Our 20 Most Popular Brunch Recipes
Who doesn't love the breakfast-meets-lunch deliciousness that is brunch? Here, you'll find our top-rated recipes for quiche, pancake, coffee cake, bacon, smoothie, and so much more.
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What's not to love about brunch? This beloved in-between meal offers so many fantastic opportunities to have some fun in the kitchen. The goal of a great brunch recipe is usually more along the lines of "must be absolutely delicious," as opposed to, say, a protein-packed lunch that'll keep you going all day or a dinner you can quickly get on the table after a long day. Brunch, though? It's relaxed, it's indulgent, and it's the kinds of foods that everyone loves.
This greatest hits gallery includes the classics, from the fluffy Basic Pancakes you see right here and wonderfully crisp bacon to buttery biscuits and sweet, rich French toast. And if you've ever wanted to learn to make perfect standards, such as hard- or soft-boiled eggs, look no further: We've got simple and straightforward instructions on how to make these classics with aplomb.
Wander a little bit off the beaten path and you'll bump into the Dutch baby pancake, an exciting twist on the basic flapjack, which poofs up into a show-worthy display when baked in a piping hot skillet; and bacon, eggs, and toast cups, which use a muffin pan to create delightful and delicious individual cups, and you have a delicious, whimsical brunch spread the entire family will be excited to sit down to.
And if you're in search of some accompaniments to go with other dishes, we've got plenty of ideas. Smoothies (from banana-blueberry to avocado-banana) are a nice way to lighten up the table if the other offerings are on the heavy side. And potatoes are always welcome, too—whether elegant, thyme-seasoned potato slices, or roasted potatoes scented with fresh rosemary.
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Flaky Buttery Biscuits
Fresh hot biscuits slathered with butter, topped with a spoonful of jam, and served alongside fluffy scrambled eggs and bacon or sausage simply cannot be beat.
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Less-Mess Bacon
Yes, you can make deliciously crispy bacon without tons of grease splattering all over the stovetop. A 400-degree oven is all you need (plus a few parchment paper-lined baking sheets).
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Waffles
Nothing to see here (aside from perfect, fluffy, and crisp waffles, that is). A blessedly unfussy recipe and very predictable ingredient list mean you can whip these up before you've even had a cup of coffee.
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Classic French Toast
Any dense bread will work for this simple French toast recipe, but we love brioche for its soft, fluffy texture (which wonderfully soaks up the egg mixture) and its sweet, buttery taste.
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Broccoli Cheddar Quiche
Although broccoli and cheddar are a can't-miss combination, this versatile quiche's flaky crust and custard filling make it an ideal vehicle for an array of mix-ins.
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Dutch Baby Pancake
Here's a new and exciting twist on a pancake, which poofs up into a show-worthy display when baked in a piping hot skillet.
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Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake
This comfort-food coffee cake is soft, moist, and laced with plenty of cinnamon and chopped, buttery-tasting pecans.
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Simple Crepes
Dress up these French street-food staples with sweet or savory toppings and any number of flavorful fillings. For brunch, try thinly sliced ham with Swiss or Gruyère cheese; if you prefer your brunch to be a sweet affair, go with strawberries and powdered sugar.
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Martha's Soft-Boiled Eggs
The trick to perfect soft-boiled eggs? Don't actually boil them. Instead, as soon as the water begins to boil, turn off the heat, cover the pan, and let stand 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. And always serve them in a pretty egg cup.
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Best Buttermilk Pancakes
To get light and fluffy buttermilk pancakes from scratch, it helps if you take it easy: Whatever you do, don't overmix the batter. (It should have small to medium lumps.) Overmixing causes gluten to develop from the flour, which results in chewy instead of airy pancakes.
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Bacon, Eggs, and Toast Cups
The classic American breakfast gets an inventive twist with this recipe, which has you use a muffin pan to cook rounds of buttered bread, eggs, and bacon into delightful and delicious individual cups.
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Banana-Blueberry Smoothie
You only need three ingredients—nonfat plain yogurt, banana, and frozen blueberries—to make these healthy smoothies (and you can easily swap in any other frozen fruit for the berries).
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Spinach and Gruyère Quiches
An outstanding quiche relies on a few simple elements: a creamy egg custard, buttery homemade crust, and flavorful cheese and vegetables. This family-friendly brunch recipe delivers all three.
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Baked Potato Slices
These elegant thyme-seasoned potato slices are a terrific accompaniment to smoked salmon, scrambled eggs, a strata, sausage, bacon or any other classic brunch dishes.
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Breakfast Quinoa
Usually served in savory dishes, quinoa also makes a wonderful hot cereal. Its subtly nutty taste goes especially well with cinnamon, maple syrup and berries.
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Avocado-Banana Smoothie
This tropical-tasting avocado smoothie is a nice addition to your brunch spread, particularly if you're looking for something light to balance out heavier offerings.
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Slow-Cooker Bacon Jam
Here's a savory jam that elevates everything from biscuits to burgers. Put a jar on the table and you'll be amazed at how quickly it goes.
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Roasted Red Potatoes
Fresh rosemary complements the earthy taste of roasted potatoes in this simple but satisfying side dish that plays well with all kinds of egg dishes, bacon, or sausages.
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Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
Consider hard-boiling eggs a life skill. As long as you know how to do it well, you're never far away from a satisfying meal.