Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s also served at the most hectic time of the day. And it’s likely the first thing that gets cut when you hit the snooze button on your alarm too many times. I mean really, your exhausted when you wake up and not even hungry.
The short answer: The quickest breakfasts take 5 minutes or less: yogurt with granola or fruit, bagels and cream cheese, cinnamon sugar toast with apples and peanut butter, peanut butter waffles, homemade oatmeal and microwave breakfast mugs. With 10–15 minutes you can make omelets or knock-off McGriddles, and breakfast burritos can be made ahead and frozen for grab-and-go mornings.
Breakfast is a great start to the day, it instills a healthy routine, keeps you satiated until lunch, gives you a nutritional balance and helps you set healthy habits to model to your family (or future family). What an extra bonus? Eat Breakfast outside in early morning light, either on your deck or patio (my favorite!), sitting on your front step or even on the lawn in front of your work. Fresh air, early morning light (otherwise known as “blue light”), and a healthy well rounded breakfast is the perfect start to your day.
If you know you’re going to hit the snooze button no matter how much I try to convince you not too… Just start simple. Look for make ahead options like our breakfast burritos, which are also portable. Just microwave for 90 seconds and take it with you. If even that isn’t going to happen, pack protein bars, fruit, trail mix or peanut butter and granola bars in your car or on your desk. Know what your weakness is and trick yourself into achieving the desirable results.
1. Eggs, sausage, and pancakes
For weekdays, the only way for me to make pancakes is to make them ahead of time. Flip up a batch on the weekends and freeze them in groups of 3, wrapped in wax paper and then stored in freezer bags in the freezer. When your ready to eat, just remove a wax packet of 3, and microwave for 90 seconds. You can do the same to sausage patties or buy precooked sausage. While your microwaving the pancakes and sausage, heat a griddle with butter or cooking spray (we use our misto with olive or canola oil), and break two eggs directly into pan and scramble with a fork.
Eat, then rinse your dishes if you don’t have time to run the dishwasher.
Total time: 7 minutes.
2. Oatmeal
You can do the packets, but making your own from a giant tub of quick oats takes the same amount of time. Measure out the oatmeal, add water, sprinkle with salt and microwave (usually about two minutes). Then add toppings. You can swirl in maple syrup and brown sugar or dice up an apple quickly then add walnuts and raisins. Whatever sounds good will work.
Eat, then rinse your dishes if you don’t have time to run the dishwasher.
Total time: 5 minutes (chop the apple while it’s microwaving if you want to add apple)
3. Waffles with cherry topping and chocolate
This is my favorite decadent breakfast. I usually reserve it for special days although it actually isn’t that unhealthy. Much better than donuts or cinnamon buns! You can either make your own waffles ahead of time and freeze using the same method we used for pancakes, or buy premade frozen waffles. Add a scoop or two of canned cherry pie filling (we use the no sugar added kind). Then sprinkle with chocolate chips. You can also do this with other pie fillings. Try blueberry and coconut flakes, apples with cinnamon and walnuts, strawberries with sliced bananas. Whatever you’re in the mood for or have around the house.
Eat, then rinse your dishes if you don’t have time to run the dishwasher.
Total time: 3-5 minutes depending on toppings and whether you want to warm your pie filling.
4. Breakfast pizza: English muffin version
Breakfast pizza is amazing, but takes a few minutes to cook. Why not do the same with English muffins or bagels? Just toast a bagel or muffin while you scramble an egg and sausage (cut up the frozen sausage and just microwave it). Add the egg and sausage (or bacon) to the muffin and then sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Microwave for 20 seconds to melt the cheese.
Eat, then rinse your dishes if you don’t have enough time to run the dishwasher.
Total time: 6 minutes
5. Knock off mcgriddles
If I have a bad love, it’s Mcdonalds sausage Mcgriddles. I couldn’t even tell you if they still sold them since it’s been years since I’ve eaten at a McDonald’s. But they were delicious. Occasionally, I’ll make my own. Just heat your pre made and frozen pancakes and sausage. Put the sausage and a slice of cheese between the pancakes (you can scramble an egg and add that as well but I usually don’t.) add a dallop of maple syrup to the middle and microwave for 20 seconds. Let cool.
Eat, then rinse your dishes if you don’t have enough time to run the dishwasher.
Total time: 6 min.
6. Sausage gravy
Click here for the recipe I use and you can either have biscuits already made, or just use toast in a pinch. This will take the entire 15 minutes but it’s so worth it! This also isn’t a “healthy breakfast” by any stretch of the imagination. But it’s been a family favorite for years and there’s no way I can make a breakfast list and not include it.
Eat, then rinse your dishes and store the leftovers if you don’t have time to run the dishwasher.
Total time: 15 minutes.
7. Omlets
Decide on your filling- cheese is the most basic and then add anything you have leftover (heck even add a hit of yesterday’s sausage gravy!), ham, bacon, broccoli, spinach, pretty much anything can go in an omelet. Butter and warm your pan, add eggs until set, add filling, flip and remove from heat. If your omlet breaks, no sweat. Scrambled eggs with toppings are also delicious:)
Eat, then rinse your plate if you don’t have time to run the dishwasher.
Total time: 5-10 minutes depending on topping choices.
8. Pancakes with homemade blueberry syrup
I adore blueberry syrup! You can make your own healthier blueberry syrup (we call it blueberry smash) in just about 10 min. While it’s cooking, you can either make pancakes from scratch or read a book if you already have pre made frozen pancakes waiting. In a small saucepan, add a few scoops of frozen blueberries (fresh is fine too), then dribble in a bit of water (about 1/4 cup- more water will make it thinner, less will make it thicker). Bring to a boil for about 5 min. Then add 1/4 cup of sugar and stir. (We have a potato masher that we use to mash it up but it’s not necessary and if you want it mashed, you can do the same with a spoon). More sugar is more like syrup, less is more like a mash. We love both. Continue boiling until it’s the thickness you desire.
This can also be made ahead and frozen.
Eat, then rinse your dishes if you don’t have time to run the dishwasher.
Total Time: 15 minutes
9. Bagels and cream cheese
I don’t really think this one needs an explanation:)
Time: 4 minutes
10. Yogurt with granola, jam, or cut up fruit.
Self explanatory.
Time: 3 minutes.
11. Cinnamon sugar toast, apples and peanut butter
Lightly toast bread, butter immediately and then sprinkle with equal parts cinnamon and sugar. Add a sliced apple and a scoop of peanut butter to your meal.
Eat, then rinse your dishes if you don’t have time to run the dishwasher.
Time: 4 minutes.
12. Breakfast burritos
I adore these! And it takes only 15-20 minutes to make, wrap and freeze about 20 of them! I make them all the time! Click here for the tutorial. When you’re ready to eat, just microwave for 90 seconds and enjoy!
Screw the dishes and just throw your wax paper out. Doesn’t that feel awesome?
Time: 90 seconds.
13. Hash browns and eggs.
You can use frozen hashed potatoes or if you made baked potatoes last night and have leftovers (which is usually when I make these), just heat oil in a pan on medium high, dice the potato, and add to the oil. When the potatoes start to crisp, break two eggs into mix and fry.
Eat, then rinse your dishes if you don’t have time to run the dishwasher.
Time: 15 minutes.
14. Peanut Butter on Waffles with Raisins
Toast a waffle, bagel or english muffin. Top with a scoop of peanut butter and raisins, banana or sliced apples.
Time: 3 minutes
15. Hungry Girl Breakfast Mugs
Eggs, toast, cheese, and sausage microwaved in just a few minutes Ina. Mug makes an awesome breakfast! Click here for the recipe.
Eat, then rinse your dishes and if you don’t have time to run the dishwasher.
Time: 4 minutes
Quick Breakfast Ideas by Time
| How much time you have | Breakfast ideas from this list |
|---|---|
| Under 5 minutes | Yogurt with granola or fruit, bagels and cream cheese, peanut butter waffles, cinnamon sugar toast with apples and peanut butter, microwave breakfast mugs |
| 5–10 minutes | Homemade oatmeal (from a big tub of quick oats), waffles with cherry topping |
| 10–15 minutes | Omelets, knock-off McGriddles |
| Make ahead | Breakfast burritos (and these freezer-friendly breakfast pizza bagels) |
Quick Breakfast FAQ
What’s a healthy breakfast I can make fast? Yogurt with fruit, oatmeal, peanut butter on whole grain toast with an apple, or a quick egg dish. Protein plus fiber keeps you full until lunch.
How do I make breakfast faster on busy mornings? Make a batch of breakfast burritos or pizza bagels on the weekend and freeze them, set out bowls and cereal the night before, and keep grab-and-go options like yogurt and fruit at eye level.
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