Of all the parts of a balanced breakfast, none is as versatile and delicious as the egg. They're wonderful fried or scrambled, of course, but that’s just the start. Sandwiches, omelettes, and more—check out our favorite breakfast egg recipes.

Simple fried eggs are a diner classic. We cook ours in plenty of butter—the key to cooking a perfect sunny side up egg is to baste the top with the melted butter, effectively cooking it from both sides at once. Chef Jim Christiansen, of Heyday restaurant in Minneapolis, serves fried eggs with a lavish North Country spread of hazelnuts, chantarelles, green garlic, and blackberries.

While some people crave a runny fried egg, others prefer fluffy scrambled eggs. We cook them slowly over low heat while constantly stirring. It takes a little time, but you're rewarded with decadently creamy eggs. To take the luxury to the next level, infuse the beaten eggs with black truffles overnight before cooking. For a Mexican scrambled eggs variation, cook your eggs over higher heat with red tomatoes, white onions, and green jalapeños (the colors of the Mexican flag).

An elegant breakfast sandwich is the perfect brunch centerpiece. For something easy, a simple omelette pairs well with ham and lemon curd on brioche. If you want to go all out, serve homemade biscuits with crispy pancetta, collards, marbleized eggs, and an espresso aioli. For an extra-rich open-faced sandwich, try a croque tartine parisienne—ham, bechamel, melted cheese, and a fried egg.

Never run out of breakfast options with our collection of breakfast egg recipes.