How To Make Eggs Benedict | The Modern Proper (2024)

May 8, 2024

Eggs Benedict, our favorite buttery, bacony, breakfast. The Hollandaise sauce is so good you’ll be waking up early to make it every day.

Photography by Gayle McLeod

That’s One Eggs-ellent Benedict

There’s a million eggs benedict variations: Eggs Atlantic (fresh or smoked salmon), Eggs Chesapeake (crab cakes), and one of the more unique Bennies–the New Jersey Benedict (substitutes a Taylor pork roll!). So what is eggs Benedict if there’s so many variations? The cornerstone of the dish is the Hollandaise, a rich and creamy sauce made from eggs, butter, and lemon juice. Add eggs on top of English muffins, and meat or fish and cover it all with Hollandaise for the best breakfast in town. It’s also one of our favorite Mother’s Day Brunch Ideas, ever.

Tips And Tricks For Perfect Eggs Benedict Every Time

Since half of the name of this dish is eggs, we think it’s important to get the eggs right. Our tips for how to poach eggs perfectly? Fill a large pot with 4-5 inches of water and add the vinegar. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. It’s best to work with one egg at a time, cracking the egg into a fine mesh strainer over your sink. Gently shake the strainer to get rid of any loose egg whites. Transfer the egg to a small bowl. Carefully tip the egg into the boiling water and cook until the whites are set, 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the poached egg to a paper-towel-lined plate. You’ll get the hang of it pretty quickly!

How To Make Hollandaise Sauce

What is Hollandaise sauce? It’s the eggs Benedict sauce! What might seem like an advanced cooking technique simply requires a steady hand because, luckily, you can make the best hollandaise sauce in the blender! Just start with egg yolks and fresh lemon juice in a blender, and pour melted butter in a steady stream with the blender running. The sauce will begin to thicken, and turn a beautiful pale yellow. Hollandaise can break, which means the butter and eggs will separate. The secret is all in the butter–make sure the butter is hot, but not too hot, add it slowly, and don’t add too much!

How to Make Eggs Benedict

Once the Hollandaise sauce is made, you’ll crisp up the Canadian bacon, toast the English muffins, and poach a couple of eggs (we prefer our yolks still a bit runny, about three minutes). To make the best eggs Benedict at home, line everything up for easy assembly and you’ll be well on your way to being the best breakfast chef.

Tools You’ll Need

• Blender

• Large pot

• Fine mesh strainer

• Slotted spoon

• Liquid measuring cup

• Large skillet

Cancel Your Brunch Reservations, We’ve Got a New Plan

Sometimes we just can’t be bothered to get out of our pajamas on the weekend. If that sounds like you, we’ve got your brunch-at-home plans covered. Here’s everything you’ll need to make a satisfying meal with all the hits:

• Belgian Waffles or Baked French Toast (you can make ahead!) for everyone’s sweet tooth.

• Spinach Mushroom Strata is a great reason to eat two egg dishes in one meal.

• Cardamom Rolls with Almond Glaze are the new cinnamon rolls.

• And to round things out for the perfect bacon, find our tips on How to Cook Bacon in the Oven.

Eggs Benedict On Brunch Repeat

Did you whip up these easy eggs Benedict? We want to see your beautiful brunch photos, and maybe even a video of the beautiful people you feed it to. Tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper. Bon appétit!