25 Best Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes

If your house is prone to a busy morning rush, these make-ahead breakfast recipes might just be your saving grace. 

We all know how important breakfast is for all of us to make it through to lunch.

But when you’re trying to get ready and get the kids/dogs/partners ready, too, things can get hectic.

That’s why you should start making breakfast ahead! Have it ready to go, so all you have to do is grab and go.

From creamy overnight oats and baked oatmeal bars to decadent French toast casseroles and breakfast burritos, there’s enough here to keep you going until the fall!

Let’s dive in!

1. Incredible Fluffy Overnight Buttermilk Pancakes

Yeast in a pancake batter might be a bit scary at first, but you won’t regret trying these overnight pancakes. 

One popular way to make bread is to make the dough and let it rest overnight in the fridge.

This recipe uses the same science, and no, you won’t taste anything from the yeast.

2. Make-Ahead Banana Bread Coffee Cake

What could be better than waking up to a warm slice of banana bread coffee cake? It’s sweet, tender, and topped with a wonderful, nutty streusel for a bit of texture.

Feel free to throw in some chocolate chips, and don’t be afraid to serve with a drizzle of caramel.

3. Triple Berry Overnight Oats

I think we all know that oats are good for us, right? They’re nutritious, high in antioxidants, full of fiber, and can even help to lower your cholesterol.

And for those hot summer mornings when a big bowl of hot oatmeal just seems like too much, you can’t go wrong with a jar of light, fruit, overnight oats.

4. Make-Ahead Breakfast Sandwiches

If you need something a little more filling in the mornings and maybe something to eat on the go, you’ll have to try these breakfast sandwiches. 

Using a sheet tray, you can make and bake a whole batch before wrapping them to freeze. In the morning, pull on (or two) and microwave for a couple of minutes. 

So easy and so versatile! Use any kind of meat you like, and experiment with different cheeses and veggies, too.

My favorite has to be bacon, egg, and mature cheddar cheese with onions and a smear of chipotle mayo.

5. Overnight Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Maybe you’ve had (and devoured) bread pudding at some point. It’s sweet and moist and so creamy. But have you ever tried a savory bread pudding?

This genius little recipe is exactly that! Stale bread cubes with a savory milk and egg mix, cheese, sausage, and peppers. 

Just like with most bread pudding recipes, making this the night before will allow the bread to soak up the custard and flavors, ready to be baked the next morning.

6. Make-Ahead Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

This recipe is to die for. The baked oatmeal texture is somewhere between a cookie and a granola bar, and the carrot cake flavors are just perfect for breakfast!

It might look like you’re eating cake for breakfast, but one look at the ingredient list, and you’ll see that it’s actually super healthy. 

I like my carrot cake with raisins and chopped nuts, but you can leave them out if you’re not a fan. 

7. Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

These breakfast bars are another fantastic on-the-go option. Creamy, dreamy, and perfectly sweet, they’re great warm or cold and travel so well.

They’re made extra healthy with whole wheat flour and unsweetened applesauce in place of white sugar. 

I’ve made these with almond butter, and they were just as good. You can also add extra banana in place of the applesauce to boost the flavor.

8. Apple Hand Pies

You might not think about apple pies being for breakfast, but they’re full of fruit! Why shouldn’t they be?

These little hand pies are almost like round pop tarts, and you can easily make them with store-bought pie dough and canned pie filling. 

9. Freezer Breakfast Burritos

What’s better than a make-ahead breakfast sandwich full of sausage, egg, and cheese?

How about a burrito loaded with potato, scrambled eggs, refried beans, and cheese?

These babies are hot, filling, and the perfect way to fuel up first thing in the morning. And you can so easily change up the filling.

How about hash browns, bacon, and a handful of chopped jalapeños?

10. Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits

The difference between this recipe and a typical overnight oat recipe is the amount of dairy.

Rather than adding just enough milk to soak into the oats, this parfait uses milk and yogurt, making them insanely creamy.

Not only that! These can be made up to three days ahead, making your week that much easier. 

11. Spinach and Bacon Quiche

I’ve always been a huge fan of quiche for breakfast. It has eggs, cheese, veggies and/or meat, and a thin pastry crust.

How is it any better or worse than a bagel loaded with cream cheese and bacon?

I love how simple this recipe is. There’s no need to blanch the spinach. Just throw it in!

I highly recommend adding onions and good quality cheese, such as Gruyere.

12. Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

As much as I like chopped nuts and dried fruits, I crave a little chocolate in the mornings.

And if adding some chocolate chips will encourage the kids to eat these granola bars, I think it’s a fair trade.

For something like this, I prefer chopped peanuts rather than whole roasted peanuts. One cracked tooth is all it takes to leave a scar! 

13. Baked French Toast Casserole

I make a version of this at least once every couple of weeks.

I like to hoard my leftover bread until I have enough and then make this casserole ready for a decadent Sunday morning breakfast.

This recipe keeps it simple with bread, custard, and a spiced, sugary topping.

It’s honestly pretty perfect as is, but I’ll usually throw in some chocolate chips or soaked raisins if I have them. Why not?

14. Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

These creamy overnight oats are such a fresh and fun way to start your day.

I was a little hesitant to add so much creaminess to the apple flavor, but it works like a dream. It tastes like a scoop of apple crisp with some vanilla ice cream.

15. Banana Nut Overnight Oats With Walnuts

If you know me at all, you’ll know my love for all things banana runs deep. If I see ‘banana’ in the title, you can guarantee I’m trying it ASAP!

These oats have all that great creamy texture, paired with sweet banana slices and buttery walnuts.

The best way to eat this is to pour it into a bowl, sprinkle over some toasted granola, and drizzle with extra honey.

16. Make-Ahead Banana Nut Baked Oatmeal Cups

Though these might look like muffins, they’re way too soft to grab and eat on the go.

Of course, that’s a good thing! They’re soft, sweet, and just what you’ll need to get your day going.

To make them easier to handle, try portioning into mini ramekins. Wrap and freeze them until you’re ready, then bake and serve right in the dish.

17. Make-Ahead Frittata Squares with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Feta

What’s the difference between a quiche and a frittata? Well, typically, quiche has a crust and is baked in the oven. 

Frittatas are usually started on the stove and either flipped to finish cooking or finished in the oven.

This recipe makes things nice and easy. It’s more like a crustless quiche. No matter what you call it, it’s full of veggies and cheese and can be ready in under an hour.

18. Make-Ahead Breakfast Frittata Muffins

As good as the above recipe is, it’s not the easiest to eat when you’re walking the dog or racing to get to work on time.

Enter: frittata muffins!

These even have potatoes inside to make them extra filling. Just make up a batch and freeze in a big bag.

Pull out as many as you need, and enjoy a quick and tasty breakfast in a matter of minutes.

19. Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Here’s another sensational savory bread pudding recipe. Ham, cheese, and egg is such a classic flavor blend, and it’s close to perfect when mixed with bread and custard.

If you want to take this to a whole other level, try using leftover croissants and adding a layer of béchamel sauce to create a faux Croque monsieur style dish!

20. Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Bake

If you and the kids are always reaching for the Cinnamon Toast Crunch at the same time, you’ll love this!

While the middle will stay moist and creamy, the top will toast up and give you a fantastic crunch. 

21. Vegan Breakfast Grain Bowls

The thing with vegan recipes is finding the right ingredients that will blend well, add flavor, and be filling enough to help you last until lunchtime. 

These five fabulous quinoa breakfast recipes use a mix of grains, including buckwheat, millet, steel-cut oats, brown rice, teff, and amaranth to provide a slew of nutrients and goodness that will keep you full and satisfied until your next meal. 

Not only that, but you can make them sweet or savory and change things up so easily. 

22. Healthy Apple Pancakes

I think we can all agree that pancakes are one of the best breakfasts out there. Fluffy, warm, sweet, and just as great with fruits, chocolate, syrup, or whipped cream.

But if you can make a batch and have it be a touch healthier, why wouldn’t you? (Especially when they’re this good!)

All you’ll need a handful of ingredients and a blender.

23. Oven Roasted Breakfast Potatoes

Having potatoes for breakfast is something I don’t often have time for. They take time to bake, whereas a pan of eggs can be ready in minutes. 

But making up a big batch, storing them in the fridge, and frying them off when needed is such a clever way to incorporate an extra filling element into your morning.

24. Banana Breakfast Cookies

Don’t we all just want cookies for breakfast? With this recipe, you can have them guilt-free.

Between the oats, bananas, raisins, and walnuts, they’re essentially baked oatmeal bites – chocolate chips optional 😉

25. Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Squares

I don’t know how we haven’t thought of this sooner! We eat pancakes in a stack, so why not as a traybake?

This is a brilliant way to serve a crowd without spending hours at the stove!