25 Make-Ahead Breakfast Ideas That'll Save You on Busy Mornings
Fuel up for the day with dishes you can whip up in advance.
Getting up early is hard enough, but having to prepare breakfast for the whole family can make mornings feel even more challenging—especially if you're following a tight schedule. But if you meal prep the night before (or even several days in advance), you won't even have to think about what to make the next day. Assembling one of these make-ahead breakfast ideas will make busy mornings a whole lot brighter, because all you'll have to do is reheat or grab and go!
If you're wondering which meals can be made ahead without turning soggy or losing their flavor, this list has so many hearty and comforting options that'll fuel you right through lunch. You'll find everything from sweet French toast casserole to savory egg dishes like decadent quiche recipes that'll help you jumpstart your day in a filling, flavorful way.
And just because you have to plan and prepare them in advance doesn't mean these recipes are complicated or time-consuming. Most of these dishes are easy to assemble. Think: overnight oat recipes, baked oatmeal recipes, and breakfast casserole recipes. Of course, if you do have the time and desire to make something special, we've included those options, too. Did you know you can make Ree Drummond's famous cinnamon rolls ahead of time? Yep, talk about the best excuse to wake up ever! With these make-ahead breakfasts on hand, all you'll have to do is press "start" on the coffee machine!
Discover more breakfast ideas to simplify your mornings:
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
These moist muffins are filled with chocolatey goodness, and they’ll help you sneak in a good dose of veggies first thing in the morning! The best part, though, might just be that they keep for up to three days on the counter or up to three months in the freezer.
Get Ree's Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins recipe.
Strawberry Sweet Rolls
Give Ree’s fan-favorite cinnamon rolls a fruity spin by whipping up these strawberry sweet rolls. Pop them in the fridge, and you’ll have breakfast covered for every day of the week.
Get Ree's Strawberry Sweet Rolls recipe.
Breakfast Casserole Burritos
Aside from its flavorful fillings, the best part of this cheesy casserole is that you can bake it in advance for a stress-free morning. Wrap the dish in foil, and store it in the fridge two days ahead of time or throw it in the freezer for up to three months.
Get Ree's Breakfast Casserole Burritos recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Bread
A slice of this lemon blueberry bread, which you can whisk together up to three days before indulging, will make your mornings sweeter. Each bite is packed with juicy blueberries and tangy cake, wrapped in a sugary glaze.
Get Ree's Lemon Blueberry Bread recipe.
Individual Sausage Casseroles
With a blend of eggs, sausage, and bell peppers, these individual bites are easy to make and delicious to eat. Bake them in muffin tins, pop them out, wrap them up, and freeze them. For a quick morning meal, all you'll have to do is reheat them in the microwave!
Get Ree's Individual Sausage Casseroles recipe.
Walnut Brownie Baked Oatmeal
Honestly, who wouldn't want brownies for breakfast? This version makes it way healthier though with nutritious oats. Assemble the night before and just bake in the morning to serve it warm.
Get the Walnut Brownie Baked Oatmeal recipe.
Sheet Pan Biscuit Breakfast Sandwiches
Piled high with sausage, eggs, and cheese, these sammies are a perfect on-the-go breakfast. Wrap them individually in foil and store them in the freezer for up to two months. When you're ready to eat, unwrap and microwave for two minutes.
Tiramisu Overnight Oats
If you're looking for minimal prep with maximum flavor, go for this dessert-inspired overnight oats recipe! It only takes ten minutes of prep the night before and the result is a filling, sweet breakfast spiked with just the right amount of espresso.
Get the Tiramisu Overnight Oats recipe.
Spinach Quiche
Whether you're making this for a fancy brunch or just want to spoil yourself on a weekday, this savory quiche can be made a day in advance and chilled in the fridge until you're ready to eat.
Get the Spinach Quiche recipe.
Crock-Pot Breakfast Casserole
Set it and forget it: that's the beauty of using your slow cooker! Assemble the night before and wake up to a piping hot serving of hash browns, sausage, eggs, peppers, and cheese.
Get the Crock-Pot Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Baked French Toast
Ree describes this meal as "beautiful, simple, glorious, easy, delectable, scrumptious, and heavenly." Need we say more? It tastes best when it's soaked overnight before baked anyway, so why not assemble and thank yourself in the morning?
Get Ree's Baked French Toast recipe.
Everything Bagel Casserole
A great excuse to use slightly stale bagels and prep in advance, this casserole needs to soak for a good eight hours before baking. It's got bacon, eggs, and cream cheese in the filling!
Get the Everything Bagel Casserole recipe.
Pumpkin Spice Latte Overnight Oats
It's always PSL season to us! Turn your favorite seasonal beverage into an anytime breakfast that only takes ten minutes of prep work. And you can't feel bad about eating it—pumpkin puree is very nutritious.
Cowboy Casserole
No, you don't have to live on a ranch to enjoy this hearty dish! The key to prepping in advance is to make the creamy, beefy filling the night before and top with tater tots before you bake in the morning.
Get the Cowboy Casserole recipe.
Baked Oatmeal With Berries
You'll love a scoop of this warm, sweet treat berry much. Not only does it have both blueberries and raspberries in the mixture, but also crunchy almonds and hearty oats. Reheat it in the oven or the microwave the next day.
Get the Baked Oatmeal With Berries recipe.
Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
Instead of making this dish from scratch in the morning, you can prep half of it in advance the night before and just assemble and bake the rest when you wake up. The result is morning full of pure comfort!
Get the Biscuits and Gravy Casserole recipe.
Overnight Oats
If you like piña coladas, pumpkin pie, or tropical mangos, you can make one of these cups for breakfast! Make overnight oats, then add the topping of your choice when you're ready to eat.
Get the Overnight Oats recipe.
Sausage Breakfast Casserole
You can assemble this delightful dish filled with sausage, egg, and hash browns up to two days in advance. It only takes 15 minutes to assemble, too! So really, what are you waiting for? Make it ASAP!
Get the Sausage Breakfast Casserole recipe.
Cinnamon Rolls
See, we told you Ree's famous cinnamon roll recipe would make the list! There are three ways to prep in advance: freeze the rolls before they rise and bake them the next day, freeze them baked and just put the icing on when defrosted, or freeze them entirely assembled.
Get Ree's Cinnamon Rolls recipe.
Quiche Lorraine
Wake up to bacon! That's what this classic quiche will provide. You can make it in advance up to three days and just heat up a slice when you're ready to eat. Use a storebought crust to make life even easier.
Get the Quiche Lorraine recipe.
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Sausage Breakfast Casserole
