16 Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas That Are Ready in 10 Minutes or Less
Updated: Jan. 13, 2023
You say you have no time? Ditch the morning rush excuses. Here are tasty, quick breakfast ideas to help fuel your day.
Not all breakfasts are created equal
Having a solid morning meal may help prevent overeating the rest of the day, Joy Bauer, RD, told Woman’s Day. But research has consistently shown that including protein is the key to feeling full and quelling mid-morning munchies. (Sorry, doughnuts.) Think you’re too busy? Here’s over a week’s worth of healthy and easy breakfast ideas. Not very hungry in the morning? Here’s why you should never skip breakfast.
Yogurt breakfast drink
This is one of the most convenient easy breakfast ideas because you can sip it while you’re getting ready. The yogurt is also high in protein and will keep you going all day long. For this breakfast drink, blend peach and vanilla yogurt with orange juice concentrate, milk, and ice and you’ll have a nutritious meal to-go. Get the recipe at Taste of Home.
Berry pie oatmeal
Whole-grain oats at breakfast become even healthier in this Blackberry Pie Oatmeal recipe adapted from Oprah magazine. Top a bowl of cooked oats with 1/3 cup blackberries (or your favorite), then add 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts and one crushed graham cracker. One of the most antioxidant-rich fruits, berries are loaded with fiber and vitamin C. Walnuts’ protein and fat help make the oatmeal more satiating.
Cheesy mushroom scramble
Eggs take a lot less time than you think. Try this quick scrambled egg recipe if you’re looking for easy breakfast ideas, complete with mushrooms and shredded low-fat cheese, from Prevention. For great eggs, start scrambling them as soon as they hit the pan, and cook until firm. These tips will help all your eggs come out perfect.
Breakfast banana splits
You thought banana splits were for dessert? Think again! They’re also for facemasks, polishing, and sunburn. And breakfast, of course. This is one of the sweetest easy breakfast ideas and combines fruit, granola, and yogurt to keep you going all day long. Just cut a banana in half crosswise and use the peel as a serving dish to combine all the ingredients. Get the full recipe at Taste of Home.
Berry waffle taco
Frozen waffles aren’t just for kids! Try the breakfast Berry Wafflewich recipe from Prevention: Pop a whole-grain waffle in the toaster while getting dressed. When it’s ready, spread on one tablespoon of peanut butter or almond butter for 3 to 4 grams of protein. Cup the waffle in your hand, add antioxidant- and vitamin-rich berries of your choice, then squeeze lightly, taco-style.
Speedy huevos rancheros
This Mexican-style breakfast from Real Simple can be made with an already-cooked refrigerated hard-boiled egg (or an egg quickly scrambled in under five minutes). Slice and add to a medium whole-wheat tortilla, and you’ve got nine grams of protein and three grams of fiber. If you’ve got an extra minute or two, add a piece of Canadian bacon and a half-ounce slice of cheese like flavorful pepper jack. Top with two tablespoons of salsa for kick. For a Mexican lunch and dinner too, save these delicious recipes.
Strawberry-yogurt smoothie
Smoothies are a great breakfast option for hectic mornings, especially if you start with pre-sliced frozen fruit. A strawberry smoothie recipe combines low-calorie strawberries, which are high in vitamin C, potassium, and fiber; orange juice, with more immunity-boosting vitamin C; and protein- and calcium-rich yogurt. (Soak the blender in the sink. You’ll clean it after work.)
Fruit salad
You only need a few cups of fruit, some juice, and some yogurt to make this super quick and easy fruit salad. To save even more time, cut up the fruit the night before. Get the recipe at Taste of Home. Got some tomatoes in the fridge? You’re welcome to put them in both your fruit and your side salad, because the debate on whether tomatoes are a fruit or a vegetable has been settled.
Peanut butter and honey on toast
Toast a slice of whole-wheat bread and spread it with one tablespoon of natural peanut butter and one tablespoon of raw honey. The PB delivers about four grams of energizing protein, the toast about two grams of fiber and four more grams of protein, and raw honey contains phytonutrients with antimicrobial and cancer-fighting properties. It’s especially important to eat a healthy breakfast if you’re living with diabetes.
Fruit and cheese
It’s doesn’t get simpler than this nutritious combo, which is easy to eat for breakfast on the run. Toss an apple (for 3 grams of filling fiber) and an ounce of cheddar cheese (for 7 grams of protein and 20 percent of your daily calcium need) in a bag and go get that bus. If you prefer your breakfasts hot, why not try one of these meals you can make in a mug in the microwave?
Fruit and yogurt
Skip the flavored versions (they usually have more sugar than a bowl of Frosted Flakes!) and dish up some low-fat plain Greek yogurt instead. The fat and protein will keep you full, and you can add any toppings you like.
Breakfast parfaits
This parfait packs a punch of protein with fruit and yogurt. Layer pineapple, raspberries, yogurt, bananas, and dates in a dish on top of yogurt. Sprinkle almonds on top and you’re good to go! Get the full recipe at Taste of Home.
Egg muffins
Unlike a traditional muffin, egg muffins are packed with protein, without loading up on sugar and carbs. Plus, adding spinach or tomatoes will put you well on your way to your vegetable goals even before lunch. Make a batch like Taste of Home’s Scrambled Egg Muffins early in the week, then pop them in the fridge. In the morning, a quick 30- to 60-second nuke is all they take.
Avocado toast
Don’t spend your paycheck buying avocado toast out—make it at home, quicker and cheaper! Top your toast with avocado, plus keep it interesting by adding pesto, smoked salmon, radishes, or other tasty extras.
Mashed sweet potato
Pierce a sweet potato in several spots with a fork, then microwave it for five minutes, rotating it halfway through. Once it’s soft, use a fork to mash it up. Top it with almond butter for protein like Liv from Healthy Liv does, plus: cinnamon, raisins, and chopped nuts.
Breakfast pops
The prep for these will take way more than seven minutes, but with a little planning, you’ll have an instant breakfast every morning. Use a recipe like TheKitchn’s Yogurt Parfait Breakfast Popsicles to create a frozen breakfast chock-full of protein-packed yogurt and vitamin-rich berries. In the morning, just grab and go—no defrosting necessary.
Sources:
- Joy Bauer, RD: “How to Overcome Overeating”
- Oprah Magazine: “7 Creative Variations on Oatmeal”
- Prevention: “Cheesy Mushroom Scramble”
- Prevention: “Berry Wafflewich”
- Real Simple: “25 Fast, Healthy (and Delicious!) Breakfast Ideas”
- Healthy Liv: “Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl”
- TheKitchn: “Recipe: Yogurt Breakfast Popsicles”
