67 Best Brunch Ideas for a Relaxing Weekend Feast
Hosting brunch can sometimes feel like a bit of an undertaking. There are hundreds of brunch ideas for you to iterate on, whether you’re thinking sweet, savory, or something in between. And while brunch food favorites are favorites for a reason, sometimes you want to ditch the bacon and scrambled eggs for a less familiar face. That’s why we’ve made this list of a few of our favorite brunch recipes. Scroll down for showstopping project bakes, crowd-pleasing large-format dishes, and lots of options that you can prep the night before, so you can take it easy in the morning until your guests arrive. The only thing left for you to do is to figure out what to drink.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson1/67Classic Eggs Benedict With Blender Hollandaise
The ultimate fancy restaurant brunch food doesn’t have to come to come from a restaurant—the expert tips in this recipe mean you can offer your friends and family an elegant brunch complete with fluffy English muffins, ham or bacon, and that runny yolk you get with only from a correctly poached egg. With the help of a blender, this recipe simplifies what is arguably the most challenging part of this classic brunch dish: the hollandaise.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks3/67Diner-Style Buttermilk Pancakes
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Erika Joyce4/67Coconut-Cardamom French Toast With Raspberry-Rhubarb Compote
Jewel-like berries and tart rhubarb play off a creamy coconut filling in this stuffed French toast. The custard and compote are perfumed with cardamom for a multidimensional take on the brunch favorite.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht5/67Baked Apple Pancake
Flipping pancakes on a griddle can be a bit high-maintenance for an early meal—especially if you’re cooking for a large crowd. Instead, try this large-format take on the brunch staple, decorated with a pretty top layer of sliced apples. This oven-ready pancake has the light and fluffy texture of a Dutch baby and requires only five minutes active prep time.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Sean Dooley6/67Shakshuka
This stovetop shakshuka recipe makes use of both whole canned tomatoes and tomato paste for a full-flavored, bright red sauce. This take on the classic egg dish is loaded with sweet Hungarian paprika, cumin, caraway, and Swiss chard for some much-welcome leafy greens.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich8/67Brown-Sugar-Glazed Bacon
Nothing screams “brunch food necessity” quite like bacon. The brown sugar adds a sticky, sweet edge to the bacon’s saltiness, making for the ideal companion for French toast—or just bowls of yogurt and granola.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht9/67Chocolate Chip Scones
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano and Stevie Stewart11/67Chilaquiles Rojos
These chilaquiles invite you to use up the leftover food in your fridge and pantry. Use store-bought chips or make your own by frying up some just-past-their-prime tortillas. Then top them with leftover rotisserie chicken or chorizo, homemade salsa roja, and fried eggs for the ultimate brunch vibes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Judy Haubert12/67Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole
Frozen hash browns get well acquainted with cheddar after a little nudge from some creamy béchamel in this breakfast casserole.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by John Bjostad13/67Skillet Soufflé Pancake
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Frances Boswell14/67Deep Dish Quiche With Garnishes
A flaky yet custardy quiche will brighten your morning, especially if you have the foresight to make it the day before. This simple iteration is made with just chives and shallots flavoring the eggy filling. You can dress it up with salty prosciutto, smoked or cured salmon, a bed of greens, or whatever combination of garnishes you may fancy.
