My grandmother brought these to every springtime gathering. Taking only 4 ingredients, they disappear before dinner even starts.

These 4-ingredient deviled eggs are the kind of simple, practical dish every Midwestern grandmother kept in her back pocket. My own mama carried a white plastic tub of them to every springtime gathering—Easter after church, baby showers in the church basement, and those first warm Sunday dinners when the robins came back. They’re creamy, gently tangy, and dusted with that familiar red paprika that makes them look as pretty as they taste. With only eggs, mayonnaise, yellow mustard, and paprika, they come together quickly and have a way of disappearing from the table long before dinner is served.

Serve these deviled eggs well-chilled, nestled in a plastic container or on a simple platter. They pair nicely with ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, and a crisp lettuce salad—exactly the sort of spread you’d see at a small-town potluck or family holiday. They also make a handy make-ahead snack to keep in the refrigerator for nibbling before supper. A pitcher of iced tea or lemonade alongside a plate of these eggs is all you really need for an easy spring afternoon visit on the porch.

Servings: 12 halves (about 6 appetizer servings)

6 large eggs

Place the eggs in a single layer in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water by about 1 inch.

Set the pan over medium-high heat and bring just to a full boil. As soon as the water reaches a rolling boil, turn off the heat, cover the pan with a lid, and let the eggs sit in the hot water for 10 to 12 minutes.

While the eggs sit, prepare a bowl of ice water. When the time is up, transfer the eggs to the ice water and cool completely, at least 10 minutes. This helps the shells peel off more easily and keeps the yolks from turning gray.

Gently crack and peel each egg, then rinse off any bits of shell. Pat the eggs dry with a paper towel.

Slice each egg in half lengthwise with a sharp knife. Carefully pop the yolks into a small mixing bowl, setting the firm white halves into a clean white plastic container or on a tray so they’re ready to be filled.

Mash the yolks with a fork until very smooth, breaking up all the lumps. Add 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon of yellow mustard to start. Mash and stir until the mixture is creamy and well blended. Taste and add a little more mayonnaise for extra creaminess or more mustard for tang, as you like.

Using a small spoon, scoop the yolk filling back into each egg white half, mounding it slightly. For a smoother, piped look like my grandmother’s, scrape the filling into a small plastic sandwich bag, push it down into one corner, snip the tip off, and pipe the filling into the whites in a neat swirl.

Once all the eggs are filled and neatly arranged in the white plastic container, lightly sprinkle the tops with paprika so each yolk mound has a gentle red dusting.

Cover the container with its lid and refrigerate the deviled eggs for at least 30 minutes before serving so they’re nicely chilled and the flavors can settle. Keep them cold until just before setting them out; they’re best eaten the same day, and they tend to vanish before dinner even begins.

For a slightly different flavor while still keeping things simple, you can adjust the balance of mayonnaise and mustard—more mayo for extra creaminess, more mustard for a brighter tang. If your family doesn’t care for much heat, be sure to use mild paprika; smoked paprika gives a deeper flavor but changes the classic taste a bit. You can also make smaller or larger batches by remembering that each egg gives you two deviled halves. For a neater look, always mash the yolks very thoroughly so the filling pipes smoothly and doesn’t appear grainy. Food safety tips: Use fresh, uncracked eggs and cook them until both whites and yolks are firm. Cool the eggs promptly in ice water and refrigerate them while you prepare the filling. Once filled, keep deviled eggs refrigerated until serving and try not to leave them out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (or 1 hour if it’s quite warm). Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2 days for best quality and safety.