Food and Recipes Breakfast 57 Easy Breakfasts Fit for a Crowd By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 27, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Alison Miksch When it comes to cooking breakfast for a crowd, the secret is in the sides. Sure, you can fry up some eggs, but we're really in it for the bacon and the hash browns. These best breakfast sides are about to make entertaining a whole lot easier. From smoky, cheesy make-ahead breakfast casseroles to sweet coffee cakes, these breakfast side dishes will keep your crowded kitchen table satisfied. We've taken French toast off the stove and put it in the oven for an easy breakfast bake, and even figured out an oven omelet recipe. Need to know how to cook bacon in bulk? We've got the crispy, oven-baked bacon recipe that hits the savory spot while still keeping you away from the hot stove. From creamy egg strata casseroles to a recipe that makes enough homemade buttermilk biscuits to feed a school bus, these big breakfast recipes will surely please your guests. Our crumbly coffee cake recipes, savory sausage casseroles, and fresh vegetable and grits pies all deserve permanent places on your breakfast buffet tables. These irresistible breakfast recipes will make your crowd go wild. 01 of 57 Overnight Eggnog-French Toast Casserole Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Overnight Eggnog-French Toast Casserole This festive breakfast was made for Christmas morning. Let it soak in all those holiday flavors overnight and just pop it in the oven in the morning for a fuss-free breakfast that'll feed the whole family. 02 of 57 Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole Alison Miksch Recipe: Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole Two types of cheeses, Jimmy Dean sausage, and mini croissants combine in one casserole dish full of utter Brunch perfection. 03 of 57 Pancake Casserole Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Pancake Casserole If you're looking for a big-batch way to serve pancakes, this recipe will be your new go-to. You can also make it in advance to ease the morning-of breakfast prep. 04 of 57 Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon This easy crowd-friendly hack helps cook your bacon in a snap and gets it nice and crispy. 05 of 57 Fried Skillet Potatoes Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Fried Skillet Potatoes Whip out the cast iron skillet for this classic breakfast recipe. After all, no breakfast is complete without some hash browns! 06 of 57 Buttermilk Biscuits Jennifer Davick Recipe: Buttermilk Biscuits Every Southern brunch needs buttermilk biscuits. 07 of 57 Sweet Potato Muffins Micah A. Leal Recipe: Sweet Potato Muffins Packed with warm fall flavors but not overly sweet, your guests will adore these seasonal muffins. And they're oh-so-easy to prepare! 08 of 57 Waffle Casserole Micah A. Leal Recipe: Waffle Casserole Finally, we've discovered a new use for those boxed freezer waffles! Be sure to drizzle this big-batch waffle bake with lots of syrup. 09 of 57 Crème Brûlée French Toast Micah A. Leal Recipe: Crème Brûlée French Toast Who said French toast needs to be cooked on the stovetop? When you're cooking breakfast for a crowd, sheet pans are your best friend. 10 of 57 Fresh Peach Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel Iain Bagwell; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Fresh Peach Coffee Cake with Pecan Streusel Make the most of those fresh summer peaches and brighten up your coffee cake with this recipe—it's meant for warm days. 11 of 57 Peach Scones Micah A. Leal Recipe: Peach Scones Nobody can resist homemade scones, and breakfast pastries packed with fresh peach bites may just be our new favorite treat. 12 of 57 Cheese-and-Sausage Quiche Will Dickey Recipe: Cheese-and-Sausage Quiche Each quiche feeds six people, so if you have a crowd, make a conveyor belt of assembly, and turns out several quiches to feed the masses. 13 of 57 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad Lighten up the breakfast spread with a big bowl of fresh fruit salad. Feel free to use any fruits or berries that are in season. 14 of 57 Blackberry-Yogurt Grits Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Blackberry-Yogurt Grits We know it's hard to resist a big pot of steaming cheesy grits, but this weekend, try sweetening up those grits with blackberries and yogurt. It's a combination you'll never question again. 15 of 57 Leek-and-Mushroom Grits Frittata Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Leek-and-Mushroom Grits Frittata This frittata is an entire breakfast packed into one skillet. Just slice and serve—it doesn't get much easier than that. 16 of 57 Pecan Pancakes with Caramel Apple Topping Luca Trovato Recipe: Pecan Pancakes with Caramel Apple Topping On busy holiday mornings when you've got a house packed full of hungry guests, this no-stress sheet pan pancake is the easiest breakfast solution. 17 of 57 Sausage-Potato Frittata Recipe: Sausage-Potato Frittata You've got your meat, potatoes, and eggs, all in one dish. What more could you want? 18 of 57 Creamy Grits Mexi-Casserole Jennifer Davick Recipe: Creamy Grits Mexi-Casserole Let the grits go low and slow in the slow cooker. Four hours later, you've got a pot of grits with warm Tex-Mex flavors. This recipe serves 8, so it's great for a crowd. 19 of 57 Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins These perfectly pop-able muffins are rolled in cinnamon and sugar, and they'll be a perfect accompaniment to any breakfast casserole. The recipe makes 2 dozen, but these mini muffins are so addictive, you may want to double the batch. 20 of 57 Herbed Sausage Breakfast Casserole Jennifer Davick Recipe: Herbed Sausage Breakfast Casserole This breakfast casserole is easily sliceable, with distinct layers of sausage and egg. Plus, it can all be made in the slow cooker. 21 of 57 Sausage-Stuffed Honey Buns Iain Bagwell Recipe: Sausage-Stuffed Honey Buns Nobody can resist sweet cinnamon buns, but we think it's time to introduce their savory counterpart: the Sausage-Stuffed Honey Bun. 22 of 57 Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Blueberry-Cornmeal Cake This breakfast cake is the perfect way to round out a big-batch brunch full of eggs and bacon. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream and fresh blueberries! 23 of 57 Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel Instead of portioning out individual pancakes, bake them all into a casserole for easy serving. A cinnamon streusel topping elevates this big-batch breakfast dish. 24 of 57 Shrimp and Grits Casserole Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Shrimp and Grits Casserole The best way to capture any Southerner's heart is through a big batch of shrimp and grits. Served family-style, this casserole will be on the table in under an hour. 25 of 57 Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake In addition to the savory ham and sweet corn, this casserole is packed with lots of Cheddar cheese. It serves 8 and it's just bursting with flavor. 26 of 57 Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole Jennifer Causey Recipe: Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole Fresh blueberries bring pops of light, juicy flavor to this impressive pancake casserole. You'll be making this crowd-friendly dish again and again. 27 of 57 Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet Jennifer Causey Recipe: Biscuits-and-Gravy Skillet Biscuits and gravy may look intimidating, but this classic recipe is surprisingly easy to master. Stick to a great buttermilk biscuit recipe and you're bound to succeed. 28 of 57 Baked Oatmeal Jennifer Causey Recipe: Baked Oatmeal If you're looking for a lighter option to add to the breakfast spread, this big-batch baked oatmeal is the best solution. 29 of 57 Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey Skyler Burt Recipe: Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey This recipe may look fancy, but the biscuits bake as a big-batch, so all you have to do is slice them in half and add the fried chicken. Plus, the rosemary hot honey comes together in the microwave. 30 of 57 Huevos Rancheros Bake Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Huevos Rancheros Bake Add a little flair to your brunch spread with this Huevos Rancheros Bake! With a base of corn tortillas and sunny-side eggs adorning the casserole, this breakfast bake is sure to please. 31 of 57 Country Ham Hash Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Country Ham Hash No breakfast spread is complete without crispy potatoes and griddled meat, and this Country Ham Hash knocks both those items off the list. 32 of 57 Tater Tot Breakfast Bake Jennifer Causey Recipe: Tater Tot Breakfast Bake Who said tater tots are just for kids? These delightful potato puffs can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike—especially in this cheesy breakfast casserole. 33 of 57 Stewed Tomato Shirred Eggs with Ham Chips Iain Bagwell Recipe: Stewed Tomato Shirred Eggs with Ham Chips Inspired by shakshuka, a classic Middle Eastern dish, this breakfast specialty includes eggs poached in a tomato stew. Serve with crusty bread for dipping. 34 of 57 Slow-Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Slow-Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole Big-batch cinnamon rolls that you can make in the slow cooker? Sounds like a brunch dream. 35 of 57 Apple Bread Micah A. Leal Recipe: Apple Bread Whenever we're hosting breakfast for a crowd, we keep a loaf of this apple bread on the counter for our guests to snack on. 36 of 57 Banana Bread Southern Living Recipe: Banana Bread You can never go wrong with a loaf of banana bread—serve slices as a breakfast "appetizer" or as a dessert with vanilla ice cream. 37 of 57 Cinnamon-Pecan Breakfast Bread Pudding Southern Living Recipe: Cinnamon-Pecan Breakfast Bread Pudding Bread pudding doesn't have to be for dessert. We're making this sweet, nutty bread pudding on all our holiday mornings. 38 of 57 Cinnamon Coffee Cake Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Cinnamon Coffee Cake No breakfast gathering is complete without a loaf of coffee cake. You'll want to bookmark this staple recipe. 39 of 57 Buttermilk Breakfast Scones Southern Living Recipe: Buttermilk Breakfast Scones Make a few different scone flavors to offer a selection to your guests, and feel free to cut them into bite-sized triangles for a big-batch snack. 40 of 57 The Big Cinnamon Roll Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: The Big Cinnamon Roll Who will be the first one to slice into this photo-worthy dish? Cook this giant cinnamon roll in your skillet—all the kids will love it. 41 of 57 Pumpkin Spice Muffins Micah A. Leal Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Muffins In the fall, we're crazy for pumpkin spice, and these subtly-sweet muffins are a great seasonal breakfast option. 42 of 57 Caramel Apple Coffee Cake Photo: Jennifer Davick Recipe: Caramel Apple Coffee Cake Dripping with golden caramel and stewed apples, this coffee cake is a great way to conclude your brunch for a crowd. 43 of 57 Praline Pull-Apart Bread Beth Hontzas Recipe: Praline Pull-Apart Bread One reviewer says, "Oh my!!! This was so good!!! I had to lock myself upstairs in my studio to keep from eating it all!" Make this crowd pleasing pull-apart bread to earn rave reviews of your own. 44 of 57 Savory Ham and Swiss Breakfast Pie Southern Living Recipe: Savory Ham and Swiss Breakfast Pie A breakfast pie made from a buttery grits crust topped with eggs, savory ham, green onions, and loads of cheese, this easy-to-love dish is easy to make, too. 45 of 57 Breakfast Enchiladas Recipe: Breakfast Enchiladas A best-loved Southern Living breakfast casserole, this recipe can be prepared in advance, stored in the refrigerator overnight, and baked the next morning. In just an hour, you'll have what reviewers call "the best tasting breakfast casserole ever eaten." So you might want to make double. 46 of 57 Praline-Pecan French Toast Jennifer Davick Recipe: Praline-Pecan French Toast Yes, we did it. We combined pralines and French toast. And it's every bit as good as you thought it would be. 47 of 57 King Ranch Breakfast Strata Southern Living Recipe: King Ranch Breakfast Strata French bread, corn tortillas, chicken, cheese, and plenty of flavor combine to make reigning King Ranch Breakfast Strata the ultimate make-ahead breakfast casserole. 48 of 57 Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche Alison Miksch Recipe: Bacon-and-Cheddar Grits Quiche Every good plan needs a solid foundation. You can't go wrong with a base "crust" made from baked grits loaded with melted cheese and crispy bacon. 49 of 57 Creamy Egg Strata Iain Bagwell Recipe: Creamy Egg Strata This is one of those mouthwatering breakfast dishes that's well worth the planning. Chill in your fridge so the French bread has time to soak up the butter, Parmesan and Swiss cheese, chicken broth, white wine, and sour cream. 50 of 57 Cheesy Grits Soufflé Hector Sanchez Recipe: Cheesy Grits Soufflé Adding milk and fresh corn kernels turns this classic Southern dish into a light, fluffy, cheesy souffle. 51 of 57 Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing Photo: Luca Trovato Recipe: Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing These old-school cinnamon rolls put store-bought rolls to shame. 52 of 57 Cream Cheese Pastries Alison Miksch Recipe: Cream Cheese Pastries Yes, you're reading that number right—this one sweet recipe makes four loaves of creamy, crispy, buttery, flaky pastries. 53 of 57 Easy Orange Rolls John O'Hagan Recipe: Easy Orange Rolls Sweet but not overly-so, these orange rolls made with prepackaged French bread dough are a great alternative (or addition) to cinnamon rolls. 54 of 57 Caramel Glazed Monkey Bread Iain Bagwell Recipe: Caramel Glazed Monkey Bread It is physically impossible not to fall in love-at-first-bite with this fluffy loaf of caramel monkey bread. Go ahead, we dare you to prove us wrong. 55 of 57 Cornmeal-and-Brown Sugar-Crusted Bacon Jennifer Davick Recipe: Cornmeal-and-Brown Sugar-Crusted Bacon Dress up your bacon with this oh-so-Southern crispy coating. This bacon recipe is great for crowds, because you can stick it in the oven and free your hands up to prepare other parts of your meal. 56 of 57 Blackberry French Toast Beth Hontzas Recipe: Blackberry French Toast Take the frying pan out of the French toast equation by popping this sweet breakfast bake into the oven. Just don't forget the whipped cream. 57 of 57 Smoky Sausage and Grits Casserole Alison Miksch Recipe: Smoky Sausage and Grits Casserole You can prepare this smoked sausage and grits casserole up to four days ahead, but your guests might gobble it up in four minutes—it's that good. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit