34 Back-to-School Breakfast Recipes

Getting kids to eat a healthy breakfast can be a next to impossible task. Depending on their ages and morning moods, we might be lucky to get a glass of instant breakfast drink into our kids before they're out the door. No matter what their ages, it can a real chore to lure kids to the breakfast table!

Kids going to school need breakfast but often balk at the thought of eating in their morning rush out the door.

Kids really want to do their best! Let your kids know why breakfast is important, and how it WILL make a difference in how they do in school. Ask them to take part in grocery shopping or help with the shopping list.

Like adults, kids have different tastes, and they know what they like. Some kids like cold cereal, some like hot, while others turn up their nose at any cereal and choose a donut or muffin. Pre-made breakfast bars are another alternative, but be sure to check the labels for nutritional value and consider making your own.

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Quick Cornbread, Bacon, and Egg Casseroles

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Use leftover cornbread or cornbread muffins as the base for this nutritious egg and bacon bake. Feel free to use cooked sausage or diced ham in these single serving casseroles.
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Chocolate Chip Pancakes

The Spruce

These delicious pancakes are filled with mini chocolate chips. They're fantastic with maple syrup. For an extra special treat, top them with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
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Mini Sausage Frittatas

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Serve these easy muffin cup sausage frittatas with ketchup, salsa, or marinara sauce.
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Strawberry Shortcake French Toast Casserole

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

The strawberry syrup intensifies the flavor in this strawberry shortcake French toast casserole. We use brioche bread, but biscuits, croissants, or a good quality French or Italian bread may be used as well. Make it ahead and eat away at it throughout the week!

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Carrot Muffins With Walnuts and Cream Cheese Spread

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

These carrot muffins are filled with nutritious shredded carrot and chopped walnuts.
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Breakfast Casserole With Sausage, Eggs, and Biscuits

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Split biscuits are the base in this hearty breakfast casserole with sausage, eggs, and biscuits. This is a great way to start a busy day and it makes a fabulous holiday breakfast.
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Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt

This hearty crock pot breakfast casserole cooks while you sleep! What could be easier?
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Scrambled Eggs With Cream Cheese

Photo: Pete Scherer.

Surprise the kids with this extra-creamy version of classic scrambled eggs. The secret ingredient is cream cheese, which contributes a smooth, luscious texture and subtle tanginess.

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Banana Bread Bars

The Spruce Eats / Pete Scherer

A tasty make-ahead recipe, banana bread bars are easy and full of flavor. The banana, date, walnut, and cinnamon combination is delicious and they have a semi-chewy texture that kids will enjoy. You'll appreciate that they're healthy and keep well in the refrigerator for a week.
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Vegan Banana Muffins

The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

Share the delightful taste of a classic muffin with the kids. Banana muffins are an ideal use of overripe bananas and are great breakfast bites, snacks, and even desserts. Easy to make, with simple ingredients, these moist vegan banana muffins are also a nice base for fruit, nuts, and even chocolate chips.
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Banana Pancakes

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

Banana pancakes are sure to be a hit with the kids. The batter includes cottage cheese for extra protein to start the day, and sour cream ensures they're nice and fluffy. Cooking a banana slice into each cake makes the recipe special and a little more fun.
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Mochi Waffles

Leah Maroney

If your kids have ever tried mochi cakes or ice cream, they will get excited about these mochi waffles. Mochiko, a sweet rice flour, is added to the waffle batter in place of some of the flour. The result is a crispy-on-the-outside waffle with a pleasant chewy texture inside. Serve with syrup, fruit, or any other family-favorite toppings.

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Sausage Pinwheel Rolls

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

These pinwheels rolls are made with puff pastry and ground breakfast sausage. Serve them along with scrambled eggs.
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Dutch Baby Pancake

Kristina Vanni

When the kids want pancakes but there's no time to stand at the stove, this Dutch baby recipe is the answer. A simple batter is poured into a hot buttered pan and baked until puffed up, golden and crispy on the edges, and creamy in the center. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with berries and maple syrup.
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Cream Cheese Pancakes

Leah Maroney

Whether you are looking for a gluten-free, low-carb, or keto-friendly pancake recipe, this cream cheese pancake is sure to please. More crepe than fluffy pancake, this simple recipe combines just four ingredients. Cook as usual, dust with powdered sugar, and serve with fresh berries.
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Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Kristina Vanni

Your kids may think they've been extra special when these chocolate banana muffins with chocolate chips make it to the breakfast table. A little dusting of powdered sugar is the perfect finishing touch.

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Themed Pancakes

The Spruce / Leah Maroney

If your kids aren't excited about school, cheer them up with a batch of colored and shaped pancakes. Simply add food coloring to the pancake mixture, pour the batter into a cookie cutter set on a griddle, and remove the cutter before flipping. Decorate with themed toppings.
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Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole

Diana Rattray

Layers of bacon, hashbrowns, cheese, eggs, peppers, and onion cook together in this Instant Pot breakfast casserole. The topping of shredded cheddar and fresh parsley are the finishing touch.
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Banana Oatmeal Muffins

Kristina Vanni

Perfect use of those overripe bananas on the counter, these muffins are moist and delicious. Oatmeal is not only in the batter but also made into a crumble with butter and cinnamon, making for a nice crunchy topping the kids are sure to enjoy.
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Blueberry Pancakes

The Spruce

These basic blueberry pancakes are always a hit with kids and families. If fresh blueberries are in season, make a blueberry sauce to serve with the pancakes.

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Easy Chocolate Chip Muffins

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

These easy chocolate chip muffins are easy and delicious. We used mini semisweet chocolate chips in the muffins, but regular semisweet or milk chocolate chips would be great as well. Or add toffee chips or nuts to the muffins.
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English Muffin Bread

Kristina Vanni

English muffin bread is an easier-to-make version of the breakfast classic. Make ahead of time and serve warm slices with butter or jam.
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Pizza Omelet

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

Kids will love this low-carb combination of an egg breakfast and pizza. Topped with marinara, melty cheese, and pepperoni, a pizza omelet is a real breakfast treat.
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Skillet Home Fries

The Spruce / Christine Ma

Add an egg or two and sausages or bacon and you have a hearty skillet home fries breakfast everyone will enjoy.

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Streusel Coffee Cake

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

This streusel cake is moist and delicious. The generous cinnamon spiced brown sugar crumb topping is simply irresistible.
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Pecan Pie Muffins

Kristina Vanni

This portable breakfast is easy to make and delicious made ahead of time. Pecan pie muffins include a fluffy, cinnamon-scented base with a crunchy, nutty topping.
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Corn Waffles

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

These corn waffles are like corn fritters baked in a waffle iron. They are amazing with maple syrup!
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Simple Shirred Eggs

The Spruce

The eggs make a simple shirred breakfast with two eggs per person. Add bacon, ham, or sausage, if you like, or serve them with fresh sliced tomatoes or fruit. They're great with baked beans as well.

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Spiced Apple Fritters

The Spruce

These heavenly little deep-fried spiced apple fritters are such a treat! Dust them with sugar or enjoy them with syrup.
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Impromptu Ham and Cheddar Breakfast Casserole

The Spruce

This impromptu ham and cheddar breakfast casserole, or strata, is made with whatever bread you have on hand, along with eggs, ham, and cheddar cheese. The dish takes about 10 minutes to prepare and then it bakes to perfection in about 45 minutes.
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Pumpkin Oat Muffins With Dates

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

These moist pumpkin date muffins get extra texture and fiber from the oats, and the simple streusel topping makes them special.
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Basic Pancakes

The Spruce

Serve these basic pancakes with maple syrup, fruit syrup, or berries for a delicious everyday breakfast.

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Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

Make Ahead Buttermilk Biscuits. Photo: Diana Rattray

Split these Southern buttermilk biscuits and fill them with country ham or top them with creamy sausage gravy.
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Basic French Toast

The Spruce

This basic French toast is simple and delicious. Make a big batch and freeze it in individual freezer bags for breakfasts all week long.

34 Back-to-School Breakfast Recipes and Ideas