Don’t resort to sugary, processed cereal if you’re pressed for time in the morning. Try these quick and easy breakfast ideas that will nourish your family!
Breakfast is one of those meals that always gets me–especially when I haven’t had much sleep. To be honest, I used to skip breakfast a lot when it was just me (I know, I know–it’s the most important meal of the day!). But I simply cannot do that with two little mouths begging mommy for something to eat first thing in the morning!
One thing I’ve learned I’m learning is that pre-prep is key. In her eBook, Plan It, Don’t Panic, Stephanie of Keeper of the Home talks a lot about including prep. notes in our meals plans. Thawing out meats the night before, chopping fruit for smoothies, making sure all your ingredients are gathered, etc. can make your mornings (or any meal times) much more peaceful.
No matter what your current life season, I hope the following quick and easy breakfast ideas will prove helpful to you:
Ready in a Matter of Minutes
- Scrambled Eggs & Fruit: Scrambled eggs is one of the fastest meals you can cook. I scramble mine with coconut oil to get in some good fat first thing in the morning. Pair the eggs with a fruit you don’t even have to cut–like berries or grapes.
- Fruit & Yogurt: Plain, Greek yogurt will be your best bet for a protein-packed breakfast here.
- Granola with Milk, Yogurt or Kefir: This is a personal favorite. I usually make a double batch of granola to last me all week. If you are accustomed to cold cereals in the morning but want to opt for something healthier, this is your best bet.
- Smoothies: I ALWAYS love smoothies! They are so easy in the morning or for a snack. I used to make all berry smoothies, but I’ve since fallen in love with green smoothies. Check out this list of 25+ unique smoothie recipes!
Cook Once & Enjoy All Week
These breakfast ideas require one day of cooking/baking, but, after that, you can have a quick and easy breakfast at your fingertips in the time it takes for you to pull something out of the fridge (or, for a few, warm something up in the toaster oven).
- Spinach and Mozzarella Egg Bake: I absolutely love egg casseroles, and this one looks both yummy and healthy!
- Overnight Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole: This one takes about 45 minutes to bake, but all you have to do is pop it in the oven in the morning because you can make it up the night before. My mom made a version of this every Christmas morning growing up–and, believe me, the leftovers are definitely a hit!
- Healthy Homemade Granola Bars: I can’t wait to try this recipe from Red and Honey! Not only are these granola bars healthy, but they don’t even require any baking! Her suggestion is to cut them up and even freeze them for super quick and easy breakfasts!
- A Quick Bread: Quick breads don’t need to rise, so they are easy to whip up–although they do tend to take at least 45 minutes and up to an hour and a half to bake. This yummy chocolate swirl banana bread is easy to whip up and freeze into individual slices for an effortless breakfast idea. Bonus points because your kids will think they’re getting dessert for breakfast! This Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Loaf would also be a hit.
Make the Night Before
I have yet to use my crock pot for breakfast, but these both look like excellent ideas…and what nicer scent to wake up to than breakfast–already made?!
- Crock Pot Breakfast: Wake up to this hearty combo of eggs, bacon or sausage, peppers, onions, cheese and potatoes! (And who will need lunch after all that?!)
- Crock Pot Oatmeal: I love oatmeal, and having it already cooked when I roll out of bed is even better!
Whip Up & Enjoy
These breakfasts may take a bit longer, but they are still not too time intensive–especially if you have the ingredients all ready to go.
- Quick Cinnamon Biscuits: These look super yummy and only take 15 minutes to bake! (Healthy Upgrade: Sub in whole wheat flour, palm shortening, sucanat and homemade powdered sugar.)
- Muffins: Muffins don’t take long to bake. With the start of blueberry season, I’ll be making these pretty often, and these basic almond muffins also look super yummy! These Cinnamon Coffeecake Muffins use up leftover oatmeal!
- Super Easy Breakfast Quesadillas: Rachel’s breakfast twist on an old Mexican favorite includes peanut butter, honey and fruit!
- Protein Packed Pancakes: These are a favorite in our house since Little Girl is gluten-free. Whip up this bean-based batter in a blender while your skillet is heating.
Resources:
- Plan to Eat: This online meal planning service lets you save recipes, drag and drop them onto your meal planning calendar, and generates a shopping list for you with all of the ingredients! You can sign up for a FREE 30-day trial here!
- List PlanIt: I won a membership to this online organizational resource and have been using their pre-made lists to aid in my meal planning.
- Plan It, Don’t Panic: Stephanie’s book gives you all you need to get your meal planning in order.
- The Breakfast Revolution: Beth’s gorgeous cookbook contains 40 recipes for real food, gluten-free breakfast dishes!
- 20 Minute Meals: Giving Weary Chefs Grace While Keeping Families Healthy: While Leigh Ann’s book only gives dinner recipes (28 meals that only take 20 minutes!), she includes lots of great tips for making any meal of the day less stressful.
5 Days to Getting Dinner on the Table, Fast!
Want to learn the secrets to getting a healthy meal on the table, faster? Check out this FREE 5-day eCourse from Grocery Budget Bootcamp!
This post is part of the “Real Food, Fast: Quick & Easy Recipes” series. Here are the other posts in the series:
Faith
Love this post! I’m doing the same thing right now!
For breakfast meals…. http://www.artistichandsoffaith.com/?p=325 This is an old post but I’m going to while some of these up tomorrow! It makes about 40 waffles and then I freeze them in “meal” sizes. Then I just have to take them out and toast them 🙂
Baby #5 is due December 13th and I’m preparing my freezer meals as well. I completely agree about breakfast being the toughest meal!! After I had my daughter one of the sweetest things my friend did for me was come over one morning and cook breakfast for us! 🙂
So I will have a big batch of waffles made, I’ll be making breakfast burritos (homemade sweet sausage which is soooooo good), and preparing oatmeal packets (add sugar, dried fruit, nuts etc) in snack bags then add you water and cook per serving. I’m making cinnamon raisin and cocoa (my kids love chocolate oatmeal!) I’ll make sure we have a stockpile of cereal. Our SAMs club sells big boxes of Cascadian Farms Granola which I love. Another discount store sells organic Cheerios for a reasonable price. So those are quick and easy.
I just about spent my whole grocery budget in one day of shopping but should have enough meals to last through next month! I’ve been very busy cooking and prepping these last few days!
Chu
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I mean 14 Quick & Easy Breakfast Ideas Real Food, Fast – The Humbled Homemaker is
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In my opinion, it might make your posts a little livelier.
Trish
Breakfast is so important and something that I never skip. I love making a casserole or something like that to eat all week. I usually make it on a Sunday so I am not rushing around during the week. Thanks for the recipe ideas.
Erin
I love the idea of making a casserole and eating on it all week long!
Erin Marie Sills
Great ideas here. Thanks for sharing. I also often make a frittata with left over dinner veggies and meat and reheat for breakfasts throughout the week. I use this recipe: http://www.healthhappensathome.com/blog/2015/12/6/frittata?rq=frittata