Cheapism’s independent editorial team finds the best for less. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission to support our work. Cheapism may earn a commission if you buy through a link tasty breakfast ideas our site. Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day, but today’s busy schedules leave many Americans too little time to eat before starting their work day.
Despite all the unhealthy fast food breakfast options out there, many nutritious and cheap breakfast meals can be prepared easily the night before to get you going at top speed. Hummus may be popular as an appetizer or snack, but in many parts of the Middle East, it’s a standard breakfast food. Take a cue from the Mediterranean diet and add hummus to an English muffin for a quick, healthy breakfast. Hummus can be prepared from scratch for about the same price as a prepackaged container.
For more great recipes and kitchen tips, please sign up for our free newsletters. Make up rice porridge on Sunday night, set in the fridge, and warm up on Monday morning. One-quarter cup of rice is enough for one person. Serve with a fried egg and a dash of soy sauce for a savory and filling start. There are plenty of fillings that can be added to a breakfast burrito, but the base concept is the same: Take a tortilla, fill it with scrambled eggs, beans, sausage, cheese, and any other ingredients you care to incorporate, roll it up, then give it a quick bake in the oven so that the cheese melts. Not a bad way to start the day, right? Sate your inner gourmet by toasting a slice of bread, cutting a hole in the center, laying the toast in a frying pan, and cooking an egg inside the hole.
Doctoring up bowl of oatmeal is an easy and economical way to start the day. Quinoa isn’t just for savory salads. You can also turn the affordable ingredients into the main focus of a protein-packed breakfast bowl. Top it with slices of avocado, an egg any way you like it, some greens, and a little bit of hot sauce. If you have a hankering for protein but only 10 minutes to spare, opt for soft-boiled eggs and “soldiers.
A newly traditional American breakfast is the simple toasted bagel. Up the flavor and protein with a schmear of peanut butter and jelly or cream cheese. An interesting and easy twist on the morning meal is toast, fried egg, and sliced avocado. A touch of cayenne pepper adds a kick. Sure, it’s another oatmeal recipe, but overnight oats allow for a creamier texture than your usual bowl of oats made that morning.
It’s also highly customizable: Just add rolled oats, milk or a dairy-alternative, yogurt, and a sweetener to a mason jar, then let it soak overnight. For a cheap and fast restaurant-quality breakfast, rehydrate dried strawberries, toast a waffle, and ladle on the fruit. Fresh berries are always an option but cost more — especially out of season. Tip: To achieve the fluffiest waffles, go Belgian style. For another take on oatmeal, stir in a spoonful of Nutella and top with sliced banana. The sweet hazelnut spread might seem pricey, but each jar holds about 20 servings. And a banana is one of the best cheap additions to an already hearty dish.
Scramble an egg or two with a touch of green onion and garlic for a cheap and protein-rich breakfast. A single green onion should suffice for up to three servings, and a clove of garlic goes a long way. Mixing in a tablespoon of Greek yogurt adds fluffiness and five grams of protein. Plain yogurt is a healthy, filling, and budget-wise ingredient for multiple morning meals. Add a few slices of seasonal or dried fruit, a few spoonfuls of granola or muesli, and a bit of honey. This easy grab-and-go meal requires just two slices of toast covered with a thin layer of peanut butter and sliced banana, sandwiched together. A small banana contains a whopping 12 percent of the fiber needed daily.
Prepare morning oatmeal with coconut milk instead of water for an invigorating taste of the tropics. When the oatmeal is ready, sprinkle dried coconut on top and fantasize about the next vacation. Continuing with the tropical theme, get out the blender and whip up a smoothie made from yogurt, frozen blueberries, and orange juice — in just minutes. When there’s absolutely no time to lose in the morning, an apple sliced into rings, smeared with peanut butter, and sprinkled with granola is a perfect perk-me-up breakfast. The combination of flavors, nutrients, and textures should keep you going until lunchtime.
An English muffin, a fried egg, and a slice of cheddar cheese make a hearty, fast, and low-cost breakfast sandwich. Another tasty take on the bottomless bowl of oatmeal includes dried ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a chopped apple. Cook the oats in milk, add the spices, and stir in the apple when ready to serve. A strawberry-yogurt smoothie can be whipped up in seconds for taking on the road or drinking in the kitchen and sparkles during berry season, when the fruit is reasonably priced, super sweet, and perhaps locally grown.