Great Breakfast Ideas
By Interior Designer Tracy Svendsen | Published June 15, 2017 | Updated on December 19, 2023 |
Great Breakfast Ideas: Sometimes a bowl of cereal just won’t cut it, yet we still need the essential nutrients to kick start our day. Besides providing energy, breakfast foods can supply calcium, iron, B Vitamins, protein, and fiber.
Breakfast doesn’t only kick start our day, but our metabolism as well – helping us burn calories throughout the day. Skipping the morning meal can throw off your body’s rhythm of fasting and eating.
Here’s a fabulous collection of 20 great breakfast ideas, from smoothie bowls to omelets, pancakes, waffles, homemade granola, banana bread, muesli, shakshuka, breakfast tacos, quinoa, tropical salads, and more! Feature image courtesy of Modern Honey
1. Breakfast & Smoothie Bowls
Great Breakfast Ideas: Smoothie bowls have become the perfect breakfast staple – and for a good reason. You can create almost any combo of flavors and then top it off with your favorite fruits, cereal, and nuts.
These nutritious bowls are a massive hit on Instagram and are super trendy because they taste good and are so pretty. Make one a treat for yourself, or invite friends and build them together.
Any fruit works; just make sure they are in bite-sized chunks. Try bananas, blueberries, mango, pineapple, pomegranate seeds, or sliced banana. Add a delicious crunch with shredded coconut or coconut flakes, nuts, or granola. Great health boosters to add can be hemp seeds, chia seeds, or bee pollen. Sweeten with a drizzle of honey, maple syrup, or agave.
Hibiscus Berry Smoothie Bowls
These creamy hibiscus berry smoothie bowls taste like soft serve ice cream kissed with tart hibiscus and floral honey. They’re packed with nutrients from hempseed, chia seed, oats, and cashew butter to keep you going long after breakfast.
Hibiscus comes in several forms: fine hibiscus powder, tea-grade hibiscus, which is finer, and larger blossoms and petals. You can find hibiscus tea bags in most grocery stores; look for hibiscus flowers and powder in the bulk section of health food stores. View the complete recipe: Bojon Gourmet.
Tangy Hibiscus Yogurt with Warm Peaches and Honey
This recipe combines loose-leaf hibiscus tea with plain non-dairy yogurt, pure vanilla extract, peach, honey, and chopped pistachios. You can add chia seeds, hemp seeds, or any other booster. Simple and fresh, this breakfast is tangy and sweet. View the complete recipe: The Artful Desperado.
Tangerine Dream Smoothie Bowl
Here’s another excellent smoothie bowl to add to your weekly routine. It combines tangerines, frozen peaches, frozen bananas, light coconut milk, raw cashews, vanilla bean paste, as well as grated ginger and turmeric. View the complete recipe: This Mess is Ours.
Acai Bowl with Chia Pudding
This combination is a texture lover’s dream. The chia pudding is poured into one half of the bowl, and the acai smoothie into the other. The recipe calls for a frozen acai packet, frozen strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, and chia seeds. View the complete recipe: Spices in My DNA
Mango Smoothie Bowls
What’s more fun than piling a thick smoothie with a ton of toppings? This recipe combines fresh fruit, chia seeds, nut butter, granola, honey, coconut, mango, banana, frozen pineapple, and freshly grated ginger—the perfect summery and tropical breakfast. View the complete recipe: Spices in My DNA
Berry Smoothie Bowl
This is a fantastic spin on a classic smoothie and adds even more goodness to the start of your day. Top the smoothie bowl with seasonal fruit, nuts, and seeds to add flavor, texture, and nutrition. View the complete recipe: Le Creuset.
2. Breakfast Muffins
Great Breakfast Ideas: Muffins are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast option, and something about muffins fresh out of the oven makes everyone smile. You can get creative by adding nuts, fruit, and a variety of fillings. They are the perfect crowd-pleaser and an easy and delicious alternative to a morning meal.
Coconut and Mango Breakfast Muffins
These muffins, made with Almond Breeze, are a great morning treat. They are mildly sweet with chopped mango and topped with toasted coconut flakes. The lime juice helps them rise, and a mixture of flax binds them together. View the complete recipe: Love & Lemons.
3. Quinoa, Muesli, Oats & Granola
Great Breakfast Ideas: Whole grains are a breakfast-time staple in many cultures worldwide and are a fundamental part of a healthy diet. They are low in calories, high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, and protein, and have many essential vitamins and minerals.
It can be challenging to incorporate heart-healthy grains into a breakfast routine. Here are a few whole-grain breakfast recipes to get you eating more of this diet essential.
Apple and Pecan Pie Granola
Nothing says “you matter” more than homemade and from the heart. This DIY apple and pecan pie granola spreads comfort and joy—recipe, styling, and photography by Katelyn Williams. View the complete recipe: Food & Home
Caramelized Pear & Vanilla Bean Oats
This delicious oat recipe calls for Greek yogurt with vanilla seeds. Serve the warm oats topped with caramelized pears, pecan nuts, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a dollop of vanilla yogurt. View the complete recipe: Food & Home.
Puffed Quinoa Crumble with Macadamia & Candied Ginger
Maple-sweetened puffed quinoa crumble studded with roasted macadamia nuts and candied ginger adds a spicy, sweet tropical twist to your favorite tart & sweet yogurt bowl with blood orange supremes. Toss it over ice cream or pudding, or eat it by the handful as an addicting quick snack! View the complete recipe: Snixy Kitchen.
Cashew Coconut Rose Granola
Turn bagels into an irresistible feast by combining sumptuous toppings such as cream cheeses, smoked salmon, thinly sliced vegetables, and various savory herbs. Photography by Eva Kolenko
Banana Bread Toast with Hazelnut Butter
The best way to show someone that you’re bananas about them is to serve up banana bread toast with homemade hazelnut butter and honey. This gorgeous treat oozes with homemade goodness. Recipe by Katelyn Williams. View the complete recipe: Food & Home.
Homemade Muesli Bars
These are excellent for a quick breakfast and work equally well as a lunchbox filler. They are stuffed with good-for-you seeds, oats, and nuts. View the complete recipe: Le Creuset.
Earl Grey Strawberry Granola
This recipe has a winning combination of Earl Grey and strawberry. Sweet, tart, and addictive! View the complete recipe: This Mess is Ours.
Chai Latte Pecan Granola Parfaits
Brunch is the new social “meet and eat” occasion, and these chai latte pecan granola parfaits are perfect for make-ahead entertaining. Not only do they taste amazing, but they’re also gluten-free and lacto-vegetarian-friendly! The recipe, styling, and photographs were by Dianne Bibby. View the complete recipe: Food & Home.
Cinnamon, Cardamom, and Orange Zest Bircher Muesli
This recipe combines organic or gluten-free oats, finely grated orange zest, freshly squeezed orange juice, raw almonds, shredded coconut, one small pear, and Greek-style yogurt. For those who prefer to eat gluten-free, you are welcome to use quinoa flakes, gluten-free oats, or a combo of chia seeds and flaxseed instead of the oats. Photography by: Food & Home
6 Ingredient Breakfast Quinoa
A rich and indulgent breakfast quinoa recipe with maple syrup and vanilla that leaves you feeling full, satisfied, and with plenty of energy. It is similar to steel-cut oats that many families enjoy, but using quinoa in its place adds a great new texture and even more nutrition. View the complete recipe: The Modern Proper.
4. Pancakes, Waffles & Flapjacks
Great Breakfast Ideas: Pancakes, waffles, and flapjacks can be another healthy breakfast option, depending on how each item is prepared. Moderation and portion size are essential to ensure a healthy breakfast and what ingredients are added to the batter.
To increase the nutritional value, consider using whole grain flour or egg whites instead of whole eggs and adding fruit and nuts to the batter. Skip the sugary syrups and add whole fruits as a topping.
Trail Mix Pancakes
When you add trail mix to pancake batter, it transforms them into the perfect protein-packed breakfast. View the complete recipe: The Modern Proper.
Amaranth Waffles with Chai Spiced Poach Pears
This sweet rendition is kissed with nutmeg, cinnamon, and a hint of sugar. Earthy nutty amaranth balances nicely with the spiced chai poached pears and honeyed pear syrup. A few sprinklings of candied popped amaranth add some crunch, and a dollop of whipped cream clouds finish it all off. View the complete recipe: Snixy Kitchen.
Buttermilk Pancakes With Chamomile Cream & Gingered Strawberries
A simple pancake recipe using a mix of buttermilk and plain Greek yogurt to keep the pancakes extra light and fluffy. Go heavy on the vanilla, and add just the tiniest pinch of cinnamon to warm them. The chamomile adds a nice floral touch to the pancakes and pairs well with the strawberries. View the complete recipe: Half Baked Harvest.
Double Chocolate Flapjacks with Grilled Bananas
These chocolate flapjacks are a salty-sweet delight. The cocoa powder and chocolate pieces incorporated in the batter mean this mixture burns quickly. Use a low, steady heat. View the complete recipe: Food & Home.
5. Bagels with a Kick
Great Breakfast Ideas: Bagels are rarely celebrated as a healthy breakfast option, yet who can resist the taste of a hot, fresh bagel first thing in the morning? Whole grain bagels boast more fiber, vitamins, and minerals than standard bagels.
Photography by : Eva Kolenko
6. A New Take on Eggs
Great Breakfast Ideas: Loaded with proteins, vitamins, and minerals, eggs are a healthy choice when it comes to breakfast—or any meal, for that matter! When our standard egg recipes get monotonous, it’s great to veer from the timeless classics and try a new approach.
Avocado, Chevre & Bacon Omelette
The perfect omelet pairing of creamy chèvre, perfectly ripe avocado, and crispy bacon. View the complete recipe: The Modern Proper.
Fried Egg on Toast with Salted Herb Butter and Radishes
When you have some herbs threatening to go past their prime in the crisper drawer, preserve them by making herb butter, an excellent landing pad for a perfectly fried egg. Here are a few other ways to use and keep herbs. View the complete recipe: Bon Appetit.
Breakfast Naan Pizzas
This recipe combines mushroom and spinach with white cheddar, chives, and a runny egg. You can do poached eggs, over easy, over medium, or however you like them best. View the complete recipe: Spices in My DNA.
Shakshuka with Spinach, Parsley, and Harissa
A beautiful medley of eggs, avocado, microgreens, harissa paste, a can of crushed tomatoes, garlic, pepper, and onions. Photography by: Love & Lemons
6 Ingredient Breakfast Quinoa
A rich and indulgent breakfast quinoa recipe with maple syrup and vanilla that leaves you feeling full, satisfied, and with plenty of energy. It is similar to steel-cut oats that many families enjoy, but using quinoa in its place adds a great new texture and even more nutrition. View the complete recipe: The Modern Proper.
