18 Quick Breakfast Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

These simple breakfast ideas deliver big flavor to start your day right.

Egg Bhurji over toast
Photo: Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Judy Haubert

We all know breakfast is an important meal, and preparing it doesn't have to be especially time-consuming. To prove our point, we've rounded up a selection of our favorite a.m. dishes that are ready to eat in just 30 minutes or less. Take your pick from quick breakfast recipes like classic French toast, Indian-spiced scrambled eggs, a fragrant five-herb frittata, and more to give your body a boost any day of the week.

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French Toast

French Toast

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Amelia Rampe

Whether you're looking for a special-occasion breakfast dish or just feel like treating yourself, this easy French toast recipe, which uses sturdy Italian bread, is a keeper.

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Breakfast Ramen

Breakfast Ramen

Food & Wine / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Jasmine Smith / Prop Styling by Tucker Vines

Just like you can eat pancakes for dinner, you can also eat ramen noodles for breakfast. In this one-pot recipe, bacon, egg, and cheese perch atop a base of pantry- and budget-friendly ramen noodles.

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Croque Madame

Croque Madame
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Ali Ramee / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

The French croque madame sandwich is a lesson in extravagance, made with white bread, butter, cheese, ham, Mornay sauce, and a fried egg. It's a luxurious, deeply comforting dish. If you like, turn it into a croque monsieur by simply skipping the fried egg.

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Egg Bhurji (Spiced Indian Scrambled Eggs)

Egg Bhurji over toast
Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Judy Haubert

Plain scrambled eggs are transformed into this vibrant Indian breakfast flavored with onions, chiles, ginger, tomatoes, and spices. A squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of cilantro add a final dose of brightness. It's delicious with roti or paratha, or served with toast.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats

Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

Mixed with milk and yogurt and packed with fruit and a graham cracker crust, these overnight oats taste like strawberry cheesecake. The recipe only takes 10 minutes to prepare, but the oats do need to chill overnight, so plan accordingly.

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Eggs Benedict Toast

Eggs Benny Toast
Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer and Paige Grandjean / Prop Styling by Christine Keely

This simplified take on eggs Benedict features prosciutto instead of Canadian bacon and steamed eggs rather than poached. Easier than poaching, gently steaming eggs results in delicately tender whites and smooth, creamy yolks.

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Monte Cristo

Monte Cristo Recipe

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Debbie Wee

No need to choose between sweet and savory: This breakfast mash-up combines a ham and cheese sandwich with French toast, complete with raspberry jam, spicy mustard, and a dusting of powdered sugar.

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French Rolled Omelet

French Rolled Omelet
Jennifer Causey

Make a perfect French rolled omelet with fresh herbs and nutty Gruyère cheese in just 10 minutes.

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Banana Almond Butter Smoothie

Banana, almond butter, date smoothie recipe

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Ali Domrongchai

Medjool dates and frozen banana are the sweetening secret to these nutty, thick smoothies that taste almost like having ice cream for breakfast, no scooping required.

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Ultimate Breakfast Sandwiches

Breakfast Sandwiches

Kelsey Hansen / Food Styling by Annie Probst / Prop Styling by Breanna Ghazali

It takes just 15 minutes to put together the quintessential breakfast sandwich: A toasted English muffin envelops gooey cheddar, a fried egg, and crispy bacon. We like them slathered with mayonnaise and ketchup.

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Cinnamon Polenta Pancakes

Cinnamon Polenta Pancakes
© Quentin Bacon

Using cornmeal in addition to white flour in these pancakes makes them especially satisfying. They're wonderful served warm with fresh berry compote.

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Scrambled Huevos Rancheros

Scrambled Huevos Rancheros
© Donal Skehan

For his simplified version of huevos rancheros, chef Donal Skehan pairs fresh cherry tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and lime with scrambled eggs for a bright, inviting breakfast that's quick to prepare.

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Za'atar Baked Eggs

Za'atar Baked Eggs
John Kernick

In this go-to breakfast and brunch dish from Top Chef judge Gail Simmons, eggs are baked in a cherry tomato–pepper mix seasoned with the Mediterranean spice blend za'atar, then served with a cucumber yogurt sauce.

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Sweet Breakfast Quinoa

Sweet Breakfast Quinoa
© Tina Rupp

Stud maple syrup–sweetened quinoa with dried apricots and slivered almonds, spice with cinnamon, and top with a dollop of creamy ricotta in this recipe from hospitality expert Jill Donenfeld.

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Five-Herb Frittata with Prosciutto and Parmesan

Five-Herb Frittata Prosciutto and Parmesan
John Kernick

Star chef Nancy Silverton has strong opinions about frittatas. She likes them to be creamy like scrambled eggs, with various toppings such as prosciutto, cheese, and a generous amount of herbs.

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Parmesan Asparagus with Poached Eggs

Parmesan Asparagus with Poached Eggs
© Jody Horton

This simple, elegant recipe from actress Gwyneth Paltrow combines fresh spring asparagus, tons of Parmesan, and poached eggs. Serve it with toast.

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Moroccan Date Bonbons

Moroccan-Date Bonbons
© John Kernick

Chef Elizabeth Falkner loves eating two of these energy-boosting, cardamom-spiced date bites made with almonds, walnuts, and pistachios, as a snack or for breakfast.

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Spiced Chickpeas with Yogurt and Pine Nuts

Spiced Chickpeas with Yogurt and Pine Nuts
© Lucy Schaeffer

Chickpeas aren't an obvious breakfast choice, but they're a great one. The chefs at Marisa May’s now-shuttered restaurant SD26 used to make these stewy, savory chickpeas for her when she hadn’t gotten to eat something filling at home.

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