On weekday mornings, breakfast typically means something like toast or a bagel that I can eat with one hand in between sips of protein-infused coffee while I work on my laptop, Sadly, working from home doesn’t necessarily translate to more time for breakfast (or lunch, for that matter). But on the weekends or on those rare weekday mornings when I actually get up before my alarm, I like to make myself a worthwhile breakfast—by that I mean something I can sit down and savor.
Below, I’ve rounded up some of my and the Serious Eats teams’ breakfast favorites for those days when we want more than just a quick protein smoothie, a bowl of granola, or toast. You’ll find plenty of sweet and savory options—from tender, fluffy pancakes and bakeshop-worthy muffins and pastries to a nostalgic Hong Kong–style breakfast sandwich and regional comfort classics like Cincinnati goetta and Southern red-eye gravy. So, whether you’re breakfasting solo or entertaining a group of friends, these 18 breakfast recipes guarantee a happy start to your day.
