The Best Weekday Breakfast Recipes for Better Mornings
Eating a great breakfast doesn’t mean being late to work
We've all been there: you miss your alarm, you're running late to work, and worst of all, you're hungry. And even when you wake up on time, it can be hard to squeeze in a full breakfast. We're here to help.
With quick morning-friendly recipes and a few make-ahead dishes, it's possible to enjoy a feast in the AM and still make it to work on time. The easiest path to a quick breakfast is simply making your meal the night before: many baked goods can be stored several days. Think classic muffins, like our lemon poppyseed or banana oatmeal crowdpleasers. Toast is another popular on-the-go choice. Just spread some of our rhubarb-strawberry—made with rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice. Make a big batch and can it and you'll have homemade jam anytime you want it.
If you have a few extra minutes, go savory. Fried eggs are quick and filling, and make for excellent breakfast sandwiches. Or use them to top our Philippine garlic fried rice, a hearty, savory breakfast that makes the most of your leftover rice.
Never skip breakfast for a lack of time thanks to these quick and easy breakfast recipes.
French Toast
This simple yet elegant french toast, which comes from Brennan’s in New Orleans, has a rich crème brûlée base. All it needs is a sprinkling of powdered sugar on top (or, serve it with another New Orleans classic, Bananas Foster, for the ultimate treat). Get the recipe for French Toast »
Arlene's Coffee Cake
Contributor Jamie Feldmar gave us this recipe for cinnamon and pecan-laced coffee cake; the original came from her grandmother’s neighbor, and has been passed down through the women in her family. With a tender texture thanks to sour cream in the batter, it will stay moist for several days after baking, making it a great make-ahead dessert or breakfast.
Ricotta and Honey Sandwich
A dollop of ricotta on earthy-sweet oat bread is delicious; add a drizzle of sourwood honey and it’s elevated to the exquisite. (For a bit of sophisticated heat, top with a sprinkle of freshly-crushed red pepper flakes.) Get the recipe for Ricotta and Honey Sandwich »
Maldivan Breakfast (Mas Huni)
Test kitchen director Farideh Sadeghin discovered this simple dish while traveling through the Maldives; although fresh-cooked tuna is ideal, water-packed canned tuna works just as well. Get the recipe for Maldivan Breakfast (Mas Huni) »
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Crumb Cake
Sorghum flour and almond meal give this cake from Gluten-Free Baking (Weldon Owen 2014) a soft, fine crumb; tangy yogurt balances its subtle sweetness. A dense brown sugar and walnut crumble tops the cinnamon-and-vanilla-scented base, making for a satisfying breakfast or snack. Get the recipe for Gluten-Free Cinnamon Crumb Cake »
Homemade Ricotta
This recipe comes courtesy of Jenn Louis, chef-owner of Lincoln and Sunshine Tavern in Portland, Oregon. We featured Louis’ ricotta gnocchi in our April 2015 issue, and we can’t stop making this super-creamy ricotta—to add to gnocchi and everything else—because it’s so easy and so darn good. Get the recipe for Homemade Ricotta »
Crumpets
A delectable British treat, these springy pancakes are molded in a shallow ring on the griddle and pan-fried until golden. They get their distinctive nooks and crannies—ideal for a slick of jam and butter—from a yeast-based batter boosted with baking soda. Get the recipe for Crumpets »
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
A quintessential muffin recipe combines the nutty flavor of poppy seeds with a generous hit of fresh lemon zest.
Peach Date Bars
Chewy dates and chunky peach preserves form the filling for these cake-like bars. Make these ahead of your trip for a quick breakfast or, obviously, save them for dessert. Get the recipe for Peach Date Bars »
Peach Scones
Dried peaches add concentrated fruit flavor—and a pleasant chew—to these sweet, summery scones. Get the recipe for Peach Scones »
Banana-Oatmeal Muffins
Classic banana-nut muffins get a tangy boost from buttermilk and a hearty dose of oatmeal for a nutritionally-packed lunchbox (or breakfast) treat.
Butter-Basted Eggs
Crispy-bottomed fried eggs make an ideal breakfast. Get the recipe for Butter-Basted Eggs »
Rhubarb-Strawberry Jam
Rhubarb, a reddish pink vegetable that grows in celery-like stalks and is harvested through the late summer, has a pleasing tartness, so it pairs well with sweet strawberries in a jam.
Nutella on Ciabatta
Nutella, the hazelnut-chocolate spread, is perfect on ciabatta toast. It’s a popular breakfast throughout Europe.
The subtle sweetness of this granola is accentuated by crunchy flakes of fleur de sel and grassy notes of olive oil. Get the recipe for Pistachio-Coconut Olive Oil Granola »
Strawberry Compote
Strawberries macerated with gin, lime zest, and cardamom make an unexpected compote. Get the recipe for Strawberry Compote »
Romanian Walnut Panettone (Chec Cu Nucă)
This traditional Romanian sweet bread studded with rum-laced candied walnuts, makes a delicious dessert, breakfast bread, or teatime snack. Romanian Walnut Panettone (Chec Cu Nucă) »
Donegal Oatcakes
Perfect with butter for breakfast or as a snack, traditional Irish oatcakes also keep for ages when stored in an air-tight tin. Get the recipe for Donegal Oatcakes »
Cranberry Farro Quick Bread
Grains of cooked farro add substance and nuttiness to this moist, honey and brown sugar-sweetened quick bread. Get the recipe for Cranberry Farro Quick Bread »
Rhubarb and Berry Compote
The sweetness of berries plays off tart rhubarb in this lightly-spiced compote, which is great over Greek yogurt.
Rhubarb Muffins with Almond Streusel
These muffins are hearty, nutty, and zesty—the perfect combination. Get the recipe for Rhubarb Muffins with Almond Streusel »
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