34 Thanksgiving Breakfast Ideas That Just Might Outshine the Turkey
Whether your relatives are coming over early on the big day to watch the parade or staying overnight to divide and conquer on Black Friday, you’ll all need plenty of fuel to make it through the long weekend. Read on for 34 Thanksgiving breakfast ideas that are seasonal, elegant and—most importantly, after roasting a whole turkey and cooking a million sides—easy to pull off. Many of these recipes are also great for feeding a crowd, just in case a few extra guests decide to turn dinner into a slumber party. To that end, how about a big-batch brunch cocktail to seal the deal?
47 Leftover Turkey Recipes You’ll Actually Want to Make the Day After Thanksgiving
1. Baked Eggs & Potatoes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Because last night’s mashed potatoes aren’t going to finish themselves. Pair them with crispy bacon, grated Parm and runny eggs to create an unexpected breakfast dish.
2. Pumpkin Pie French Toast
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
You only need three slices of leftover pumpkin pie (homemade or store-bought) to pull this autumn delight off. Wash it down with a homemade PSL to drive the flavor home.
3. Apple Cider Doughnut Holes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Even if you don’t serve these doughnuts with anything substantial, your guests will happily eat their fill of the poppable fall treasures—especially picky kids.
4. 30-Minute Breakfast Hash with Kale and Sweet Potatoes
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, vegetarian
If you’re still feeling full from last night’s smorgasbord, this satisfying skillet gem is just the ticket. The eggs will hold you over before lunch, while the veggies keep things light.
5. Pecan Pie Scones
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
What makes these pie-inspired scones so incredibly buttery and flaky? We’re glad you asked. We’ll chalk it up to pieces of real pie crust folded into the dough.
6. Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe, <10 ingredients, high protein
Plop all the ingredients in the slow cooker when you wake up, then start prepping the bird and sides. By the time your guests arrive, breakfast will be ready to serve.
7. Bacon, Apple and Cheddar Waffles
Jennifer Davis/The Southern Baking Cookbook
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly,
You know those spare Granny Smiths in your fridge? We have just the job for them. Shred ’em up, pair them with extra sharp cheddar and Maplewood bacon and mix them into these buttermilk waffles.
8. Eggs Baked with Stuffing
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
A girl can only eat so many stuffing-turkey-cranberry sandwiches before she gets sick of them, right? These cups are way easier to prepare and just as resourceful.
9. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Warning: The buttery brown sugar-cinnamon filling will absolutely knock your socks off. Now, the moment of truth: vanilla icing or maple syrup?
10. Sweet Potato Hash Browns Made with a Waffle Iron
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, gluten free
Even if you make the world’s best scrambled eggs, these crispy spuds are bound to overshadow whatever they’re plated with. Finish them with flaky salt, hot sauce or ketchup.
11. Biscuit Dough Pumpkin Hand Pies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
Once again, the day is saved, thanks to your Thanksgiving leftovers. This time, it’s store-bought biscuit dough, which is filled with simple pumpkin pie filling and finished with cinnamon-vanilla icing. Pop Tarts could never.
12. Breakfast Sliders
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, high protein
Feeling all the wine from last night? Breakfast sausage, cheddar cheese, scrambled eggs, arugula and slider buns are the ultimate antidote.
13. Apple Pie Biscuits
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
The recipe calls for mixing your own buttery biscuit dough, which comes together with mostly pantry staples…but we won’t tell if you opt for store-bought dough instead.
14. Fried Egg Breakfast Tacos with Hot Honey
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Breakfast for the fam doesn’t get easier than this, friends. Prepare the honey the night before to save time in the morning (and to infuse as much heat from the chiles as possible).
15. Pumpkin Spice Pecan Rolls
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
There’s plenty of pumpkin-y flavor in the filling and icing, but it’s also an important component of the dough. Not only does pumpkin purée make it moist and soft, but it also tints it orange.
16. Espresso Streusel Coffee Cake
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Whether it’s Thanksgiving or the day after, caffeine is a must. Pair your morning java with this sweet-but-not-cloying coffee cake, which calls for spiking the brown sugar streusel with instant espresso powder.
17. Leftovers Frittata
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, one pan
Remaining goat cheese from the salad course? Toss it in. Shredded leftover turkey? Fair game. Spare roasted potatoes? Why not. The frittata is your oyster.
18. Apple Blinchiki (Russian Pancakes)
Emily Morgan
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes,kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
These aren’t conventional flapjacks. Take your pick from sweet or sour apples, depending on your preference—just be sure to slather them in sour cherry spread and sour cream before digging in.
19. Pear and Chai Masala Cinnamon Rolls
Iain Bagwell/Mumbai Modern
Time Commitment: 5 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
If you really want to wow the in-laws, serve this warm, cozy spin on cinnamon rolls. It stars a slew of wintry spices (like cinnamon, ginger and cardamom), along with from-scratch pear-chai masala jam.
20. Red Shakshuka
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, vegetarian
This baked egg dish costs less than $2 per serving, which is a steal, considering how much you spent on your Thanksgiving menu. Serve it with plenty of crusty bread for dipping.
21. Cinnamon-Sugar Waffles
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 8 hours and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly
Thanks to a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar, these waffles veer into doughnut territory. Let the yeast batter chill overnight for the lightest, fluffiest waffles you’ve ever tasted.
22. Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Muffins
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, high protein
Add a jumbo muffin pan to your Thanksgiving shopping list so you can make these hearty handhelds the following morning. Douse them in hot sauce or ketchup and go to town.
23. Braided Apple Danish Loaf
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 14 hours
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
If you’re feeling ambitious (or want all the oohs and ahhs from your guests), look no further than this bakery-caliber breakfast. The loaf is stuffed with cinnamon-kissed apples and brushed with apricot jam.
24. Skillet Eggs and Chorizo
Kristin Perers/Round Ours
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, one pan, high protein
Odds are you already have a mountain of dirty dishes in the sink from last night’s meal. Do yourself a favor by preparing a one-pan breakfast that will still impress.
25. Savory Breakfast Pie with Bacon Lattice Crust
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients
The bacon lattice crust is an absolute game-changer (and we bet it would pair just as well with apple pie as it does this egg-and-cheese number).
26. French Toast Sticks
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
If you don’t serve these cuties with a side of tater tots, you’re doing it wrong. Don’t even get us started on the drool-worthy honey-vanilla syrup.
27. Sheet Pan Chilaquiles
Elizabeth Van Lierde & Abagail Halstead/Everyday Entertaining
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
This one-pan take on drunken nachos is pretty darn ingenious. Finish them with all the cotija, avocado, red onion, radishes and cilantro your heart desires.
28. Pumpkin Brioche
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes (plus rise time)
Why We Love It: make ahead, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
File this beauty under Ways to Upgrade French Toast. Since the bread is only slightly sweet in flavor, a layer of coarse sanding sugar on the outside is the perfect finishing touch.
29. Giant Cinnamon Roll
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Store-bought crescent roll dough makes this Insta-worthy confection a breeze to assemble. Don’t be shy with the two-ingredient icing on top.
30. Doughnut Muffins
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Your kids will be stoked to dunk these into hot cocoa or apple cider. Let them help you coat the doughnuts in cinnamon sugar and confectioners’ sugar.
31. Sheet Pan Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Dill
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
It looks and feels fancy but requires minimal work to come together. Basically all it takes is whisking the eggs, pouring them into a pan, adding the smoked salmon and cream cheese and baking to perfection.
32. Maple Candied Bacon
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly
BRB, drooling. Serve it as a side for eggs, add it to a sweet-and-savory breakfast sandwich or use it to garnish a next-level bloody Mary.
33. Eggs Benedict with Easy Hollandaise Sauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein
When you’re not sure what to serve company for breakfast, you can never go wrong with an old-fashioned benny. Feel free to substitute another leftover protein for ham.
34. Slow Cooker Spiked Cinnamon Lattes
Photo: Jon Cospito/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, slow cooker recipe, <10 ingredients
After all that cooking, you deserve a boozy cup of joe, spiked with vanilla vodka and Kahlúa. Might we suggest a pot of mulled cider for the kids’ table?
25 Leftover Stuffing Recipes to Make After Your Thanksgiving Feast
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
