32 Fall Breakfast Ideas to Enjoy on Crisp Mornings
Fall is upon us, meaning there are crisp mornings ahead that call for putting on your coziest sweater and whipping up a batch of homemade pumpkin spice lattes. But what to pair with your go-to autumn bev? We have 32 fall breakfast ideas that fit the bill, whether you’re craving something savory with seasonal veggies or something sweet, teeming with cinnamon. Read on for our favorite pancakes, Danishes, egg skillets and more.
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1. Sweet Potato Rösti with Fried Eggs and Greens
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Aran Goyoaga
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, gluten free, vegetarian, dairy free
Consider rösti Switzerland’s take on potato latkes. Swapping regular spuds for sweet makes them a bit more nutritious, but you could also use grated winter squash or carrots instead.
2. Overnight Oats with Apple and Cinnamon
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 8 hours and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, no cook
Forget stirring on the stove. All these oats require is an overnight soak in the fridge. The next morning, just grab the jar, top it with applesauce and hit the road.
3. Pumpkin Pie French Toast
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, one pan, special occasion-worthy, kid-friendly
The secret to this masterpiece—besides light-as-clouds brioche or challah bread—is store-bought pumpkin pie, which is repurposed to create the French toast filling. Decadent…and absolutely worth it.
4. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Complete with three-ingredient vanilla icing (although we wouldn’t blame your little ones for dousing them in maple syrup instead).
5. Braided Apple Danish Loaf
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 14 hours
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
If you really want to wow your Halloween brunch guests, whip up this braided delight. It looks like it came straight from a gourmet bakery.
6. Breakfast-for-Dinner Ramen
Emily Morgan
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Or dinner-for-breakfast—you can eat this whenever, really. Beat the morning chill with tender ramen noodles, thick-cut bacon, poached eggs, veggies and soul-warming broth.
7. Roasted Pumpkin and Brussels Sprouts with Poached Eggs
Cook Beautiful
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, gluten free, vegetarian
Because pumpkin deserves an invite to every meal come fall, not just dessert. This dish boasts 19 grams of protein to boot, despite being vegetarian.
8. Kale Quiche with a Cheddar-Rice Crust
Photo: Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, <10 ingredients
This French baked egg dish may sound fancy, but it’s actually a breeze to pull off at home—especially when you trade fussy pie crust for cooked rice and cheddar cheese.
9. Apple Cider Doughnut Holes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, make ahead, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Is it really fall if you don’t have a gallon of apple cider in your fridge? Put it to good use by using it in these doughnuts, which are finished with a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar.
10. Pumpkin Spice Pecan Rolls
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, make ahead
Canned pumpkin puree not only dyes the dough an autumnal shade of orange, but it also keeps the rolls extra moist. Finish them with creamy icing and chopped pecans. (Psst: For a tangy twist, swap out our icing recipe for cream cheese frosting.)
11. No-Knead Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Eva Kolenko
Time Commitment: 3 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, kid-friendly
What we wouldn’t give to be a pat of soft, salty butter on a fresh-from-the-oven slice of cinnamon swirl bread. Don’t let it intimidate you: The base is an ingenious peasant bread recipe that requires minimal handling.
12. Sweet Potato, Bacon and Broccoli Egg Muffins
Kirsten Buck/Buck Naked Kitchen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: gluten free, dairy free, beginner-friendly, make ahead, <10 ingredients
Even picky kids won’t turn their noses up at these filling handhelds. The key to their moist texture and flavor is none other than store-bought jarred salsa.
13. Biscuit Dough Pumpkin Hand Pies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
The crust is made with canned biscuit dough, so all you really have to do is mix the spiced pumpkin filling and assemble. It doesn’t get any simpler than that, folks.
14. Baked Eggs in Avocado
Eric Wolfinger/The Mexican Keto Cookbook
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, keto-friendly
This breakfast is full of healthy fats, protein and flavor, thanks to buttery avocado, runny eggs and cotija cheese. Go easy on the salsa if you want to save a few carbs.
15. Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
The base is melted butter, hash browns and shredded white cheddar cheese—need we say more? (We think not, but if so, you should know that all you really need to do is combine the ingredients and let the Crockpot work its magic.)
16. Quick Congee
Ngoc Minh Ngo/Heirloom
Time Commitment: 30 minutes (plus soaking time)
Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
We like to think of this Asian rice porridge as the ultimate comfort food, since it’s just as cozy as it is easy to digest. Prepare the three-ingredient congee, then top it with everything from kimchi to ginger to poached eggs.
17. Pear and Chai Masala Cinnamon Rolls
Iain Bagwell/Mumbai Modern
Time Commitment: 5 hours and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
We don’t know what to lick off first, the vanilla bean icing or the pear-chai jam filling. Use the leftover jam on English muffins, Greek yogurt, vanilla ice cream or waffles.
18. 30-Minute Breakfast Hash with Kale and Sweet Potatoes
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, gluten free, dairy free
Kale and sweet potatoes give this skillet breakfast a decidedly fall feel, but you can substitute just about any veggie you’d like. Think Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, pumpkin or broccoli.
19. Giant Cinnamon Roll
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, one pan, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Aka our favorite way to use store-bought crescent roll dough. They help the cinnamon roll turn puffy and flaky without a ton of effort on your end. It’ll be our little secret.
20. Skillet Eggs and Chorizo
Kristin Perers/Round Ours
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, high protein, beginner-friendly
Spicy Mexican chorizo is sure to warm your bones on a chilly fall morning, along with pickled jalapeños and chipotle chili flakes. A dollop of sour cream and feta crumbles cool the dish off just right.
21. Monkey Bread Danish
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
These single-serve, cinnamon streusel-topped delights have a secret hidden inside. (OK, we’ll tell: It’s cream cheese filling.)
22. Baked Eggs & Potatoes
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Stuck with a boatload of leftover mashed potatoes after Thanksgiving? This is one of the easiest (and tastiest) ways to revive them.
23. Waffle Breakfast Sandwich with Chorizo
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Once the savory cheese waffles are ready, the sammy is only 15 minutes away. Make them ahead and keep them in the freezer so you can warm and assemble on busy mornings.
24. Pizza Dough Cinnamon Rolls
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Store-bought pizza dough is one of our favorite shortcuts in the book. You can use it to make calzones, pigs in a blanket and these sticky-sweet breakfast rolls.
25. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread with Cinnamon Streusel
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
Sweet, salty and ever so tender, this bread is your daily PSL’s best friend. Let the loaf cool completely before slicing, so it maintains its shape and swirl without falling apart.
26. Chamomile and Maple Porridge
Simon Park/The Happy Balance
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan, beginner-friendly
Believe it or not, there’s not a drop of dairy in this perfect-for-autumn brekkie. Instead, it’s made with plant-based milk, coconut butter and maple syrup.
27. Sausage and Egg Breakfast Dumplings
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
These cheesy, meaty dumplings are decidedly delicious, but they’re even tastier dunked in dipping sauce. Take your pick of spicy sriracha ketchup or zingy brown mustard.
28. Chilaquiles with Poached Eggs and Spicy Honey
National Honey Board
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, gluten free
Like fancy, filling breakfast nachos, assembled in a single skillet. The hot honey, infused with garlic and ancho chili powder, would taste heavenly on fried chicken, pizza, breakfast sandwiches and beyond.
29. Swedish Cinnamon Rolls
Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Known as kanelbullar in its homeland, these pearl sugar-topped rolls are designed to be served at fika, a traditional Scandinavian coffee break. Might we suggest incorporating it into your daily routine?
30. Sweet Potato Hash Browns Made with a Waffle Iron
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Whether you plate ’em with scrambled eggs, pancakes or corned beef hash, this sweet potato side will be impossibly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. In other words, it’s an easy home run, no matter who’s at the table.
31. Pancake Tacos with Cheese and Bacon
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, high protein
Your kids will find it much easier to get out of bed in the morning with these on the table. Serve theirs with ketchup and syrup, then use hot sauce on yours.
32. Savory Breakfast Pie with Bacon Lattice Crust
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
What’s that? Sorry, we read “bacon lattice crust” and fell into a trance. It starts with store-bought pie crust, so you’ll have plenty of time and energy to layer the bacon just right.
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For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
