67 Best Brunch Ideas for a Relaxing Weekend Feast
![Two spicy egg sandwiches with sausage and pickled peppers with the yolk dripping down the side of one sandwich.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/assets.epicurious.com/photos/5ced826be184ef36bcf846bc/16:9/w_320%2Cc_limit/Father's-Day-Breakfast-Sandwich-recipe-19034.jpg)
Hosting brunch can sometimes feel like a bit of an undertaking. There are hundreds of brunch ideas for you to iterate on, whether you’re thinking sweet, savory, or something in between. And while brunch food favorites are favorites for a reason, sometimes you want to ditch the bacon and scrambled eggs for a less familiar face. That’s why we’ve made this list of a few of our favorite brunch recipes. Scroll down for showstopping project bakes, crowd-pleasing large-format dishes, and lots of options that you can prep the night before, so you can take it easy in the morning until your guests arrive. The only thing left for you to do is to figure out what to drink.
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- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson1/67
Classic Eggs Benedict With Blender Hollandaise
The ultimate fancy restaurant brunch food doesn’t have to come to come from a restaurant—the expert tips in this recipe mean you can offer your friends and family an elegant brunch complete with fluffy English muffins, ham or bacon, and that runny yolk you get with only from a correctly poached egg. With the help of a blender, this recipe simplifies what is arguably the most challenging part of this classic brunch dish: the hollandaise.
- Photo by Travis Rainey, Food styling by Micah Marie Morton2/67
Easy Coffee Cake
Melted butter and sour cream are time-saving, texture-enhancing heroes in this quick and easy coffee cake. Serve with a fresh fruit salad on the side.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce3/67
Coconut-Cardamom French Toast With Raspberry-Rhubarb Compote
Jewel-like berries and tart rhubarb play off a creamy coconut filling in this stuffed French toast. The custard and compote are perfumed with cardamom for a multidimensional take on the brunch favorite.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht4/67
Baked Apple Pancake
Flipping pancakes on a griddle can be a bit high-maintenance for an early meal—especially if you’re cooking for a large crowd. Instead, try this large-format take on the brunch staple, decorated with a pretty top layer of sliced apples. This oven-ready pancake has the light and fluffy texture of a Dutch baby and requires only five minutes active prep time.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley5/67
Shakshuka
This stovetop shakshuka recipe makes use of both whole canned tomatoes and tomato paste for a full-flavored, bright red sauce. This take on the classic egg dish is loaded with sweet Hungarian paprika, cumin, caraway, and Swiss chard for some much-welcome leafy greens.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone6/67
Our Favorite Cinnamon Rolls
These cinnamon rolls are chock-full of warm spice flavors, like nutmeg and cinnamon, that perfectly complement the nuttiness and crunch of the buttery toasted pecans.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich7/67
Brown-Sugar-Glazed Bacon
Nothing screams “brunch food necessity” quite like bacon. The brown sugar adds a sticky, sweet edge to the bacon’s saltiness, making for the ideal companion for French toast—or just bowls of yogurt and granola.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht8/67
Chocolate Chip Scones
A batch of homemade chocolate chip scones has the power to turn any regular morning into a special occasion.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kate Buckens9/67
Big-Batch Pancake and Waffle Mix
If you’re looking for brunch ideas that can feed your whole crew, look no further. This easily adaptable make-ahead mix can be turned into pancakes, waffles, or even crepes just by changing up the amount of milk and eggs.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart10/67
Chilaquiles Rojos
These chilaquiles invite you to use up the leftover food in your fridge and pantry. Use store-bought chips or make your own by frying up some just-past-their-prime tortillas. Then top them with leftover rotisserie chicken or chorizo, homemade salsa roja, and fried eggs for the ultimate brunch vibes.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert11/67
Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Frozen hash browns get well acquainted with cheddar after a little nudge from some creamy béchamel in this breakfast casserole.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad12/67
Skillet Soufflé Pancake
Inspired by the classic French dessert, this pancake gets its height and cloudlike texture from a base of egg whites and sugar that get heated and then whipped into a stable meringue. And it’s cooked entirely in the oven, so there’s no need for any flipping.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Frances Boswell13/67
Deep Dish Quiche With Garnishes
A flaky yet custardy quiche will brighten your morning, especially if you have the foresight to make it the day before. This simple iteration is made with just chives and shallots flavoring the eggy filling. You can dress it up with salty prosciutto, smoked or cured salmon, a bed of greens, or whatever combination of garnishes you may fancy.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich14/67
Blueberry Scones
These scones get magnificent height full of flaky layers thanks to frozen, grated butter. There’s a hint of sweetness that pairs well with the tartness of the blueberries, but you can also use raspberries, torn blackberries, or chopped strawberries.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews15/67
Spicy Egg Sandwich With Sausage and Pickled Peppers
Breakfast sandwiches are all about constructing that perfect bite. This sausage and egg sandwich is a little sweet and briny from the Peppadew peppers, while harissa paste and spicy Italian sausages bring the heat.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell16/67
Buttermilk Waffles
With a crispy exterior, a fluffy interior, and a shape that traps pools of maple syrup, waffles are a timeless brunch food. If you have yet to purchase a waffle iron, allow this foolproof recipe to convince you. You might want to make extra so you can stash them in your freezer for easy breakfasts in the future.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell17/67
Savory Dutch Baby for Two
This take on the light-as-air pancake is decidedly savory with thyme and Parmesan.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell18/67
Diner-Style Western Omelet
Keep brunch easy with this evergreen egg dish featuring salty ham, bell peppers, and onions. Serve with toast and lots of coffee.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Nathaniel James, Food Styling by Laura Rege19/67
Mushroom and Kale Breakfast Skillet
This breakfast skillet is filled with veggies like mushrooms, kale, and tomatoes that are cooked in a fragrant cumin-and-coriander-spiced oil. Eggs are nestled into the concoction to complete this no-sweat brunch dish.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova20/67
Glazed Cinnamon-Cardamom Buns
Transport yourself to Paris with these brioche-like buns. These lacquered pastries have a sweet cinnamon filling inside a cardamom-scented dough that is worth breaking out your stand mixer for.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Sue Li21/67
Spiced Chickpeas and Greens Frittata
The best way to put a score of eggs to good use is by making a frittata. This version of the beginner-friendly egg dish features herbs, hardy greens, and a whole lot of chickpeas.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne22/67
Blueberry Pancake Cobbler
This blueberry-filled bake’s pancake-like topping makes a strong case for eating dessert for brunch.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch23/67
French Onion Breakfast Strata
Made with DIY French onion dip mix and gooey Gruyère, this breakfast strata is a savory solution for those looking for a French toast replacement. Set up a Bloody Mary bar with lots of garnishes for folks who are looking for a morning cocktail.
- Photo and Styling by Joseph De Leo24/67
Sinangag
In this quintessential Filipino breakfast, jasmine rice is cooked in garlic-infused oil and mixed with crispy garlic chips to become the perfect canvas for a fried egg.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova25/67
Cowboy Breakfast Casserole With Sausage and Spinach
Do yourself a favor and prep this dish the night before your next daytime soiree so the toasted bread can soak up the eggy custard overnight. Then throw the casserole dish into a cold oven when you wake up and watch it blossom into a sausage-, spinach-, and cheese-packed brunch centerpiece. We've made this dish for Christmas morning more than once.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert26/67
Breakfast Burritos With Bacon, Egg, and Cheese
These bacon-, bean-, egg-, and cheese-filled burritos feature homemade flour tortillas for a handheld option that’s great for an on-the-go weekend.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell27/67
Blueberry Lemon Corn Muffins
Sweet blueberries, savory cornmeal, and a pop of lemon zest come together for bakery-quality muffins to start the morning.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad and Lillian Chou28/67
Khachapuri for a Crowd
This large-format version of the classic Georgian dish is as crowd-pleasing as brunch ideas get. After a relaxing dough-making process, you’re left with a golden brown cheesy bake that is sure to vanish within minutes of serving.
- Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo29/67
Mangú de Plátanos
Creamy avocado, a crispy fried egg, and a pile of pickled onions make the perfect companions to a bed of starchy mashed plantain in this classic Dominican brunch dish.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell30/67
Swirl Spice Cake
Don’t mistake this swirl spice cake for just another coffee cake. Cardamom, dried orange peel, and fennel seeds are marbled throughout this breakfast bake via a multiuse coffee spice blend.
- Photo by Chris Terry31/67
Sausage and Mushroom Toad-in-a-Hole
This brunch-ready rendition of toad-in-a-hole pairs breakfast sausage with mushrooms in a hearty, one-pan meal. Spices in the batter awaken the sausages while turmeric lends its beautiful yellow hue to the final product.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht32/67
Chilled Irish Coffee
This chilled take on the whiskey-based cocktail is a great way to combine a little booze and a hit of caffeine at brunch. The coffee mixture can be made ahead of time, but cold brew fanatics can use their favorite bottle and adjust to taste with simple syrup.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton33/67
Hong Kong–Style French Toast
In this variation of French toast from Hong Kong, peanut-butter-filled milk bread is fried in butter until the exterior is golden and crisp, then drizzled with sweetened condensed milk for a next-level French toast experience.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Anna Stockwell34/67
Asparagus and Two-Cheese Quiche With Hash-Brown Crust
Get all the goodness of hash browns and a rich Fontina and goat cheese egg custard in this crowd-pleasing quiche. With fresh green asparagus and tarragon, it’s the ultimate Easter brunch dish.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell35/67
Crumb-Covered Poached Eggs
This recipe yields three perfect brunch ideas: a playful bacon and eggs moment, a cheesy pancetta-packed bite, or a herby-crispy creation.
- Photo by Alex Lau36/67
Breakfast Grilled Cheese With Soft Scrambled Eggs
What’s the secret to the silkiest scrambled eggs ever? A dollop of cream cheese stirred in right at the end. Piling them onto a sandwich with melted American cheese is the move we definitely recommend.
- Photo by Cara Howe37/67
Steel-Cut Oats With Squash and Tahini
A bowl of simple oats gets an autumnal upgrade with a roasted, mashed butternut squash topping and a maple syrup, tahini, and brown sugar combo for a creamy finish.
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Mimosa
The classic mimosa requires just sparkling wine and orange juice—just make sure it’s freshly squeezed. This cocktail can also be made with nonalcoholic sparkling wine, and it’ll go well with whatever dishes you’ve assembled in your brunch spread.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson39/67
Pains au Chocolat
If you’re looking for brunch recipes that really show you care, this impressive feat of pastry is the one. It’s worth it to order special chocolate batons for these croissants, so plan ahead.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova40/67
Sheet-Pan Cider-Ricotta Pancakes With Pear Compote
A swirl of cinnamon-spiced pear compote runs through these protein-rich pancakes. Make a batch, then slice and keep chilled, ready to quickly reheat for brunch any time.
- Photo courtesy Eitan Bernath41/67
Raspberry Sweet Rolls
This take on cinnamon buns gets glammed up with Barbie-pink filling made with store-bought raspberry jam.
- Photo by Alex Lau42/67
Classic English Muffins
This recipe for homemade English muffins employs a few smart tricks, offering a faster path to warm rolls with those coveted chewy nooks and crannies.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich43/67
Citrus-and-Dill Gravlax
This is the king of the make-ahead brunch recipes. After three days of curing, a side of salmon will transform into salty gravlax. Grab some rye bread and whip together a mustardy sauce or break out the bagels and invite all your friends to enjoy this Nordic nosh.
- Photo and Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova44/67
Sourdough Crepes
These tender crepes, made with discarded sourdough starter, make an ideal blank canvas for sweet or savory toppings like jam, crème fraîche, raw sugar, or lox.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova45/67
Belgian Buttermilk Waffles With Glazed Bananas
This waffle recipe from Gourmet combines the crisp of Belgian waffles with the tang of buttermilk for a brunch dish you’ll want on regular rotation. When you’ve got ripe bananas—and you’re not craving banana bread—this is a great way to use them up.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Drew Aichele46/67
Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
A trio of lemony ingredients—fragrant lemon zest, tart juice, and rich lemon curd—are combined to create this these extra-citrusy muffins.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne47/67
Rumbledethumps
This breakfast casserole is Scotland’s answer to the English bubble and squeak—potatoes coarsely mashed with cabbage and baked with Cheddar cheese on top. Serve with sausages or bacon and a fried egg. Start with leftover mashed potatoes for even quicker cook time.
- Photo by Jim Henkens48/67
Broiled Eggs
If you’re cooking brunch for a crowd—for Mother's Day, maybe?—but want something other than a scramble, this muffin-tin method gets you pretty close to the elegance of poached eggs, with more ease and the added benefit of all the eggs cooking—and finishing—at the same time.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova49/67
Buttermilk French Toast
This buttermilk French toast recipe transforms challah into a luxurious and slightly tangy version of the much-loved brunch dish.
- Photo by Baxter Miller50/67
Does Not Disappoint Breakfast Casserole
The ubiquitous breakfast casserole gets a briny upgrade from Red Weapons—tomatoes pickled in a flavorful brine.
- Photo by Eric Wolfinger51/67
Baked Eggs in Sweet Potato Boats With Herb Relish
Bake a bunch of sweet potatoes and top them with fried eggs and herby, caper-and-raisin-filled relish for a bright yet filling brunch.
- Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell52/67
Sheet-Pan Potato Hash with Fixins
Mashed, fried, boiled, or baked, the trusty potato is a valuable kitchen staple any hour of the day. In extra-crispy, almost chip-like, sheet-pan hash form, it becomes a magnificent base for add-ons like smoked fish or roe. And the inclusion of crème fraîche and fried eggs brings substance to this salty brunch dish fit for a crowd.
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Fried Egg on Toast with Salted Herb Butter and Radishes
Herb butter—made with whatever herbs you have sitting around—is an excellent landing pad for a perfectly fried egg. Thinly sliced radishes add a refreshingly crisp bite.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks54/67
Easy Everyday Pancakes
Requiring only a handful of pantry staples and 20 minutes of your time, these homemade pancakes are as simple, fluffy, and delicious as breakfast recipes get.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton55/67
Masa Pancakes
When shopping for gluten-free flour for this brunch recipe, make sure to buy one that lists xanthan gum as one of its ingredients which helps bind everything, creating structure so the pancakes come out light and fluffy.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Rhoda Boone56/67
Croque Madame Casserole With Ham and Gruyère
Elegant yet hearty, this homey dish made with smoky ham, melty cheese, creamy sauce, and gently cooked eggs is brunch food at its best.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Molly Baz57/67
Cheesy Kale and Mushroom Strata
How do you get anyone (really, anyone) to eat kale and mushrooms? Layer them with toasted bread cubes and cover with Gruyère and Parmesan.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad58/67
Crème Brûlée French Toast Casserole
No torch required for this crème brûlée French toast–it gets its name from the sweet, fragrant custard base used to make it.
- By Chris Terry59/67
French Onion and Blue Cheese Tart
Onions are the star of the show: sweet and lightly scented, in pride of place on a layer of light, puffy pastry and funky crumbled blue cheese.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Aneta Florczyk, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou60/67
Tomato Galette
Salting the tomatoes ahead of time and letting them release some of their liquid is essential for this savory galette. It will allow the tomatoes to caramelize, ensuring the bottom of the crust stays flaky.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne61/67
Apple-Cheddar Dutch Baby
This dish would be just as welcome on the brunch table as on the dinner table. And we wouldn’t fault you for adding a little maple syrup—no matter which meal you serve it at.
- Leo Gong62/67
Bagels
Bagels are one of the simplest breads to make, requiring only flour, water, salt, yeast, and malt—and one secret ingredient: time (in the form of long, slow, cold fermentation).
- Photo by Randy Harris63/67
Breakfast Pizza With Sausage, Eggs, Spinach, and Cream
Because the dough rises while you sleep—and because pizza with an egg baked on top is the very best pizza—there’s no better time of day to serve this sausage and spinach pie.
- Photo by Emma Fishman64/67
Lemony Glazed Yogurt Doughnuts
These doughnuts are light, tangy, and rich, made with a dough that’s super easy to work with—all thanks to whole-milk Greek yogurt.
- Photo by Alex Lau65/67
Turmeric Eggs with Kale, Yogurt, and Bacon
You can add roasted sweet potato or cooked grains to this well-balanced bowl to make it even more hearty. (Might as well roast a few extra sweet potatoes while you’re at it.)
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Spencer Richards, Prop Styling by Marina Bevilacqua66/67
Crispy, Crunchy Chicken and Waffles
An herbaceous hot-sauce-buttermilk soak and cornstarch-flour dredge are the keys to this juicy, flavor-packed fried chicken.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Astrid Chastka, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson67/67
Bacon and Egg Casserole
If you’re looking for easy brunch ideas for a party, this lattice-topped, make-ahead casserole made with store-bought puff pastry is a must-have on your roster.
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