Holidays & Occasions Tailgating 27 Big-Batch Breakfast Recipes for Your Tailgate By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is a Digital Associate Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories.She grew up in Mobile, Alabama, which she insists is home to the country's first Mardi Gras (not New Orleans) and now lives in Birmingham with her husband and rescue pup Rocky, whose name is unrelated to The University of Tennessee (Roll Tide). Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 5, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Jennifer Causey Just because your team has an early kickoff doesn't mean you should go without a tailgate. Although your menu is usually filled with burgers, wings, and dips galore, you've got to rethink the spread when game time is brunch time. These tailgate breakfast ideas for a crowd were made to feed a big, hungry Southern crew—so don't forget to invite family and friends. Whether you're hosting an at-home tailgate or you're going to campus for the big game, these breakfast ideas have you covered. From comforting casseroles that are easy to bake-and-take, to grab-and-go bites like doughnut hole muffins, sausage balls, and ham-stuffed biscuits, your rise-and-shine tailgate will be a winner. These easy breakfast ideas are ideal for making the night before, so you know your game day morning will go smoothly. With these tailgate breakfast ideas, you'll actually be excited when your team gets scheduled for an early game. Don't forget the mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar! 01 of 27 Pancake Casserole Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Pancake Casserole This is the tastiest way to make pancakes tailgate-ready. 02 of 27 Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole For a big-batch egg casserole, this recipe—packed with hash browns, sausage, and plenty of cheese—makes the ultimate crowd-pleaser. 03 of 27 Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Snickerdoodle Doughnut Hole Muffins These bite-size muffins give every tailgating Southerner with a sweet tooth just the thing he or she needs to make it through the game. 04 of 27 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 easy breakfast recipe uses miniature biscuits and sheet-pan eggs and sausage. The tiny bite-sized portions are the perfect tailgate snack. 05 of 27 Cinnamon Roll Casserole Antonis Achilleos Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Casserole Say hello to the easiest way to make cinnamon rolls portable and crowd-friendly. Switch things up later in the season with our option for an orange-apricot version. 06 of 27 Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Sheet Pan Bacon Cooking bacon little by little in the skillet isn't exactly practical for a big crowd, right? But...everyone loves bacon. This sheet pan method is easy, delicious, and serves a crowd. 07 of 27 Shrimp and Grits Casserole Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Shrimp and Grits Casserole Get ready to wow the watch party with this family-style casserole version of a traditional Southern breakfast dish. 08 of 27 Slow-Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Slow-Cooker Cinnamon Roll Casserole Let the slow cooker do the work while you get ready to cheer on your favorite team. 09 of 27 Tater Tot Bake Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Recipe: Tater Tot Breakfast Bake This one-dish breakfast casserole is ideal for a crowd. Assemble it the night before and pop it in the oven before the game. 10 of 27 Spicy Sausage-and-Cheddar Kolaches Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Spicy Sausage-and-Cheddar Kolaches This is just the upgraded version of sausage biscuits your tailgate needs. Our take on the Czech pastries called kolaches are filled with Southern favorite Conecuh sausage. 11 of 27 Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Mini Bananas Foster Sticky Buns Turn one of New Orleans' famous desserts into a sweet tailgate treat. 12 of 27 Big Batch Bloody Marys Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Big-Batch Bloody Marys Set up a Bloody Mary bar with celery stalks, pickled okra, and lime wedges—and instantly become the tailgate everyone wants to be at. 13 of 27 Country Ham Hash Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Country Ham Hash Get a headstart on this savory breakfast dish by chopping the veggies a day in advance—it'll make day-of prep so much easier. 14 of 27 Sausage-and-Cheese Grits Quiche Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Sausage-and-Cheese Grits Quiche It's like two of our favorite breakfast recipes rolled into one—or rather, springformed into one. 15 of 27 Spinach-and-Broccoli Breakfast Bread Pudding Southern Living Recipe: Spinach-and-Broccoli Breakfast Bread Pudding We'll never say no to bread pudding at breakfast—especially when it can be made in the slow cooker. 16 of 27 Ham Buttermilk Biscuits Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Ham Biscuits If you're looking for an easy touchdown, you can't beat this classic party recipe. Pair these ham biscuits with one of our homemade spreads: Creole Mayonnaise, Chive-Radish Compound Butter, Spicy Orange-Peach Butter, or Pecan Cheese Spread. 17 of 27 Croissant Breakfast Casserole Victor Protasio Recipe: Croissant Breakfast Casserole Did someone say croissants? In a casserole? Genius. 18 of 27 Best-Ever Sticky Buns Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Best-Ever Sticky Buns These sticky and sweet pecan-topped buns will steal the show on your tailgate spread, mark our words. 19 of 27 Apple Cider Doughnuts Micah A. Leal Recipe: Apple Cider Doughnuts Fluffy and cakey on the inside with a crispy sweet exterior, these spiced doughnuts make the perfect sweet for a fall tailgate. 20 of 27 Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole Victor Protasio Recipe: Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole Could you find a recipe any more perfect for an early kickoff the week of Thanksgiving? 21 of 27 Fresh Fruit Salad Jen Causey Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad Dress up any fruit that's in season with a mint-honey orange juice mixture. 22 of 27 Fried Skillet Potatoes Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Fried Skillet Potatoes These go-with-anything spuds will be a crispy sensation at the tailgate. 23 of 27 Any-Berry Muffins with Cornmeal Streusel Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Any-Berry Muffins with Cornmeal Streusel Raspberry, blueberry, blackberry—pick your favorite combination when making these cornmeal muffins. 24 of 27 Herbed Sausage Breakfast Casserole Jennifer Davick Recipe: Herbed Sausage Breakfast Casserole Another big-batch breakfast casserole that lets the slow cooker do all the work. 25 of 27 Apple Muffins Photo: Stephen Devries; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Apple Muffins Kick off the fall season—we mean football season—with some portable and seasonal muffins. 26 of 27 Strawberry Kuchen Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones Recipe: Strawberry Kuchen Halfway between coffee cake and strawberry cake, this classic pastry makes a fresh and fruity treat. 27 of 27 Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole Alison Miksch Recipe: Cheesy Sausage and Croissant Casserole Game days get long, so you need a hearty breakfast like this casserole to fill you up. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit