77 Breakfast Recipes That Make It Easy to Rise and Shine

Start your day right with delicious options like waffles, omelets, granola and more.

March 24, 2023

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The Most Important Meal of the Day

Maybe it’s just us, but the thought of syrup-drenched pancakes (and some bacon and eggs on the side!) make it so much easier to spring out of bed and tackle the day. So, it’s no wonder that we’ve got more than a few great ideas for your morning meal. You’ll find something for everyone in this roundup, from healthy breakfasts that’ll keep you full and fueled to ones that you can make on the fly and enjoy as you’re running out the door. With easy recipes for muffins, French toast, breakfast casseroles and more there’s no reason you should ever have to skip breakfast again. We’ve even got a recipe for breakfast cake. Yep, you read that right: cake. It’s packed with oats, flavored with cinnamon and topped with a nutty glaze. It’s a great way to clean out the pantry and prep breakfast for a few days all at once.

Get the Recipe: Oatmeal-Glazed Breakfast Cake

Tortilla Breakfast Wrap

Inspired by the Egg and Cheese Bread Omelet, we made a complete breakfast wrap--tortilla, eggs, spinach, cheese and ham included--entirely in one skillet, for a go-to dish you can make in a hurry. Enjoy right out of the pan or with a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce.

Get the Recipe: Tortilla Breakfast Wrap

Cold Brew Iced Coffee

This recipe makes just two servings of cold brew, so if you're new to the method, it will be a good test batch to see exactly how strong you want your steep to be. Once you've found your sweet spot of brewing time, you can double, triple or even quadruple the yield. The strained concentrate will keep tightly sealed in the fridge for up to a week.

Get the Recipe: Cold Brew Iced Coffee

Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

Ina adds sour cream to her blueberry muffins to make them extra moist.

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins

Scrambled Eggs with Herbs

Fresh, chopped herbs brighten up your breakfast routine in a super-easy scrambled egg recipe that you'll use over and over.

Get the Recipe: Scrambled Eggs with Herbs

Pancakes

For the ultimate pancakes, skip on the store-bought mix and make this easy batter instead.

Get the Recipe: Pancakes

Egg-Stuffed Bacon and Cheese Muffins

Enjoy a full breakfast in one loaded muffin: soft-boiled eggs included! Inspired by the beloved muffins from San Francisco bakery Craftsman and Wolves that have taken patrons and TikTok enthusiasts by storm, we gave these muffins a unique spin with crispy bacon and salty Irish Cheddar studded in each bite. Make sure not to overbake--doing so could turn the beautifully jammy eggs to hard-boiled in a matter of minutes. Serve these warm on their own, or with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and hot sauce for a transportable, savory, breakfast.

Get the Recipe: Egg-Stuffed Bacon and Cheese Muffins

Herbalicious Breakfast Casserole

Pesto, fresh parsley and oregano lend plenty of flavor (and color) to Ree’s breakfast casserole. To cut down on prep time, freeze the dish and thaw in the refrigerator the night before you plan to serve it. The next morning, all you need to do is bake and eat!

Get the Recipe: Herbalicious Breakfast Casserole

Avocado Toasts

There are two secrets to these simple avocado toasts: rubbing the bread with garlic for just a hint of flavor and adding a pop of crunchy sea salt on top.

Get the Recipe: Avocado Toasts

Pancake Bread

Made with maple syrup and brown sugar, this is a sweet bread guaranteed to please. It keeps well in the freezer too — just throw a slice in the toaster to reheat.

Get the Recipe: Pancake Bread

The Best Cheddar and Herb Chaffle

A chaffle is a low-carb, cheese-and-egg-based waffle that's taken the keto world by storm. One look at its fluffy texture and crispy edges and it's easy to see why.

Get the Recipe: The Best Cheddar and Herb Chaffle

2-Ingredient Bagels

These shortcut bagels call for just two ingredients and take less than an hour to come together—no yeast or rising time required thanks to the use of self-rising flour. And unlike in traditional recipes, you don't need to par-boil the bagels before baking. You may want to brush the top of the bagels with egg wash and sprinkle with your favorite toppings, though they will taste great without this extra step.

Get the Recipe: 2-Ingredient Bagels

Hash Brown Omelet

We took the classic diner breakfast of an omelet and hash browns and combined them into a no-fuss dish that's both hearty and satisfying. Frozen shredded hash browns are browned in a skillet until golden and crisp, then cooked directly with the eggs for crusty potatoes in every bite. We also loaded the inside of the omelet with sautéed bell peppers, Canadian bacon, tomatoes and melty cheese and topped the whole thing with avocado slices for the ultimate diner-style meal you can easily make at home.

Get the Recipe: Hash Brown Omelet

Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts

Warm and crisp but never greasy, Ina's easy baked doughnuts have the same comforting flavor as a slice of cinnamon toast.

Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts

Best Breakfast Potatoes Ever

The name pretty much says it all. The Pioneer Woman's take on breakfast potatoes is the best-ever, and it's all thanks to your screaming-hot oven.

Get the Recipe: Best Breakfast Potatoes Ever

Hong Kong Egg Tarts

Chinese egg tarts come in a few varieties: these tarts hail from Hong Kong and consist of a puff pastry crust with a slightly less sweet and rich filling than other versions. They are enjoyed throughout the year for breakfast or as an after-school or mid-afternoon snack. In Hong Kong, there are specific bakeries that specialize in egg tarts; when a fresh batch is hot out the oven, the beautiful sweet aroma travels down the block to attract customers.

Get the Recipe: Hong Kong Egg Tarts

French Press Coffee

Once you get the hang of using it, a French press delivers consistent results and a heavier-bodied brew. Plus it makes your morning coffee ritual much more enjoyable. There are a few prerequisites: Coffee that is too finely ground will make your final product murky and give it an oily sheen and bitter flavor. If you do not have a coffee grinder, ask the person in the coffee section of the grocery store or your local coffee shop to grind the beans for French press. Water temperature also matters—too hot and it can cause the brew to taste burnt. How long to let it steep is subjective so experiment to find your own target time.

Get the Recipe: French Press Coffee

Waffles with Blueberry Compote and Lemon Ricotta Cream

Bobby elevates his waffles with fresh blueberry compote and sweetened lemon-ricotta cream.

Get the Recipe: Waffles with Blueberry Compote and Lemon Ricotta Cream

Sausage Gravy Breakfast Lasagna

Layers of sausage gravy, cheese and noodles work so magically together, you'll wonder why you never ate lasagna for breakfast before.

Get the Recipe: Sausage Gravy Breakfast Lasagna

Granola

Alton Brown's simple granola recipe uses maple syrup for sweetness and extra flavor.

Get the Recipe: Granola

French Toast

Robert Irvine sticks to the basics with his classic cinnamon- and sugar-laced French Toast. For meal-worthy slices, use challah or brioche.

Get the Recipe: French Toast

Overnight Oats

Whip this up before you go to bed and your future self will thank you.

Get the Recipe: Overnight Oats

Instant Pot Chocolate Chip Banana Pancake Bites

These banana pancake bites are loaded with chocolate chips and a touch of ground cinnamon. Plus, they come together quickly in your Instant Pot®. Serve with warm maple syrup for dipping.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chocolate Chip Banana Pancake Bites

Wafflemaker Hash Browns

Breakfast prep is a breeze when you use a waffle iron to cook frozen shredded hash browns.

Get the Recipe: Wafflemaker Hash Browns

Acai Breakfast Bowl

While acai bowls are relatively new in the United States, they've been a staple in Brazil since, well forever. Acai is a purple berrylike fruit of a palm tree native to Central and South America. It's packed with antioxidants (anthocyanins) and omega-3 fatty acids. We used unsweetened frozen puree, which has a pleasant flavor with slight olive oil notes. Add the traditional toppings and this bowl is loaded with fiber.

Get the Recipe: Acai Breakfast Bowl

Healthy Banana Bread Muffins

Using very ripe bananas keeps these muffins moist and minimizes the amount of sugar you add.

Get the Recipe: Healthy Banana Bread Muffins

Breakfast Bread Pudding

You can’t go wrong with Ina’s five-star bread pudding. She soaks brioche in a mixture of half-and-half, eggs, honey and orange zest, then bakes until the pudding puffs and turns golden-brown.

Get the Recipe: Breakfast Bread Pudding

Muffin Tin Baked Eggs

No crust needed for Trisha’s baked egg muffins. She mixes a base of kale, Cheddar and roasted red pepper, then cracks an egg on top to bind it all together.

Get the Recipe: Muffin Tin Baked Eggs

Quick and Easy Bacon, Egg and Cheese

Any New Yorker will tell you a good bacon, egg and cheese (BEC) sandwich is the best way to start your day, and most likely you already have everything you need in your pantry to whip one up. The key elements to a great BEC are the melted cheese, scrambled egg that nestles perfectly onto the bread without falling off and salty crispy bacon. To make sure the cheese stays melted, we fold it into the center of the eggs just as they finish cooking so it stays warm. We found that by preparing eggs like an omelet ''package'' instead of scrambling them and topping them with cheese allowed us to adjust the size of our eggs to perfectly fit the size of our bread and hold our cheese in the ideal melted state. When you can't get to your corner deli or coffee cart, you can whip up this breakfast icon in the time it takes to walk out the door.

Get the Recipe: Quick and Easy Bacon, Egg and Cheese

Homemade Breakfast Tarts

Say goodbye to store-bought breakfast tarts. Ree fills a homemade dough with a dollop of berry jam, then tops the tarts with a quick and colorful mixed berry glaze.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Breakfast Tarts

Peach Pie Smoothie

Pie for breakfast? Sounds too good to be true. But this smoothie tastes just like the classic summer dessert, but it's ready in 10 minutes and is made with lowfat milk and yogurt so makes a healthy breakfast, too.

Get the Recipe: Peach Pie Smoothie

Sheet-Pan Bacon Egg Sandwiches for a Crowd

This ingenious method allows you to fry your bacon and cook more than a dozen eggs right on a sheet pan in the oven, eliminating all that time standing in front of the stove.

Get the Recipe: Sheet-Pan Bacon Egg Sandwiches for a Crowd

The Best Cinnamon Rolls

Once you've tried "from-scratch" cinnamon rolls, you'll never go back! They're light and pillowy and full of buttery cinnamon goodness on the inside.

Get the Recipe: The Best Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Pancake Mix

A stack of fluffy, homemade pancakes is only minutes away when you have this mix already in your pantry. The recipe yields 9 cups of pancake mix, enough to make 4 batches of the pancake recipe that follows.

Get the Recipe: Homemade Pancake Mix

Costa Rican Enyucados

These croquettes stuffed with cheese are the quintessential accompaniment to a Costa Rican breakfast, lunch or coffee hour. Boiled yucca is mashed and stuffed with mozzarella, then fried to golden perfection.

Get the Recipe: Costa Rican Enyucados

Easy Cheese Danish

To cut down on prep time, Trisha uses store-bought puff pastry dough for her cream cheese Danish. A simple egg wash and a sprinkle of sugar make them as beautiful as they are tasty.

Get the Recipe: Easy Cheese Danish

Instant Pot Mini Frittatas

Make a quick and delicious brunch appetizer or snack with your Instant Pot®.

Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Mini Frittatas

Banana Sour Cream Pancakes

While your go-to pancake recipe might star buttermilk, Ina whisks sour cream into her banana-spiked batter to add contrasting tang without watering it down.

Get the Recipe: Banana Sour Cream Pancakes

Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

More than 300 reviewers agree: Tyler Florence's blueberry scones are a great way to start the day. They're filled with fresh berries and topped with a zesty lemon glaze for the perfect sweet-tart balance.

Get the Recipe: Blueberry Scones with Lemon Glaze

Mini Kale Shakshuka

Molly’s mini shakshukas are perfect for an intimate brunch. Fresh kale lends its vibrant color to the egg dish, which is topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt, za’atar spice and fresh parsley.

Get the Recipe: Mini Kale Shakshuka

Red Velvet Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls

Using cake mix to make yeasted cinnamon rolls cuts down on kneading and proofing time, so they are on your table in less time and with less hassle. The red velvet mix makes them as visually striking as they are delicious.

Get the Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cinnamon Rolls

Breakfast Burritos with Chorizo

Filling and flavorful, this breakfast burrito is packed with chorizo, eggs, hash browns and beans. When paired with a fiery tomatillo salsa, the grab-and-go breakfast is simply amazing.

Get the Recipe: Breakfast Burritos with Chorizo

Chocolate-Hazelnut Babka French Toast with Caramelized Bananas

Start the day on a sweet note with Bobby’s decadent dish. He uses bakery-purchased chocolate-hazelnut babka for a twist on the traditional French toast, then caramelizes bananas for an extra-special topping.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate-Hazelnut Babka French Toast with Caramelized Bananas

Breakfast Strawberry Shortcakes

Yes, you can have strawberry shortcake for breakfast! We adapted the beloved dessert for the morning by whipping up the easiest 2-ingredient flaky biscuits with self-rising flour and Greek yogurt. Finished with a quick homemade strawberry jam, they’re a delicious way to start the day.

Get the Recipe: Breakfast Strawberry Shortcakes

Huevos Rancheros

Though they look extravagant, Sunny’s huevos rancheros come together in just 10 minutes. Homemade tomato-jalapeno salsa comes together in a skillet while she fries the eggs in a separate pan.

Get the Recipe: Huevos Rancheros

Breakfast PLT (Pancetta, Lettuce & Tomato)

An upgrade on the classic BLT, Giada piles mini-bagels with a mustard-goat cheese spread, pancetta, quail eggs, tomato and arugula. She uses quail eggs because they’re smaller than traditional eggs, but taste exactly the same.

Get the Recipe: Breakfast PLT (Pancetta, Lettuce & Tomato)

Shakshuka

This Middle Eastern breakfast is a tasty way to start the day. Bake the eggs in a thick tomato sauce, then serve with warm pita bread to mop up the juices.

Get the Recipe: Shakshuka

The Best Breakfast Egg Bake

Ingredients like frozen hash browns, canned crescent rolls and bulk breakfast sausage make this easy egg bake a classic morning meal. Layering rich sour cream, heavy cream and two types of cheese with bright bell pepper and scallion makes this The Best Breakfast Egg Bake. Slow-baking it keeps it soft and creamy with a browned crescent bottom. It’s the perfect dish for a holiday or a plain old Sunday morning.

Get the Recipe: The Best Breakfast Egg Bake

Basic Crepe Recipe

You don't have to go to a fancy restaurant to have crepes. All you need is a nonstick skillet (and a few pantry ingredients!). Nonstick is key for crepes, which ensures that the batter won't stick to the pan.

Get the Recipe: Basic Crepe Recipe

Biscuit Egg-in-a-Hole

What's better than a hot cheesy biscuit straight from the oven? A hot cheesy biscuit with an egg baked right into it! Even better, this recipe makes enough to feed six hungry people.

Get the Recipe: Biscuit Egg-in-a-Hole

Breakfast Crescent Ring

The ultimate breakfast sandwich ingredients are piled high inside crescent dough then shaped into a ring for the perfect brunch party recipe.

Get the Recipe: Breakfast Crescent Ring

French Toast Roll-Ups

Follow this kid-friendly base recipe, then choose from four filling options for an easy portable breakfast.

Get the Recipe: French Toast Roll-Ups

Huevos 'Ranch'eros

Ranch-flavored tortilla chips are the star of this Mexican brunch dish. After frying, serve the chips with a tomato-bean sauce, fried eggs and your favorite toppings.

Get the Recipe: Huevos 'Ranch'eros

Easy Cheese Danish

Ina's morning treats are filled with ricotta and cream cheese, brightened up with a whole tablespoon of lemon zest and made easier by at-the-ready frozen puff pastry.

Get the Recipe: Easy Cheese Danish

Grilled French Toast

Who says you can’t cook breakfast on the grill? Prep the apple-berry compote and apple-mascarpone ahead of time and enjoy breakfast outside with grilled French toast.

Get the Recipe: Grilled French Toast with Apple-Berry Compote and Apple-Mascarpone Cream

Egg-in-a-Hole Sandwich

You don’t want to miss Ree’s breakfast BLT. She uses two slices of egg-in-a-hole as the bread for her sandwich, then stuffs the inside with all the fixin’s.

Get the Recipe: Egg-in-a-Hole Sandwich

Shakshuka with Feta

Molly adds harissa, a spicy Moroccan pepper paste, to her take on this tomatoey baked egg dish that's perfect for a weekend breakfast.

Get the Recipe: Shakshuka with Feta

Corned Beef Homie Home Fries

Guy's loaded home fries aren't just home fries; the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives star claims they're a full-blown meal.

Get the Recipe: Corned Beef Homie Home Fries

Fan Tuan

Fan tuan is a sticky rice roll usually filled with pork floss, preserved vegetables and Chinese fried crullers (or you tiao) typically found in Taiwan. In Shanghai, the roll is called ci fan. Fan tuan is a popular on-the-go breakfast item, though it is also enjoyed at the table with sweet or savory soy milk that is served hot or cold. Our adaptation includes two fried eggs and some scallions to make it a complete meal.

Get the Recipe: Fan Tuan

Farmer's Breakfast

This hearty breakfast, complete with eggs, three different types of meat and a side of crispy potatoes, isn’t just for farmers anymore.

Get the Recipe: Farmer's Breakfast

Jumbo Maple-Pecan Scone

This recipe makes one large scone, but slice it like you would a pizza and serve 8 people.

Get the Recipe: Jumbo Maple-Pecan Scone

Bacon Lattice Breakfast Pie

Enjoy an eggy and delicious quiche without having to roll out any homemade dough? Count us in. Really, though, we could never deny the appeal of a bacon lattice!

Get the Recipe: Bacon Lattice Breakfast Pie

Sunny’s Big Ole Tex-Mex Burrito Omelet

Colorful, hearty and satisfying, this spicy omelet is overflowing with sautéed veggies, Mexican chorizo and pepper-jack cheese. Sunny tops it off with a classic salsa verde featuring cilantro, tomatillos and jalapeno.

Get the Recipe: Big Ole Tex-Mex Burrito Omelet

Eggs in Purgatory with Sausage

Put an Italian spin on brunch with this hearty recipe. Eggs poach right in the marinara sauce, while sausage and toasted ciabatta add texture to this saucy dish.

Get the Recipe: Eggs in Purgatory with Sausage

Ellie's English-Muffin Breakfast Pizza

Ellie Krieger uses ripe tomatoes, fresh basil and part-skim mozzarella to give this portable breakfast dish Old World Italian flare. Top the toasty mini-pizzas with chopped Canadian bacon and a drizzle of olive oil.

Get the Recipe: English-Muffin Breakfast Pizza

Strawberry Shortcake French Toast

We fry and bake English muffins to create a crispier version of classic French toast. Layer muffin halves with tart lemon sugar and strawberries, then top with more berries, yogurt and honey.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake French Toast

Apple-Apricot Breakfast Lasagna

A sweet breakfast lasagna may sound odd, but there's nothing wrong with this flavor combo. If you're familiar with kugel, a sweet noodle custard, then this lasagna won't be too foreign to you. We love the layers of pasta, cheese, dried fruit and apricot glaze.

Get the Recipe: Apple-Apricot Breakfast Lasagna

Omelet in a Bag

Weekend-style breakfasts are possible mid-week when you use Ree’s breakfast hack: place the omelet fixings in a boil-proof bag ahead of time and, when you’re ready to eat, pop the whole bag into a pot of simmering water for a mess-free meal that’s cooked in just about 15 minutes. 

Get the Recipe: Omelet in a Bag

The Neelys' Grilled Steak and Eggs With Beer and Molasses Sauce

Steak and eggs is a breakfast classic, but the Neelys kick theirs up a notch by throwing it all on the grill. Spice up the steak with a beer-infused barbecue sauce.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Steak and Eggs with Beer and Molasses

Mama Kaye's Salmon Breakfast Croquettes

Food Network Magazine secured this recipe right from the White House; it's an old favorite of the Obamas from the girls’ godmother and family friend “Mama Kaye” Wilson.

Get the Recipe: Mama Kaye's Salmon Breakfast Croquettes

Baked Gruyere and Sausage Omelet

Giada's savory sausage-and-cheese is baked in the oven instead of being made on the stovetop; use a round pie plate and cut the omelet into wedges for serving, or make individual omelets using ramekins.

Get the Recipe: Baked Gruyere and Sausage Omelet

The Neelys' French Toast Panini With Grilled Bananas

Assemble a French toast breakfast panino by layering grilled bananas between grilled bread. The fruit filling adds smoky sweetness to the finished dish.

Get the Recipe: French Toast Panini With Grilled Bananas

Spanish Omelet With Romesco Sauce

Ted uses the flavors of Spain — Iberico ham, Manchego cheese and spicy tomato-pepper romesco sauce — for his twist on the classic omelet.

Get the Recipe: Spanish Omelet with Romesco Sauce

Corned Beef Hash

Give leftover corned beef new life. Pair it with sauteed onions and potatoes, then top it off with melted cheddar cheese. Complete this classic diner meal with a fried egg.

Get the Recipe: Corned Beef Hash

Rachael’s Scrambled Eggs With Smoked Salmon

For an elegant breakfast in a flash, Rachael folds smoked salmon into her 6-minute scrambled eggs. Crisp, fresh chives add bright color and a subtle onion flavor.

Get the Recipe: Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Salmon

Almost-Famous Cinnamon Buns

These gooey pastries rival Grandma’s (or a certain airport cinnamon-roll tycoon) any day. The comforting aroma of spicy cinnamon and nutmeg sprinkled between layers of homemade pastry dough could bring even the deepest sleepers scurrying to the breakfast table.

Get the Recipe: Almost-Famous Cinnamon Buns

Fluffy Pancakes

Whipped egg whites make these pancakes light in texture and give them extra height.

Get the Recipe: Fluffy Pancakes

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