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Breakfast for Dinner Recipes

Breakfast for Dinner Recipes

September 01, 2011

1212 Eggs Poached in Curried Tomato Sauce

Photo: John Autry

Moving rise-and-shine favorites to the evening time slot feels both fun and indulgent. We've dressed up those favorites for primetime dinner fare. The beauty of many breakfast dishes is how easily they adapt to a dinner setting. Add a lightly dressed bed of greens to an omelet, and you have a truly terrific dinner. Craving comforting oats? Make them savory instead of sweet, and your breakfast favorite just became a dinnertime delight. Every night is a good night to enjoy breakfast for dinner.

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Healthy Breakfast for Dinner Recipes

Photo: John Kernick

Cooking first-of-the-day dishes for dinner seems oddly indulgent, somehow, and liberating, maybe a bit frisky, like lounging around in pajamas with a martini. It's also a little like eating dessert first: You're an adult, and you're going to eat what you want, when you want it! That said, a breakfast dish time-shifted to the dinner hour needs some dressing up. A few ingredient twists or technique tweaks are required. Upgrade French toast, for instance, with chewy, crusty Italian ciabatta bread stuffed with savory Gruyère cheese, and top it with a fresh, tart apple syrup. Or, make over your basic egg sandwich by pairing fried eggs with sweet caramelized onions, peppery arugula, and smoky bacon—still striking breakfast notes, but the tune seems downright decadent. Get out the PJs, pour a nice bottle of red, and dig in.

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Egg and Toast Cups

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Egg and Toast Cups

Unleash your muffin tin's magic! This multipurpose pan takes the guesswork out of portion control by offering personal servings. You just might be able to entice your kids into eating a fulfilling breakfast with this cute all-in-one dish. You can cater to individual tastes too: Add chives to one up and spinach to another, or exchange the bacon for ham.

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Egg and Tomato Open-Faced Sandwiches

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Egg and Tomato Open-Faced Sandwiches

Slightly thicker (1 1/2-oz.) bread slices build a sturdy sandwich base. Slice your own, or ask to have it sliced on the thick side. Meaty, briny kalamata olives and a splash of vinegar punch up a quick red pepper sauce for these vegetarian sandwiches. Serve with our Cheddar and Chive "Squachos," easy, cheesy nacho-style broiled squash slices, to complete the meal.

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Egg and Hash Brown Casserole

Photo: Johnny Miller

View Recipe: Egg and Hash Brown Casserole

This make-ahead dish is like enjoying an omelet stuffed with spinach, Swiss cheese, and mushrooms, with hearty sides of bacon and hash browns, all in one package.

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Savory Chickpea Waffles

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Savory Chickpea Waffles

We swap sugary pancake syrup for a poached egg and use chickpea flour in place of refined for an extra punch of protein. Enjoy for a quick breakfast or dinner.

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Texas Barbecue Hash

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Texas Barbecue Hash

Hash is the king of reinvented leftovers. Here we've added a Southern barbecue spin. Four fried eggs top this protein-packed meal.

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Eggs Benedict

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Eggs Benedict

The real kicker on this breakfast classic is the buttery, luscious hollandaise sauce. We lighten it up with a mixture of silken tofu and reduced-fat sour cream. When poaching eggs, choose the freshest possible; the white adheres to the yolk better, making for an easier, cleaner poach.

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Spanish “Tortilla” Omelet

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Spanish “Tortilla” Omelet

Say hello to next-level breakfast for dinner. Inspired by a traditional crispy, potato-studded Spanish tortilla, our quick-fix fluffy omelet is topped with potato chips for a touch of crunch.

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Leek and Smoked Gruyère Mini Quiches

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Leek and Smoked Gruyère Mini Quiches

Individual, itty-bitty quiches are great for serving at a family brunch. While they may look cutesy, the complex flavors from the leek and applewood-smoked Gruyère ensure these pocket-sized egg parcels are tough enough for the grown-up's table.

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Saucy Chorizo and Egg Skillet

Photo: Jennifer Causey

View Recipe: Saucy Chorizo and Egg Skillet

This is a Tex-Mex spin on eggs poached in spicy tomato sauce (Italian eggs in purgatory or Israeli shakshuka), which gets its heat from the cooked chorizo and ground red pepper.

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Savory Bread Puddings with Ham and Cheddar

Photo: John Kernick

View Recipe: Savory Bread Puddings with Ham and Cheddar

Bread pudding becomes a main dish inspired by the flavors of a loaded baked potato. Preparing the puddings in individual ramekins gives them a dressier feel and shortens cook time.

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Ciabatta French Toast with Warm Apple Maple Syrup

Photo: John Kernick

View Recipe: Ciabatta French Toast with Warm Apple Maple Syrup

Moist yet crusty ciabatta and nutty Gruyère cheese set this dish apart from traditional French toast. A vegetable peeler works great for getting thin slices out of the cheese. Rome or Fuji apples would also work.

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Bacon and Egg Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions and Arugula

Photo: John Kernick

View Recipe: Bacon and Egg Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions and Arugula

This upscale twist on the traditional breakfast sandwich features sweet, tender caramelized onion and peppery arugula. A fresh fruit salad would be a good accompaniment.

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Mozzarella Omelet with Sage and Red Chile Flakes

Photo: John Kernick

View Recipe: Mozzarella Omelet with Sage and Red Chile Flakes

An omelet makes for a quick and easy dinner, but it doesn't have to be boring. Gooey mozzarella, vibrant sage, and a generous hit of red pepper make this a standout dish.

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Eggs Benedict Florentine with Creamy Butter Sauce

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Eggs Benedict Florentine with Creamy Butter Sauce

Our version of this classic dish features scrambled eggs and sautéed spinach atop Canadian bacon slices and English muffins. It is topped with a creamy sauce that's finished with clarified butter, so it is reminiscent of hollandaise.

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Spinach, Green Onion, and Smoked Gouda Quiche

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Spinach, Green Onion, and Smoked Gouda Quiche

We like the creamy, custardy consistency of this quiche when it's baked for 35 minutes. If you prefer a firmer texture, bake an additional 5 minutes.

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Libanais Breakfast

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Libanais Breakfast

This Middle Eastern-inspired breakfast is a popular selection at Medina in Vancouver, where the dish includes a boiled egg and three salads—tabbouleh, cucumber salad, and baba ghanoush—complemented with crisp pita toasts. Our simplified version features just one salad: tabbouleh.

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Frittata with Spinach, Potatoes, and Leeks

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Frittata with Spinach, Potatoes, and Leeks

Make the leek mixture, and cook the potatoes a day ahead. Or use store-bought diced cooked potatoes (such as Simply Potatoes), whisk the eggs, combine everything, and bake the frittata right before you are ready to serve dinner.

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Mushroom and Caramelized-Shallot Strudel

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Mushroom and Caramelized-Shallot Strudel

This recipe makes two strudels; for an eye-catching dinner table centerpiece, place them on a large platter, and surround them with fresh thyme sprigs.

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Mushroom and Bell Pepper Omelet with Fontina

Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Mushroom and Bell Pepper Omelet with Fontina

The nutty, smooth-melting fontina cheese provides a rich and supple counterpart to fresh produce and aromatic herbs in this dish.

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Black Bean and Chicken Chilaquiles

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Black Bean and Chicken Chilaquiles

A traditional Mexican breakfast favorite, chilaquiles (chee-lah-KEE-lays) is a sauté of day-old tortilla strips, fresh tomato sauce, cream, and cheese. This hearty version is baked and makes for a divine dinner. Says reader, Michelle, "Very good and easy to make. It's a nice casserole for a weeknight family dinner."

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Breakfast Sausage Casserole

View Recipe: Breakfast Sausage Casserole

This satisfying breakfast recipe is the perfect recipe to serve on a cozy night in. Look for turkey sausage near other breakfast-style sausage in the frozen foods section.

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Spanish Tortilla with Almond Romesco

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Spanish Tortilla with Almond Romesco

In Spain, a tortilla is a thin omelet served at room temperature. Roasted potato slices fill this version, while a sharp, tangy red bell pepper sauce tops it. The sauce can be prepared up to 3 days ahead; serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.

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Hash Brown Casserole

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Hash Brown Casserole

Make a traditional hash brown potato casserole light by using reduced-fat cheese and soup and fat-free sour cream. It's still cheesy and creamy, but has less than 5 grams of fat per serving.

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Frittata with Smoked Cheese and Canadian Bacon

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Frittata with Smoked Cheese and Canadian Bacon

Four eggs and four egg whites go into this frittata, which makes for a satisfying, quick supper. Potatoes, Canadian bacon, and smoked cheese make this version particularly hearty.

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Fingerling Potato-Leek Hash with Swiss Chard and Eggs

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Fingerling Potato-Leek Hash with Swiss Chard and Eggs

To trim Swiss chard for this main dish, pull or cut the stems out of the leaves. Learn how to prepare Swiss chard in 4 simple steps.

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McKerr Muffins

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: McKerr Muffins

Egg substitute is a fat- and cholesterol-free alternative to whole eggs for many applications, but it needs to be cooked gently, with little stirring, to produce light, fluffy scrambled eggs. This twist on a breakfast standard makes this a great dinnertime choice.

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Breakfast Tortilla Strata

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Breakfast Tortilla Strata

Put this dish together in the morning and chill it all day, this gives the tortillas time to soak up the batter, which makes the strips puff when baked.

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Broccoli-Sausage Calzones

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Broccoli-Sausage Calzones

These calzones are the perfect handheld meal. Whether you are running out to soccer practice or enjoying a relaxing dinner at home, you will love this recipe.

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Sweet Potato and Canadian Bacon Hash

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Sweet Potato and Canadian Bacon Hash

Sweet potatoes are a creamy addition to this breakfast classic turned dinnertime favorite. To avoid mushy hash, don't boil the potatoes too long; remove them from the water while they're still al dente.

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Bacon and Cheese Custards

Photo: Johnny Autry

View Recipe: Bacon and Cheese Custards

Serve these savory, smoky treats as a first course. When preparing the custard, be sure to heat the milk, don't boil. Custard success is all about temperature control.

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Egg and Cheese Breakfast Tacos with Homemade Salsa

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Egg and Cheese Breakfast Tacos with Homemade Salsa

These breakfast tacos prove low-sodium doesn't mean less flavor. Fresh-made salsa tastes more vibrant than bottled, and you control the added sodium. The cheese and sour cream add salty notes to these tacos. Round out your meal with fresh mango slices.

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Two-Tomato, Basil, and Goat Cheese Frittata

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Two-Tomato, Basil, Goat Cheese Frittata

The addition of both grape and plum tomatoes gives this vegetarian frittata a boost of fresh flavor. With creamy goat cheese scattered throughout, every bite engulfs a pillowy cloud of light, tangy flavor. Make it for a crowd, or an at-home weekend brunch. Either way, eggs and goat cheese is a healthy, protein-packed combination that is hard to rival.

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Banana-Almond Butter French Toast Sandwiches

Photo: Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Banana-Almond Butter French Toast Sandwiches

Breakfast sandwiches make us want to dance around the kitchen—especially when our panini press is involved. But you don't need a press to make this sandwich. Just cook it in a frying pan with some cooking spray, and press on it with the back of a spatula. Presto! (Get it?!)

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Spinach, Bacon, and Cheese Quiche

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House

View Recipe: Spinach, Bacon, and Cheese Quiche

This quiche has a buttery crust, a fluffy egg center with smoky and salty bacon, and a blend of two cheeses.

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Breakfast for Dinner Recipes

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Healthy Breakfast for Dinner Recipes

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Egg and Toast Cups

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Egg and Tomato Open-Faced Sandwiches

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Egg and Hash Brown Casserole

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Savory Chickpea Waffles

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Texas Barbecue Hash

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Eggs Benedict

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Spanish “Tortilla” Omelet

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Leek and Smoked Gruyère Mini Quiches

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Saucy Chorizo and Egg Skillet

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Savory Bread Puddings with Ham and Cheddar

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Ciabatta French Toast with Warm Apple Maple Syrup

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Bacon and Egg Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions and Arugula

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Mozzarella Omelet with Sage and Red Chile Flakes

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Eggs Benedict Florentine with Creamy Butter Sauce

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Spinach, Green Onion, and Smoked Gouda Quiche

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Libanais Breakfast

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Frittata with Spinach, Potatoes, and Leeks

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Mushroom and Caramelized-Shallot Strudel

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Mushroom and Bell Pepper Omelet with Fontina

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Black Bean and Chicken Chilaquiles

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Breakfast Sausage Casserole

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Spanish Tortilla with Almond Romesco

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Hash Brown Casserole

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Frittata with Smoked Cheese and Canadian Bacon

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Fingerling Potato-Leek Hash with Swiss Chard and Eggs

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