On-the-Go Breakfast Ideas
Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. But some mornings, you may feel like there just isn't time to eat. These recipes and the Quick Breakfast Tips below will come to your rescue! Some recipes allow you to make something delicious in no time with prepared waffles or French toast. Others can be made ahead and frozen to use when you're on the go. And still more may inspire you to work a little breakfast into your lunch or dinner!
Mornings get off to a great start with these yummy double-chocolate pancakes from the Taste of Home Test Kitchen. Whip up a batch of Chocolate Chip Pancakes (shown at right) on the weekend, and you'll have speedy breakfasts the whole family will rave about for days to come. Got chocolate milk? Feel free to use it in place of the milk and instant chocolate drink mix. Kids will love it!
Sonia Daily needs only four ingredients for this handheld standby of Apple Waffle Grills. "These quick-and-easy sandwiches also make great lunches," says the Warren, Michigan cook. "My husband likes it when I add a slice of ham between the waffles."
Waffles are not just for breakfast anymore with this idea from our Test Kitchen. Drizzle Dessert Waffles with chocolate, top with strawberry pie filling and a scoop of ice cream and enjoy. Use the remaining pie filling as a topping for your breakfast waffle.
"Pecan-Stuffed Waffles are great for entertaining because it's easy yet extremely impressive," says Jenny Flake of Gilbert, Arizona. "No one will guess it only takes minutes to prepare. The creamy brown sugar and pecan filling between the waffles is delectable!"
Robyn Parrish of Daly City, California starts the day off right by combining three favorite breakfast foods into one. Waffle Sandwiches are delicious with regular maple syrup or homemade Dutch Honey Syrup.
Convenience is a part of the recipe when you start with packaged frozen French toast. "You can make your own if you prefer. French Toast Lasagna is fabulous either way," says Kathy Kittell from Lenexa, Kansas.
Store-bought French toast sticks are spread with strawberry cream cheese to make this fast breakfast fare. Anna Free of Bradner, Ohio serves Jazzed-Up French Toast Sticks with a citrusy fruit puree instead of regular syrup.
In Aberdeen, South Dakota, Audra Niederman steers clear of hunger without hitting the brakes—she simply zaps frozen Breakfast Burritos in the microwave. "This is my family's favorite combination, but try replacing the bacon with cooked breakfast sausage," she suggests.
"When I was expecting our daughter, I made Ham 'n' Cheese Quiche as well as several other dishes ahead of time to freeze," says Christena Palmer of Green River, Wyoming. "Later, it was nice to have dinner in the freezer when my husband and I were just too tired to cook."
Quick Breakfast Tips
- Time doesn't always allow me to make a proper breakfast for my kids. A friend offered this idea. When fixing French toast, cook several extra slices. Place a layer of waxed paper between each slice and freeze. When you’re ready to use them, just pop the slices in your microwave to heat and serve them with syrup. —Paula Whetstone, Rosharon, Texas
- My husband prepares Saturday breakfast, so I stir up pancake batter and freeze it in quart-size freezer bags. I thaw a bag in the refrigerator on Friday night. The next day, he simply clips a corner off the bag and pours the batter onto a hot skillet. This method simplifies cleanup, too. —Christi Gillentine, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- When I have time, I use half of a loaf of bread to make French toast. Once the toast cools, I wrap the slices in serving-size portions and keep them in the freezer. For breakfast in a flash, I can simply reheat the frozen slices. —Lynn Bible, Bellmore, New York
- Nothing beats egg, sausage and cheese on an English muffin in the morning. But since my husband and I both work, there isn't enough time to make these tasty breakfast sandwiches. Instead, I prepare a week's worth of the sandwiches on the weekend and store them individually in the freezer. We simply put two sandwiches in the refrigerator the night before work, then pop them in the microwave the next morning. A few minutes of cooking on the weekend pays off all week long! —Terri Vogel, St. Germain, Wisconsin
- After buying bagels or English muffins, I separate each one into two halves and return them to the bag. At breakfast, I can just pull the number of halves desired from the freezer and pop them in the toaster. There's no need to pry them apart or thaw them first. —Karen McNamara, Hammond, Wisconsin
- I keep cooked sausage and bacon in the freezer to reheat in the microwave on busy mornings. This really saves time and encourages kids to help themselves at breakfast. —Tara Calbeck, Eaton, Ohio