29 Savory Breakfast Ideas to Jump-Start Your Mornings
We know not to skip the most important meal of the day. But for those who aren’t into French toast or cereal, a list of savory breakfast ideas will get you through the mornings ahead. It can be tempting to grab a bagel or premade egg muffins from a café on the way to work, but making your own weekday breakfast can be as simple as smashing a couple of boiled eggs on an English muffin (adding kimchi, ricotta, or even just a drizzle of grassy extra-virgin olive oil takes a few more seconds but ups the favor immensely.)
What’s more, tons of brunch favorites like a cheesy frittata or a greens-packed breakfast bowl can be made ahead of time and reheated or quickly assembled while you’re sipping that first cup of coffee. Not a fan of eggs? Try dressed-up cottage cheese and savory granola sprinkled over salad, or experiment with vegan breakfast recipes using a tofu scramble or warm bowl of khichari. Tomorrow morning will be there before you know it, so here are our favorite savory breakfast ideas—no waffles allowed!
Alex Lau1/29Jammy Eggs and Feta Flatbreads With Herbs
A list of savory breakfast recipes certainly includes jammy eggs. These are torn and folded into a rough and tumble egg salad with creamy feta and lemon juice. Spoon it over your favorite flatbread (naan or pita are excellent here) and top with tender herbs.
Photo by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley2/29Adai
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Pearl Jones3/29Fully Loaded Everything Bagel Quiche
Maybe you made cookbook author Molly Baz’s quiche yesterday for brunch; its crust has seasonings typically found on an everything bagel, like dried onion and garlic, poppyseeds, and sesame. Good thing there’s some left this morning. Top your slice with smoked salmon, capers, and a few sprigs of dill.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht4/29Sour-Cream-and-Onion Tortilla Española
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Thu Buser, and Prop Styling by Christina Allen5/29Spicy Eggplant Frittata
Inspired by the Filipino dish tortang talong, this no-fuss frittata is made fierly with a serrano chile, and fresh with a heap of cilantro. If you don’t like heat, you can leave the chile out; it’ll still be wildly good.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Gözde Eker7/29Tomato Salad With Crème Fraîche and Olive Granola
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks8/29Pork Floss and Seaweed Pull-Apart Rolls
Cinnamon rolls have their devotees; these pillowy buns are for fans of nutty sesame, punchy furikake, and salty pork floss. Kewpie mayo and scallions bring lip-smacking umami and freshness, respectively.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Pearl Jones11/29For the Love of Cottage Cheese Salad
Cottage cheese is swiftly becoming one of the most popular breakfast foods. Our staff is obsessed with Good Culture’s cottage cheese, but any brand you love will go with this tomato-cucumber salad.
Alex Lau13/29Breakfast Salad With Smoked Trout and Quinoa
This isn’t the first time we’ve suggested making a salad for breakfast, and it won’t be the last. Flaky smoked fish and boiled eggs, on a bed of lemony yogurt with various accoutrements, both crunchy and filling, just works.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley14/29Ponzu Salmon and Avocado Toast
Photograph by Peden + Munk, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop Styling by Ceci Garcia16/29Paneer Kathi Rolls
Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Susan Spungen17/29Sour Cream and Onion Biscuits
Grab and go with these delectable biscuits, smother them in sausage gravy, or use them to build a dream sandwich with scrambled eggs, seared fresh chorizo patties, and slices of Monterey Jack.
Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li18/29Simple Khichari
Divya’s Kitchen in New York City shared the recipe for this hearty lentil and rice dish, which makes for the coziest meat- and dairy-free breakfast (or lunch or dinner, for that matter). If you don’t have cauliflower or daikon, swap in zucchini, carrots, or whatever veg you have on hand.
Photograph by Travis Rainey, food styling by Drew Aichele, prop styling by Christina Allen21/29Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Frozen hash brown patties form the base of this hearty casserole. This one feeds a crowd and reheats well, making it especially ideal if you’re looking for make-ahead breakfast ideas.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker23/29Masala Skillet Scramble
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones24/29Dashi Oats With Crunchy Veg
Cook steel-cut oats in dashi (instant dashi makes it quick; or you can use whatever stock or broth you have) for a deeply savory porridge that’ll warm you from the inside out. Savory oatmeal is great topped with an egg, but Greek yogurt or cottage cheese is a quicker way to the protein.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones25/29Ginger-Scallion Tofu Scramble With Spinach and Chili Oil
Treat silken tofu like scrambled eggs for a high-protein vegan breakfast. Sauté scallions, ginger, and garlic with baby spinach before gently stirring them into the tofu.
Alex Lau29/29Egg and Avocado Breakfast Sandwich
You just can’t beat an egg sandwich for breakfast. This savory breakfast idea, from Dimes in NYC, uses a zingy homemade mango hot sauce, but opting for store-bought is always an option. Or try our Make-Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches for busy mornings.