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Brunch is a beloved meal that combines the best of breakfast and lunch. Whether you’re looking for savory eggs Benedict or sweet pancakes, brunch has something for everyone.
Planning the perfect brunch is actually really easy and there are lots of brunch food ideas to choose from. You can go all out with a huge spread or you can prepare something simple.
Brunch is usually served buffet style so you don’t have to spend a lot of time plating up food for your guests. The food options are limitless since it’s not really breakfast and not really lunch. You can serve anything that tickles your fancy.
What is in a Brunch?
Brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch, typically served late morning to early afternoon.
The specific food items served during brunch can vary depending on personal preferences, cultural traditions, and the establishment that is serving it.
What is on a Typical Brunch Menu?
A good brunch menu combines the best of breakfast and the best of lunch. I recommend selecting a variety of these brunch menu ideas, perhaps one from each category.
An egg dish – Baked egg muffins, omelets or even scrambled eggs. A Loaded Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole can almost always be found on my menu. It’s easy and can be made a day in advance.
Something savory – A Pineapple Glazed Ham, or a selection of breakfast meats always make a splash. Or go with a classic like biscuits and gravy. Bacon, sausage, and ham are often served with brunch and since it’s so easy to cook bacon in the oven or make air fryer bacon, you’ll always find it on my buffet spread.
Something sweet – Include delicious fluffy pancakes, waffles, or stuffed french toast for something more extravagant. My Pumpkin Waffles topped with butter and syrup are a tradition for a fall or Thanksgiving brunch.
Muffins. Some sort of pastry is a must. You can buy them in bulk at Costco or make some bakery-style Chocolate Chip Muffins up to a month in advance and freeze them until the big day!
Fruit salad.A mixture of seasonal fruits is often served as a side dish or dessert on your menu, and it’s a great way to add a fresh element to contrast some of the heavier dishes.
Beverages – Coffee, tea and juice are a must. A signature cocktail or mocktail will complete the brunch spread.
Make Ahead Brunch Recipes
There are lots of things you can make in advance for breakfast and brunch to save. you valuable time in the kitchen during your gathering.
Most egg casseroles can be prepped in advance and baked the day of, or even baked in advance and frozen or refrigerated then reheated. Breakfast burritos can too.
French toast casseroles are great too because they are almost always required to sit over night so the bread can soak up that custardy goodness.
Deviled eggs, fruit salads are great make heads that require little effort, and breakfast meats can be made in advance and warmed up the day of.
Muffins, pastries and cookies can all be prepared ahead of time.
Egg Muffins are an easy, simple breakfast option that are perfect to keep on hand for breakfast on those morning. Full of protein and easy to customize, Egg Muffin Cups are a great grab and go breakfast or snack.
Easy and delicious and perfect for a weekend brunch or make ahead breakfast, these Hash Brown Waffles are filled with eggs, cheese and potatoes and cooked in your waffle maker!
Deviled Eggs Benedict is a cross between two of my most beloved bites! These eggs are super easy to make and they disappear as fast as you can make them!
Ham and Cheese Quiche
Ham and Cheese Quiche is a savory pie filled with eggs, cheese and ham. It's a perfect main course any time of day!
Spicy Mexican Breakfast Casserole is flavor-packed and perfect for the breakfast crowd at your next fiesta! Made with spicy sausage, eggs, cheese and bread.
No more hectic mornings when you have fast, easy and delicious Make Ahead Freezer Breakfast Burritos on hand! Fill with eggs, cheese, sausage and more!
The best Frittata recipe made with asparagus, tomatoes and goat cheese. It’s a healthy meal option that’s full of protein packed eggs and delicious veggies.
English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas are a great way to get a hot breakfast on the table. Make a bunch and freeze them for a quick on-the-go breakfast, or serve them up for your holiday crowd!
Biscuits and gravy with a weekend staple at my house. The easy Sausage Gravy recipe only takes 20 minutes to prepare and is as good as any breakfast joint!
Learn how to cook bacon in the oven! Forget the mess and grease splatters, oven bacon cooks evenly, produces the crispiest result and is totally hands off.
Crispy, fluffy and delicious Easy Breakfast Potatoes are baked in the oven and are the perfect side dish for any meal | Potato Recipes | Breakfast Recipes
Copycat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole is an easy, cheesy recipe with frozen hashbrowns, cheese sauce and a crunchy corn flakes topping. Perfect for potlucks, brunch or as a simple side dish.
Air Fryer French Toast Sticks are a classic breakfast made easy with thick slices of bread soaked in an egg mixture then cooked until fluffy & golden. Serve with syrup.
Everyone should know how to make perfect French Toast! This quick and easy breakfast recipe is gorgeously browned on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside, and is easily customized!
Thick slices of sweet, egg-soaked bread cooked until golden and stuffed with a sweet cream cheese filling. Perfect for a sweet breakfast or brunch treat.
French Toast Bake is an easy and delicious Sunday brunch or lazy Saturday morning favorite. Add in ripe, juicy strawberries sandwiched between sweet Hawaiian bread and baked French Toast style and this baked french toast will steal the show!
Lemon Blueberry Muffins are sweet and tangy and a delicious option for breakfast or snack. They are perfect for freezing so you always have muffins on hand!
These homemade cinnamon rolls are so soft & gooey and baked to a golden brown perfection before being smothered in cream cheese frosting. I can’t imagine breakfast without them!
These Carrot Apple Raisin Muffins are going to be your new favorite snack! Incredibly moist and tender, they are delicious for breakfast and perfect for packing in kids’ lunches.
This refreshing fruit salad is perfect as a side dish or a healthy dessert…and it has a secret ingredient that might surprise you! Perfect for summer, this fruit salad will win your backyard barbecues and picnics.
This Easy Cream Cheese Fruit Dip has so simple and so delicious. With just 3 ingredients it whips up in minutes making it perfect for snack or dessert.
Nobody can resist this buttery, moist Coffee Cake with a ribbon of streusel in the middle and even more on top! It's just the thing for a weekend brunch or an afternoon treat!
Cinnamon Roll Cake is a like a moist, gooey cinnamon roll without the work! A delicious white cake swirled with a buttery brown sugar cinnamon topping with a sweet cream cheese frosting.
Deliciously moist and flavorful, this Strawberry Pound Cake is a one-bowl treat that has a fruity and sweet glaze and satisfies that sweet tooth! It's a great spring and summer dessert!
This simple lemon pound cake is buttery, moist, and filled with a delicious lemon flavor. It’s made with lemon zest and fresh lemon juice in the batter, and drizzled with lemon glaze for a pound cake recipe that won’t disappoint!
Peach Sangria is the perfect drink to keep your whole family refreshed this summer, with non-alcoholic and adult versions and tons of bold peach flavor.
How to make delicious fruit infused water – four recipes!
Have You Tried These Recipes?
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Kristin Maxwell
Kristin Maxwell is the creator and main recipe developer, writer, and photographer of Yellow Bliss Road. A self-taught cook and self-appointed foodie, she specializes in easy, flavorful and approachable recipes for any home cook.
Hi!
Nice to meet you!
I have to plan a brunch for 40 people , an Irish grandparents, and A vegetArian mother in law , and I need some ideas!
And quantities….how much of each item….thanks!!!
Your “Easy Breakfast Skillet” link is actually “https://www.yellowblissroad.com/easy-breakfast-pizza/” instead of “https://www.yellowblissroad.com/breakfast-skillet/”
Kristen, your link for the seasoned egg and sausage muffins takes us instead to the breakfast pizza recipe. Those muffins are one of my favorite go-to breakfast recipes!!! Can you please fix the link so that I can make them again?!?! Thanks so much!
found you accidently researching brunch ideas for my daughter’s first mother’s day. Hope you’re healing and healthy. God bless you.
Hi!
Nice to meet you!
I have to plan a brunch for 40 people , an Irish grandparents, and A vegetArian mother in law , and I need some ideas!
And quantities….how much of each item….thanks!!!
I think you’ll find lots of ideas in this post. Good luck!
I found this site by accident but thank you, I so needed these different ideas for breakfast.
I’m so glad you found us Aletha! i”m happy it worked out for you.
Everything looks great!!! my question is are Bruches just based on breakfast food or can you combine breakfast and lunch together for a brunch?
A brunch typically has breakfast foods and lunch type foods. Waffles, fruits, muffins and pastries, eggs, bacon, lunch meats, cheese, casseroles.
It supposed to be breakfast and lunch like chicken and waffles or like a turkey and bacon avocado Ciabatta toast
Very impressive and delicious recipes.
Thank you XIOMARA!
You tired them all?
Your “Easy Breakfast Skillet” link is actually “https://www.yellowblissroad.com/easy-breakfast-pizza/” instead of “https://www.yellowblissroad.com/breakfast-skillet/”
Fixed, thanks!
You have some great and easy ideas. That were a big hit our my daughters 30th birthday brunch. Thank you
Hello Sharon,
So happy that you loved this recipe!
Thank you!
Thanks so much for including my Raspberry Mango Sangria in your post! What delicious brunch recipes!
I can’t decide which to make first!! Thanks for sharing!
Kristen, your link for the seasoned egg and sausage muffins takes us instead to the breakfast pizza recipe. Those muffins are one of my favorite go-to breakfast recipes!!! Can you please fix the link so that I can make them again?!?! Thanks so much!
Oh my goodness, these look so amazing I can’t decide what to make first!!