61 Breakfast Toast Ideas That Go Beyond Jam and Avocado
Marcus Nilsson
TABLE OF CONTENTS
On This Page
Best Bread to Use
Toast Tips
Cheese
Avocado
Breakfast Classics
Irish Toppings
Scandinavian Toppings
Mediterranean Toppings
Fresh Fruit
Sweet and Salty
For many of us, toast is the great unifier. Comforting and easy and a familiar breakfast go-to, it's what our mothers might have sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and given to us on a rainy day or cut into strips called soldiers and served with a boiled egg.
But there's more to breakfast than these simple variations and toppings—and the same is true for avocado, a modern darling. All you have to do is think beyond triangles of golden-brown toast (like those that accompany eggs in every diner across America) or break out of your usual toast and jam routine. To help, we've gathered over 60 inspired ways to elevate your crunchy bread. From cheese and fruit toppings to salty-and-sweet combinations, these breakfast toast ideas will bring unique flavor to everyone's favorite meal of the day.
Related: What's the Difference Between Bruschetta and Crostini?
The Best Bread for Toast
The type of bread used for your toast should inform your toppings. A sliced loaf or seedy multi-grain is suited to classic toppings such as eggs and slices of cheese, but also pairs well with peanut butter and as a base for avocado toast.
Alternatively, go with a rustic sourdough, miche, or an Italian loaf; slice it fairly thick for avocado toasts, rub with half a ripe tomato, Spanish style, or spread with ricotta and top with hearty sautéed greens or figs and honey.
Breakfast Toast Tips
To set yourself up for success, all of your toppings should be ready before you press the button on your toaster. Here's what that means depending on the ingredients you're working with.
Cheese should be sliced or crumbled
Fruit and vegetables should be rinsed, peeled, and sliced
Any ingredients that need to be cooked (bacon, sautéed greens, beans, or eggs) should be finished and waiting for the toast; if you're frying or scrambling an egg, it can be the last thing you do while the bread is in the toaster
Avoid watery toppings; sauté (don't steam) greens and fry (don't poach) eggs unless you carefully blot them dry before placing on toast
If using the broiler or toaster oven to melt a topping, make sure you've lightly toasted the bread first; this way, the bread underneath the topping won't be soggy
Breakfast Toasts With Cheese
Want to please a crowd come breakfast? Top crunchy toasts with plenty of cheese. Start with soft milk options, like ricotta and chèvre, and layer from there.
Ricotta + lemon + basil + honey
Ricotta + sliced pears + walnuts + honey
Ricotta + roasted cherry tomatoes + extra-virgin olive oil
Soft goat cheese + figs + thyme (try this broiled)
If you're looking for cheeses with stronger flavors, consider these combinations.
Blue cheese + sliced pears + walnuts + honey
Raspberry jam + aged goat cheese
Sharp cheddar + mango chutney
Melted Cheese Toasts
Kick things up a notch by serving melted cheese toasts. An obvious favorite is sliced cheddar, especially when you send it for a bubbling session under the broiler. To make things more interesting, add a slice of tomato to it—and if you like Marmite, spread the bread lightly with that first.
Thinly-sliced ham + a cornichon or other pickle + slice of Swiss cheese on top (melt)
Sautéed wild mushrooms + fontina or taleggio cheese (make in a toaster oven or under the broiler)
Romulo Yanes
Avocado Toasts
The avocado toasts that have become ubiquitous in cafés across America were originally introduced to us from Australia. Though they seem rich and indulgent, they're a healthy thing to eat for breakfast or lunch.
If you're a purist, stick with the classic: Either smash or slice a ripe avocado and spread or fan it onto toasted bread. All you need is a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, freshly-ground black pepper, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. If you're looking for more elevated avocado toast toppings and ideas, we have you covered.
Fried egg + chili crisp
Squeeze of lemon or lime + slices of fresh chile + cilantro leaves
Bacon slices
Tomato slices
Cucumber + salmon roe + shiso leaf
Fresh pea shoots + thinly-sliced radishes
Thinly-sliced nori + sesame seeds
Toasted sunflower seeds + sumac + fresh sprouts
Cooked corn kernels + cilantro leaves + light dusting of cayenne
Coconut oil + hot sauce
Sliced jalapeños + Monterey jack cheese (melted under the broiler)
Bacon + crumbled blue cheese + halved cherry tomatoes + hard-boiled egg wedges (start with mashed avocado for a Cobb salad on toast)
Fried egg (or try our Peekaboo Avocado Toast variation)
Breakfast Classics on Toast
There's nothing wrong with sticking to the classics. You already know these breakfast toast toppings will work—their components are tried-and-true elements of the meal.
Bacon + eggs + spinach
Smoked salmon + lemon + sliced scallions
Smoked trout + cream cheese + horseradish + cucumber
Cream cheese + everything bagel seasoning mix + tomato or red onion slices
Crisp bacon + maple syrup
Irish Breakfast Toasts
These Irish-inspired breakfast toasts are delicious any time of the year—not just in March.
Irish or Canadian bacon + scrambled egg
Smashed tomatoes + bacon + chopped parsley
Baked beans + bacon
Roasted tomatoes + sliced breakfast sausage
Roasted tomatoes + sautéeed mushrooms
Roasted tomatoes + fried egg
Orange marmalade + bacon
Orange marmalade + sliced breakfast sausage
Marcus Nilsson
Smorrebrod Breakfast Toasts
Try Scandinavian-inspired styles and flavors when loading up your breakfast toasts.
Smoked trout + grated horseradish + pickled beet or onions
Salami + grainy mustard + cucumber
Roast beef + horseradish + crème fraîche
Smoked fish + juniper salt
Gravlax + butter + dill
Shrimp salad + cucumbers + chopped chives
Mediterranean Breakfast Toasts
These European-style toppings are a savory way to start the day.
Anchovy fillets + unsalted butter
Tomato half (rubbed into the toast) + extra-virgin olive oil
Serrano ham or prosciutto
Cannellini or borlotti beans (mashed with olive oil and rosemary or sage) + fried egg or sautéed greens + a shaving of parmesan
Crisp-fried sage leaves
Feta cheese + cucumber + extra-virgin olive oil (optional: add sliced tomato)
Breakfast Toasts With Fresh Fruit
Most creamy cheese spreads, including crème fraîche and full-fat Greek yogurt, make a wonderful base for the fresh fruit of your choice. Sweeten as desired and add nuts, seeds, or coconut.
Labneh + grapes + almonds
Coconut oil + banana + coconut flakes
Ricotta + raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries
Ripe fig (sliced or smashed) + honey + toasted sesame seeds + flaky sea salt
Sweet-and-Salty Breakfast Toast Toppings
Let's not forget the all-American classic, peanut butter and jelly. Don't take this sweet-meets-salty combination for granted: For a healthier breakfast version of this toast, top peanut butter with slices of banana and drizzle with honey. Then get creative by sprinkling on toasted coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, or cinnamon—or swap out the peanut butter for tahini, banana, honey, and salt.
Here are some other sweet-and-salty breakfast toast ideas to try:
Tahini + dark chocolate + agave syrup
Maple syrup + flaxseeds + pecans
Sliced ham + dried apricots
Prosciutto or speck + fresh figs
Prosciutto + melon drizzled with balsamic vinegar
Pancetta + figs (broiled)