Stay in your pajamas and pretend you’re a master chef with these weekend breakfast ideas!
After a long week, nothing is better than sleeping in a bit and enjoying a filling and delicious breakfast. So, plan to skip long brunch lines and treat yourself at home with these easy weekend breakfast ideas.
From mouthwatering omelets to make-ahead strattas and casseroles, here are 10 helpful ways to upgrade your weekend breakfast plans.
1. Pour a cuppa (or two)
Instead of rushing out the door on a Saturday or Sunday morning for a day jam-packed with activities, linger a little longer at home and treat yourself to a lowkey tea party.
Make a pot of your favorite tea, slice up your favorite fruit into a salad and nibble on a scone or two. If you’re feeling luxurious, whip up a bowl of heavy cream and add the homemade whipped cream into your teacup or mug.
Want to have tea like the Queen? Buy or make your own clotted cream and add a little into an English tea. According to tea expert Ashita Agrawal, “English breakfast tea is a favorite for its full-bodied, rich and very refreshing tasting notes. It pairs excellently with eggs, sweetbreads or salads.”
2. Swap scrambled eggs for a homemade omelet
Scrambling eggs is easy, but it can get old very quickly if it’s your go-to weekend breakfast idea. Turn your kitchen into a fancy brunch spot and treat yourself to an omelet.
- Prep your eggs: Grab two or three eggs per omelet, crack them into a bowl and lightly beat them with a fork.
- Melt your butter: Heat a nonstick skillet on medium-low heat and add in some butter.
- Pour in your eggs: Once you add your eggs to the pan, let them sit for about 60 seconds. Take a spatula and start to gingerly lift the cooked eggs around the edges of your pan.
- Add your fillings: Without overstuffing your omelet, add the filling as your eggs start to set in your pan.
- Fold it: Use your spatula to fold your omelet in half. Let it sit a few more seconds and voila — you just made an omelet.
Need help deciding what should go into your homemade omelet? Take your pick!
Cheese fillings:
- Asiago
- Blue
- Boursin
- Cheddar
- Chèvre
- Comté
- Cream cheese
- Feta
- Fontina
- Goat cheese
- Gouda
- Gruyère
- Manchego
- Monterey Jack
- Mozzarella
- Parmesan
- Pecorino
- Pimiento cheese
- Taleggio
Meat fillings:
- Bacon
- Pancetta
- Chorizo
- Country ham
- Crab
- Diced ham
- Lobster
- Sausage
- Shredded chicken
- Shrimp
- Smoked salmon
- Steak
- Trout
Vegetable and herb fillings:
- Artichoke hearts
- Avocado
- Basil
- Bell peppers
- Caramelized onions
- Chile peppers (jalapenos or poblano)
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Hash browns
- Leeks
- Mushrooms
- Okra
- Parsley
- Potatoes
- Scallions
- Spinach
- Thyme
- Tomatoes
And if you want to kick our omelet experience up a notch — consider topping your breakfast with the following:
- Caviar (if you’re feeling luxurious)
- Chili (from a can or homemade)
- Everything but the Bagel seasoning (pick it up at Trader Joe’s)
- Hot sauce
- Kimchi
- Mixed greens
- Old Bay seasoning
- Pesto
- Red pepper flakes
- Salsa
3. Make a yogurt bar
Not only is yogurt delicious, but it has loads of protein, calcium and potassium (as well as numerous vitamins and minerals). If you want an easy and healthy weekend breakfast idea, plan to create an at-home yogurt bar.
Simply grab your favorite kind of yogurt flavor and then consider all your options for toppings. You can add as many or as few toppings as you want — there are no rules here. Need help dressing up your yogurt? Go to town with some of these:
- Almonds
- Almond butter
- Bananas
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cacao nibs
- Cereal
- Chia seeds
- Chocolate chips (dark or white)
- Coconut
- Cookie butter
- Cranberries
- Dates
- Flaxseed
- Fruit jam
- Graham crackers
- Granola
- Grapes
- Hemp seeds
- Honey
- Kiwi
- Peaches
- Peanut butter
- Pecans
- Pineapple
- Pumpkin seeds
- Raisins
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Sunflower seeds
- Walnuts
4. Bust out your cookie cutter collection
Whether you have kids or you’re just a kid at heart, bring your cookie cutter collection into your weekend breakfast routine. Cookie cutters can help turn your morning eggs or pancakes into whatever shape you want.
Making eggs? Add a little bit of butter or oil to a pan and heat it. Place your cookie cutter into the pan and when the butter or oil is hot enough, drop your egg into the cutter. Your egg will form around the cookie cutter!
Opting for a sweeter Sunday morning brunch and making pancakes? Place your cookie cutter on your griddle or pan, the same way as the eggs, and pour your batter into the middle of the cutter.
5. Build a smoothie bowl
Since it’s the weekend and you’ve got more time to spare, one of the best weekend breakfast ideas is to pour your smoothie into a bowl (instead of a glass or to-go tumbler). Just make a thicker smoothie (adding frozen fruit will help do this) and pour it into a bowl before adding in your favorite toppings (check out the yogurt bar topping ideas).
Since it will take you longer to spoon your smoothie into your mouth (and chew your chosen toppings) than sucking it down with a straw, your morning smoothie will take a little longer to consume. Consider this your weekend moment of mindfulness!
6. Let your toaster sleep in
When you think toast, think beyond your toaster. Since it’s the weekend and you have a little more time, move past spreading butter on a piece of bread and calling it a meal. Opt for making hearty toast that will keep you full for hours.
Simply heat a slice or two of your favorite bread in a skillet over medium heat. Don’t worry about putting butter or oil down — the bread will toast directly on the pan. Leave each side down for about 2 minutes.
Need inspiration beyond your plain avocado toast? Any of these weekend breakfast ideas will do:
- Hummus — topped with mushrooms, garlic, crushed red pepper and sage
- Smashed avocado, chickpeas and crushed red pepper
- Shaved pears layered on top of whipped ricotta and honey
- Peanut butter (or any type of nut butter you prefer) topped with bananas and honey — you can even add granola, nuts or the seeds of your choice!
- Open-faced BLT — Egg, bacon, lettuce and tomato, add hot sauce for spice or avocado
- Smashed avocado with pistachios and honey — add granola or seeds if you’re feeling extra crunchy!
- White cheddar, avocado, strawberry and sea salt. If you’re feeling extra, drizzle a teaspoon of honey on top of your toast!
- Smashed avocado, corn, cotija cheese and pickled red onions. Splash some hot sauce on this to kick up the flavor!
- Watermelon radish on top of smashed avocado, topped with sesame seeds or Everything But The Bagel seasoning
- Sliced apples on top of almond butter, add a drizzle of honey
- Avocado drenched in cottage cheese and pesto with pine nuts to top it off
7. Turn weekend brunch into a cocktail hour
Say cheers to the weekend with an adult beverage or two! Instead of paying top dollar for a breakfast cocktail, make your own at home. Try these brunch menu favs:
- Bellini: A sweet effervescent drink with peach puree and prosecco.
- Bloody Mary: Tomato juice and vodka are the base of the ever-popular Bloody Mary, but don’t forget the Worcestershire sauce, garlic, hot sauce, horseradish, lemon and lime juice, fresh herbs and a celery stick. Popular garnishes to include:
- Asparagus
- Bacon
- Cheese cubes
- Crab legs
- Cucumbers
- Jalapenos
- Peppers
- Pepperoncini
- Pickles
- Okra
- Radishes
- Shrimp
- French 75: A spritely and refreshing cocktail made of gin, champagne, lemon juice and sugar.
- Irish Coffee: Upgrade your coffee with Irish whiskey, sugar and whipped cream.
- Kir Royal: A red-hued cocktail, this drink features champagne and creme de cassis.
- Mimosa: A classic — mix chilled juice (orange juice is the traditional go-to, but you can use any type of juice) and champagne.
8. Make your breakfast the night before
One of the best weekend breakfast ideas is to simply make your breakfast the night before…or at least prep so the most you have to do is pop it into the oven and bake.
Making a breakfast dish ahead allows you to sleep in later and enjoy the fruits of your labor with little effort the next day. Here are some options:
- Breakfast burritos
- Breakfast polenta dishes
- Egg casseroles
- Egg muffins
- French toast
- Frittatas
- Hash brown casseroles
- Homemade muesli
- Homemade nut bars
- Latkes
- Muffins
- Overnight oats
- Slow cooker oatmeal
- Smoothie kits
- Strattas
9. Pay attention to the details
“There are lots of simple and fun ways to elevate your home brunch,” says Liz McCray from Bloody Mary Obsessed. “Infuse vodka with jalapeños for a spicy addition to a Bloody Mary or use fresh or frozen fruit to make from scratch juices for your mimosas!”
Additionally, Liz says, “Small splurges like chocolate chips in your pancakes or using a fluffy and buttery brioche bread for French toast will up-level your home brunch game. Grab a bouquet of fresh flowers from the farmers market or Trader Joe’s as a centerpiece and you’ve got an elevated home brunch!”
10. Eat like a chef
According to California Bay Area chef Garrett Adair, “If you want to eat like a chef, there’s one thing to make — breakfast tacos.”
You heard the professional. Plan to make breakfast tacos this week — here’s what you’ll need:
- Eggs: Fried or scrambled, however you prefer.
- Beans: Refried beans are perfect for breakfast tacos, but black or pinto beans work well, too.
- Cheese: Cheddar cheese or cotija will do the trick.
- Avocado: Slice it, smash it or make some guacamole.
- Salsa or hot sauce: Pick your favorite and splash it on.
- Tortillas: Corn or flour
If you want a heavier breakfast taco, feel free to add your favorite meat. Chorizo, chicken and steak also make excellent breakfast taco toppings.
Bon appétit!
Whether you live for savory breakfast dishes or a sweeter morning snack, there are plenty of delicious and easy-at-home weekend breakfast ideas to try. So, next time you look for brunch reservations — just stay in your pajamas and treat yourself (if you’re feeling generous, your friends, too) instead!
Source: rent.com