Brunch Menu Ideas, Tips, and Recipes

Find creative brunch menu ideas to help you serve an outstanding meal. Learn what works for brunch and what not to do as well as brunch food recommendations including breakfast casseroles, pancakes, waffles, and more.

Need a few options for serving brunch? Hosting a well planned morning meal does not have to mean planning for weeks and cooking for hours. The tips and ideas below can help you put together a fantastic brunch menu.

Why does brunch work? It is a balance of sweet and savory flavors that make brunch what it is. It is important to have a bit of each on your menu. You can have a heartier main dish than what is normally served earlier in the morning, but in smaller portions. Combine that with a sweet quick bread, donut, or muffin and add in some type of fruit for a very satisfying morning meal.

Why is it special? From my own point of view, I think brunch offers that extra unexpected something that is a bit out of the ordinary. Looking over the table you may find eggs, muffins and "oh, I must try those mini cranberry tarts!" Sometimes even a special drink like a mimosa or a homemade bloody mary is enough to make a menu special.

Breakfast vs. Brunch For me, this morning meal is a little bit more about serving one main item, such as "we're having eggs this morning" or "we're having hot cereal today". It is usually not thought of as being quite as relaxing and is a bit more utilitarian, although don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with this morning fare!

Common serving times for brunch are usually late morning between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm and usually would be on weekend or perhaps during a holiday.

Okay, lets work this a little bit backwards: What do you not want to happen after you serve brunch? You probably do not want your guests so stuffed that they have to undo their pants buttons!

In order to avoid this you need to keep balance in mind when preparing your menu. Too many heavy bread-like items and not enough variety will make everyone completely stuffed after a meal and wanting to go to sleep instead of wanting to chat.

Below are some brunch menu ideas to provide balance and a variety of tastes and colors. You can also find more menu ideas here. Also take a look at these party planning tips to help you host a great meal.

Brunch Menu Ideas

Choose 1 item from each group for a well rounded and satisfying menu.

Note: Do not serve more than one marinated or strongly spiced item for this meal, as mixing stronger flavors will detract from the whole meal. Use one special food and let it add emphasis to the other menu items.

Main dish foods: sweet or savory

pancakes
waffles
Eggs Benedict
omelet
crepes
scrambled eggs
French Toast
quiche
make-ahead casseroles
breakfast pizza

Sweet bread Items and baked goods:

quick breads and sweet dessert breads
donuts
muffins with jam and butter
coffeecakes
scones
spice cookies
croissants
pastries like mini chocolate eclairs or mini cream puffs
toast or crusty gourmet bread
bagels
biscuits
cinnamon rolls

Fruits:

Try a fruit compote in individual serving dishes, pudding or dessert cups and show off your favorite antique dishes.

easy fruit salad
fruit pizza
fruit tarts
a fresh fruit selection (sliced apples, bananas, pears, grapefruit, grapes, blueberries and kiwi fruit)
broiled grapefruit

Starch items:

(take it easy on these items, this is how everyone gets really full)
browned butter potatoes
potatoes anna
fried red potatoes with ham
hash browns
fried potatoes
potato pancakes
home fried potatoes

Ideas for Meats:

Tea Sandwiches
fried ham with ham glaze
sausage links
sausage patties
bacon
Canadian-style bacon
sliced salami
chicken ala king in individual pastry shells

Vegetable Choices:

veggie pizza
stuffed green peppers
cucumber sandwiches

Condiments (have a variety on hand):

Butter
pancake and waffle syrups like maple, blueberry, or apple cinnamon
jams
fruit spreads like strawberry butter

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More Brunch Menu Ideas

Get Easy Meal Ideas for Family Dinners here. Find help for weekly meal planning, along with great home cooked recipes.

Looking for more recipes and brunch menu ideas? Search this site or view my sitemap.

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