35 Easy Thanksgiving Brunch Recipes for a Stress-Free Holiday

By Southern Living Editors
Photo: 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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Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole

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

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

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

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

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet

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

 

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Pumpkin Spice Muffins

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

Photo: 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

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

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

Photo: 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo: 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

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

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Creamy Egg Strata

This dreamy egg strata is worth waking up for.

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Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns

Photo: 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

Southern Living

Recipe: Biscuit Beignets

A sugar rush for brunch? Count us in!

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Fried Skillet Potatoes

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

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

Photo: 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

Photo: 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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Sausage-and-Grits Quiche

Photo: Melina Hammer

Recipe: Sausage-and-Grits Quiche

This is a go-to. It is the recipe that so many hosts and hostesses reach for again and again, with recipe cards stained, creased, and much loved from years of use. It’s a trusty recipe to keep in your back pocket, and it is one that—when you master it—it is so easy to whip up at a moment’s notice. You will certainly impress your brunch company with this clever, simple spin on a traditional quiche. They’ll be delighted, and you’ll know that, once again, the trusty sausage and grits quiche came through for breakfast and saved the day, or the morning, as it were.

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Baked Eggs with Spinach and Tomatoes

Photo: Greg Dupree

Recipe:  Baked Eggs with Spinach and Tomatoes

Casseroles are great for breakfast, but we are also partial to brunch dishes baked in ramekins for individual guests. This recipe for baked eggs with spinach and tomatoes is a perfect dish for breakfast—it is savory and filling, with the vibrancy of vegetables and the comfort of baked eggs. It is a great way to incorporate oft neglected vegetables into brunch. This individually portioned breakfast is certainly elegant enough for company, and the best part is that it only takes two minutes to throw together. Once baked, this bubbling creation will delight your guests, and they will definitely want your recipe.

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Buttermilk-Glazed Cherry Sheet Cake

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Buttermilk-Glazed Cherry Sheet Cake

Another great brunch food to feed a crowd, this sheet cake is sweet and substantial, but not too dessert-inspired for a morning meal. It takes one of the most beloved fruits—the delicious, bursting cherry—and showcases it in a tender sheet cake with a melt in your mouth buttermilk glaze. If you're ready to step up your brunch game, and we think you probably are, then this beautiful cake will definitely do the trick. It pairs beautifully with so many other dishes, but be sure to serve it with lots (and lots) of coffee. It’s a sophisticated addition to any brunch table.

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Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche

When you have a houseful of visiting family to feed, nothing is easier than a cheesy quiche still warm from the oven. It can keep a whole family full until lunchtime, and this recipe involves breakfast ingredients that are sure to please: bacon, cheesy grits, and a traditional egg quiche. To prepare, you will spread cheese to the edge of the warm, bacon-laden grits –which forms the crust. This will prevent any custard from seeping out while the quiche bakes. It is also easy to customize quiches to your and your family’s tastes, so start with this recipe and broaden your quiche repertoire.

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Country-Ham-and-Egg Toasts

Photo: Greg Dupree

 Recipe: Country-Ham-and-Egg Toasts

If you are looking for a brunch recipe that is both delicious and out of the ordinary, then this is the dish for you. It is an out of the box option that is so very easy to prepare—and even easier to eat. They are also infinitely customizable, and you can top these open-faced sandwiches with anything and everything. We think some of the best versions include poached eggs or leftover chicken. You can certainly use leftovers from last night’s dinner, but you can also create a toast bar with all of the breakfast fixings so that your guests can individualize their egg toasts.

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Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole

Photo: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole

This casserole is rich, delicious, and worthy of any Thanksgiving Brunch or Christmas Morning Breakfast. Topped with Gruyère cheese, the casserole browns beautifully and has a delicious nutty flavor, but you can sub Swiss cheese if you prefer. Pre-made store bought croissants from your local grocery give bakery-fresh flavor with minimum effort, and add a flaky crust to the dish’s edges. Serve with grits and fruit for a filling meal, and finish the brunch with a decadent desert like Bananas Foster Coffee Cake with Ambrosia Sauce for a holiday-worthy brunch that all of your friends will remember for years to come.

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