Egg

36 Savory Breakfast Ideas to Power You Through the Morning

If you always choose the omelet, not the French toast, this list is for you.

April 15, 2020
Photo by James Ransom

There is a time for flaky pastries that hide melty chocolate and almond paste—but exactly when that time can be a matter of debate.

Some of us wake up fixated on sweet dishes, with visions of pancakes buoyed on pools of syrup; others wake up craving salt and hot sauce and would rather save the sweet for later in the afternoon.

If you're the type of person who'd always choose a bacon-egg-and-cheese over pancakes, a scallion biscuit over a croissant, here are 36 of our best savory breakfast recipes for you.


36 Savory Breakfast Ideas

1. Sherried Mushroom Clafoutis

Herby mushrooms and a custardy egg batter team up for a crowd-friendly dish that is anything but average.

2. Savory Ris-Oat-to with Poached Egg

If you like eggs and oatmeal separately, why not try them together in this umami-packed riff on risotto.

3. Inside Out Bagel Grilled Cheese

Yes, it's possible to make a grilled cheese even better (hint: just add a bagel).

4. Josh Ozersky's 3-Minute Hash Browns

You're less than five minutes away from the best hash browns of your life, thanks to this technique from food writer and editor Josh Ozersky.

5. Chipotle Tomato Egg Skillet

This satisfying skillet recipe is the best way to use up leftover brown rice and that jar of canned tomatoes, if you ask us.

6. Broccoli, Egg & Cheese Sandwich

The only thing better than a bacon-egg-and-cheese sandwich? A broccoli-egg-and-cheese sandwich.

7. Boosted Jook

This contest-winning recipe for jook, a Chinese rice soup (that's also known as congee), can be served any time of day or night; at breakfast, we like it with a poached or fried egg.

8. Baked Eggs with Mushrooms & Gruyere

Creamy, cheesy, and extra-eggy? Sign us up.

9. Tomato & Cream Cheese Turnovers

Don't let these flaky turnovers trick you into thinking they're for dessert—the tomato and cream cheese filling makes them a savory breakfast-worthy bite.

10. Egg in a Bagel Hole

To achieve breakfast greatness, all you need are three simple ingredients: an egg, a bagel, and butter (oh, and a dash of salt and pepper).

11. Salt & Vinegar Hash Browns

Salt and vinegar chip fans, this one is for you.

12. Chrissy Teigen's Everything Bagel Cream Cheese Breakfast Bake

This Chrissy Teigen-approved casserole is packed with all your breakfast favorites, like everything bagels, sausage, and eggs.

13. Georgian Khachapuri Filled with Ramps, Green Onions, Herbs & Cheese

This herby riff on Georgian khachapuri (a cheese bread or pie) is one of our favorite ways to start the day.

14. Smashed Potato & Ramp Frittata

In the mood for quiche but don't have what you need to make a crust? Try this cheesy smashed potato frittata from baking pro Erin McDowell.

15. Soft-Scrambled Tamago

This soft-scrambled tamago recipe is "every bit as good as promised," writes one reviewer. Why not give them a try one morning?

16. Savory Potato & Onion Knishes

These onion- and potato-filled beauties are sprinkled with an everything bagel-inspired seasoning—perfect for an early morning bite.

17. Savory Masa Corn Cakes with Green Chile, Cheese & Lime Crema

"This one is a keeper," one reviewer said of these savory masa corn cakes with a zingy lime crema drizzle.

18. Avocado-Stuffed French Toast

French toast goes the savory route thanks to a mashed avocado filling and hot sauce-spiked egg mixture.

19. Moroccan Chicken Hash with Harissa Cream

This egg-y chicken hash recipe is great for using up any odds and ends in the fridge, like half a red pepper and a handful of green beans.

20. Peas Porridge Hot (Oat Risotto with Peas)

Another take on risotto for breakfast, this time with peas pulled straight from the freezer.

21. Scrambled Egg Muffins

These quick and portable muffins have all your morning musts—eggs, ham, and the like—in just a few bites.

22. Eggs in Spicy Minted Tomato Sauce

The spicy sweetness of the tomatoes and brightness of the mint make a delicious match with rich, runny egg yolks—don't forget crusty bread or pita for scooping up all that goodness.

23. Bagel & Cream Cheese Strata

This strata basically takes the ultimate bagel spread—complete with lox, capers, and dill—and combines it in one dish.

24. Breakfast Fried Rice

All that leftover fried rice needs to become breakfast is a bit of bacon and an egg, any style.

25. Ham, Gruyère & Caramelized Onion Galette with a Fried Egg

"Anything is better with a fried egg, and this mustardy, cheesy galette is no exception," one of our editors wrote when describing this breakfast-y galette. We couldn't agree more.

26. Slow-Cooked Tuscan Kale with Pancetta, Bread Crumbs & a Poached Egg

Get your daily fill of greens in this tasty, slow-cooked kale dish.

27. Sharp Cheddar & Mustardy Greens Breakfast Sandwich

Fluffy biscuits, gooey cheddar, and mustardy greens—there's nothing not to love about this vegetarian-friendly breakfast sandwich.

28. Huevos Rancheros with Blistered Tomato Salsa

Top these huevos rancheros any which way you like—avocado slices, sour cream, grated cheese, sky's the limit.

29. The BLT Benedict

Two classic dishes—eggs Benedict and BLT sandwich—join forces for a positively delicious breakfast or brunch.

30. Scrambled Egg Tacos with Avocado

Simple and oh-so satisfying, these breakfast tacos require little more than eggs, tortillas, and avocado to pull off.

31. Momofuku's Soy Sauce Eggs

For an umami-rich, two-bite breakfast in a hurry, make a batch of these soy sauce eggs and grab and go as needed.

32. Our Best Quiche

Consider this the quintessential quiche, buttery-flaky crust and all.

33. Tofu Breakfast Scramble

"The vegan answer to scrambled eggs, this easy dish is sure to become one of your meatless favorites," writes recipe developer Gena Hamshaw.

34. Pizza Omelet

It's just like eating pizza for breakfast—without actually heating yourself up a leftover slice.

35. Avocado, Feta & Mint on Sourdough Toast

You can't go wrong with this feta-flecked rendition of avocado toast.

36. Chickpea, Spinach & Chorizo Frittata

Chorizo and paprika bring a wonderful smokiness to this hearty frittata.

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

I used to work at Food52. I'm probably the person who picked all of the cookie dough out of the cookie dough ice cream.

7 Comments

Setitoff7 September 8, 2021
Jook is the Korean word for porridge. Congee is a specific Chinese porridge dish. Korean and Chinese are not the same.
 
His loves you all, He sent Jesus to save us from His wrath and our evil, but better He rose again!!! Now He is king with the Father and the Holy Spirit! And we get to have Him, He is coming back so please repent and believe that He is who He is, Love you but He loves you so much more!
 
al W. September 5, 2016
This is dinner fare! Yummy!
 
EL August 8, 2016
And don't forget popovers which I mostly eat savory (I often include cheese). They take a bare 1/2 hour to make so beat out many of these.
 
Dia Š. August 7, 2016
the recipes all look delicious but seriously can`t imagine anybody taking the time in the morning to cook these. I would definitely love to try some of these but rather for lunch than breakfast.
 
Christina K. August 5, 2016
this post was made for me. i really can't do sweet in the morning. can't wait to try some of these out!
 
PHIL July 16, 2016
We were discussing savory French toast in hotline this week