45 Brunch Recipes That Will Wow Your Guests
A lazy morning, mimosas at noon and a menu that reliably features all our favorite foods…what’s not to love about brunch? Hosting it, on the other hand, can be a little tricky if you don’t have a solid selection of crowd-pleasing dishes in your repertoire. Fortunately, our roundup of brunch recipes has got you covered with fancy updates on sweet favorites (think: French toast sticks), savory show-stoppers like eggs in a basket, and lunchtime staples for anyone craving an expertly prepared sandwich. We’ve got a mix of ambitious baking projects for experienced chefs (hello, chocolate banana bread babka) and hands-off recipes that can simply be thrown together and left to cook while you brew coffee and catch up with guests. Read on and get ready to wow your guests.
41 Brunch Cocktails That Blow Mimosas Out of the Water
1. Chocolate Banana Bread Babka
PHOTO: NICO SCHINCO/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 2 hours and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, <500 calories
Serve it warm with strawberries and whipped cream, or dip it in egg and send it to the griddle for the most decadent slice of French toast your guests have ever tasted.
2. Green Shakshuka
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, <500 calories
This cumin and coriander-spiked skillet breakfast boasts perfectly runny egg yolks that will make you genuinely excited to eat your greens (hello, spinach).
3. Waffle Breakfast Sandwich with Chorizo
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 14 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, 10 ingredients
Swap the snoozy bread and bacon combo for waffles and robustly-flavored chorizo sausage for a twist on everybody’s go-to hangover cure that’s craveworthy under all circumstances.
4. Breakfast Caprese with Soft-Boiled Eggs
HEALTHYISH
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Here, delightfully jammy soft-boiled eggs turn a colorful, eye-pleasing caprese salad into something with main course appeal—just keep in mind that there are precious few ingredients, so it’s best to make this one with the freshest, seasonal stuff you can find.
5. Eggs Benedict with Easy Hollandaise Sauce
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein
Skip the fancy French bistro and impress a group of friends with a truly foolproof benedict brunch at home instead. We promise you won’t end up with egg on your face, (so to speak).
6. Tempeh Bacon Bagels
PETER O'SULLIVAN & SIMON SMITH/PLANTS-ONLY KITCHEN
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, vegan
Attention all vegans: Tempeh and liquid smoke are the secret to a seriously convincing, plant-based bacon substitute.
7. Sweet Potato, Bacon, and Broccoli Egg Muffins
KIRSTEN BUCK/BUCK NAKED KITCHEN
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, low carb, gluten-free, dairy-free
Don’t sweat it over a French omelet, friends: Egg muffins are a decidedly low maintenance and oh-so tasty way to enjoy eggs for breakfast. These veggie-packed puppies, which get a major flavor boost from store-bought salsa, are sure to become a brunch menu favorite.
8. Doughnut Muffins
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
Here, the bready satisfaction of a muffin meets the sugary indulgence of a doughnut (without a vat of oil and a big mess). We just died and went to at-home baking heaven.
9. Poached Egg with Frisée and Arugula Salad
TARA DONNE/COOKING SOLO
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <500 calories, low carbs
Turns out a poached egg is all you need to turn a frisée salad into a healthy brunch feature that doesn’t look like an uninspired side. Pair with a hunk of crusty bread and you’ve got yourself one fancy dish.
10. Meyer Lemon Loaf Cake
PHOTO: NICO SCHINCO/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Use this sweet and tart lemon loaf cake as a layer in a fresh fruit parfait and watch the whole brunch party swoon.
11. Leek, Kale, and Goat Cheese Strata
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 16 hours
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein
The richness of creamed kale and leeks is perfectly balanced by the pleasant tang of fresh goat cheese in this sinfully delicious egg casserole. Bring it to a brunch potluck and you’ll make some new friends.
12. Avocado Deviled Eggs
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
The only thing that can improve on the classic deviled egg is a creamy, perfectly ripened avocado. Serve this recipe—be it for a brunch gathering or evening cocktail party—and you’ll see what we mean.
13. Cherry Tomato Galette with Garlic and Herbs
PHOTO: MARK WEINBERG/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
This puff pastry sheet pan pizza—a lovely combination of ripe cherry tomatoes, fragrant herbs and a generous helping of Parmesan cheese—is simplicity at its brunch time best.
14. Croque Madame Dutch Baby
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
In case you missed it, a Dutch baby is an airy pancake-like canvas that takes well to savory and sweet toppings alike. If you’re in the former route, this deconstructed croque madame certainly fits the bill.
15. Sheet Tray Pancakes with Peaches and Strawberries
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, special occasion-worthy
We love pancakes…when they’re delivered from our favorite local diner, that is. Slaving over a griddle in our kitchen? Not so much. Enter, the sheet pan pancake—an innovative hack that delivers all the comfort of a classic short stack with none of the hassle.
16. Monkey Bread Danish
ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
A strong contender for first place on our list of favorite baked goods—this pull-apart treat is filled with rich cream cheese frosting, dusted with cinnamon streusel topping and guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.
17. Individual Breakfast Shakshuka
EVA KOLENKO/BREAD TOAST CRUMBS
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
Shakshuka, an Israeli dish of eggs swimming in spicy tomato sauce, is a beloved brunch staple. This recipe one-ups the traditional preparation with Insta-worthy individual portions and a clever sesame bread base that sops up all the deliciousness.
18. Skillet Blueberry Cornbread
PHOTO: MARK WEINBERG/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
Aside from being incredibly yummy, this skillet cornbread, which is a bit like a giant blueberry muffin, really stands out for the fact that it’s not so cloyingly sweet as to clash with the savory items on your brunch menu.
19. Sheet Pan Pancakes
PHOTO: TYLER MAUK/STYLING: ANNE MAUK
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, sheet pan recipe
We’ve already introduced the mind-blowing concept of sheet pan pancakes…and if you’re as excited as we are about this clever hack, you’ll probably want to try out a couple of recipes in order to find your favorite.
20. Veggie Niçoise Salad with Red Curry Green Beans
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, low carb
Don’t be fooled by the name: Aside from the hardboiled eggs and creamy new potatoes, this recipe bears very little resemblance to a classic nicoise salad. It is, however, a curry spiked flavor bomb you’re likely to crave at breakfast, lunch and dinner. (And, yes, brunch, too.)
21. Waffle Bread Pudding Recipe
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Good news for culinarily-challenged hosts: Those frozen waffles you know, love and never burn aren’t just for feeding your kids. Here, a cheater’s bread pudding that uses the budget-friendly, freezer staple to achieve swoon-worthy results.
22. Roasted Potato Galette with Crème Fraîche and Smoked Salmon
PHOTO: NICO SCHINCO/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <500 calories, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Cheesy, creamy and full of smoked salmon flavor—this pretty potato galette scores major points for presentation and is fairly easy to pull off (provided you aren’t too afraid of a mandoline, that is).
23. Eggs Baked in Tomatoes
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories
Scoop out the insides of some of the season’s best and plumpest tomatoes, crack a few eggs and voila—a show-stopping brunch dish that tastes as good as it looks.
24. French Toast Sticks
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
Bring a little bit of childhood nostalgia to the brunch spread with an elevated version of French toast sticks that features an extra custardy preparation and a fancy vanilla and honey dipping sauce. Ooh-la-la.
25. Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Muffins
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein
All the favorite breakfast sandwich fixings baked into a moist, savory muffin…need we say more?
26. Deli Sandwich Dutch Baby
Melina Hammer/A Year at Catbird Cottage
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, one-pan
The Dutch baby says pancake breakfast, the deli meat leans into lunch and the combination is a brunch hour homerun.
27. Chilaquiles with Poached Eggs and Spicy Honey
NATIONAL HONEY BOARD
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
Add a little Mexican flair to the brunch menu with boldly flavored chilaquiles that feature perfectly poached eggs and a spicy-sweet flavor profile that promises to please every palate.
28. Skillet Gnocchi Bake with Sausage and Kale
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, beginner-friendly
Crack a couple eggs on top of this hearty skillet dinner halfway through the baking time and you’ve got yourself a comforting brunch dish that will make the crowd go wild.
29. Leftovers Frittata
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, one-pan
Clean out your fridge to make this highly customizable and reliably tasty frittata and your dirty little secret will be every guest’s delight.
30. Skillet Eggs and Chorizo
KRISTIN PERERS/ROUND OURS
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <500 calories, High protein
Quick, easy and practically mess-free—this one-pan egg bake relies on salty feta and a knock-your-socks-off combo of chorizo, jalapeno and chipotle chili to deliver a whole lot of kicky flavor without any fuss.
31. Chicken Pesto Focaccia Sandwich
THE MINIMALIST KITCHEN
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, <500 calories
Every good brunch menu has at least one solid lunch option. (It’s more than half the word, after all.) If you’re serving a large group, prepare these simple and surprisingly delicious pesto chicken sandwiches and then cut them into two-bite squares for a nicer presentation and cute tea party vibes.
32. One-Pan Eggs with Asparagus and Tomatoes
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, paleo, <500 calories
Runny egg yolks turn into a luscious sauce in this one-pan wonder, which is best made in the late spring or summer when the asparagus is still on point and the tomatoes are sweet.
33. Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <500 calories
Presenting a riffable, no-cook sandwich that will woo all the brunch-goers who couldn’t pass up an early breakfast and are more than ready for a satisfying lunch.
34. Rainbow Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
PHOTO: JON COSPITO/STYLING: HEATH GOLDMAN
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <500 calories
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, an elegant, minimalist recipe like this requires only the finest ingredients. Save it for when peak tomato season has arrived and you can’t go wrong.
35. Eggs Baked in Bread Bowl
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, beginner-friendly
Those who aren’t carb-adverse will be quite pleased to learn that chewy bread bowls are no longer reserved for New England Clam chowder exclusively. Crack some eggs in one of those suckers, garnish with herbs and let’s just say you’ll have no trouble cleaning your plate.
36. Zucchini Ricotta Galette
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, low carb
Creamy ricotta, summer zucchini and store-bought pie crust combine to make a galette that’s fresh-tasting and easy on the eyes, too.
37. Tomato and White Bean Stew on Toast
PHOTO: CHRISTINE HAN/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, <500 calories
Colorful and packed with flavor—this stew-topped bruschetta is perfect as is, but add a sunny side up egg and you’ve got a next level brunch dish.
38. Chopped Italian Salad Pizza
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <500 calories, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
For a more exciting meal, skip the lackluster side salad and serve this beautifully crisped pizza alongside pretty much anything on the brunch menu instead.
39. Sheet Pan Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Dill
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 32 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Cooking eggs for a crowd is a breeze thanks to this clever sheet pan egg recipe, which calls for a handful of can’t-go-wrong mix-ins that deliver bold flavor.
40. Mozzarella Meatball Frittata
SECRETS OF GREAT SECOND MEALS
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, low carb, high protein
Cheesy, meaty and easy to make—this Italian-inspired frittata checks all the boxes.
41. Savory Cheese Waffles
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Make these cheddar waffles so guests can enjoy a creative and decidedly more delicious alternative to a snoozy slice of buttered toast.
42. Slow-Cooker French Toast with Berries
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 2 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Bust out the slow-cooker and make a big batch of this—a deconstructed version of the favorite brunch food that doesn’t require a team of line cooks to prepare for a crowd.
43. Cinnamon-Roll Pancakes
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Because you should never ask your guests to choose between a gooey, frosted cinnamon roll and a plate of fluffy pancakes.
44. Baked Eggs & Potatoes
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, sheet pan recipe
Move over hash browns—oven-crisped mashed potatoes are our new favorite companion to eggs.
45. Eggs in a Basket
PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <500 calories
And the award for best presentation goes to the French baguette with baked eggs! This recipe is incredibly easy to whip together but looks so impressive on the table. Serve it up on a wooden chopping board and then let each guest cut their own slice. (Side of bacon optional but encouraged.)
