The best breakfast recipe is the one you'll actually make on a Tuesday. Below are savory, sweet, quick, and make-ahead options, ranging from a five-minute scramble to overnight oats you prep the night before, so you can pick based on how much time and energy you have.
What Makes a Good Breakfast Recipe?
A good breakfast recipe does three things: it comes together fast, it keeps you full past 10am, and it doesn't dirty every pan in your kitchen. That usually means some combination of protein, fiber, and fat, plus a method that doesn't demand your full attention while you're also finding your keys.
Not every morning calls for the same thing. Weekdays need speed. Weekends can handle a few extra steps. Below is a spread of both.
Quick Savory Breakfasts (Under 10 Minutes)
Soft-Scrambled Eggs with Herbs
- Crack 3 eggs into a bowl with a pinch of salt and a splash of milk. Whisk until fully blended.
- Melt a teaspoon of butter in a nonstick pan over low heat.
- Pour in the eggs and stir constantly with a spatula, scraping the bottom every few seconds.
- Pull the pan off the heat while the eggs still look slightly wet. They'll finish cooking from residual heat.
- Fold in chopped chives or parsley and serve immediately on toast.
Cooking eggs low and slow, then stopping just before they look done, is what keeps them soft instead of rubbery.
Avocado Toast with a Fried Egg
Mash half an avocado with lime juice and salt, spread it on toasted sourdough, and top with a fried egg and a few red pepper flakes. It takes less time than pouring a bowl of cereal once you've got the toast going.
Sweet Breakfasts Worth Waking Up For
Greek Yogurt Parfait
Layer plain Greek yogurt with berries, a drizzle of honey, and a handful of granola in a jar. The protein from the yogurt keeps this from being a sugar crash waiting to happen, unlike most granola bars.
Banana Oat Pancakes
Blend one ripe banana, two eggs, and half a cup of rolled oats until smooth. Cook small pancakes in a lightly oiled pan over medium-low heat, about two minutes per side. No flour, no added sugar, and the batter takes under five minutes to mix.
Make-Ahead and Grab-and-Go Options
Overnight Oats
- Combine half a cup of rolled oats, half a cup of milk, a spoonful of yogurt, and a spoonful of chia seeds in a jar.
- Stir in a bit of maple syrup or honey.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, top with fruit or nuts and eat cold, straight from the jar.
Baked Egg Muffins
Whisk eggs with chopped vegetables and shredded cheese, pour into a greased muffin tin, and bake at 350°F for about 18 minutes. Make a batch on Sunday and you have grab-and-go breakfast for most of the week.