Thanksgiving Breakfast Recipes
Fuss-Free Meals to Kickstart Your Holiday Morning
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Thanksgiving breakfast food should taste festive, yet free of fuss—after all, you want to save the big effort for dinner. All of these easy recipes will feed a crowd and can be put together ahead of time, frozen, pulled out the night before and baked on the morning of. That means more time spent with the family watching the parade, snuggling by the fire, or getting a head start on your Turkey Day feast.
Our collection compiles sweet and savory dishes, including casseroles, muffins, quiches, scones, and frittatas. Don't miss out on these tasty recipes. Thanksgiving feasting can start early in the day!
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Spicy Chorizo Sweet Potato Casserole
Leah Maroney Versatile breakfast casseroles work well for a big group of people because they come together quickly and can live in your freezer until you need them. If you have visitors during the holidays, plan ahead and make some casseroles to have at hand.
This hearty bake is made with sweet potato tater tots, cheddar, and spicy chorizo, but you can easily substitute other meats and cheeses and even sneak in some veggies! Ready in 40 minutes.
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Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins
Leah Maroney Bake up a batch of these pumpkin and cream cheese muffins to get the traditional Thanksgiving flavors going before the main event. Pumpkin everything seems to be the theme when the weather gets colder, and these muffins do not disappoint if you're a fan of pumpkin and pumpkin spice.
These rich muffins will remind you of a pumpkin cheesecake. Mix the batter and make cream cheese and sugar balls. Bake on a muffin tray and "hide" a cream cheese ball inside of each muffin. Perfect for your morning coffee. Ready in 35 minutes.
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Overnight French Toast Casserole
Diana Rattray Because it comes together ahead of time and improves its flavors in the refrigerator overnight, this French toast casserole makes a perfect Thanksgiving breakfast. Prep the entire thing the night before, pop it in the fridge overnight, and simply bake it in the morning for less than 20 minutes.
Crusty bread and a sweet eggy batter are all that you need. Add raisins or cranberries for a more festive look, or serve with sauteed apples in butter. Ready in 22 minutes after 1 night in the fridge.
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Pumpkin Spice Scones
Leah Maroney Start Thanksgiving off with an all-pumpkin vibe with these sweet and buttery pumpkin scones. The flavor and texture of these scones are bakery-worthy and their beautiful look will earn you many compliments.
Make a quick buttery batter with flour, pumpkin puree and spice, heavy cream, and eggs. The batter comes together quickly and doesn't need to rest, so you can shape and bake in less than 25 minutes. Let cool and drizzle with icing for a sweet fall-inspired breakfast.
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Corned Beef Spinach Strata
William Mahar / Getty Images A strata like our corned beef and spinach dish is a great make-ahead recipe for busy mornings. Put it together in 20 minutes and refrigerate overnight. Let rest at room temperature for 25 minutes before baking it the morning after, and sit down to a hearty and filling dish that will put you in a full-on holiday mood.
If you have vegetarians at the table, use mushrooms instead of the corned beef. Or add cubed tempeh or firm tofu. Bake for 55 minutes.
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Quiche Lorraine with Bacon and Gruyere
Louise Lister / Getty Images If you're foreseeing a busy Thanksgiving week and have family visiting, prepare this quiche in advance and freeze it. Our recipe makes the perfect busy morning breakfast – you just have to be sure to defrost it entirely before baking it.
Bacon and gruyere work best, as in the traditional recipe, but you can also use other cheeses, sausage, or skip the meats altogether for a vegetarian and lighter start to the day. Serve with a fresh vegetable or fruit salad. Ready in 1 hour.
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Cinnamon Pancakes
The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni
Start the day off with a seasonal twist on a favorite breakfast meal. The key ingredients to cinnamon pancakes are buckwheat flour and cinnamon, and your family will devour them.
The recipe is as easy as any other pancake: Mix the batter, heat the frying pan, and cook the cakes. Add maple syrup to the table, and breakfast is complete!
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Pumpkin Doughnuts
The Spruce Eats / Jessie Sheehan
Bake pumpkin doughnuts in advance and all you have to do on Thanksgiving morning is brew the coffee and squeeze the orange juice.
This simple baked recipe requires a doughnut pan and creates 18 doughnuts, so you'll have enough for everyone. The batter includes canned pumpkin purée and all the signature spices that normally accompany it in the pie. They're irresistible and delicious.
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Spiced Pumpkin Fritters
Diana Rattray These spiced pumpkin fritters are a great accompaniment to a festive family brunch or a lighter start to the day with a strong cup of coffee.
Make a flavorful batter and fry spoonfuls of it in neutral oil for 5 to 6 minutes. Roll them in cinnamon sugar and serve. The recipe yields 18 balls, which you can present in a breadbasket as part of the morning meal. Ready in 27 minutes.
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Sausage, Egg, and Biscuit Casserole
Diana Rattray
Once you eat a serving of this hearty casserole, you won't need to eat again until Thanksgiving dinner. This recipe is the right fuel if you're in charge of the holiday cooking.
Pre-made biscuits, pork sausage, and shredded cheese come together in a classic Southern dish. Mix up the cheeses, substitute bacon with sausage, or omit the meat for a vegetarian option. Ready in 1 hour.
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Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
The Spruce Eats / Victoria Heydt
Just set it and forget it! This overnight breakfast casserole bakes up in your slow cooker. Use frozen hash browns, diced ham, eggs, and shredded cheese to make a filling breakfast that cooks while you sleep. Add mushrooms instead of meats for a vegetarian option.
Wake up to a big breakfast that's flavorful, but most importantly, ready! Serve with buttered toast and sliced fruit. Ready in 6 hours and 45 minutes.
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Phyllo Sausage Egg Bake
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For a pretty presentation that looks like far more work than it actually takes, this phyllo sausage egg bake fits the bill. Layer a sausage, mushroom, and egg mixture with phyllo dough and a spinach and ricotta preparation. Although the ingredients are numerous, once you've cooked the sausage and eggs, the dish is actually fairly simple to put together.
Prepare the night before and bake it in the morning, or make it weeks in advance and freeze. Just thaw it completely in the refrigerator before sticking it in the oven. Ready in 1 hour and 20 minutes.
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Homemade Granola
 Claudia Totir / Getty Images
The holidays are the days to indulge without remorse, but too much of a good thing can leave you frowning all the way from your host's place back to your house. Start your day with a filling, nutrient-dense, and healthy option, and leave room for fatty meats and gravy for later in the day.
Mix rolled oats, seeds, nuts, and dried fruits, and moisten with a mixture of maple syrup, honey, vanilla, and oil. Bake for 25 minutes. If you're hosting, make a "buffet" with granola, Greek yogurt, and fresh fruit so each person can make their own parfait.
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Make-Ahead Cinnamon Rolls
Leah Maroney
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These cinnamon rolls "bake" right in your slow cooker, so you can free up oven space for the almighty bird. Assemble the rolls the night before, then pop them in the crockpot, and wake up to the wonderful aroma of cinnamon from gooey, moist rolls.
Make a yeast dough and let it prove for 1 hour. Roll out, spread butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Place rolls in the crockpot and either cook right away or place the insert in the fridge overnight and bake first thing in the morning. Ready in 3 hours and 30 minutes.
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Greek Mini Frittatas
Katie Workman / themom100.com
With zesty Greek flavors, these bite-size frittatas make a quick and portable breakfast if you have running around to do on the morning of the big dinner. Make them ahead and store in the fridge for a quick toaster oven or microwave meal, or whip up a batch for a pre-portioned breakfast that can easily scale up for a big group.
Cook onions and peppers with herbs and seasonings, add beaten eggs and pour in muffin tins. Add mushroom and extra cheese for an extra filling muffin. Ready in 35 minutes.
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Pecan Pie Muffins
Kristina VanniÂ
Muffins are an easy, make-ahead way to feed company, and these pecan pie muffins taste like Thanksgiving. With a cinnamon cake base and crunchy, nutty topping, they're all of the flavors of pecan pie in breakfast form. You can even double the recipe and, after letting them cool completely, stash them in airtight containers for the long weekend. They're delicious paired with coffee or hot tea.
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Sausage Cheddar Biscuits
Leah Maroney Bake these sausage Cheddar biscuits ahead of the holiday week, store them in the freezer, and pop them in the oven, toaster oven, or even microwave to warm up.
Thanksgiving is not the right time to watch your calories, so don't use lean sausage in this recipe because the fat is needed for the biscuits to stay moist. Ready in 25 minutes.
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Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole
Diana Rattray Simplify breakfast on a busy cooking day by making this Instant Pot breakfast casserole. It's chock full of all of the favorite savory breakfast foods, like bacon, cheese, eggs, hashbrowns, peppers, and onions, and cooks in the Instant Pot, freeing up the oven for the big bird.
Select the saute function on the Instant Pot to cook the bacon, then layer it with the rest of the ingredients in a springform pan and cook until set. The casserole is a delicious, filling breakfast that will hold everyone off until dinner.
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Swedish Tea Ring
The Spruce Eats / Anfisa Strizh
For a sweet breakfast starter that's beautiful, tasty, and festive, try this fruit and nut-studded Swedish tea ring. This recipe makes enough for two or three rings, depending on their size, so keep some for your household and bring the others to family and friends.
You'll need to plan ahead to make this recipe, but you can enlist some of your guests to help as a fun holiday project. Much in the fashion of a cinnamon roll, a fluffy dough is stuffed with dry fruit, nuts, and spices, but instead of being cut into rolls it's shaped in a big ring and baked whole. A sugary icing tops the ring. Ready in 1 hour and 40 minutes.
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Cranberry Orange Bread with Orange Icing
Photo Credit: Diana Rattray Serve this cranberry orange sweet bread on Thanksgiving morning for a light coffee pairing that will introduce seasonal flavors to start the day. An orange glaze levels up the sweetness without overpowering the berry taste, while cranberries and pecans add chewiness and texture to the bread.
Mix all of the ingredients and bake for 55 minutes. Let cool on a rack and cover in the orange icing. Ready in 1 hour and 10 minutes.
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Breakfast Burritos
If you need to feed a lot of people this recipe makes it happen fast. Set up a burrito station with warmed tortillas, avocados, sour cream, shredded cheese and beans. Then add this egg-and-sausage mixture to the table and go nuts. Let each guest build their own burrito.
No need to prep the night before, just ask for help and have this breakfast burritos ready in 25 minutes.