Breakfast might be the most important meal of the day, but it’s also undoubtedly the most hectic. Even if you had grand plans of waking up early to prepare the perfect Instagram-worthy spread of avocado toast, chances are things didn’t pan out quite that smoothly. The next thing you know, you’re running out the door and fishing for that protein bar you stashed in the bottom of your gym bag last week. So much for a relaxing morning.
We’ve been there, and that’s why we’re here to help. These breakfast recipes are easily portable, packed with flavor, and perfect for anything from a morning commute to a road trip. Stop eating sad, smashed packaged bars and step your breakfast game up a notch. Mornings are about to get a whole lot better.
1. Lemon Blueberry Energy Bites
The best thing about energy bites is that they’re totally customizable based on what’s in your pantry. Want to change the spices? Great. Add some dried fruit? Perfect. This recipe is naturally gluten-free with options to make it Paleo or vegan, if that’s your thing. The lemon and blueberry combo makes it a summery, refreshing treat that works for breakfast, a snack, or an after-dinner treat. The options are endless.
2. Grain-Free Pancake Muffins
If grain-free baking sounds intimidating, you have yet to meet these pancake muffins. They use almond flour and whole milk yogurt to create a creamy batter that you’ll never guess is low-carb. You can also use this recipe for pancakes (hence the name “pancake muffins”), so make a double batch and you’ve got a whole week of breakfasts on lock.
3. Blueberry Vanilla Greek Yogurt Granola Bars
Who needs store-bought granola bars when you can make them yourself? These gluten-free goodies are packed with superfoods like blueberries, chia seeds, and roasted nuts. The Greek yogurt coating adds the perfect touch of sweetness, so you’ll feel like you’re eating dessert for breakfast… which sounds like solid motivation to get out of bed.
4. Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a healthy breakfast staple, but it isn’t exactly travel-friendly. (Ever tried bringing a steaming bowl of oats in the car with you? Trust us, it’s not pretty.) That’s why baked oatmeal is a total game changer. Just mix all your ingredients together, bake in the oven until the edges are brown, and boom. Your oatmeal just became a handheld, portable meal.
5. Freezer Vegetable Breakfast Burritos
If you’re more of a savory breakfast person and still want something hearty, these breakfast burritos are a great way to use up all the leftover veggies in your fridge. They’re freezer-friendly and easy to defrost in the microwave before you head out the door. And when you’re prepping, you can stuff as many ingredients as humanly possible inside, so you won’t have to worry about a mid-morning hunger attack.
6. Make-Ahead Vegan Breakfast Tacos
Tacos aren’t just reserved for Tuesday night happy hour. If we could eat them for every meal of the week, we probably would. This vegan version uses chickpea flour as a substitute for eggs and lentils in place of chorizo. Wrap your tacos in tin foil and freeze to make them last, then whip them out and reheat in the morning so you can chow down on the go.
7. Mango Coconut Chia Pudding
Chia pudding is still trending, and for good reason—the tiny seeds pack a major nutritional punch. They’re full of fiber and healthy fats that will keep you satisfied until lunchtime. This version uses frozen mango, coconut milk, and a touch of sugar (omit if you’re avoiding this), and it’s a fruity pick-me-up that will last all week long. Portion out into mason jars to make the morning hustle that much easier.
8. Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies
Anything that resembles a cookie is obviously worth waking up early for. And a cookie that’s legitimately good for you? Sign us up. These babies are made with whole-wheat flour—or oat flour if you want to keep them gluten-free. The secret ingredient making them so moist? One cup of unsweetened applesauce. The toughest part of baking these will be trying to avoid eating them all right out of the oven.
9. Grab-and-Go Gluten-Free Breakfast Wraps
You can fold almost anything in a tortilla and make it portable, and these breakfast wraps are no exception. Prepared three different ways, they work especially well as a post-workout recovery meal. Packed with gluten-free carbohydrates, healthy fats, and fiber, they’re great for those mornings when you’re headed straight to work after your workout class. Skip the coffee shop sandwich and bring these instead.
10. Sausage, Egg, Cheese, and Hash Brown Muffins
If we’re talking about travel-friendly breakfasts, egg muffins clearly deserve a spot on the list. This recipe includes all of your breakfast faves: sausage, egg, hash browns, and cheddar cheese. Add bacon or peppers if you have them on hand, and you’ve got an entire meal that fits right into a muffin tin. Dreams do come true.
11. Bagel Bombs
It doesn’t get any better than a bagel… until you stuff it with cream cheese and make it into the shape of a donut hole. These bagel bombs may not exactly be healthy, but if you’re craving cheesy, carby goodness to start out your day, this recipe can’t be beat. Get creative with the fillings and add bacon, spices, even cinnamon, sugar, or jam. Plus, your kitchen will smell like a bakery, which is honestly everything. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
12. Ham, Kale, and Cauliflower Egg Muffins
You won’t find a breakfast recipe easier than this one. All you need is ham, kale, cauliflower rice, and eggs, and you’ve got a protein-packed, portable Paleo meal. Sneak in those greens without even having to think about it—you could also add whatever other veggies are left in your fridge. Just a few of these muffins in the morning are guaranteed to keep you satisfied for hours.
13. Zucchini Bread Overnight Oats
Here’s another stealthy way to add veggies to your morning meal—these overnight oats are mixed with vanilla protein powder, walnuts, and zucchini, and they taste just like eating zucchini bread from a mason jar. Perfect for summer mornings when you don’t want a hot meal, they’re easy to portion out and prepare as part of your weekly meal prep.
14. Mason Jar Sweet Potato Ground Turkey Scramble
Don’t worry, Whole30-ers, we didn’t forget about you. Just because you’re cutting grains and dairy doesn’t mean your breakfast has to require a ton of extra work. This mason jar beauty has layer after layer of complex carbs and protein. Made with ground turkey, sweet potato, sauteed leeks, and mushrooms, it’s the kind of meal you dream about at night before you wake up. Good thing it’s already prepped and ready.
15. Cold Brew Coffee Overnight Oatmeal
Get your coffee and breakfast all at once with this protein-packed overnight oatmeal. Mason jar-friendly and ready to go, it’s practically begging to come on the road with you. Chia seeds give it some extra healthy fat, and nut or seed milk keeps it vegan. We especially love this one on mornings when you need an extra kick to get your day going.
