Comfort Food Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

January 01, 2012
Photo: John Autry
From a weekday omelet to Sunday eggs Benedict, these luscious recipes deliver a morning repast of comfort and some fun new twists.
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Our Favorite Breakfast & Brunch Comfort Food

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

Comfort food isn't strictly reserved for dinnertime. Start your day with something warm and delicious to keep you fueled throughout the morning.

We'll start you off with our Fingerling Potato-Leek Hash with Swiss Chard and Eggs. To trim Swiss chard, pull or cut the stems out of the leaves. The dish goes from stovetop to tabletop using just one pan.

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Spinach, Bacon, and Gruyère Breakfast Strata

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez
View Recipe: Spinach, Bacon, and Gruyère Breakfast Strata

This dish has fewer than 20g of total carbs—about half of what you'll find in classic bread-based casseroles. Greek yogurt, eggs, and cheese pack a mighty protein punch, while a touch of bacon seasons to perfection. The strata is best if allowed to soak overnight. Not only does this build in make-ahead convenience, it also allows the bread to fully absorb the egg mixture—yielding a creamy texture inside, while the top bread pieces get delightfully crisp.

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Egg-Topped Quinoa Bowl

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Egg-Topped Quinoa Bowl

Here, the yolk of the fried egg serves as a dressing (without you having to do anything extra) to coat nutrient-dense quinoa. Pancetta adds a snap of savory satisfaction to earthy kale, while all-season cherry tomatoes, meaning you can make it whenever, lend a fresh pop of bright flavor. Sub steel-cut oats, bulgur, or leftover brown rice for quinoa. The hot sauce gives this simple dish a kick in the pants.

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Sausage, Gravy, and Egg Breakfast Sandwiches

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Sausage, Gravy, and Egg Breakfast Sandwiches

This sandwich will rival what you get at the drive-through. Freezing the gravy in ice-cube trays makes portioning easy. 

 

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Bacon-Powered Sweet Potato Veggie Skillet

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Bacon-Powered Sweet Potato Veggie Skillet

Bacon is loaded with flavor, but that indulgence comes at a sodium- and saturated fat-filled cost. Have your bacon (and eat it, too) by using a small amount to season an entire pan of plants. Bonus: The fat helps you absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A and K.

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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.

Ours saves 456 calories, 39g sat fat, and 498mg sodium over the classic version.

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Sour Cream Donuts

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Sour Cream Donuts

Enjoy these delights for half the calories of a donut-chain version in just 40 minutes. At only 170 calories, these donuts offer that same great taste of your favorite store-bought treat, without all the extra calories and fat. Not only are they kid-approved, but baking them is much easier, way healthier, and less labor-intensive than going through with frying them.

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Bacon-Cheddar Corn Muffins

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Bacon-Cheddar Corn Muffins

Cheddar, jalapeño, and bacon make these muffins a great partner for chili or as a savory grab-and-go breakfast.

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Smoked Salmon and Egg Sandwich

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Smoked Salmon and Egg Sandwiches

This open-face sandwich is going to put a smile on your face from the very first bite. Choose fish labeled "wild Alaskan salmon."

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Oatmeal Pancakes

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Oatmeal Pancakes

There is something about oatmeal that can't be matched when it comes to cozy comfort. Kick it up a notch by adding fresh blueberries to the pancake batter for an interesting twist.

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Summer Squash, Bacon, and Mozzarella Quiche

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Summer Squash, Bacon, and Mozzarella Quiche

Start your day with a warm and savory quiche that will keep you satisfied through the morning. Prep Tip: Chop vegetables, shred cheese, and cook bacon while the dough for the crust chills in the refrigerator.

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Savory Sausage Breakfast Rolls

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Savory Sausage Breakfast Rolls

Filled with sausage and cheese, these hit the spot on a chilly morning. We like reduced-fat pork sausage, but turkey breakfast sausage also works well.

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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.

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Crab Eggs Benedict

Photo: Jonny Valiant
View Recipe: Crab Eggs Benedict

For all the comfort of traditional eggs Benedict without the calories, we updated the classic with a mock hollandaise sauce. It's made from mayonnaise and buttermilk instead of clarified butter. Serve with steamed asparagus.

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Eggs Poached in Curried Tomato Sauce

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Eggs Poached in Curried Tomato Sauce

Decrease the heat by removing some or all of the jalapeño's seeds. You can make the sauce up to three days ahead; prepare through step 1, cool, cover, and refrigerate. Bring back to a gentle simmer before proceeding.

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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 with an extra comforting twist. A vegetable peeler works great for getting thin slices out of the cheese. Rome or Fuji apples would also work.

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Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad

Photo: Jonny Valiant
View Recipe: Winter Jeweled Fruit Salad

Jicama tastes like a cross between an apple and a potato. It adds crunch and a new twist on fresh fruit salad.

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Cherry-Wheat Germ Muffins

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Cherry-Wheat Germ Muffins

Dried cherries enliven a hearty muffin featuring nutty wheat germ. Vary the flavor with dried apricots or blueberries.

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Eggs Blindfolded Over Garlic-Cheddar Grits

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Eggs Blindfolded Over Garlic-Cheddar Grits

Blindfolded eggs are a short-order cook’s version of poached eggs. The Garlic-Cheddar Grits in this recipe make a comfort-food-worthy bed for the perfectly cooked eggs.

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Maple-Glazed Sour Cream Doughnut Holes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner
View Recipe: Maple-Glazed Sour Cream Doughnut Holes

Sour cream enriches these yeasted doughnut holes. Enjoy them for breakfast or dessert. Sugarcoat it: Omit the maple glaze and dip the doughnut holes in a mixture of granulated sugar and ground cinnamon for more texture.

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Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Ham and Swiss Egg Sandwiches

With one-third less sodium than the fast-food breakfast muffin, ours has a lot more going for it—you can make it fresh at home in less than 15 minutes. Add a glass of orange juice and you're ready to begin your day on a healthy note.

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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

Gooey mozzarella, vibrant sage, and a generous hit of red pepper make this a standout breakfast or brunch dish.

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Savory Bread Puddings with Ham and Cheddar

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Savory Bread Puddings with Ham and Cheddar

Comforting bread pudding becomes a main dish instead of dessert by using savory rather than sweet ingredients. Preparing it in individual ramekins gives it a dressier feel and shortens cooking time.

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