The morning is my most difficult time of the day. I am trying to get the family ready and out the door, plan my day’s activities and get a healthy breakfast in everyone. It never seemed to happen as planned until I focused on Make Ahead Breakfasts. Inevitably, we’d leave the house and head to the local coffee shop and buy some overpriced (and sugary) snack to tide us over until lunch.
Not any more! I put together a list of make-ahead and meal prepped breakfasts that are as close to grab-and-go as can be! It is so much easier to put these together later in the day and have them ready when I need them in the morning.
Save Time!
It’s all about saving you time. If you’re making breakfast for a large group of people or just needing a way to cut down on your prep time throughout the week, use these great make-ahead breakfast recipes. The point of using them is so that you’re not being rushed last minute.
🥤 Smoothie Recipes
If you like to start your morning with smoothies, here are some great thirst quenching and healthy ideas.
Use water, milk, yogurt, ice, or juice as the base of the smoothie. Just know that each offers a different flavor, texture, etc.
- Water – This is a way to cut down some calories. For water based drinks you will find it is not as rich.
- Milk – Almond milk, plain milk, oat milk are all great options. You’ll find it adds more protein and texture. Whole milk will add a nice thickness to your smoothie.
- Juice – Orange juice and apple juice are two that are most used. Make sure to use all natural varieties and not ones with added sugars.
- Yogurt – Another ingredient is yogurt. Greek, plain or flavored, will make it nice and thick and creamy. Be careful, though, as it can really add to the calories.
Make Ahead Smoothie Recipes
Make-Ahead Smoothie Recipes that you can make and have a grab-and-go smoothie that tastes even better than your favorite smoothie shop. You will enjoy the price and flavor.
Do you realize how much money you’ll save by this simple meal-prep breakfast idea? Ordering a smoothie anywhere besides your kitchen will cost you at least $4 or more!
This easy breakfast prep idea will have you sipping away on a healthy breakfast smoothie for under a buck.
Did you know that you can completely make freezer smoothies days ahead of time and just take them out the night before you need them? Yep! You sure can!
We show you how to make your favorites while still doing a quick “grab and go” in the morning!
🍨 Yogurt Breakfast Ideas
If you happen to be a huge fan of yogurt like us, here are some great ways to meal prep.
Learn how to make yogurt in the Instant Pot and in your crockpot! It is an affordable and easy process.
Make Ahead Yogurt Recipes
Yogurt Recipes are great for a healthy and delicious breakfast. Start your mornings off right, or even a snack during the day.
This is a yummy and budget friendly way to make ahead four days of breakfasts! Switch out the granola for muesli or mix in different fruits. The options are endless in this under 15 minute breakfast meal prep!
Did you have any idea that you could use your crockpot to make yogurt? What used to be a time-consuming recipe is no longer that way.
The crockpot does all the hard work and you just get to enjoy the taste.
Did you know with just three ingredients is all it takes to make instant pot yogurt. An affordable and delicious way to meal prep parfaits, yogurt cups, and more.
🍌Oatmeal Breakfast Recipes
Oatmeal is a staple for your go-to mornings where you want to stay full and be fueled for the day. I have tons of recipes featuring oatmeal that I think you guys will really enjoy.
Difference Between Steel Cut Oats and Old Fashioned Oats
Steel cut oats and old fashioned oats are two totally different textures. Steel cut oats are minimally processed, are a lot larger and offer more health benefits.
Old fashioned oats or rolled oats are flat and flakey that cook a lot faster than steel cut oats.
You will find the two both offer different flavors as well. Rolled oats are more mild where steel cut oats offer a punch of flavor.
Oatmeal Recipes
Oatmeal Recipes are my favorite. From overnight oats to a warm bowl to pair with a splash of milk. Prep your mornings with a hearty and flavorful oatmeal recipe. Sweet and savory oat recipes are below.
A quick and protein-filled peanut butter overnight oats. My family loves this one with a few chocolate chips on top.
Fruity and healthy is what you will find in this recipe. Serve up this for a quick take-and-go breakfast that kids will enjoy as well.
If you prefer a savory start to your mornings, here is oatmeal with eggs recipe. Rich, savory, and a warm recipe to warm you up on a cold winter day.
If your kids enjoy instant oats, you might love making your own homemade oatmeal packets. You can control your ingredients used, and it is so affordable to meal prep with.
Another wonderful way to use oats, if freezer oatmeal cups. With a little work you can make cups, toss in a bowl, heat up, and then pour milk, and your favorite oat toppings.
Baked oatmeal offers wonderful texture and is so simple to grab and eat. I made these cranberry bliss oat cups and then freeze for a grab and go breakfast on busy mornings.
Here is another version of oatmeal cups. Loaded with fruit for a nice boost of nutrients and antioxidants.
🥪 Breakfast Sandwiches and Burritos
Now, you can buy store bought sandwiches loaded with bacon, sausage, and egg, but they are pretty pricey. If you want to serve up a hearty breakfast that doesn’t cost a ton, make your own breakfast burritos and sandwiches.
Breakfast Sandwiches and Burritos
Not a fan of meat? No problem! These vegetarian burritos are tasty, simple, and delicious and are great for prepping the night before.
It also saves time and money to meal prep your breakfasts!
I make these in large batches as both my husband and I will grab one in the morning to heat up when we get hungry for breakfast.
This recipe is the best. Being able to pull out a premade burrito from the freezer and just heat it up to eat at your convenience? Talk about a huge time saver and sanity saver, too.
The ingredient choices are endless, but the classic ham and spinach not only cooks well, but reheats very good in the microwave in the morning.
I can’t think of a time where I’ve actually not wanted a breakfast sandwich. In fact, they’re one of my favorite things to eat in the morning.
This recipe gives that same hearty taste and flavor but really does cut down on the time.
Talk about a unique and fun breakfast recipe! You just need a few simple ingredients and everyone in your house will be chowing down on these delicious pockets.
Mix and match the ingredients to give everyone their favorites.
🍳 Crockpot Breakfast Recipes
If you own a crockpot, pull it out and whip up one or more of these slow cooker breakfast recipes. These are great for a holiday morning, a treat for birthdays, or serving up for guests.
We also love crockpot breakfast recipes for the weekends when the whole family is at home to enjoy. I highly recommend using liners for making cleanup a breeze.
Crockpot Breakfast Recipes
Here are some great crockpot breakfast recipes to consider
Cooking up some French Toast in your crockpot is totally simple. Just plan ahead a little bit and you’ll be dipping that toasted bread in syrup in no time at all.
Get out the bowls and plates! This crockpot casserole recipe is so addictive and delicious! A savory crockpot breakfast casserole that will feed your family.
🥚 Breakfast Recipes With Eggs
If you love eggs, here are some recipes that are great for breakfast meal prep. These are protein-packed meals to fuel your body for the day.
Free range organic eggs are one that many say taste the best. But whether you use farm fresh eggs or store bought, these recipes below are all great options.
Breakfast Recipes With Eggs
With the words “make-ahead” in the title, you know that this is a great way to meal-prep for breakfast. These breakfasts can be made for under $2. That is under $2 for a week of breakfasts. You can’t beat that!
This is a great low carb and work perfect with a keto diet. You can even keep the yolks in. Add a touch of salt and pepper or other seasonings for this to be a great breakfast to grab on the run
Skip the pan and make microwave scrambled eggs in literally minutes. Pair with a side of bacon, toast, etc.
A simple and easy way to make eggs that tastes just as good as scrambling on the stove.
These quick to make egg salsa cups whip up in a flash and add quite a bit of flavor with just the addition of the salsa!
I like to add a spicy salsa as it adds a fun kick to the eggs. You don’t use that much salsa for it to be overpowering, so the little bit of kick works really well with it. This is another fun muffin tin breakfast!
These are protein packed for those busy days when you need to not worry about your next meal. They are also inexpensive to make and whip up in under 25 minutes!
These Hashbrown Egg Cups can be made up to a couple weeks ahead of time and frozen!
You simply take them out the night before and zap them in the microwave! Just pay attention to freezer instructions and you are good to go.
🍪 Cookies and Granola Recipes
If you tend to have a sweet tooth, you will want to make some of these granola bars or breakfast cookies. A sweet but delicious grab and go recipe you can even freeze for later.
Cookies and Granola Recipes
What I love about this simple recipe is that it’s good for breakfast but also as a grab and go snack that you can take with you when you go out and about.
I adore the wrapping on these granola bars too. Seriously! I almost don’t even want to eat it as it looks so great as is.
To be fair, it tastes just as good as it looks!
These are the easiest breakfast cookie to make! They are inexpensive and so good for your.
These are perfect for busy mornings on the run or to take on a hike with friends.
Forget that store-bought cereal and opt to make your own instead. This recipe is simple, delicious, and whipped up right in your kitchen.
It is always nice to mix in a sweet breakfast option every now and then.
This is super quick and delish granola to make to eat on the run or to add to yogurt or a bowl with milk! Either way, you control the ingredients and know that it is healthy and chocked full of nutrients to kick off the day!
🥓 Other Make Ahead Breakfast Ideas
Now before I go I want to share a few more ideas for you to consider. Here are some vegetarian recipes, muffins, and more. Lots of delicious options to consider in this list.
Simple Meal Prep Breakfast Ideas
Simple Meal Prep Breakfast Ideas are a nice mix of recipes for you to consider making and trying. Here are a few more easy breakfast recipes to consider adding to your menu plan.
These are perfect meal prep breakfasts to grab and go in the mornings when you need to be at work early!
They are incredibly healthy and delicious. When you eat them, you taste nothing but clean vegetables without all the additives and mystery ingredients hidden in store bought pre-processed breakfasts.
Definitely check out this collection of recipes and ideas to help you make a healthy meal prep breakfast.
This recipe is a must for moms and dads. All kids want pancakes for breakfast, but what parent really has the time?
These freezer pancakes make it super simple to have hot pancakes for them to enjoy before they head off to school.
These delicious and healthy muffins are great for the fall or all year around! If you are a pumpkin lover, you will adore the infused fall flavors all wrapped up into a healthy muffin!
These scrumptious muffins are whipped up in a flash and freezer friendly to make them a top favorite of ours! These muffins taste incredibly clean to the palette with no surprising after tastes or mystery ingredients!
Once a Month Meals – Meal Planning Breakfast
Need more meal prep breakfast ideas? Once a Month Meals has lots of ready-to-go freezer breakfast meal plans. Best of all, you can customize your selections and have the grocery list created as well as instructions for the day of cooking and the day of reheating.
It saves a TON of time and money!
I would love to hear from you! What are your favorite make ahead breakfasts? Please leave a comment below!
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Hi!
Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.
I don’t like English muffins out of the package. Would toasting them lightly before assembling the breakfast sandwiches work?
I love all things make-ahead! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks Robyn!
Okay, on the “Instant Oatmeal Packets” – I have been eating oatmeal for breakfast for years now but I really want to share an alternative to the packet recipe posted above. If you are looking for an idea that doesn’t call for a lot of sugar or any processed ingredients consider this.
Locate a medium to large size plastic container with a tight fitting lid. Fill it up halfway with plain oatmeal of your choice. I prefer regular oats, quick cooking would work as well – I happen to like the firmer consistency from the regular oats.
Add 1-2 small bags of dried fruit of your choice. Aldi is a great resource for these. Dried cranberries, dried cherries, dried apricots, dried figs or dates show up sometimes too. I also add pecans and walnuts and/or almonds.
I then add a generous amount of cinnamon. At least 2 T.
Then I put the lid on and shake it all up till it is mixed well. That container then goes to work with me and I use a half cup measuring cup to scoop out enough oatmeal for one serving. I add a half cup of water and microwave for just under 2 minutes and I have a very filling breakfast that lasts me until lunch easily.
The container lasts me for at least 2 weeks, longer if I don’t eat oatmeal every single day – usually making something else at home on the weekends.
Since nuts are expensive I don’t buy all the ingredients at once, but work a bag of dried fruit or nuts into each shopping trip and by the time by container is getting low I have everything on hand to mix up another batch. I often use nuts in other recipes so a bag of pecans from Aldi will go into oatmeal as well as various other dishes I typically make.
The sweetness from the dried fruit in this mix totally negates the need for any added sugar – at least it does to me and I have a SWEET TOOTH people. 🙂 I admit it. But this “recipe” has me hooked. Just wanted to share!
That is such a clever idea! Thanks so much for sharing, Jaime! I have a bit of a sweet tooth too so I may have to try your version myself! 😀
I just went back to college for the first time in 3 years and I have to wake up super early !!! I have been skipping breakfast but I think I will have to use these ideas
Cannot wait to check out these recipes!
They really are fantastic. Certainly do make the mornings easier!
Hi Jazmin! Thank you for including my burritos in this post! Your crock pot yogurt sounds intriguing… I may have to give it a try!
Peace & Sunshine,
Sammi
Thank YOU for such an amazing recipe, Sammi! Seriously, they sound delicious! I do hope you give the yogurt a try. 🙂