Posted Jan 27, 2021, Updated Aug 23, 2024 You’ve heard it said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I couldn’t agree more. I try my very best to always feed my family a healthy breakfast so that we begin each day with bellies full of nutritious foods to energize us until lunch! So I put together this post of all our favorite healthy breakfast ideas. Because as a busy mom of 6, I have found it helps to have a list of healthy breakfast recipes ready to go for the days we get stuck in a rut. These healthy breakfast recipes are easy and made with simple ingredients. Many can be prepared in advance for quick grab-and-go options. I tried to organize these healthy breakfast recipes the best that I could into the following categories:
Oatmeal Recipes
Oatmeal is a delicious and nutritious way to start the day. Check out this breakfast ideas with oatmeal.
Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal
This is one of my top 5 favorite healthy breakfast recipes. Easy to make ahead and freeze!
Overnight Oats (6 Ways)
Overnight oats are a delicious meal prep recipe – and these are thick and creamy with 6 different flavor variations!
Banana Oatmeal Cookies
These banana oatmeal cookies are one of the most genius breakfast ideas because your kids will love eating cookies for breakfast – but they’re healthy and easy to make in 15 minutes!
Classic Baked Oatmeal
This is a delicious, classic baked oatmeal recipe that can be served with a variety of toppings. I highly recommend slathering it with homemade cinnamon honey butter!
Baked Oatmeal Cups
Or, make individual servings with these baked oatmeal cups. Perfect to freeze and reheat on busy mornings.
Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
Add some anti-oxidants and protein (with yogurt) and make this blueberry baked oatmeal.
Chocolate Overnight Oats
These chocolate overnight oats are a delicious meal prep recipe – perfect for chocolate lovers! Serve them warm or cold.
Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Loaded with fiber (from chia seeds & oats), protein & healthy fats, these peanut butter overnight oats will keep you full until lunch.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
Or, combine the two and make chocolate peanut butter overnight oats – it’s like eating a peanut butter cup but healthier and not as sweet! 🙂
Breakfast Cookies
https://joyfoodsunshine.com/breakfast-cookies/Another breakfast cookie recipe that will earn you some serious “cool mom” points for letting your kiddos eat cookies for breakfast. Choose your favorite mix-ins.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal
Chocolate peanut butter baked oatmeal is a delicious breakfast that tastes like a combination between a peanut butter cup and a brownie but it’s healthy. It’s a family favorite!
Cinnamon Apple Baked Oatmeal
Perfect for chilly fall mornings, this apple baked oatmeal is a delicious way to use up the abundance of in-season produce.
Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
Another cozy fall breakfast – this pumpkin baked oatmeal is easy to make! Plus, it’s a nutritious way to satisfy your pumpkin spice cravings.
Pumpkin Overnight Oats
Don’t want to bake? Try these pumpkin overnight oats! It’s like eating pumpkin pie in a nutritious way!
Yogurt Overnight Oats
Loaded with greek yogurt, these Yogurt Overnight Oats are nutritious and delicious!
Peanut Butter Oatmeal
This stovetop peanut butter oatmeal is easy to make in 15 minutes. A perfect, hearty breakfast for busy mornings.
Peanut Butter Granola
This peanut butter granola is made with 6 nutritious ingredients and no refined sugars. Serve it over yogurt with your favorite fruit or jam!
Breakfast Bars
I ate these every day for breakfast for over a decade. I created this recipe to replace the packaged protein bars I used to eat on my way to work from the gym every morning. I love them!
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
One more breakfast cookie – because why not? These oatmeal peanut butter breakfast cookies are delicious and hearty and easy to make.
Healthy Homemade Granola
This is my favorite traditional, healthy granola recipe. It’s delicious served over yogurt or with a splash of milk and fruit!
Energy Balls
These energy balls are easy to freeze and grab a few on the go. I like eating a few of them after enjoying a healthy smoothie!
Savory Breakfast Recipes
Sometimes we just need some eggs and bacon for breakfast! Here are our favorite savory breakfast ideas.
Egg Casserole
This egg casserole is made with simple ingredients and is a nutritious recipe to feed a crowd. It’s gluten-free!
Breakfast Egg Sandwiches
It’s so easy to make these breakfast sandwiches ahead of time. Just pop them in the freezer and reheat when you need a hearty breakfast in a hurry!
Egg Muffins
Egg muffins are just like egg casserole, only baked in individual portions making them a perfect meal prep recipe!
Frittata
I think I make this Frittata for dinner more than breakfast! 🙂 It’s easy and delicious and 100% customizable. Use your favorite meats, veggies and cheeses to make it your own.
Crispy Oven Potatoes
These oven roasted potatoes are a simple breakfast side dish that pairs well with all of our favorite savory breakfast recipes.
Hash Brown Crust Quiche
This gluten-free quiche has a hash brown crust and is hearty and so delicious!
Omelette Recipe
Learn how to make the absolute best omelette in the comfort of your own home for a fraction of the price as your favorite restaurants.
Smoothie Recipes
I drink a smoothie every day! I have a comprehensive post with all of our favorite healthy smoothie recipes. But here are a few of my absolute favorite smoothies!
Peanut Butter Smoothie
If you’re catching onto a theme here, I really like eating peanut butter for breakfast! So naturally, I love this Peanut Butter Smoothie.
Green Smoothie
This green smoothie recipe is easy and perfect for those of you on the beginning of your green smoothie journey! I drink a green smoothie every morning!
Homemade Acai Bowl
Don’t spend too $12 for an acai bowl – make your own, even more delicious version, at home!
Mango Smoothie
One sip of this healthy mango smoothie will make you feel like you’re on a tropical beach vacation!
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
One of my proudest recipe creation moments was when I took the first sip of this strawberry banana smoothie. It transported me back to shopping in the mall as a teenager – with one of these in my hands. Although I imagine this version is much healthier!
Healthy Pancakes & Waffles
Let’s be honest, pancakes and waffles are my kids’ favorite breakfast recipes. Here are some healthier versions full of nutritious ingredients.
Cottage Cheese Pancakes
A protein powerhouse, these cottage cheese pancakes are moist and fluffy. One of my top 3 favorite recipes on this list!
Greek Yogurt Pancakes
This Greek Yogurt Pancakes recipe is definitely the most popular pancake recipe on JoyFoodSunshine, and for good reason! They’re flavorful, moist and delicious, rich in protein and easy to make.
Best Homemade Waffles
We make this homemade waffles recipe weekly in our house and have for almost 10 years! They are lightened up a bit by replacing oil with applesauce, but no one can tell! They’re fluffy, with a crispy exterior, moist & flavorful!
Banana Oatmeal Pancakes
Made with only oatmeal (no flour), these banana oat pancakes are gluten-free, hearty and rich in fiber.
Spinach Pancakes
Want to sneak some greens into your morning? Make these spinach pancakes. Also known as leprechaun pancakes or hulk pancakes – they are delicious and naturally green.
Whole Wheat Pancakes
This recipe for whole wheat pancakes is extra-fluffy and so delicious no one can tell they are made with nutritious whole wheat flour.
Zucchini Pancakes
Another delicious (and a little less detectable) way to sneak veggies into your breakfast routine is by making zucchini pancakes. They’re easy and delicious with tons of zucchini in every bite.
Healthy Bread & Muffins
Quick breads and muffins are great make-ahead, freezer-friendly healthy breakfast recipes.
Carrot Zucchini Muffins
AKA “Toddler Muffins,” I made these carrot zucchini muffins all the time for my little ones as they were learning to eat solid foods. They are loaded with fruits and vegetables and taste delicious!
Spinach Muffins
By far, the most popular healthy muffin recipe on my website. These spinach banana muffins are made with oats (no flour) and are loaded with fruits & veggies. We called them “hulk muffins” and my son loved them so much when he was a little guy. All my kids still love them to this day!
Paleo Banana Bread (Grain Free)
This paleo banana bread is so delicious no one can tell it’s nutritious! It’s celiac friendly because it’s completely grain free.
Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
Another oatmeal-based muffin but this time add blueberries! A delicious muffin to make in the summer with fresh berries, or in the winter with frozen.
Healthy Banana Bread
This is a lightened up version of my favorite banana bread recipe. It’s sweetened with honey, moistened with applesauce and Greek yogurt, and made with whole wheat flour.
Oatmeal Muffins
These oatmeal muffins are easy to make with nutritious ingredients. My kids love these for a quick, on the go breakfast!
Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
This is one of my oldest and most beloved healthy muffin recipes – chocolate zucchini muffins. Made with oat flour, Greek yogurt and lots of zucchini, they’re a delicious & nutritious breakfast that freezes well.
Healthy Banana Muffins
Made with appelsauce, greek yogurt and whole wheat flour, these lightened-up banana muffins are a delicious and nutritious way to start the day.
Chocolate Banana Bread
This lighter chocolate banana bread is just as delicious as it’s classic counterpart. Bonus – you get to each chocolate for breakfast! This recipe also makes a yummy dessert!
Healthy Pumpkin Bread
This healthy pumpkin bread recipe is sweetened with maple syrup and a full can of pumpkin!
Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
Or, make individual servings and make these healthy pumpkin muffins. They freeze well and are a great grab and go breakfast.
Grain Free Blueberry Muffins (Paleo)
These paleo blueberry muffins are delicious. One of my favorite healthy muffin recipes and it can be made with fresh or frozen berries.
Paleo Pumpkin Muffins
Another grain-free muffin, these paleo pumpkin muffins are the perfect fall treat for my gluten-free friends.
Paleo Zucchini Banana Muffins
I have made these paleo banana zucchini muffins more than every other muffin on this list! Made with bananas and zucchini, these grain free muffins are delicious!
Healthy Breakfast Ideas
These recipes don’t fit neatly into a category but are delicious healthy breakfast ideas to add to your morning routine!
Chia Pudding
This chia pudding is easy to make in 5 minutes and can be prepared in advance (and it tastes best when it is)! Add your favorite fruits, honey, etc. for toppings.
Chocolate Chia Pudding
Or, make this chocolate chia pudding for the chocolate lovers in your life. A healthy, nutritious, low-cal but still filling breakfast!
Stovetop Cinnamon Apples
These delicious cinnamon apples take 5 minutes to make and are a delicious topping for pancakes, waffles, oatmeal or just served as a side dish!
Healthy Coffee Creamer
This coffee creamer is a delicious alternative to store-bought varieties. Infused with vanilla beans, it’s delicious and nutritious.
Oat Bran
If you want a different recipe to make for breakfast, try this chocolate peanut butter oat bran. It’s super hearty and will definitely keep you full until lunch!
Summer Fruit Salad
This fruit salad uses the best, in-season summer fruits and is a delicious breakfast side dish perfect for serving to guests or making in advance and enjoying all week long.
Winter Fruit Salad
I don’t know about you, but I crave fresh fruit in the winter almost more than I do in the summer! So, I created this winter fruit salad recipe using the best fruits that are in season in the colder months. A delicious companion to any breakfast!
What are your favorites?
Breakfast is our favorite meal of the day, and we truly love and enjoy all of these recipes! If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
