21 Most Popular Make-Ahead Breakfasts for a Stress-Free Morning

By

Camryn Alexa Wimberly

Published on April 10, 2025

three small jars of carrot cake overnight oats, two spoons, a cloth napkin and a cup of coffee — Photo:
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Catherine Jessee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Thanks to these make-ahead recipes, you’ll have one less thing to worry about when you wake up in the morning! These breakfast recipes are perfect for prepping in advance, so you can have a grab-and-go meal whenever necessary. Whether you’re in the mood for a sweet dish like our Carrot Cake Overnight Oats or something savory like our Vegan Freezer Breakfast Burritos, these popular recipes are worth a try.

01 of 21

Berry Chia Pudding

Chia seeds are a good source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, plus they have fiber, iron and calcium. Here they’re mixed with a fruity base and refrigerated until the chia seeds expand to form a thick, creamy texture similar to tapioca.

02 of 21

Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

three small jars of carrot cake overnight oats, two spoons, a cloth napkin and a cup of coffee — Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Catherine Jessee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Carrot cake for breakfast? We say yes! These carrot cake overnight oats taste just like the classic dessert—complete with a frosting-like layer—but with far less added sugar. We like layering some of the frosting in between layers of oats, but you can just dollop it all on top if you prefer.

03 of 21

Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers

an image of the Muffin-Tin Omelets with Feta & Peppers — Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

These baked mini omelets are the perfect breakfasts on the go. With briny feta and perfectly tender peppers, they’re flavorful yet portable.

04 of 21

Vegan Freezer Breakfast Burritos

Vegan Freezer Breakfast Burritos

Having a stash of flavorful bean burritos in your freezer means you’ll always have a satisfying plant-based meal ready for a grab-and-go breakfast on a busy morning. Our vegan breakfast filling—made with tofu and prepared to mimic scrambled eggs—is tossed with beans, veggies and salsa for a delicious and ultra-satisfying meal.

05 of 21

Cinnamon-Roll Overnight Oats

Side view of jars full of Cinnamon-Roll Overnight Oats recipe — Diana Chistruga

These cinnamon-roll-inspired overnight oats take just minutes to assemble. You’ll have meal-prepped grab-and-go breakfasts on hand for the rest of the week.

06 of 21

Baked Banana-Nut Oatmeal Cups

Baked banana-nut oatmeal cups — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Muffins meet oatmeal in these moist and tasty grab-and-go oatmeal cups. They’re the perfect snack when you need something sweet and portable!

07 of 21

Tres Leches-Inspired Overnight Oats

a recipe photo of the Tres Leches Inspired Overnight Oats — Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

Tres leches, which is Spanish for “three milks,” gets its name from the three types of milk that are used to soak the classic cake: whole milk, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. Here, we use those milks to hydrate oats, creating a creamy, satisfying breakfast.

08 of 21

Easy Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins

Easy loaded baked omelet muffins pile on top of each other on a pink plate — Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Maura Timmerman

Protein-packed omelet muffins, or baked mini omelets, are a perfect breakfast for busy mornings. Make a batch ahead and freeze for the days when you don’t have time for your typical bowl of oatmeal.

09 of 21

Apple-Cinnamon Overnight Oats

With the classic flavor combo of tart apples and warming cinnamon, these overnight oats make for a delicious grab-and-go breakfast throughout the week.

10 of 21

Mini Quiches with Sweet Potato Crust

Shredded sweet potato hash browns make up the healthy crust of these gluten-free muffin-tin quiches. This grab-and-go breakfast is super-easy to prep ahead and keep stashed in the fridge or freezer. Serve them for brunch or eat them on busy weekdays.

11 of 21

Quinoa & Chia Oatmeal Mix

Make your own hot cereal mix with this healthy recipe. Keep it on hand and just cook up the amount you need when you’re ready for a hot breakfast. One serving of the warm cereal contains 6 grams of fiber—almost a quarter of your daily quota.

12 of 21

Muffin-Tin Quiches with Smoked Cheddar & Potato

Muffin-Tin Quiches with Smoked Cheddar & Potato

Potatoes, cheese and greens make this mini quiche recipe delicious and satisfying. Bake up a batch over the weekend and you’ll have breakfast available in a hurry for the rest of the week.

13 of 21

Blueberry-Banana Overnight Oats

Blueberries, sweet banana and creamy coconut milk combine to turn everyday oatmeal into the best vegan overnight oats! Make up to 4 jars at once to keep in the fridge for quick grab-and-go breakfasts throughout the week.

14 of 21

Blueberry Almond Chia Pudding

Switch up your morning oatmeal routine with this so-easy chia pudding recipe. It’s made just like overnight oats—combine chia and your milk of choice, let soak overnight, then top with juicy blueberries and crunchy almonds and dig in!

15 of 21

Breakfast Blueberry-Oatmeal Cakes

Breakfast Blueberry-Oatmeal Cakes

This oatmeal-meets-muffin-tin cake recipe is perfect for having a healthy breakfast available on busy weekdays. Make a batch on the weekend and keep them in your freezer. For a grab-and-go breakfast, reheat the oatmeal cakes in the microwave for about 40 seconds.

16 of 21

Muffin-Tin Omelets with Broccoli, Ham & Cheddar

Let your muffin tin help you meal-prep a week’s worth of protein-rich muffin-tin eggs with the classic combo of ham, Cheddar cheese and broccoli to stash in the fridge or freezer for those extra-busy mornings.

17 of 21

Pumpkin Overnight Oats

Make these easy vegan overnight oats with whatever nondairy milk you have on hand. It's a great way to use up leftover canned pumpkin—plus, you can multiply the recipe to meal-prep healthy breakfasts for the whole week.

18 of 21

Make-Ahead Freezer Breakfast Burritos with Eggs, Cheese & Spinach

Make-Ahead Freezer Breakfast Burrito with Eggs, Cheese & Spinach — Ali Redmond

Mornings just got easier with these satisfying breakfast burritos made with eggs, spinach, serrano peppers and cheese. These burritos can last for months in the freezer and reheat within minutes in the microwave, so keep a stash on hand for when you need a quick, healthy breakfast.

19 of 21

Low-Carb Blueberry Muffins

Low-Carb Blueberry Muffins

In place of all-purpose flour, nutty almond and coconut flours make these muffins fluffy while slashing carbs. A bit of brown sugar blunts the tartness of fresh blueberries. Make these ahead for a grab-and-go breakfast for the week.

20 of 21

Copycat Starbucks Spinach & Mushroom Egg Bites

a recipe photo of the Copycat Starbucks Spinach & Mushroom Egg Bites — Jamie Vespa

Skip the pricey Starbucks breakfast in favor of our oven-baked egg bites, which are packed with spinach and mushrooms. Enjoy these meal-prep-friendly egg bites as is, or serve with a dollop of salsa or hot sauce, or sliced avocado.

21 of 21

Pumpkin-Oatmeal Muffins

These healthy pumpkin-oatmeal muffins will get you in the mood for fall. Sprinkling the muffins with pecans adds a nutty crunch to every bite. Serve them for breakfast or as a grab-and-go snack.

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