27 Breakfast Ideas That Will Impress Your Guests Every Time
Sheepherder’s Breakfast
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My sister-in-law always made this delicious breakfast dish when we were camping and had to come up with good,
easy breakfast ideas
. Served with toast, juice and milk or coffee, it's a sure hit with the breakfast crowd! One-dish casseroles like this were a big help while I was raising my nine children. Now I've passed this recipe on to them. —Pauletta Bushnell, Albany, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 354 calories, 22g fat (9g saturated fat), 222mg cholesterol, 617mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 17g protein.
Breakfast Sliders
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These breakfast sliders combine all your favorite morning foods—like eggs, bacon and bagels—into one tasty package. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 slider: 417 calories, 26g fat (14g saturated fat), 253mg cholesterol, 1072mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein.
Raspberry Coconut French Toast Slow-Cooker Style
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
3 hours 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I put the ingredients in the slow cooker crock the night before, refrigerate it, then pop the crock into the slow cooker in the morning. You can use regular milk or half-and-half, include your favorite jam, and substitute almond extract for the vanilla. —Teri Schloessmann, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup (calculated without raspberries and toasted coconut): 280 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 338mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 9g protein.
Apple-Honey Dutch Baby
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to make this treat on Sunday morning. It's so impressive when it's served warm right out of the oven ... and the apple honey filling is yummy! —Kathy Fleming, Lisle, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 429 calories, 14g fat (7g saturated fat), 166mg cholesterol, 146mg sodium, 72g carbohydrate (50g sugars, 3g fiber), 9g protein.
Sausage & Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I made this tasty sausage and crescent roll breakfast casserole for a baby shower. It saved the day: Preparing it ahead gave me more time to finish decorating for the party. —Melody Craft, Conroe, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 283 calories, 19g fat (6g saturated fat), 160mg cholesterol, 662mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 0 fiber), 15g protein.
Shakshuka
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Shakshuka is a dish of poached eggs with tomatoes, onion and cumin. I learned about it while traveling through Southeast Asia, and it's been my favorite way to eat eggs since. —Ezra Weeks, Calgary, Alberta
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 159 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 186mg cholesterol, 381mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges
: 1-1/2 fat, 1 medium-fat meat, 1 vegetable.
Overnight Baked Oatmeal
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
50 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I spent a long weekend at a bed-and-breakfast not far from our home. The owners shared this delicious recipe with me, which I made my own with a couple of simple changes. —Jennifer Cramer, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 331 calories, 13g fat (2g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 364mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 4g fiber), 8g protein.
Rise and Shine Parfait
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Start your day with a smile. This fruit, yogurt and granola parfait is so easy to make. If you like, use whatever favorite fresh fruits are in season and are looking best at the supermarket. —Diana Laskaris, Chicago, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 259 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 6mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 7g fiber), 13g protein.
Breakfast In A Pan
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
40 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Try this tasty one-pan dish for an easy low-mess breakfast or brunch. This recipe also works well with bacon or sausage instead of ham. I sometimes saute chopped peppers and onions until tender and whisk them in with the eggs for added flavor and color. —Andrea Bolden, Unionville, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 434 calories, 26g fat (9g saturated fat), 222mg cholesterol, 1216mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 0 fiber), 28g protein.
German Pancakes
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
30 min
Servings
8 servings (2 cups syrup)
From the Recipe Creator:
Piping hot and puffy from the oven, this golden pancake made a pretty presentation for a skier's theme breakfast I hosted. Served with homemade buttermilk syrup, it's an eye-opening treat. Make several German pancakes if you're feeding a crowd, and keep in mind that my easy syrup tastes great on waffles and French toast too. —Renae Moncur, Burley, Idaho
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece with 1/4 cup syrup: 428 calories, 19g fat (11g saturated fat), 203mg cholesterol, 543mg sodium, 56g carbohydrate (42g sugars, 0 fiber), 8g protein.
Breakfast Tacos
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
30 min
Servings
3 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Unless you grew up in the Southwest or visit there often, you might be hearing of migas for the first time. Just think of them as the best scrambled eggs ever. The secret ingredient is corn tortillas. They really make my migas tacos special! —Stephen Exel, Des Moines, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
2 tacos: 424 calories, 21g fat (5g saturated fat), 295mg cholesterol, 821mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 21g protein.
Skillet Cinnamon Rolls
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I love using cast iron to get a nice crust on these skillet cinnamon rolls! The pan also makes an impressive serving dish on the table without it looking as if you tried too hard. —Danielle Williams, Newport, Rhode Island
Nutrition Facts:
1 cinnamon roll: 424 calories, 18g fat (10g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 356mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (36g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein.
Sausage Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For this all-in-one breakfast casserole, I sandwich pork sausage between layers of hash browns flavored with creamy soup and French onion dip. Cheddar cheese tops it all off. —Esther Wrinkles, Vanzant, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 382 calories, 27g fat (14g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 776mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 13g protein.
Spicy Sausage Hash Browns
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
5 hours 15 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to develop my own recipes, and I have people calling for them often. My family members and friends from our church tend to be my favorite and most honest critics. —Angela Sheridan, Opdyke, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 368 calories, 25g fat (12g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 723mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 10g protein.
Fruity Baked Oatmeal
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
50 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is my husband’s favorite breakfast treat and the ultimate comfort food. It’s warm, filling and always a hit when I serve it to guests. —Karen Schroeder, Kankakee, Illinois.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 322 calories, 13g fat (7g saturated fat), 75mg cholesterol, 492mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein.
BLT Egg Bake
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
BLTs are a favorite at my house, so I created this recipe to combine those flavors into a warm, cozy casserole. It was such a hit, I served it to my church ladies group at a brunch I hosted. —Priscilla Detrick, Catoosa, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 594 calories, 42g fat (16g saturated fat), 251mg cholesterol, 1262mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 1g fiber), 27g protein.
Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A package of frozen potatoes makes this hash brown egg casserole simple to prepare. Featuring bacon and cheddar cheese, this easy egg bake is tasty breakfast or brunch fare. You can even make it the night before, keep in the fridge and bake the next morning—so convenient! —Cheryl Johnson, Plymouth, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 354 calories, 19g fat (8g saturated fat), 227mg cholesterol, 649mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 21g protein.
Beef, Potato & Egg Bake
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
To keep my family going strong throughout the day, I start with lean ground beef and spices, then sneak some spinach into this protein-packed dish. —Jennifer Fisher, Austin, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 218 calories, 11g fat (5g saturated fat), 250mg cholesterol, 489mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 20g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges
:
3 lean meat, 1/2 starch.
Yogurt & Honey Fruit Cups
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
A tasty combo of fresh fruit and creamy orange-kissed yogurt, this is guaranteed to disappear fast from your breakfast table. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 97 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 22mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein.
Diabetic exchanges:
1 fruit, 1/2 starch.
Baked Omelette
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I like omelets but don't always have time to stand by the stove. That's why I favor this oven-baked variety that I can quickly pop into the oven at a moment's notice. My family frequently requests this for Sunday brunch. They always empty the dish. —Ellen Bower, Taneytown, Maryland
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 235 calories, 16g fat (8g saturated fat), 326mg cholesterol, 506mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 17g protein.
Brioche French Toast Casserole
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
French toast is fabulous, but standing in front of a skillet for a half hour making 10 pieces of French toast is not a treat for anyone, especially a mom on Mother’s Day! That’s why I love this recipe: You (or your minions) can prep it in five minutes and pop it in the oven. If you can't find brioche, a soft challah bread works, too. —Karen Nochimowski, Deerfield, Illinois
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 358 calories, 15g fat (8g saturated fat), 197mg cholesterol, 358mg sodium, 45g carbohydrate (23g sugars, 1g fiber), 11g protein.
Southwest Tortilla Scramble
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here’s my version of a deconstructed breakfast burrito that’s actually good for you. Go for hefty corn tortillas in this recipe. Flour ones can get lost in the scramble. —Christine Schenher, Exeter, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 195 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 217mg cholesterol, 391mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 17g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges
:
2 lean meat, 1 starch.
Bacon and Egg Casserole
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Because it's fast to fix and such a great hit with family and friends, this egg casserole with bacon is a favorite of mine to make for brunches. Served with a fruit salad, hot muffins and croissants, it's excellent for an after-church meal. —Deanna Durward-Orr, Windsor, Ontario
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 289 calories, 22g fat (10g saturated fat), 420mg cholesterol, 508mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 16g protein.
Breakfast Quiche
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I enjoy preparing hearty country breakfasts for the guests at my bed-and-breakfast. This fluffy breakfast quiche recipe with lots of cheese and bacon is a most satisfying entree.
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 709 calories, 60g fat (35g saturated fat), 290mg cholesterol, 980mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 19g protein.
Grandmother’s Toad in a Hole
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I have fond memories of my grandmother’s Yorkshire pudding wrapped around sausages, a puffy dish my kids called The Boat. Slather it with butter and maple syrup. —Susan Kieboam, Streetsboro, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 wedge: 336 calories, 22g fat (6g saturated fat), 126mg cholesterol, 783mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 14g protein.
Green Shakshuka
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This breakfast recipe is packed with healthy green vegetables as well as eggs and feta cheese for protein to start your day. The Italian parsley adds a lot of flavor to the fresh green vegetables. Make this dish with lemon-infused olive oil if you can find it in your grocery store. —Carrie Dault, Baxter, Tennessee
Nutrition Facts:
1 egg with 1 cup vegetable mixture: 209 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 190mg cholesterol, 756mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 6g fiber), 15g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges
: 1 starch, 1 medium-fat meat, 1/2 fat.
Monkey Bread
Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time
55 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Is it possible for four kids to cook together without total chaos in the kitchen? Yes, with the right recipe! This cinnamon roll monkey bread is a favorite with my bunch. They get to 'play' as they roll pieces of refrigerated biscuit dough into balls. —Lisa Combs, Greenville, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 133 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 174mg sodium, 19g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
Breakfast Ideas for Guests FAQ
What easy breakfast recipes can I serve to overnight guests?
Easy breakfast recipes for guests include make-ahead casseroles, baked French toast and egg muffins. These dishes reheat easily and also taste great at room temperature. If you want to add variety without cooking, set up a toppings bar for yogurt bowls, and each guest can build their own. For larger groups, try making breakfast sliders with eggs and sausage. They’re easier to make than individual sandwiches, so you won’t be stuck in the kitchen all morning.
How do I make breakfast for guests who are picky eaters?
When preparing breakfast for picky eaters, offer flexible options that feel familiar. Leave toppings like spicy salsa, syrups or fruit on the side so guests can choose whether to add them to their plate. If possible, offer two different main options, like an egg casserole and a breakfast idea without eggs , like cinnamon rolls.
How much food should I make for my overnight guests?
If you’re feeding more than four people, it’s a good idea to make two large main items (like a casserole or a sheet tray of cinnamon rolls) and a few sides like biscuits, bacon or fruit salad. Baked goods or easy-to-assemble dishes like fruit cups can be prepped in bulk so guests can enjoy second helpings if they’re still hungry after one serving.
What drinks should I serve with breakfast recipes for guests?
The best drinks for breakfast or brunch are simple, refreshing and easy to make. Offer hot drinks like coffee, chai or herbal tea alongside cold options like sparkling water with fruit. For a fancier brunch, whip up mimosas, your favorite lemonade recipes or a pitcher of sparkling coconut grape juice .
