Breakfast and pasta may not seem like two words that belong in the same breath. But if you think about it, pasta is just another grain, and aren’t grains often part of a healthy morning meal?
So while dishes like macaroni and eggs or honey feta orzo might sound strange, we promise it won’t take you long to get used them once you realize just how good they taste. Plus, let’s be honest, aren’t we all looking for more reasons to eat pasta?
1. Fontina Spinach and Artichoke Breakfast Pasta Hash
From spinach and mushrooms to eggs and cheese to pasta and even bacon, this hash really has it all. While it’s definitely on the heavier side of the spectrum, it’s also ideal for special occasions, for brunch gatherings, or for when you’re really, really hungry.
2. Breakfast Carbonara
It’s a mystery why more people don’t consider carbonara a breakfast food by more people, considering it contains both bacon and eggs. Still, it’s never too late to start enjoying a bowl of it first thing in the morning—and it’s so good, it won’t take too long to get used to it, either.
3. Brunch Time Asparagus Spaghetti With Baked Egg
Eggs and asparagus are an underrated but totally dynamite combination. Add both to a heap of whole-wheat pasta, coat everything in a light but creamy yogurt-based sauce, and dig into your new favorite single-serving breakfast.
4. Healthy Tex-Mex Breakfast Lasagna
“Healthy” and “Tex Mex” aren’t usually two words paired in the same sentence, but this lasagna manages to pack in a ton of nutrients while still being a stick-to-your-ribs kind of meal. With pinto beans, eggs, and Parmesan, it’s full of filling protein and can easily be made vegetarian and gluten-free too.
5. Mexican Breakfast Pasta
It may be called pizza, but instead of a crust, there’s pasta at the base of this skillet recipe. Beans, cheese, and jalapeño give it its Mexican flair, while over-easy eggs bump it up to breakfast status.
6. Indian Vermicelli Upma
You’ll find these noodles on breakfast tables all over South Asia—now bring ’em to yours. With veggies and vermicelli, mustard seeds, and even ketchup for flavoring, it’s a fun fusion dish anyone who loves a savory, spicy start to the day.
7. Kale Mushroom Pasta With a Soft-Boiled Egg
For many of us oats lovers, veggies aren’t a common component of breakfast, but this recipe might just change that. Packed with mushrooms and kale, it puts you well on your way to your five-a-day goal, but you’re also still getting buttery, cheese-topped pasta as part of the deal.
8. Pasta Omelette
Filling, forgiving, and fast, an omelet is great for using up stray ingredients in the fridge—but it’s far from a throwaway meal. This one incorporates leftover cooked pasta, several veggies, and cheese for a well-rounded, nutrient-rich breakfast that takes just about five minutes to cook.
9. Tomato, Basil, and Mushroom Breakfast Pasta
This bake comes with a few extra steps, but some of them can be done in advance, making this a great dish for brunchtime entertaining or meal prep. Plus, when you dig into gooey egg yolk, rich tomato sauce, and cheesy pasta, all that extra effort will be so worth it.
10. Honey Feta Orzo
Inspired by a traditional Bulgarian breakfast, this sweet and savory bowl may contain ingredients you never thought to put together, but the combination is as tasty as it is unlikely. Don’t be surprised if this replaces your bowl of oats a few times a week.
11. Breakfast Pasta Bake
This elbow macaroni bake is the perfect balance of healthy and hearty, packing in chicken sausage and cheese but also some generous servings of veggies for some much-needed morning fiber. Bonus points if you use whole-grain pasta for extra vitamins.
12. Peppery Scrambled Macaroni and Eggs
Passed down through generations, this recipe is a longtime staple for this blogger’s family—and for good reason. The pairing of elbow macaroni with creamy scrambled eggs is unexpectedly good and qualifies as serious comfort food. Watch it become a regular breakfast in your house too.
13. Grandma’s Noodle Kugel Makover
With lower-fat dairy, a combo of whole eggs and egg whites, and gluten-free fettuccine, this kugel is a lighter version of the classic egg noodle dish, but no less tasty. Don’t be too alarmed by the pairing of graham cracker crumbs with cheesy pasta—it sounds slightly wacky but works wonderfully.
14. Everything Bagel Pasta Sesame Noodles
The refined carbs and gluten of an everything bagel may not work for everyone, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t love the spice blend of poppy seeds, dried onion and garlic, etc. Ditch the wheat and keep the seasoning to use in this brown rice pasta. And just to prove that not every breakfast needs eggs, this one opts for tofu for some quality vegan protein.
15. Milk Soup With Pasta
If you can mix rice with milk, cinnamon, and sugar and call it pudding, there’s no reason you can’t do something similar with pasta. This eastern European breakfast favorite may be an acquired taste and texture for some, but like with all acquired tastes, you’ll swear by it once it grows on you.
