23 Healthy Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 29, 2024
Who here eats breakfast every morning? I do! It’s really not an option for me. I’ll turn into a shaking, starving, mumbling mess a few hours into the day if I skip it. Since my breakfast is mandatory (and I don’t like cereal, I know I know), I’ve found quite a few staple grab-and-go breakfasts over the years.
I’ve learned that breakfast “sweets” are not all created equally. Simple carbohydrates like all-purpose flour pancakes and pastries give me the shakes. Whole grains like oats keep me going for hours, especially when combined with nuts (or nut butter), yogurt and/or eggs.
You’ll find a variety of healthy options below, and you can view all of my breakfast recipes here. What are your favorite make-ahead breakfast recipes? Please let me know in the comments!
Food Storage & Reheating Tips
- Muffins, quick breads, pancakes, waffles and granola all freeze well. Just let them cool and transfer them to freezer bags, squeezing out as much air as reasonably possible before sealing them up.
- How to reheat muffins and pancakes: I warm them up in the microwave (don’t overdo it, or they’ll get tough). If you have the foresight to let them defrost at room temperature or in the refrigerator, you can warm them in a low temperature oven.
- How to reheat quick breads, like banana bread: Slice them before freezing. To defrost one at a time, gently warm in your toaster until heated through. They can be tricky to get out of the toaster, so I like these toast tongs (affiliate link) for that. Or, you can microwave or warm your slices in the oven.
- How to reheat waffles: Waffles are best reheated in the toaster (again, don’t overdo it or you’ll burn your waffles).
- Homemade granola: Granola stays fresh in the freezer a lot longer than it will in your pantry. It doesn’t require any defrosting, but you might let it rest for a few minutes before eating because sometimes dried fruit freezes rock-hard.
1) Apple Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Gluten free and easily vegan
These steel-cut oats are so simple and so delicious. They taste like apple pie for breakfast.
2) Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
Gluten free
This baked oatmeal is hearty and individual servings reheat beautifully. Make one and you’ll have breakfast ready for the whole week!
3) Healthy Banana Bread
See notes for dietary substitutions
This super popular banana bread recipe is made with 100% whole grains and naturally sweetened. Spread almond butter on a slice and it’ll keep you full for a while!
4) Breakfast Burritos
Vegetarian
These irresistible breakfast burritos freeze and defrost beautifully for busy mornings.
5) My Favorite Chia Seed Pudding
Gluten free and vegan
This chia seed pudding is flavored with fresh orange zest and it tastes like a treat!
6) Easy Gluten Free Oat Waffles
Gluten free and freezer friendly
The waffles are my favorite of all waffle recipes and they’re gluten free! Oat flour is the only flour you’ll need for these, and it’s easy to make in the food processor if you have oats on hand. These waffles freeze great, as do all of my other waffles. Just pop them in the toaster and keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
7) Maple-Sweetened Pumpkin Muffins with Oats
Freezer friendly
These fluffy, whole grain muffins have been a hit since day one! I like to serve mine with a swipe of almond butter on top. They freeze great for later.
8) Perfect Steel-Cut Oats
Gluten free and vegan
These are the creamiest steel-cut oats you’ll ever have. Make a big batch and you can change up the toppings every morning to suit your cravings.
9) Cinnamon Toast Breakfast Quinoa
Gluten free and vegan
Quinoa for breakfast? This really tastes like cinnamon toast, so you can’t go wrong.
10) No-Bake Granola Bars
Gluten free, easily vegan and freezer friendly
These no-bake granola bars are the perfect grab-and-go snack or breakfast. Store them individually wrapped in the freezer so they’re always ready to go.
11) Banana Coconut Muffins
Freezer friendly
I love these hearty, honey-sweetened, whole grain muffins. You can add any mix-ins you’d like, such as toasted nuts or dried cranberries.
12) Overnight Oats
Gluten free and vegan
Overnight oats are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast, especially when it’s warm outside!
13) Frittatas (Stovetop or Baked)
Gluten free
These frittatas are just as suitable for weekend brunch as they are for quick weekday breakfasts. They reheat quickly.
14) The Very Best Granola
Gluten free and vegan
I don’t casually throw around terms like “best.” This granola really is the best!
15) Homemade Bircher Muesli
Gluten free and vegan
Bircher muesli is a Swiss take on overnight oats. Make this in the fall!
16) Pancake Mix
Whole wheat
This pancake mix makes it easier to whip up pancakes from scratch on busy mornings. The dry blend is ready, so you whisk together the liquid portion and stir it in.
17) Orange & Almond Granola
Gluten free and easily vegan
I’m completely smitten with this granola. The natural orange flavor really shines and plays so nicely with the almonds.
18) Muesli
Gluten free and vegan
Muesli is like lightened-up granola (less sweetener and oil). Think of it like nutritious homemade cereal.
19) Banana Oat Pancakes
Gluten free and freezer friendly
These popular banana pancakes freeze marvelously! I just reheat them in the microwave, wrapped in a paper towel, turning halfway through cooking. They’re great with peanut butter or almond butter and a drizzle of maple syrup.
20) Freezer Breakfast Burritos with Sweet Potato Hash and Black Beans
Freezer friendly
These burritos are so good that it’s hard to save them for later, but they do freeze well! Just reheat in the microwave and add a drizzle of hot sauce or salsa. Your savory breakfast is served.
21) The Easiest Berry Chia Jam
Gluten free and vegan
Turn frozen berries into chia jam! Dollop it generously—it’s almost all fruit, after all.
22) Homemade Almond Butter
Gluten free and vegan
Homemade almond butter is so luxurious and rich, you won’t believe it’s good for you. But it is!
23) Cold Brew Coffee
Gluten free and vegan (well, unless you add dairy)
Here’s one extra way to simplify your morning routine—make cold brew coffee on the weekend, and your coffee is ready to go for the rest of the week.
More resources you might appreciate: 45 recipes that pack well for lunch and 20 simple weeknight dinners. You might also like my monthly seasonal produce guides and essential kitchen tools. View all roundups and resource posts here.
What a great roundup! I also never skip breakfast (I actually start to feel nauseous if I don’t eat in the morning) and don’t like cereal, either. I’m moving that almond-crusted quiche to the top of my list.
Just started a new job where I have to wake up at 3:30am everyday….so this is perfect!! Thank you!
Goodness, that’s early! Hope these recipes give you plenty of energy for the work day.
Microwaving anything is not exactly healthy. Easy, yes, but not healthy.
Hi Piisa, I have researched microwaves and believe them to be safe, but of course, that is up to you!
This is a tremendous lineup! Those Banana Oat Pancakes looks divine!
Bookmarking this for days when porridge does not suffice – those granola bars though <3
All of these sound lovely, Kate! I’m NOT a nice person if I miss breakfast in the morning, and I normally work out before breakfast so it’s not wise to get between me and my food when I get home from the gym! My go-to breakfasts are usually savoury and egg-based of some sort (normally omelettes) so your almond meal crusted quiche is really appealing to me right now!
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and this is such a great roundup of recipes! I’m pinning a ton of these, including your freezer breakfast burritos and chocolate chip granola bars! Make-ahead recipes are just what I need right now, as I have a newborn baby (#3) and mornings are crazy in my house!
Awesome, thanks for the pins, Kristine! Kudos for making time for breakfast with three little ones, that must be hectic!
You rock, Kate! These maple pumpkin muffins are my favourite, and I published a new post about them on my blog: https://cookiesnchem.wordpress.com/2015/02/14/best-ever-healthy-pumpkin-muffins-recipe/. They are super moist and I added chocolate chips for a bit of decadence. Love your recipes and can’t wait to try more!
Thanks Cindy!
I’m so bad at planning ahead when it comes to breakfast, so these will definitely come in handy.
Love it so much! Especially waffles =))
nastyadrama.ru
Best ideas for breakfast. I have much oatmeal, egg and bread but i don’t have idea for make variation breakfast food.
I’m always looking for make-ahead breakfast ideas, and these all look fab! I think the Maple-Sweetened Pumpkin Muffins and Cranberry Orange Granola are my faves :)
Great picks! :)
I love them all but I think the maple muffins have totally won my heart!
i usually start my day with eggs or oatmeal. I love things that can be prepared ahead of time – thank you for puttng this together.
That oatmeal sounds amazing!
Mmm. These would make great school morning breakfasts!
Make ahead breakfasts are where it’s at! I typically make breakfast burritos or sandwiches for my husband, but muffins and make ahead oats are definitely popular items in our household too!
What a lovely round up of breakfast ideas… I am always on the look out for different things to eat in the morning, especially ones which can be stashed in the freezer. Thank you for such a great selection of recipes.
Thanks, Emma! :)
I can’t wait to try these! You always have such great recipe ideas! I love the “make ahead” aspect because cooking can be difficult first thing in the morning (for me) :) See ya soon, friend!
Thanks, pal! See you soon!
I need to try every single one of these! Everything looks delicious, thanks for posting.
There were just so many delicious breakfast recipes to choose from. I’m glad I found this on your site.
My favorite is No.7 Easy Gluten Free Oat Waffles!! Bookmarked. Thanks for sharing.
Wow! It all looks so good! I’ll have one of each please!!
Thank you!
I don’t eat breakfast as for health purposes I follow the 16:8 fasting routine (only eating during an eight-hour period during the day), but I would use many of your recipes at other times of the day! I particularly liked your tip for freezing granola – I never would have thought of that! My breakfast tip is to make steel-cut oats in the slow cooker – you throw them in before bed (with other stuff as well – I usually use apple and ginger or banana and cinnamon). No work at all and in the morning they’re gorgeous. The only thing to watch out for is that you need to spray the inside with oil before you start or the oats glue themselves to the sides.
Thanks for sharing, Sasha! Freezing granola just means you have it whenever you want it :) I appreciate the comment!
I love so many of your recipes, but I fell in love with your food when I made my first muffin recipe of yours! All so simple and so delicious :) Definitely going to make your pumpkin muffins now that it’s fall!
Aw thank you! I appreciate your kind comment.
The breakfast burrito and frittatas are my favorite recipes on this list. They both look really good and easy enough for me to make. Thanks for sharing
You’re welcome, Bryan!
Homemade granola, pre-made pancake batter, and anything meal-prepped are so helpful! I am SO happy I made kabocha squash, sweet potatoes, and cereal for the week given that I am a university student!
Yes, meal-prep helps so much!
Yes to breakfast! A few months back I was dabbling in Intermittent Fasting. Now, I can’t even imagine doing that because I’ve got all sorts of hunger by mid-morning and I’ll be, just as you said, a shaky mess. So, some of these make-ahead breakfast ideas will be coming in handy. I’m thinking I should whip up some bircher muesli…though the breakfast burritos certainly call to me as well! :)
Oh yes, hunger among other things in the morning if I don’t eat. Thanks for sharing, Melanie! As you try some, let me know what you think.
Regarding pancakes, in addition to making the dry pancake mix ahead of time, or cooking the pancakes and storing them, can mixed pancake batter be stored over night, to be cooked in the morning? I’m actually wondering specifically about the coconut and banana pancakes from the new cookbook. The batter has some fun ingredients like coconut oil and raw egg, so I’m not sure the mixed batter will store well over night.
Hi Sammy, I don’t recommend storing the batter overnight. You can do the dry ingredients fine, but doing wet or combining it all doesn’t work well. I hope this helps!
Thanks so much for your help! My wife and I enjoyed these pancakes for her birthday just last week. Really fun and delicious.
I really like your egg and other recipes, these recipes I use my fat loss breakfast meals. Thank you so much.
You’re welcome!
These look amazing. I always feel excited when I see you in my inbox. Thank you so much.
We love French toast for reheating on busy mornings. We use a loaf of brioche and it lasts the week.
Hi Kate, made a batch of your very best granola last week. It was so good I made another and we are now enjoying our 3rd batch! I made the gingerbread recipe and substituted molasses and honey for the oil. Now I’m re-reading and thinking I should have added all 3!? Delicious anyway. Next will be the orange almond. This is great, now my husband eats this for breakfast with some yogurt or melon instead of hash browns, eggs and sausage. Win Win for us!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you