35 Easy Thanksgiving Brunch Recipes for a Stress-Free Holiday

By Southern Living Editors
September 21, 2015
Credit: Alison Miksch
The holidays tend to warrant a house full of overnight guests. Don’t get us wrong, we love hosting for holidays, but we also know feeding your guests can bring unwanted stress! Mornings with holiday company can be made much easier with our Thanksgiving breakfast recipe ideas. Our make-ahead casseroles provide a quick alternative to making an entire Thanksgiving breakfast spread. Simply brew a piping hot pot of your favorite coffee blend, set the table ( we've got plenty of ideas!) and warm up your pre-made casserole, bread, or morning cake in the oven. Easy as that, and you’re ready to host a delicious Thanksgiving brunch. If your guests prefer a more protein-packed start to the morning, we’ve included strata, baked egg dishes, and quiche for a more savory taste. Even the hungriest holiday guests will be satisfied with these quick and easy breakfast recipes. 
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Make Thanksgiving Breakfast Effortless With These Recipes

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Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole

Certainly a crowd-pleaser, this overnight breakfast casserole gets started the night before Thanksgiving.

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Breakfast Enchiladas

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Breakfast Enchiladas

Roll together your ingredients and refrigerate the night before for a no-hassle morning meal.

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Orange-Vanilla French Toast Casserole with Bourbon-Maple Syrup

Credit: Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Orange-Vanilla French Toast Casserole with Bourbon-Maple Syrup

Whether you add bourbon or not, be sure to choose the good stuff: 100% pure maple syrup.

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Shrimp and Grits Casserole

Credit: Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Shrimp and Grits Casserole

We added bacon and cheese to this dish for the ultimate shrimp and grits casserole.

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Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet

We’ll take these fluffy homemade biscuits with extra gravy.

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Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Take classic pumpkin muffins to the next level wth a streusel topping.

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The Big Cinnamon Roll

Credit: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: The Big Cinnamon Roll

This gigantic cinnamon roll is just as delicious as it looks. Plus, it's kid approved and party ready.

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Pumpkin Spice-Chocolate Marble Bread

Credit: Linda Pugliese

Recipe: Pumpkin Spice-Chocolate Marble Bread

These marble loafs are made for holiday mornings. Slice and serve, though we wouldn't blame you if there were a piece or two missing by the time these make it to the table.

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Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

This cheesy breakfast bake combines two of our favorite things: sausage and hashbrowns.

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Best-Ever Sticky Buns

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Best-Ever Sticky Buns

We call dibs on licking the spoon! This sugary treat is just want your Thanksgiving brunch bunch needs.

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Baked Oatmeal

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Baked Oatmeal

Leave the indulgence for later in the day. This healthy oatmeal can be filled with your favorite seasonal fruits.

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Slow-Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole

Don't let your slow cooker miss out on the fun. While your other appliances set the scene for dinner, let your slow cooker work on breakfast.

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Tater Tot Breakfast Bake

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Tater Tot Breakfast Bake

This savory tater tot breakfast dish will hold you over until Thanksgiving dinner.

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Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey

Credit: Skyler Burt

Recipe: Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey

We can't let a holiday go by without a little something fried.

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Bakeshop Blueberry Muffins

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Bakeshop Blueberry Muffins

These fluffy homemade blueberry muffins will save you a trip to the bakery.

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Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake

This easier twist on a soufflé is sure to wake up guests with a smile.

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Tomato-Herb Frittata

Credit: Victor Protasio

Recipe: Tomato-Herb Frittata

Not sure what to feed vegetarian guests? This frittata is filled with fresh herbs and tomatoes.

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Huevos Rancheros Bake

Credit: Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Huevos Rancheros Bake

Thanksgiving guests will be asking for seconds of this hearty Tex-Mex bake. Just remind them that dinner is coming sooner than they think.

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Country Ham Hash

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Country Ham Hash

Invite sleepy Thanksgiving guests down to the kitchen with these holiday-worthy breakfast potatoes.

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Fresh Fruit Salad

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad

Juicy and refreshing, this customizable fruit salad is just what your brunch table needs.

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Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake

Top this scrumptious blueberry cake with a dollop of whipped cream.

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Breakfast Biscuit Sandwich with Sausage, Egg, and Cheese

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Breakfast Biscuit Sandwich with Sausage, Egg, and Cheese

This breakfast sandwich is a breeze to build. Start with homemade biscuits and add egg, sausage, and your favorite toppings.

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Creamy Egg Strata

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Creamy Egg Strata

This dreamy egg strata is worth waking up for.

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Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns

Get the kiddos involved in making these sticky sweet treats.

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Biscuit Beignets

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Biscuit Beignets

A sugar rush for brunch? Count us in!

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Fried Skillet Potatoes

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Fried Skillet Potatoes

Skillet potatoes are so easy to make. Add eggs and bacon for an ultimate savory dish.

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Blueberry Coffee Cake

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Blueberry Coffee Cake

There’s nothing simpler or more elegant that pulling a coffee cake out of the oven just in time for morning brunch. Sunlight streaming through the windows, a cup of coffee steaming on the counter, and plates gleaming on the table, ready for a slice of this crisp, tender cake, studded with juicy blueberries and sprinkled with slivers of almonds. To make this scene even easier to recreate, combine the dry ingredients the night before brunch. This will give you a quick morning start, and it will shave a few minutes off of your preparation time. Serve this cake warm or at room temperature—both pair beautifully with a cup of coffee, tea, or orange juice.

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Caramel-Glazed Monkey Bread

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Caramel-Glazed Monkey Bread

Monkey bread is a favorite of kids and kids at heart everywhere. You really can’t go wrong with this monkey bread at brunch, as it has all of the sweet indulgence that we love for brunch mixed with the delicious textures of this tasty variation on bread. When you mix up this recipe, the final result is a dish that is beloved all across the South. The dough is soft and cakey, and the loaf dons a scrumptious sugary crust, creating a gorgeous mixture of textures that is ultimately so satisfying. You’ll want to pull it apart just to watch the dough stretch and split into portions that will be gobbled up immediately. Seconds, please!

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Ham-and-Swiss Sticky Buns

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Ham-and-Swiss Sticky Buns

This brunch recipe is both indulgent and filling, and somehow, it checks all of the tasty brunch boxes. Filling? Check. Traditional? Check? Unexpected? Absolutely. It is both surprising and familiar all at once, with the comfort (and full-all-morning feeling) of ham and swiss plus the indulgence of a fan-favorite sticky bun. When you are preparing this dish, be sure to stuff the dough deep into the muffin cups so that the tops rise into a cheesy dome while baking. This will give the buns their characteristic appearance, with luscious mountains of sticky bun on top and ham and cheese warm and bubbling and hidden inside.

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