: If desired, raise the air fryer to 400°F for about 1 minute to brown the cooked sausage and muffin. Build the sandwich with the muffin, sausage, egg, and optional cheese.
Mikey tip: Air fryers vary. Your perfect yolk time may be 30 to 60 seconds different, but once you find it, the result is easy to repeat.
Air Fryer Fried Egg Timing Guide
| Temperature | Time | Yolk Result |
|---|---|---|
| 360°F/182°C | About 4 minutes | Runny |
| 360°F/182°C | About 5 minutes | Jammy |
| 360°F/182°C | About 6 minutes | More fully set |
Tips for the Perfect Air Fryer Fried Egg
- Use an oven-safe dish. Choose a manufacturer-rated Glass Ramekin, Silicone Ramekin, or Ceramic Ramekin.
- Start with a room-temperature ramekin. Avoid moving a very cold glass dish directly into high heat, and never use chipped or damaged glassware.
- Oil before preheating. A light coating from the Olive Oil Sprayer helps prevent sticking and avoids spraying a very hot dish.
- Check early. Start looking at the four-minute mark because the yolk changes quickly.
- Add time gradually. If the white needs more cooking, continue in 30-second increments.
- Cook sausage by temperature. Raw sausage may need longer than the egg, so remove the egg first and continue cooking the sausage until it is safe.
Gear Used for This Recipe
Gourmia Air Fryer
The 8-quart air fryer I use to preheat the ramekin and cook the egg.
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Olive Oil Sprayer
Adds a light coating to the ramekin and English muffin without making them greasy.
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Silicone Ramekin
A flexible, easy-release alternative for individual air fryer eggs.
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Ceramic Ramekin
A sturdy oven-safe option for a single fried egg or baked egg dish.
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Meat Thermometer
Checks that the optional raw breakfast sausage reaches a safe internal temperature.
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More Easy Air Fryer Breakfast Recipes
Learn how to make air fryer eggs three ways, try my no-flip air fryer omelette, or browse all of my easy air fryer breakfast recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cook two fried eggs at once?
Yes. Use two separate oven-safe ramekins and keep the same temperature. Depending on the basket space and airflow, the eggs may need an additional 30 to 60 seconds.
Do I have to preheat the ramekin?
For the closest thing to a fried-egg texture, yes. The hot ramekin begins setting the white immediately while allowing the yolk to stay soft.
Can I use a silicone or ceramic ramekin?
Yes, as long as the ramekin is rated for oven use. Different materials transfer heat differently, so check the egg early during your first test.
Why did my egg stick to the ramekin?
The ramekin may need a slightly heavier coating of oil. Make sure the bottom and lower sides are coated before preheating.
Can I cook the sausage and egg together?
You can start them together, but they may not finish at the same time. Remove the egg when the yolk is ready and continue cooking the sausage until its center reaches 160°F.
How Do You Like Your Egg Yolk?
Leave a comment below and tell me whether your perfect fried egg is runny, jammy, or completely set.
Watch More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
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