29 Make-Ahead Breakfast Recipes That Save Time On Busy Mornings

On busy mornings, preparing a satisfying breakfast isn't always top of the to-do list. All too often, we're wolfing down a somewhat lackluster bowl of cereal, grabbing a plain old slice of toast as we rush out the door, or perhaps forgetting to eat altogether. But it doesn't have to be that way. With a little forward planning, you can set yourself up for breakfast greatness, ensuring there's time to tuck into something delicious before you start your day.

By making breakfast ahead, you'll take the pressure off your mornings, all while fueling yourself with something wholesome and full of flavor. Whether you prefer sweet or savory, protein-packed or plant-based, there's a recipe that can help. Many of these options can be made in a large batch, so a single prep session will set you up for the whole week. And some are perfectly portable, so you can enjoy your morning meal on the go if need be. So, if you've got some time to spare this weekend, why not prep one of these tempting breakfast recipes for the week ahead? Trust us, future you will be glad you did.

Packed with protein and rich, savory flavor, these make-ahead burritos turn breakfast into a takeout-style treat, with zero fuss. Inside each soft tortilla, there's a hearty medley of spiced ground turkey, scrambled eggs, and cottage cheese — a combination that'll keep you feeling fueled all morning. Once assembled, the burritos can be wrapped and stored in the freezer, ready for a quick reheat in the microwave, toaster oven, or air fryer in the morning.

Recipe: Make-Ahead, High-Protein Breakfast Burrito

This irresistible sausage strata makes 12 satisfying servings, so it's a good pick if you're prepping ahead for the whole family. Featuring savory sausage, aromatic shallots, and rich Gruyère cheese, all combined with a base of eggs and cubed crusty bread, this dish feels both wholesome and indulgent. Once soaked overnight and baked until golden, the strata will keep well in the fridge for up to four days, so you can simply pop portions in the microwave when you're ready to enjoy them. It holds up great when frozen, too.

Recipe: Brunch-Perfect Sausage Strata

Prepped in just eight minutes, these elegant overnight oats are full of nourishing ingredients. Ripe banana, juicy pears, and chewy raisins add plenty of natural sweetness, while chia seeds boost the fiber and protein content, and cinnamon and ginger bring a touch of warmth. The creamy oats will stay fresh for five days in the fridge if stored in airtight containers. Just make sure to reserve the pear slices and any other toppings for when you're ready to serve.

Recipe: Fresh Pear Overnight Oats

If you have a sous vide, you should absolutely be using it prep your breakfasts. This nifty tool is perfect for creating tender, evenly cooked egg bites, which serve as a light yet protein-rich way to start your day. To give the egg base a creamy flavor boost, we throw in shredded Gruyère and cheddar, along with crispy fried pancetta cubes. Cooked in the water bath in lidded jars, the handy individual servings can be stored in the fridge for up to three days, and reheated in the microwave.

Recipe: Cheesy Sous Vide Egg Bites

Granola is a true breakfast classic, and this gingerbread-spiced version brings all the cozy vibes. In just 30 minutes, you'll have 12 portions prepped that are packed with crunchy nuts, sweet maple syrup, and tart dried cranberries. Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves give the mixture a warming edge, while vanilla adds aromatic depth. Baked until golden and crunchy, the resulting granola can be kept in an airtight container and stored for up to a month. It's perfect for serving with fresh, juicy berries and a dollop of your favorite yogurt.

Recipe: Best Gingerbread Granola

French toast shouldn't be reserved for weekends only. This decadent treat deserves a spot in your weekday routine, too, and that's perfectly possible by turning it into a hearty bake. Here, we soak sliced challah in a creamy, cinnamon-spiked egg mixture, add fresh strawberries and dollops of mascarpone, then bake everything until golden and custardy. Since the casserole requires soaking overnight, you can assemble it the night before and throw the dish in the oven an hour before breakfast (and enjoy any leftovers for up to four days!).

Recipe: Strawberries And Cream French Toast Bake

You can't go wrong with the rich, savory combo of herby breakfast sausage, tender eggs, and sharp shredded cheese. This easy casserole takes the heartiness up a notch, incorporating sour cream and shredded hash browns, while balancing the richness with fresh green onions. The mixture is baked until the eggs set and the cheese is melty, ready to slice into squares and store in the fridge for later. That's breakfast sorted for the next four days, just quickly reheat in the microwave in the morning.

Recipe: Cheesy Sausage Breakfast Casserole

This delicious banana bread-inspired variation of overnight oats packs sweetness, spice, and nutty crunch into every spoonful. You'll mash the banana for easy incorporation into the creamy oats, adding texture with chopped walnuts and warmth with cinnamon. A splash of maple syrup sweetens things up, and peanut butter adds a dose of healthy fats and protein. Leave the flavors to meld overnight, or for up to three days, before serving with extra sliced banana and slivered almonds.

Recipe: Easy Banana Bread Overnight Oats

Quinoa makes an excellent alternative to usual morning oats, perfect for soaking up the flavors of other sweet and creamy ingredients. Here, we toast it in butter, simmer it in coconut milk, then amp up the decadence with cocoa powder, cinnamon, and maple syrup. Each bowl is crowned with juicy plum slices, a dark chocolate square, and a sprinkle of flaked coconut. This elegant creation will keep for up to five days when made ahead and can be enjoyed chilled or warmed up in the microwave.

Recipe: Breakfast Quinoa Bowl With Plums And Dark Chocolate

Back in the savory breakfast realm, we have this gloriously rustic quiche with chorizo, kale, and pepper. This recipe requires a little patience, but when those busy mornings roll around, you'll be so glad you put in the effort and have eight generous servings to devour. With a perfectly flaky, from-scratch crust and a rich filling, this meaty, cheesy quiche is a luxurious way to start your day. These will keep well for up to five days in the fridge. 

Recipe: Chorizo, Kale, And Pepper Quiche

These vibrant egg white cups are a tasty and convenient way get your protein in. We add diced tomatoes, bell pepper, and spinach to the fluffy egg whites, along with a good pinch of salt and pepper, before baking the mixture in a muffin tin until set. Ready in 30 minutes, these nutritious bites are great for pairing with other low-fuss sides like hash browns or toast. Store them chilled in a sealed plastic bag for up to five days, and serve them cold or microwaved as desired.

Recipe: Egg White Breakfast Cups

Inject some decadence into your morning with these gloriously chocolatey overnight oats. The oats get their richness from cacao powder, hazelnut butter, milk, and vanilla, while maple syrup brings a dose of sweetness. What makes this recipe a real standout is the velvety chocolate-hazelnut ganache, which is layered into the middle of each creamy jarful. To prep this treat in advance, store the oat and ganache elements separately, combine them just before serving, and finish with a scattering of crunchy cacao nibs, hazelnuts, and perhaps a handful of fresh berries.

Recipe: Decadent Chocolate Overnight Oats

It doesn't get much simpler than these delightfully chewy, naturally-sweetened three-ingredient muffins. To make them, you'll mix mashed ripe bananas with rolled oats and milk, before baking the mixture in a muffin tin until set and golden brown on top. The resulting bites make a fantastic on-the-go breakfast, and can easily be jazzed up with a drizzle of melted chocolate or peanut butter. Feel free to substitute the milk for a plant-based alternative if desired.

Recipe: 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Muffins

For a breakfast that delivers all the salty, protein-packed goodness of bacon and eggs, while keeping things totally plant-based, give this colorful casserole a try. You'll replicate bacon's smoky crunch with umami-rich, soy-marinated tempeh strips, baking these with sauteed veggies, shredded potatoes, and scrambled tofu. To prepare this casserole ahead of time, soak the potatoes in ice water to prevent discoloration, and layer them up with the other elements in the dish. Covered with plastic wrap and foil, you can chill the casserole overnight, ready for baking in the morning.

Recipe: Plant-Based "Egg"y Breakfast Casserole

This mouth-watering apple fritter casserole is the ultimate dessert-style breakfast treat, and it's sure to bring some joy to a mundane morning. The sweet and buttery spiced apple chunks are layered up with flaky croissants and a luscious egg, cream, and applesauce mixture, before everything is baked to gooey-crisp perfection. Drizzled on top is a sticky powdered sugar glaze, making every bite that bit more indulgent. Cover the dish with plastic wrap before chilling, and the casserole will taste great for up to four days.

Recipe: Apple Fritter Breakfast Casserole

Strawberries are a fitting addition to a batch of overnight oats. The juicy morsels become gorgeously tender as the ingredients meld, infusing the creamy base with heaps of natural sweetness and fruity flavor. This recipe is whipped up in mere minutes, with the fresh berries and strawberry jam stirred into the oat mixture, and everything portioned into jars. They'll need to chill for at least six hours, but you can also do the prep up to two days ahead of time.

Recipe: Strawberry Overnight Oats

If you're a fan of Starbucks' famous bacon and Gruyère egg bites, this easy homemade version will go down a treat. There's smoky bacon, rich cottage cheese, and sharp, nutty cheese piled into every tender cup, and the prep is a breeze. If you're not serving them right away, just store the egg bites in an airtight container in the fridge, reheating them for 30 seconds or so in the microwave as needed. They'll freeze beautifully for up to two months, too.

Recipe: Copycat Starbucks Bacon And Gruyère Egg Bites

Love to start your day with something sweet? Add these buttery French toast muffins to your meal prep list, and you'll be savoring bakery-worthy breakfasts all week long. A sweet, vanilla and cinnamon-infused batter is tossed with pillowy brioche chunks, then topped with a cinnamon streusel in a muffin tin. And the indulgence doesn't stop there. Post-baking, you'll top each muffin with syrup or powdered sugar for an extra hit of sweetness. These muffins will keep for up to five days when chilled in the fridge.

Recipe: Buttery Cinnamon French Toast Muffins

There's not always time for standing over the stovetop flipping pancakes, and that's where this handy sheet pan version comes in. The classic buttermilk batter is mixed up as usual and poured into a greased baking sheet. Dollops of jam add pockets of fruity sweetness throughout, with the pancakes baking up thick and fluffy, ready for slicing into squares and dousing in maple butter. Make a batch ahead, and they'll sit happily in the fridge for up to three days.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Buttermilk Jammy Pancakes

Ditch the unsatisfying store-bought bars and whip up this healthy, fruit-loaded batch at home instead. Full of nutritious ingredients and tangy-sweet flavor, each chewy, strawberry-filled square offers plenty of natural sweetness. There's zesty orange and caramel-like maple syrup, plus a welcome dose of fiber and healthy fats from chia seeds, flax seeds, and coconut oil. After you've baked and sliced the bars, store them in the fridge, where they'll last for up to a week.

Recipe: Strawberry Chia Oatmeal Bars

A classic, crunchy granola is a top-tier breakfast pick, and this one requires just five minutes of prep before it's ready to hit the oven. Coat chopped pecans, almonds, and rolled oats in a sweet and spicy coconut oil mixture, spread everything out on a baking sheet, and bake until crisp and golden. Once the granola has cooled, feel free to throw in some extras like raisins or chocolate chips. You can safely store the mixture in an airtight jar for up to a month.

Recipe: Homemade Crunchy Granola

This simple bake combines tender egg, sharp cheddar, and smoky bacon, and certainly delivers on satisfying, savory flavor. Loaded with aromatic onion, vibrant red pepper, and earthy spinach, it makes for a nutritious morning meal, taking simple fridge staples and turning them into something comforting and perfect for prepping ahead. The finished bake can be sliced up in the dish before chilling to save you time later. Each cheesy portion is safe to enjoy for up to four days.

Recipe: Cheesy Bacon Egg Bake

This easy recipe uses a pre-made pie crust and simplifies the classic quiche Lorraine into something far more approachable. There's no need to pre-cook the bacon here. Just chop it up and incorporate it straight into the silky egg-cream mixture. Enhanced with a sprinkle of nutmeg and poured into the pie crust, the filling bakes up rich, custardy, and full of salty, meaty flavor, while the pastry stays crisp and golden. This one will last for up to five days in the fridge (if you haven't already devoured it by then!).

Recipe: Easy Quiche Lorraine

Zucchini might seem like an unlikely addition to your breakfast plate, but in these fluffy muffins, this humble veggie pairs beautifully with the rich cheddar, salty bacon crumbles, and aromatic seasonings. Adding moisture, color, and nutrients to the batter, the shredded zucchini keeps the crumb tender without overpowering the other savory mix-ins. These cheesy bakes are best stored in the fridge and used within three days. To bring them back to life, try warming the muffins in the microwave and serving them with a generous swipe of butter.

Recipe: Cheesy Bacon Zucchini Muffins

Topped with creamy, tangy yogurt and sweet-tart berries, these no-bake frozen granola bars are an excellent option for anyone looking to keep things nut-free. Rolled oats and flax seeds form the base of the bars, with Medjool dates and sunflower seed butter transforming the dry ingredients into a sweet, sticky mixture. Press this into an even layer, dollop the yogurt and warmed berries on top, and freeze the bar until set. Now, you can slice it up, storing the portions in the freezer, ready to grab on busy mornings.

Recipe: Nut-Free Greek Yogurt Granola Bars

This wholesome chia pudding is bursting with bright, tropical flavor, thanks to sunny mango and creamy coconut milk. Each portion begins with a layer of vibrant mango puree, and the sweet, lightly spiced chia seed mixture is spooned on top. Once chilled overnight, the mixture becomes thick and pudding-like, and it'll hold up well for five days if kept in a covered container. We love adding extra mango chunks to serve, and these can easily be chopped in advance too. Just make sure to store them separately from the puddings.

Recipe: Mango Coconut Chia Seed Pudding

For a more indulgent take on chia pudding, consider crafting this undeniably dessert-worthy recipe. It features the irresistible trio of chocolate, banana, and peanut butter, which provides the perfect balance of richness, fruitiness, and sweetness while keeping things natural and nourishing. Once chilled until thickened, the puddings are great for adorning with crunchy toppings like peanuts and chocolate chips. Just make sure to cover each portion, and use it within four days.

Recipe: Rich Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding

Warming cinnamon and tender, caramelized apples come together beautifully in this cozy baked oatmeal. Prepped in five minutes, the mixture sees rolled oats and milk sweetened with applesauce and maple syrup, and studded with chewy raisins, before it's topped with diced apple in a baking dish. As it bakes, the fruity oatmeal becomes crisp and golden on top, and creamy within. To store your finished bake for later, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge, reheating portions in the microwave or oven for up to four days.

Recipe: Cinnamon Apple Baked Oatmeal

Vibrant yet comforting, this flavorful strata features tangy tomatoes, garlicky spinach, and creamy fontina cheese, all layered up with crispy bacon and egg-soaked sourdough in a baking dish. For best results, you'll leave the savory medley to meld overnight before baking, so this recipe is the perfect candidate for making ahead. Come the morning, all you'll need to do is transfer the dish to the oven and let the strata bake while you get ready for your day, and that's breakfast sorted for the rest of the week.

Recipe: Cheesy Tomato Spinach Breakfast Strata