This post may include affiliate links; see our disclosure policy.
We know, mornings are hard. But that doesn’t have to mean no breakfast! These easy breakfast ideas will save you on busy mornings.
You’re busy. We’re busy! We totally get it. Mornings can be one of the hardest times to stick to healthy eating, especially if you’re running out the door. So, we’ve compiled a few of our very favorite easy breakfast ideas to make your mornings easier!
Let’s be honest: eating breakfast is going to require some prep. Many of these recipes are batches that you’ll only have to cook one time: then you’ll have a bunch on hand for breakfasts throughout the week. Others are breakfast food you can whip up in a few minutes!
Our top easy breakfast ideas—recipe list
Want to eat more breakfast vegetables? You’re not alone. Eating more veggies to start the day is starting to trend. Let’s infuse veggies into the first meal of the day, too. How to eat vegetables for breakfast? Try this Breakfast Vegetable Scramble! It’s full of savory flavor…and loaded with nutrients, too!
Total time: 15 minutes
Let us introduce you to a daily staple around here: this delicious peanut butter oatmeal! Here’s the thing: oatmeal can be gloppy, gooey, or under-seasoned. But cook up a pot the right way, and it tastes like a dream! Top it with peanut butter, jelly, and fruit, and you've got a filling way to start the day.
Total time: 7 minutes
Looking for a 5-minute breakfast idea? Well, here’s a recipe that’s all three at once. (Audible gasp.) Meet these amazing egg tacos! This is one of our favorite kitchen tricks and we’re so excited to share it with you. Did you know that eggs can taste like meat? Yes, somehow the spiced scrambled eggs filling channels the flavor of taco meat plus chorizo...and it's so easy to whip up.
Total time: 5 minutes
Need a quick and easy breakfast ideas? This satisfying yogurt bowl is packed with protein, fiber, and flavor—and easy to customize with your favorite toppings. It’s especially fun to make a DIY yogurt bowl bar as a low-stress way to serve guests!
Total time: 5 minutes
Here’s a make-ahead breakfast idea that’s so full of flavor, you’ll wonder where it’s been all your life. Meet this incredible easy and healthy baked oatmeal! It works for either serving for guests or quick mornings! Bake up a pan in advance, and then grab a square to go. It’s beyond easy, and the combination of the cinnamon, allspice and maple makes magic. Also try: Banana Baked Oatmeal
Total time: 1 hour (Make ahead)
Diner-style fried eggs are perfect for an easy breakfast! There are 4 main ways to make them: sunny side up, over easy, over medium, and over hard. Here are all the methods so you can master these techniques! Add toast or sautéed veggies for a hearty meal.
See also: How to Fry an Egg, Sunny Side Up Eggs, Over Easy Eggs, Over Medium Eggs, or Over Hard Eggs
Total time: 3 minutes
Here’s a healthy breakfast idea that’s a bit unexpected, but surprisingly satisfying…Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls! Sure, cottage cheese and pineapple or melon seems a little retro. So let’s dust off the concept and make a modern way to start the day. Top this high protein cheese with fresh berries or apple, cinnamon and drizzle of honey.
Total time: 5 minutes
Here's an easy make-ahead breakfast idea: egg muffins! They’re easy to meal prep and grab as you’re headed out the door. Refrigerate or freeze ’em, and you can eat off them all week. The best part: they’re so tasty! They’re filled with colorful veggies and cottage cheese for added protein and nutrients.
Total time: 40 minutes (Make ahead)
What could be an easier breakfast idea? It's a trick that’s worth knowing and a great use for a lone banana ripening on the counter. These pancakes are nutrient-dense, made mostly bananas and eggs with a small amount of flour. They come together in 10 minutes and they fry up into a fluffy, satisfying texture that feels like more than the handful of ingredients.
Total time: 10 minutes
Sometimes a breakfast idea comes along that’s so simple and tasty, we just cannot wait to share it with you. Such is the case with this Blueberry Oatmeal! This pot of oats has an irresistible sweet berry flavor that’s nuanced with cinnamon, allspice and a hint of vanilla. Even better is the color: the brilliant-purple hue makes it that much more fun to eat your breakfast.
Total time: 15 minutes
Here's an easy make-ahead breakfast idea: mini frittatas! Basically a muffin made of egg, they’re easy to meal prep and grab as you’re headed out the door. Refrigerate or freeze ’em, and you can eat off them all week. The best part: they’re so tasty! They’re filled with colorful veggies and crunchy pecans for added protein and nutrients.
Total time: 30 minutes (Make ahead)
Want to liven up your breakfast food? Try Breakfast Quinoa! This alternative to oatmeal is just as satisfying. Critics of quinoa find it bitter or bland, but this way to prepare it is anything but! Cook it with milk, maple syrup and cinnamon, then load it up with toppings like fresh berries, coconut and nut butter. It’s an easy breakfast idea that’s a fun way to start the day.
Total time: 25 minutes
It’s cinnamon-scented, crispy on the outside and custardy on the inside: try our best French toast recipe! It’s basic, but it can taste like a luxurious morning of hotel room service if it’s done right.
Total time: 10 minutes
Here’s a make ahead easy breakfast that fits in the palm of your hand: these Healthy Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies! Yes, it’s magic: oats, nut butter, applesauce, and maple syrup transform into cookies that you can eat for breakfast. There’s none of those traditional cookie ingredients: no flour, no butter, no oil, and no refined sugar. How is it possible? You’ve got to taste.
Total time: 35 minutes (Make ahead)
Another easy breakfast idea: Greek Yogurt Parfaits! Layer yogurt, berries and peanut butter granola or homemade granola in a glass, and looks loads fancier than it actually is. Make it day of, or it's also a quick make-ahead breakfast!
Total time: 10 minutes
Need easy breakfast ideas? Smoked salmon to the rescue! There’s nothing better than a great Smoked Salmon Bagel. It’s a study in bold contrasts: homemade herbed cream cheese against smoky, buttery salmon, herbaceous dill against briny capers, and of course a fluffy, perfectly toasted bagel.
Total time: 15 minutes
Next up in our easy breakfast ideas: almond butter toast! It’s easy to forget about the simplest of ideas when you’re in a rush. Nut butters for breakfast are packed with protein and super filling. Try our Homemade Almond Butter or Homemade Nut Butter to put this toast over the top. You can top with any berries or sliced fruit you have on hand: and a little drizzle of maple syrup makes it extra special.
Total time: 2 minutes
Looking for the epitome of an easy breakfast idea? Try this overnight oats recipe! There’s no cooking involved here: in fact, you can mix up a jar in just 2 minutes! Leave rolled oats in the fridge overnight with milk, and it magically makes them into a sort of porridge. Eat them cold topped with berries or nut butter and they’re absolutely fantastic!
Total time: 7 minutes
Next up in our easy breakfast ideas: homemade Instant Oatmeal! How fun is this? You actually make your own instant oatmeal mix with oats, nuts, dried fruit and spices, and put it in a big jar. It takes about 5 minutes to put together. Then on busy mornings, you combine with water and microwave for 2 minutes. What’s better than a 2 minute breakfast?
Total time: 2 minutes
Need a quick and easy breakfast idea? Try this basic yet beyond satisfying Easy Breakfast Sandwich! There’s nothing better than fluffy eggs perched on a toasted English muffin with gooey cheese. The kicker for this one? A slather of smoky mayo brings an irresistibly savory undertone: and you can even skip the bacon.
Also try: Healthy Breakfast Sandwich
Here’s a breakfast idea that's perfect for mornings and all those in between moments, too: no bake Oatmeal Bars! These are big winners in our house and quickly solidified themselves into the weekly repertoire. These breakfast bars star peanut butter, honey, and Old Fashioned oats, and they’re a healthy breakfast food or snack you can feel good feeding yourself or your family.
Total time: 10 minutes (Make ahead)
Here’s a genius simple breakfast idea that tastes far greater than the sum of its parts: Ricotta Toast! Spread ricotta cheese on toast, then load it up with sweet or savory toppings. Go basic with juicy ripe tomatoes and a drizzle of olive oil, or hearty with tender smoked salmon, capers and fresh dill. Or go sweet with fruit, a drizzle of honey and cinnamon. Anything goes here!
Total time: 10 minutes
Try this genius ! In just 15 minutes, you’ve got a burrito that’s bursting with zesty flavor. Many breakfast burrito recipes call for rice or cooked meat or potatoes: and who has time for that in the morning? (Not us.) You’ll need just 5 minutes to cook two layers of eggs here: one chorizo-spiced and one cheesy.
Total time: 15 minutes
There's nothing quite like scrambled eggs as an easy breakfast idea! But here's the thing: many home cooks mess up on the technique for scrambled. Cook them too hard and they become a rubbery, tasteless mess. Here we’ll show you our time-tested technique of scraping the eggs into soft velvety folds of goodness.
Total time: 5 minutes
When it comes to breakfast food…this one might be our favorite. Try this epic Breakfast Tacos recipe! They're stuffed to the brim with potatoes, cheesy eggs, cilantro and pickled onions. Use frozen hash brown potatoes as a shortcut. It’s the perfect fast and easy breakfast idea to jump start your morning.
Total time: 20 minutes
Here’s a classic egg technique every home cook should master: how to make an omelette! This recipe makes for the most delicious omelette you’ve ever had: classic French style, with a golden exterior, soft interior, and loads of savory flavor. Here’s our adaptation of Julia Child's classic technique, and it really does make the best omelette recipe imaginable.
Total time: 5 minutes
Cottage cheese pancakes? Yes, this protein-packed pancake uses half the flour as a regular pancake recipe, relying on eggs and cottage cheese instead. Might sound a little off, until you take a bite. It's tender, fluffy, and vanilla-scented: in fact, it tastes like a cross between pancakes and French toast! Each pancake has 7 grams of protein, approximately 15% of your daily need.
Total time: 20 minutes
These easy carrot cake overnight oats are a deliciously healthy make-ahead breakfast that melds the classic flavors with whole grains for a nutritious start to the day! The best part: it requires zero morning prep time.
Total time: 10 minutes
This easy breakfast idea is perfect for whipping up in advance of your busy mornings! Make it the night before, and you’ll have a huge jar of granola that keeps on giving throughout the week! Many granola recipes are packed with sugar and oil, but this one is lightly sweetened with maple syrup and designed to have less calories per serving by using puffed rice and oats! Serve it up with yogurt or almond milk.
Total time: 35 minutes (Make ahead)
Here's a quick and savory breakfast idea: the Breakfast Quesadilla! Wow, is it satisfying. Scrambled eggs, black beans and melty cheddar cheese sandwiched between toasted tortillas and dipped into in guacamole? It’s basic in all the right ways, and at the same time a revelation in each bite.
Total time: 15 minutes
If you have a few extra minutes in the morning, blend up a smoothie bowl for a seriously delicious easy breakfast idea! Throw on a few berries and a drizzle of almond butter and you’ll be in business. Also try: Homemade Acai Bowls.
Total time: 15 minutes
This toasted oatmeal recipe is a fan favorite easy breakfast idea: because it tastes incredible and only requires a bit of time! Toasting the oats before making the oatmeal gives them a nutty flavor: you’ll never be able to go back to your old oatmeal again! Our favorite toppings: all natural peanut butter and strawberry jam. They'll keep you full all day long! See also: Easy Instant Pot Oatmeal
Total time: 10 minutes
You'll be surprised how much this tofu scramble has the flavor and texture of scrambled eggs! It's healthy, savory plant based breakfast food that takes only 10 minutes to whip up. If you'd like, serve it with a veggie saute: red onion, peppers and greens sauteed until tender. Add toast and you've got a filling way to start the day!
Total time: 10 minutes
Looking for a breakfast recipe that’s healthy and outrageously delicious? Meet these incredible Oatmeal Pancakes! They’re fluffy, they’re made with 100% oats, and they’re easy to whip up in a blender. Even better: they taste like vanilla cake! Many oatmeal pancakes can be very dense or fall apart easily. These work like a charm, and they’re full of fiber and protein.
Total time: 15 minutes (Make ahead)
Chewy steel cut oats have a porridge-like texture and feel like a cozy hug in the morning. They’re a fun way to mix up the standard Old Fashioned oats, and may have some slight benefits over them: though both are an incredibly healthy way to start the day! Make a big pot of steel cut oats in 25 minutes and eat off of the leftovers all week!
Total time: 25 minutes (Make ahead)
Here’s another fancy toast recipe: this time, avocado toast with a poached egg! Of course, a fried egg would be even quicker (though not as bright yellow!). Top your toast with mashed avocado, egg, and some sesame seeds: it’s a nutritious breakfast in a flash!
Total time: 15 minutes
Have you tried Savory Oatmeal? If not, it’s high time to start. This makes a pot of chewy toasted oats that are irresistibly tasty. Top the bowl with a fried egg and garlicky sauteed kale, and the yolk makes a creamy sauce that covers everything in goodness.
Total time: 20 minutes
Try Scrambled Eggs with Cottage Cheese! This healthy cheese adds an irresistibly savory flavor and fluffy texture to the eggs. Even better, it adds a pop of protein and helps to stretch the serving size without adding extra eggs. By adding the cheese, you can get away with 1 egg per serving and 9 grams protein.
Total time: 5 minutes
Have a little extra time? Try this Breakfast Skillet! Cheesy hash browns topped with runny egg yolks and salsa? Yes please. Even better, the spices in the potatoes mimic breakfast sausage (hello, fennel!) so the entire vibe is extremely hearty and satisfying.
Total time: 25 minutes
What's better than a great fried egg sandwich? This one is our ultimate: gooey, messy, requiring lots of napkins, and slathered with smoky mayo. Here we’ll show you a tutorial on how to make this thing of glory. It's one of the best easy breakfast ideas around.
Total time: 8 minutes
Got eggs and need a make-ahead breakfast idea? Enter, The Frittata! A frittata is an Italian dish that’s best described as a crustless egg pie. It’s often served for breakfast food or brunch, but it works for dinner too. You can eat it at any temperature and it saves well: and it’s great for using up odds and ends in your veggie drawer.
Total time: 30 minutes (Make ahead)
Another of our easy breakfast ideas to whip up in advance: these “famous” healthy banana bread muffins! These muffins have been super popular with our followers on Instagram because they’re so simple and healthy! Simply throw oats, bananas, eggs and maple syrup in a blender (and a couple spices), and blend them up! They come out fluffy and just the right amount of sweetness. Store in the refrigerator and eat off of them all week!
Total time: 45 minutes (make ahead)
Looking for more breakfast recipes?
Outside of our favorite easy breakfast ideas, here are a few more recipe collections to start the day:
- Try 20 Vegetarian Breakfast Recipes, 15 Vegan Breakfast Recipes or 20 Gluten Free Breakfast Recipes
- Opt for 20 Mediterranean Diet Breakfast Recipes
- Grab 15 Make Ahead Breakfasts for Busy Mornings
- Go for Top 10 Egg Recipes for Breakfast
- Try all our 50 Breakfast Recipes to Power Your Morning
- Go fresh and healthy with 18 Healthy Breakfast Recipes
- Opt for 20 Savory Breakfast Ideas to Fuel Your Day
too expensive…can your share a low cost healthy meal
We don’t have specific low-cost recipes right now but we’re working on a guide!
Amazing and Easy Breakfast Ideas. thanks for the recipes. visit Breakfast Idea
Egg tacos are great any time of the day! Definitely a favorite. Thanks for sharing this great list!