In the words of the great Leslie Knope, “Why would anyone ever eat anything besides breakfast food?” We agree, Leslie, and that’s why we think breakfast for dinner is always a good idea. Especially when, despite your best intentions, you end up eating half a granola bar on the way out the door and calling it a day. Make up for your sad, eggless breakfast with one of these recipes, or get a head start on dessert (in a better-for-you way, of course) with protein pancakes or sweet potato waffles.
1. Quinoa Cakes With Poached Eggs
Double up on protein by swapping bread for quinoa. Make patties out of the grain by mixing it with eggs, seasoning, bread crumbs, and shallots, and cooking in a large saucepan. Top each cake with sliced Parmesan cheese and a poached egg, plus a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and chives. The runny poached eggs make this like a healthier eggs Benedict, so go ahead and pop ’em.
2. Apple Cinnamon Protein Pancakes
As a kid, having pancakes for dinner felt like Christmas morning. As an adult, you can make that call whenever you want. Life-changing, we know. Mix up a healthier pancake batter with rolled oats, coconut flour, vanilla protein powder, egg whites, applesauce, almond milk, and spices. Then skip the syrup and make a super-simple apple topping instead: Heat diced apples, water, and cinnamon in a saucepan for 5-6 minutes, then pour over your pancakes.
3. Spinach, Goat Cheese, and Avocado Omelet
Omelets are definitely hearty enough for dinner, and there are so many variations to try. This recipe combines baby spinach; sliced mushrooms; crumbled goat cheese; and creamy, diced avocado. This filling meal takes just 20 minutes to make and can be served with other breakfast faves like toast or a side of fruit. Pass the hot sauce, please.
4. Blender Sweet Potato Waffles With Blueberry Sauce
Waffles seem to have gotten overlooked in the make-breakfast-healthy movement (we’re looking at you, protein pancakes). So naturally, we were pumped to find a sweet potato-based recipe. Blend oats, flax meal, almond milk, and agave with mashed sweet potatoes, then pour into a waffle iron (or a grill pan). While cooking, make a sweet, warm blueberry sauce in a saucepan to pour liberally over waffles.
5. Spinach and Potato Breakfast Casserole
Casseroles are making a comeback and are especially great in the winter months when all you want is a warm bowl of anything after getting home from a chilly evening commute. This recipe combines eggs, lean ground turkey, spinach, potatoes, and mozzarella cheese. After browning the turkey and sautéing the spinach in a saucepan, combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and pour into a casserole dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes, and brinner is served.
6. Spinach, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Sandwiches
Meal prep your breakfast for the week while simultaneously making dinner for tonight—congrats, you’ve won the multitasking game. These healthy breakfast sandwiches pack in a serving of veggies, thanks to the spinach and broccoli. Bake a mixture of eggs, veggies, feta, and milk in a casserole dish, then cut into circles and add pieces to whole-grain English muffins with a slice of Havarti or mozzarella cheese. Creamy, warm, and savory, these bad boys are much more satisfying than a typical dinnertime sandwich and can be stored in the freezer or fridge for future meals.
7. Asparagus and Feta Crustless Quiche
Crustless quiche recipes are just as delicious as the traditional version and require about half the work. Treat yourself to a light, fluffy, egg-filled dinner—with just 10 minutes of prep time, it’s too easy not to. After cooking asparagus on the stove, mix one-inch pieces in a large bowl with eggs, water, thyme, and cottage cheese, and whisk till smooth. Pour it into a pie dish and bake for half an hour before serving.
8. Zucchini and Sweet Potato Breakfast Burritos
Burritos are great but can easily leave us feeling ready for bed right after dinner. Try this lighter version, made with eggs, and avoid the food coma. Heat diced onion, zucchini, and sweet potatoes in one pan, and spinach and eggs in another. Mix together when cooked, then spoon a heaping helping into a large, whole-grain tortilla. Wrap a few up for breakfast later in the week, then dig into one for dinner.
9. Very Berry Baked Oatmeal
A bowl of oatmeal for dinner seems boring, but we promise this recipe tastes more like a berry cobbler than your standard grains. Start with a layer of berries in the bottom of a baking dish, then cover with oats, brown sugar, baking powder, and spices. Then pour in a mixture of milk, eggs, coconut oil, vanilla, and honey, and top with the remaining berries and slivered almonds. After 45 minutes in the oven, you have a delicious baked oatmeal dish that works for dinner/breakfast/dessert/everything.
