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Love a good savory breakfast? So do we. Here are 25 of the best, most delicious ways to bring extra umami to your breakfast and brunch — from everyday to holiday. Plus, my favorite recipe for savory steel cut oats.
Table of contents
- 1. Super-savory frittata
- 2. Quiche Lorraine
- 3. Cheddar and chive waffles
- 4. Savory oatmeal with shallots and spinach
- 5. Savory oats with crispy shiitakes
- 6. Savory steel-cut oats
- 7 & 8. Sourdough bagels with savory lox spread
- 9. Perfect American-style scrambled eggs
- 10. Perfect French-style soft scrambled eggs
- 11. Peppers and onions scrambled eggs
- 12. Greek scrambled eggs and veggies with savory roasted potatoes
- 13. Fried eggs with creamy spinach and toast soldiers
- 14. Eggs Florentine, Carluccio’s London style
- 15. Prosciutto eggs Benedict
- 16. Brussels sprouts hash with poached eggs and bacon
- 17. Shakshuka with feta
- 18. Baked eggs with potatoes and kale
- 19. Quiche Florentine
- 20. Vegetarian breakfast casserole
- 21. Migas
- 22. Avocado toast & scrambled eggs
- 23. French baked eggs (oeufs en cocotte)
- 24. Don’t forget the bacon!
From best-in-class eggs to waffles to oats, there’s virtually no savory breakfast or brunch I don’t adore. Here are our absolute favorites, starting with the gems featured in the photo above. Whether you’re looking to feed a crowd on Christmas morning or plan to fly solo, you’ll find something great in this list. And don’t miss the recipe for my favorite savory steel-cut oats at the bottom of the post.
1. Super-savory frittata
Packed with shiitake mushrooms, homemade hash browns, capers, parmesan, and more, this super-savory frittata makes a dreamy savory breakfast or brunch. It’s easy and make-ahead friendly, too.
2. Quiche Lorraine
A nostalgic classic that deserves an enduring place in the breakfast repertoire, quiche Lorraine is flavored with bacon, gruyere, and onion.
3. Cheddar and chive waffles
These savory waffles with cheddar and chives have steadily risen the ranks of our most popular recipes. They’re easy to make and always a big hit.
4. Savory oatmeal with shallots and spinach
I’m an enormous fan of savory oatmeal any which way. One frequent breakfast around here is these savory oats with shallots and spinach. This recipe is sized for a single serving but can easily be scaled up if you feel like sharing.
5. Savory oats with crispy shiitakes
Another favorite variation: savory oats with crispy shiitakes. This gorgeous recipe really leans into savoriness in every layer.
6. Savory steel-cut oats
And for our savory take on steel-cut oatmeal, scroll to the bottom of the post.
7 & 8. Sourdough bagels with savory lox spread
Making your own sourdough bagels adds a whole new level of umami to breakfast, and our extra-savory lox spread (a.k.a. Miami cream cheese) brings it home. The bagels are a bit of a project, but the lox spread is super-quick — so feel free to serve it with bagels from the local shop.
9. Perfect American-style scrambled eggs
Tender, buttery American-style scrambled eggs are quick, easy, and highly versatile.
10. Perfect French-style soft scrambled eggs
Or go continental and make luscious soft scrambled eggs in the French style. They require more patience but no special skill, and they’re really special. It’s amazing how slightly changing your egg-cooking technique can produce such totally different results.
11. Peppers and onions scrambled eggs
Another super-popular recipe for years is our peppers and onions scrambled eggs. They’re quick and easy to make, packed with flavor, and festive-looking.
12. Greek scrambled eggs and veggies with savory roasted potatoes
This Greek-inspired scramble is packed with veggies and bold flavors. Paired with roasted potatoes, it’s savory breakfast perfection.
13. Fried eggs with creamy spinach and toast soldiers
In this dreamy bowl of savory comfort, creamy fresh spinach is topped with a perfect fried egg and served with toast soldiers for dipping.
14. Eggs Florentine, Carluccio’s London style
Moving right along into the poached eggs portion of this program :), this luxurious rendition of eggs Florentine is inspired by our weekly breakfasts at Carluccio’s in London. One of my favorite savory breakfast recipes of all time.
15. Prosciutto eggs Benedict
Swapping in prosciutto for Canadian bacon helps you lean into the savoriness of eggs Benedict. Our super-popular, foolproof Hollandaise ties it all together.
16. Brussels sprouts hash with poached eggs and bacon
This flavorful hash is a great, crowd-pleasing option when you’ve got low carb enthusiasts in the mix. Quick, easy, and satisfying. Here’s how to make it.
17. Shakshuka with feta
This shakshuka recipe is one of our favorite savory brunch recipes. It’s a quick, easy, one-pan meal that’s full of comfort and flavor.
18. Baked eggs with potatoes and kale
If you’ve got a cast-iron skillet, you’re already halfway to baked eggs with potatoes and kale. This savory and satisfying brunch is a one-pan wonder.
19. Quiche Florentine
Quiche Florentine (spinach quiche) is an absolute classic and an enduring crowd-pleaser. You can bake it alone or alongside Quiche Lorraine. Make-ahead friendly.
20. Vegetarian breakfast casserole
For a big crowd, our vegetarian breakfast casserole has been hugely popular for years. It’s veggie-packed and full of savory flavors. Make-ahead friendly and great for holidays.
21. Migas
Turning from big and bold to small and solo, here’s a migas (Tex-Mex scrambled eggs and tortillas) recipe for one that can be scaled up to suit your crowd. It’s practical comfort food that would also work brilliantly for a party.
22. Avocado toast & scrambled eggs
Perfect as savory breakfast for one or scaled up for a crowd, avocado toast with scrambled egg is quick, easy, and super-satisfying.
23. French baked eggs (oeufs en cocotte)
These classic French baked eggs feel a little bit fancy and luxurious, but they’re quick and easy to make.
24. Don’t forget the bacon!
My favorite method to cook bacon for a crowd — even a small one — is on a sheet pan in the oven. It’s hands-off, consistent, and less messy than stovetop cooking. Here’s how.
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Savory Steel Cut Oats
Ingredients
For the oatmeal
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter
- 1 large shallot, minced
- 1 cup (160 grams) steel-cut oats
- 4 cups (950 ml) vegetable or chicken broth (see note)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) reduced sodium soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Suggested toppings and mix-ins
- A 7-minute egg, pictured
- Crispy roasted broccolini, pictured
- Cooked crumbled bacon or shiitake bacon
- Garlicky sautéed spinach
- Sautéed zucchini and onion
- Sautéed mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) white miso paste
- ¼ cup (20 grams) grated parmesan or pecorino
- Flaky sea salt, for finishing
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a medium pot or using the sauté function of the Instant Pot. Add shallot and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about two minutes.
- Add oats and sauté for two minutes more.
- Stir in broth, soy sauce, and pepper.
- In the Instant Pot: Position lid and set vent to sealed position. Cook on manual, high pressure, for 10 minutes. Allow pressure to release naturally. Oats will appear liquidy at the top, but once you give them a good stir and let sit for 5 minutes, they will be perfectly creamy.
- On the stovetop: Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until creamy and tender. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You’ll need a bit less broth if cooking in the Instant Pot, since it’s a sealed system with much less evaporation. It’s a matter of personal preference, but I like to use 3 1/2 cups.
- Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for a week and can be warmed through in the microwave.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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