Hosting a small brunch with your ride-or-dies? Throwing a party breakfast for the whole chaotic crew? Either way, this isn’t your average soggy-pancake lineup. We’re talking best brunch recipes that show up—from savory stunners like Sausage & Potato Casserole to sweet brunch treats (hi, Raspberry Crescent Ring) that could flirt their way onto any table.
We didn’t forget the easy brunch sides—Farro with Roasted Vegetables is here to make your greens and grains sexy again. And the cocktails? Say less. The Pot O’ Gold Mimosa is basically a celebration in a glass but a simple lemon vodka wins every time.
Easy Brunch Ideas
For this list, let’s take a look at some savory brunch ideas. We love dishes that pack a flavor wallop, and while we love a variety of foods in a big brunch spread, these are tried-and-true that work in a sit-down style and serve-yourself. We will group these together in a way that we think you will love. And brunch without a cocktail is just the same ole, same ole, so we pair a cocktail at the end of each list.
Contemporary and Satisfying
You want a full brunchy spread that makes everyone happy but not so full that everyone crashes on the couch. This has a little of everything. Make ahead: casserole, the roast vegetables in the air fryer, and the crescent ring.
Sausage & Potato Casserole
An oven-baked casserole with the perfect amount of brunchy goodness.
Arugula Salad with Lemon
Add these simple leafy greens to add a bit of bright zing to your brunch. Arugula is peppery so be sure to add balance with enough salt and honey to the vinaigrette.
Farro with Roasted Vegetables
Farro is the unsung hero of grains—chewy, hearty and is elevated by the roasted veg. It’s got a unique salad quality that can be served warm, room temp or chilled. (Make the night before if you are going for chilled.)
Raspberry Crescent Ring
Think grown-up Toaster Strudel, with a decadent cream cheese and raspberry pie filling. This makes 12 servings, but plan for this to disappear fast.
Pot O’ Gold Mimosa
This green and gold layered alcoholic drink is a flashy spring vibe that goes down easy.
Homestyle with a Twist
Mostly savory options here with a hint of sweet watermelon and the touch of brown sugar in the maple bacon butter. Make ahead: maple bacon butter, pumpkin biscuits, even the bacon, which you can keep warm or serve at room temp.
Skillet Fried Parmesan Potatoes
These yummy stovetop potatoes are the anchor for this brunch plan. Double or triple the recipe; you can’t go wrong with them as leftovers. (Not that this will happen.)
Air Fryer Bacon
Bacon is the side piece, and make as little or as much as you want. Thick cut, center cut or the kind that’s on sale, bacon is a no-brainer.
Maple Bacon Butter
More bacon! This is even better made in advance and will last for a long time in the fridge. Pull this out to come to room temp before serving.
Pumpkin Biscuits
Pumpkin isn’t just for fall. Pull out this recipe and your can of pumpkin hiding in the pantry and savor the richness with your brunch besties. Pair warm with our maple bacon butter.
Watermelon, Arugula & Feta Salad
A refreshing addition to round out the homestyle comfort food of bacon, potatoes, maple compound butter and pumpkin biscuits.
Honey Cider Cocktail
Sweet with the depth of apple cider, this one brings out all the flavors of fall year round.
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Grillin’ Like a Villain
Pull up a deck chair and set the patio table with your outdoorsy-est melamine dishes. It’s time to eat out back! Make ahead: Cowboy Caviar (up to a whole day ahead), grill the peaches in advance if you like, whisk up the shrimp marinade up to 48 hours ahead, but don’t drop in the shrimp until an hour before grilling.
Cowboy Caviar
Clever name but the beauty is in the beans. Cowboy caviar is a hearty dip with beans, corn and diced celery, great with tortilla chips, or a room temp side dish that goes great with everything.
Grilled Tomatoes
The grill is underappreciated when it comes to bringing out the flavor of so many fruits and vegetables. Plenty of salt and fresh rosemary are required; and make more than you think you will need.
Grilled Peach Salad
Thick halves of fresh peaches are grilled on high heat then sliced to go on this lively salad.
Tequila Grilled Shrimp Skewers
The alcohol burns off, but the robust flavor remains. These shrimp make a mighty fine grilled lunch.
Mexican Martini
One of our highest reviewed cocktails on the site, this Mexican Martini is only mildly sweet and even a little salty. It rounds out grilled food like a champ.
Mediterranean Flair
Embrace the lemon love and olive oil odyssey of Greek cuisine! Make ahead: The longer the marinade sits on the feta for skewers, the richer the flavor. The creamy fruit salad can be made a few hours in advance of serving. (Too long and you will see some browning.)
Mini Greek Salad Skewers
These take a bit of time to put together but they really make a statement on a platter or charcuterie able. The oil-herb marinade makes these sing.
Lemony Shrimp Stew
One of my personal favorites that tastes sophisticated but is super easy to put together. Frozen shrimp, cans of white beans, fresh lemon juice, and leeks (or whatever onions you have around). Adopted from an NYT recipe.
Air Fryer Texas Toast
The Lemony Shrimp Stew demands a crusty bread on the side for dipping, and this is the next best thing: an easy box of New York Style or thick slices of a French baguette buttered and toasted.
Creamy Fruit Salad with Greek Yogurt
Fruit salad is always a winner and goes with everything (I promise) but the Greek yogurt dressing is a cause for celebration and it goes great with everything in this brunch plan.
Lemon Vodka Cocktail
Lemon brings out all the best mediterranean flavors, and this cocktail nails it. Simple and tasty, if you love lemon, you grownups will love this one.
The bottom line
Whether you’re after small brunch ideas simple enough for beginners or easy savory brunch recipes that look way more impressive than they are, this spread is engineered for minimal stress and maximum “holy sh*t, this is good.”
So dive in. Brunch hard. Impress effortlessly. Because easy brunch foods shouldn’t taste like effort—and your peeps deserve better than plain ol’ scrambled eggs and store-bought muffins.
