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12 Tasty Ways to Serve This Cheap Breakfast Staple for Dinner

It’s 6 p.m. and you haven’t thought about dinner yet. Don’t stress or shell out for Seamless just yet.

Even if your fridge is a barren wasteland, you probably have a carton of eggs.

It’s a shame that most people restrict their egg intake to the a.m. Eggs cost only a couple dollars. And even if you splurge on free range, they’re still relatively cheap.

Plus, they’re loaded with protein and heart-healthy omega-3s. A diet rich in eggs keeps your wallet fat and your waistline trim!

From fried to frittata, bread pudding to bird’s nest, here are a dozen delicious ways to eat eggs for dinner.

Hearty barley bowls are topped with sautéed spinach, fried eggs and healthy yogurt hollandaise sauce.

Barley is cheap, nutritious and filling, so this dinner will keep you full until breakfast, and maybe beyond.

Simple pantry ingredients add tons of flavor and spice to this pappardelle pasta topped with a fried egg.

The magic happens when the yolk breaks and mixes with the garlic oil — you’ll be transported straight to an Italian village.

Never heard of shakshuka? It’s a traditional Israeli dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato-pepper sauce, usually topped with a shower of feta cheese and served with fluffy, warm pita.

This version turns it into a soup you can make ahead and freeze for up to three months. Just reheat, top with a poached egg and dinner is done.

Even die-hard carnivores will never miss the meat in this healthy quiche. The crust is made from 100% whole wheat flour, and the filling is loaded up with fresh local veggies and tons of sharp cheddar cheese.

Leftovers are delicious cold for lunch the next day.

Protein-packed, fiber-rich (and incredibly cheap!) lentils get all fancy and French in this baked egg dish topped with light and creamy whipped goat cheese.

Check out the video to see how quickly it comes together. Weeknight dinners, for the win!

Got any leftover red wine languishing on your counter? Don’t pour it out!

Throw it in your slow cooker with a bunch of veggies and herbs and make this fragrant, flavorful ratatouille topped with fried eggs.

This just might be the ultimate late-night comfort food: a grilled cheese and an egg-in-the-hole in one.

There are times to be healthy and there are times to go for it. This sandwich, with mayonnaise, two kinds of cheese and plenty of butter, is definitely a well-worth-it splurge.

Who isn’t bad at eyeballing the right amount of spaghetti to cook?

If you made too much (again!), turn the extra into this kid-friendly frittata topped with juicy turkey meatballs and gooey mozzarella cheese.

This sweet and savory one-skillet dinner has only five simple ingredients, and is both waistline- and wallet-friendly. In fact, this recipe is perfect if you are doing a Whole30.

Transform day-old bread into this luscious, savory bread pudding with ham, cheddar, nutmeg and fresh thyme.

You can assemble it in advance and then just pop it in the oven an hour before dinner.

Surprise! It’s incredibly easy to make this Chinese takeout staple at home.

This traditional version uses chicken, corn and peas along with beaten eggs to create a creamy, soul-warming soup.

The combination of asparagus, peas, mint and salty feta is bright, fresh and perfect for spring.

Think of this recipe as a template, and use whatever veggies are languishing in your refrigerator.

Your Turn: Do you cook with eggs outside of breakfast? Which meal on this list are you most excited to try?

Lucy Baker blogs about vegetables (and occasionally desserts) at Turnip the Oven.