Are you in a rush? Running out the door but still want breakfast? Check out these grab-and-go breakfast ideas (plus get recipes for them too!).
For more ideas of what to eat, check out all of our recipes.
Pete launched a small batch marinara sauce business a few years ago, and every Saturday morning, we wake up at 5:30 am to head to the local farmers’ market. After we wake up and shower, he packs the car and I pack us food for the day. I’ll make sandwiches for lunch, grab plenty of water, and pack a snack. I’m always looking for grab-and-go breakfast ideas, though. I don’t have enough time between when I wake up and when we have to leave to cook breakfast and then sit and eat it. If I wanted to do that, I’d have to be up at 5 am — and that’s not possible after a Friday night, even if all we do is binge watch television before bed.
This is our fifth season at the market, which means I’ve had a lot of time to think about breakfast ideas. In case you have a day when you’re running late, need grab-and-go breakfast ideas for work, or travel breakfast ideas, this list is for you.
10+ Grab-And-Go Breakfast Ideas
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Cereal
I don’t like soggy cereal, and I was never much of a milk drinker, so milk in cereal is not my thing. Since I eat it dry, it’s so easy for me to take it with me.
Pour cereal in a bag, throw in a plastic spoon, close it, and it’s there when you’re ready to eat it. You can easily throw out the bag and spoon when you’re done, and you don’t have to worry about lugging around a plastic container.
Although, if you want to be a little more earth conscious, cereal on the go cups (pictured above) are perfect. The cereal goes in the top of the container, the milk goes at the bottom, and you can pack your cereal to go without worrying about it going soggy.
Bagels
I absolutely love making homemade bagels. I will batch make them for the week on Sunday, and then we have them all week long. Pete will usually put olive oil and spices on them; I’ll put butter or cream cheese, depending on what we have in the fridge.
These are really easy to grab. You can either take an extra second to toast one, or make it the night before and grab it from the fridge on the way out the door.
Homemade Bagel Recipes
Fruit
When we first started going to the farmers’ market, I was on a huge fruit kick. Berries were in season — and on sale — and I could eat an entire package in one sitting. So I was packing a lot of fruit for breakfast.
Rinse the berries the night before, then put them in the fridge. By the time the morning comes, the box will be dry and you are able to pack it without worrying about it getting anything else wet. And, that box is disposable, so you don’t have to worry about bringing a container home. In the fall, when apples are in season, just pack one of those and throw out the core when you’re done.
Smoothies
Smoothies are so easy to grab and enjoy on the go. You can make the smoothie the night before, using whatever fruit and liquid you like, and then keep it in the fridge. If you have a few smoothie cups for your blender, you can make more than one at once.
In the morning, just grab your cup and straw and head out the door.
Smoothie recipes:
Muffins
The grocery store where Pete used to work sold the best muffins. I would visit him at work, then check the discounted bakery items to see if any muffins were there. When there were, I would bring them home, cut them in half, and pack them for the market.
You can also make homemade muffins too. Which are cheaper, obviously.
Homemade muffin recipes:
Granola Bars
I love granola bars as a grab-and-go breakfast. It’s probably what I pack for us most often. They’re really tasty and usually filling enough for breakfast.
I like grabbing ones with chocolate in them, but I usually buy a mixed box so that Pete can have a non-chocolate option. And, keep in mind that chocolate will melt in the heat, so you might want to pack some non-chocolate granola bars for the summer.
Energy Balls
These are one of my favorite grab-and-go breakfast ideas. I make a huge batch of energy balls and then keep them in an airtight container. During the week, I’ll grab a couple, put them in a plastic bag, and then have them for breakfast on the go.
What’s great about these is they’re really customizable. You can vary the nuts and seeds in them, plus add mini chocolate chips or dried fruit, and have something unique every time you make them. I keep with my usual recipe because that’s what we like (and it has chocolate in it), but you can change it up if you want.
Energy Balls recipe:
Hard Boiled Eggs
On Sunday nights, Pete likes to boil a whole carton of hard boiled eggs. Then, he can grab them in the morning before work and not have to worry about cooking breakfast in the morning. It simplifies his morning routine and leaves him more time to workout.
This is actually what we had for breakfast today. I made ten hard boiled eggs to make deviled eggs, but my tray only held 15 halves, so I had two full eggs leftover. It was so easy to grab those two eggs — one for each of us — and not have to think about cooking this morning.
Banana Bread
If I have overripe bananas, I love making banana bread and banana nut muffins. Those are two really great ways to use bananas, but they also make really great grab and go breakfast ideas.
I also make zucchini bread, which is great for this as well.
If I have time, I’ll slice off a piece, heat it with a pat of butter in the microwave, and eat it that way. But, if I’m rushing out the door, I’ll just wrap a piece in plastic wrap and take it to go.
Homemade Banana Bread recipe:
Waffles
If I have time, I’ll bulk make waffles. We have a waffle maker, which makes this pretty easy. Then, I’ll freeze the waffle pieces. As we need them, we’ll grab them out of the freezer and put them in the fridge the night before so they defrost. Then, in the morning, we can just pop them in the toaster and be out the door.
Homemade waffles recipes:
Pancakes
I know, pancakes don’t generally feel like a grab and go breakfast. Pancakes actually feel like a really time consuming breakfast. But, actually, it’s not that bad if you bulk make them and freeze them like I do. Take a bit of time, make a huge batch (or triple batch) of pancakes and freeze them. Take a few out of the freezer and put the in the fridge the night before. Microwave them and you can be on your way.
Pancake recipes:
Other Grab And Go Breakfast Recipes:
We have a few other grab and go breakfast recipes that we make all the time. But, these didn’t feel like they needed an entire category because they’re so specific. Those recipes are our Air Fryer Breakfast Empanadas with bacon and eggs and our Freezer Challah Bread French Toast Sticks.
What is your favorite grab and go breakfast idea? Be sure to let us know in the comments.