Feeding a crowd for breakfast or brunch shouldn’t mean spending hours in the kitchen whilst your guests wait. Whether you’re hosting a weekend gathering, celebrating a special occasion, or simply have family visiting, these 25+ breakfast and brunch recipes are designed to make entertaining effortless. From make-ahead egg bakes and savoury frittatas to sweet Dutch baby pancakes and French toast casseroles, you’ll find both sweet and savoury options that can feed 8-12 people (or more) without the stress. Many can be prepared the night before, leaving you free to actually enjoy your own party.
Key Takeaways
- 25+ recipes for both sweet and savoury breakfast lovers
- Many recipes can be made ahead and reheated
- Options for dietary preferences including vegetarian and gluten-free
- Perfect for holiday gatherings, weekend brunches, or special occasions
- Recipes range from 15 minutes to make-ahead overnight options
Savoury Dishes:
Easy ham and cheese croissant bake
The buttery croissants puff up in the oven, becoming wonderfully light and airy, whilst the savoury ham and melted cheese add unbeatable flavour. It’s decadent, so delicious, and sure to be a hit at your next breakfast, brunch, or casual lunch.
Menemen: Delicious Turkish Scrambled Eggs
Menemen is one of my all-time favourite scrambled egg recipes. I love all the peppers and tomatoes, which give it so much flavour. Make sure you cook some of the liquid from the tomatoes out and enjoy on toast with a sprinkle of parsley.
Omelette with smoked salmon (or trout), crème fraîche and red onion
This easy omelette is a Neill Anthony recipe and one of my favourites. It’s a little bit fancy and perfect for breakfast. Or brunch when you want to be extra.
A Delicious And Easy Shakshuka
This delicious shakshuka recipe is adapted from Ottolenghi’s book Jerusalem. Comfort breakfast eating at its best.
Spinach & Corn Scrambled Eggs With Parmesan
Spinach, corn and Parmesan cheese elevate these scrambled eggs and make the perfect dish to feed a crowd. You could use fresh, frozen or tinned corn or use aged Cheddar in place of the Parmesan.
Egg And Bacon In Bread Baskets
Inspired by Nice Cafe in Parkhurst in Johannesburg, this is a fun and delicious way to feed eggs to a crowd. Make the toast baskets in a muffin tin.
Creamy Miso Mushrooms And Eggs
A great way to elevate your mushrooms on toast with umami-laden miso and a splash of cream. Add an egg of your choice on top.
Bacon and egg breakfast pies
These can be adapted with any fillings and make great picnic food too.
Boiled Eggs With Asparagus, Pancetta & Parmesan Toast
This simple yet tasty twist on boiled eggs and soldiers will turn your breakfast from ordinary to extraordinary. The lightly roasted asparagus with crispy pancetta and the Parmesan toast fingers go so well with the soft-boiled egg that you will be dipping and licking your lips until every scrap is gone.
High-protein cottage cheese waffles
These are savoury and delicious, making the perfect base to add to your favourite breakfast toppings. They take minutes to make in one bowl and are ideal to feed a crowd. Add a sprinkle of cheese to make them extra crispy if you like.
Eggs Benedict On Roasted Brown Mushrooms
Elevate your breakfast game with this Eggs Benedict on roasted brown mushrooms—a healthier, gluten-free twist on the classic. Instead of the traditional English muffin, this recipe uses roasted brown mushrooms as the base. I’ve included a recipe for a cheat’s Hollandaise sauce.
French toast with miso and Parmesan
French toast is always a treat during the holidays and when you need to feed a crowd. Here I have given it a savoury twist, and you can top it with creamy mushrooms, more eggs, salad things or anything you fancy.
The most delicious cheese & onion quiche.
This is my favourite quiche and is deliciously old-school. It’s also a fab item to make in advance if you don’t feel like cooking something on the day.
Eggs in puttanesca sauce (purgatory-style)
For a more fiery Italian-flavoured poached egg dish. This works for a quick supper too.
Healthy Air Fryer Frittata with vegetables
Add whatever fillings you have around, such as leftover cheese, charcuterie. or gamon.
Shaved Asparagus & Pea Frittata With Mint & Parma Ham
I adore a minty asparagus frittata, so for this recipe I simply added extra peas and finished the dish with ribbons of Parma ham and a generous sprinkling of fresh pea shoots. We need more greenery for breakfast, but of course, this meal works perfectly for brunch, lunch, or even supper.
Viral Tortilla Quiche With Cottage Cheese & Vegetables
This is a super easy and healthy recipe.
Eggs poached in red wine sauce.
This recipe for Ouefs en Meurette involves a little effort, but it takes poached eggs to the highest level.
My perfect huevos rancheros with chipotle
Rustic smoky breakfast hash with gammon
Croque madame with spinach & smoked salmon
A fishy twist to a classic bistro dish.
Sweet dishes
Mango, Passionfruit And Yoghurt Brûlée
This recipe for mango, passionfruit and yoghurt brûlée hovers somewhere between a dessert and a very decadent breakfast treat, with wedges of perfectly ripe, in-season mangoes covered in fresh passionfruit pulp. It’s my absolute best way to eat a mango. It’s so easy to make with a few simple ingredients, and it’s always a crowd pleaser.
Dutch Baby Pancake With Blueberries & Lemon
This Dutch baby pancake with blueberries and lemon is a delicious breakfast or brunch treat to serve a few people. Topped with lemon curd swirled through Greek-style yoghurt and fresh blueberries, this will be loved by everyone.
Baked oatmeal with banana, raisins, pecans
Things go a little pear-shaped during the festive season, and our bodies crave fibre and nutrition. This one is an excellent option and can be topped with yoghurt, berries or any fruit of your choice. It is infinitely adaptable flavour-wise.
Dutch Baby Pancake With Caramelised Apples
Caramelised apples with a hint of cinnamon served in the Dutch baby pancake with maple syrup and yoghurt. What’s not to love?
Blueberry Pancakes With Ricotta And Orange
These blueberry pancakes with ricotta and orange are one of my all-time favourite pancake recipes on my blog. They are light and fluffy and soak up maple syrup perfectly.
Baked French Toast With Apples, Cinnamon, And Raisins
If baked French toast, otherwise known as French toast casserole and apple pie, had a baby, this baked French toast with apples, cinnamon and raisins would be it. With warm spices of cinnamon and vanilla, I spiked this breakfast bake with orange liqueur to give it a grown-up and delicious boozy edge. Perfect for a lazy weekend or Sunday morning breakfast or brunch treat. You will love my overnight French toast recipe.
Mossbolletjie French Toast With Cottage Cheese & Berries
Mossbolletjie bread or any brioche-style loaf (or Challah) makes perfect fluffy French toast.
For more inspiration, check out my:
Mother’s Day Brunch Recipe Ideas
My 5 favourite pancake recipes
My best egg recipes
Frequently Asked Questions About Breakfast And Brunch Recipes for a Crowd
How many people do these breakfast recipes serve? Most recipes serve 4-6 people as written, but the beauty of crowd-friendly breakfasts is they scale beautifully. Baked dishes like the ham and cheese croissant bake, quiches, and French toast casseroles can easily feed 10-12 people. Simply use a larger baking dish and increase ingredients proportionally.
Which breakfast recipes can I make ahead of time? The cheese and onion quiche, baked French toast, ham and cheese croissant bake, baked oatmeal, and all frittata recipes are excellent make-ahead options. Assemble them the night before, refrigerate, then bake in the morning. Some, like the quiche and frittatas, can even be baked ahead and gently reheated.
What are the best breakfast dishes for buffet-style serving? Egg and bacon breakfast pies, frittatas, quiches, the ham and cheese croissant bake, and baked French toast work brilliantly for buffets. They maintain their temperature well, look attractive on a serving platter, and guests can easily serve themselves. Pair with fresh fruit and yoghurt for a complete spread.
Do you have vegetarian breakfast options for feeding a crowd? Absolutely! Try the shakshuka, spinach and corn scrambled eggs, miso mushrooms and eggs, cheese and onion quiche, asparagus and pea frittata, tortilla quiche with vegetables, or any of the sweet options like Dutch baby pancakes, baked oatmeal, and French toast variations.
What’s the easiest breakfast to make for a large group? The baked French toast with apples, ham and cheese croissant bake, or baked oatmeal are among the easiest options. They require minimal hands-on time, can feed 8-12 people from a single dish, and mostly bake unattended whilst you prepare coffee and set the table.
Can these recipes be adapted for dietary restrictions? Yes, many adapt easily! The cottage cheese waffles are naturally high-protein, eggs Benedict on mushrooms is gluten-free, and several frittata and egg-based recipes are naturally gluten-free. For dairy-free options, substitute plant-based milk and cheese in most recipes. The baked oatmeal works beautifully with almond or oat milk.
How do I keep breakfast warm when serving a crowd? Baked dishes can stay in a low oven (around 80-100°C) to keep warm. Use chafing dishes or warming trays for buffet service. Alternatively, embrace room-temperature serving—many dishes like quiches and frittatas are delicious at room temperature and actually easier to slice when slightly cooled.
Tips for Stress-Free Breakfast Entertaining
Prepare the Night Before: Assemble casseroles, chop vegetables, set the table, and prepare coffee stations the evening before. This leaves you with minimal morning work.
Create a Breakfast Bar: Set out toppings and accompaniments so guests can customise their plates. Fresh berries, yoghurt, maple syrup, hot sauce, and fresh herbs let everyone adjust to their taste.
Timing Strategy: Start with one warm savoury dish and one sweet option rather than trying to serve everything hot simultaneously. Add fresh fruit, pastries, and cold items to round out the spread.
Beverage Station: Set up a self-serve coffee and tea station with milk, sugar, and mugs so guests can help themselves whilst you focus on food.
Temperature Flexibility: Many breakfast dishes are delicious at room temperature. Don’t stress about serving everything piping hot—quiches, frittatas, and baked oatmeal are all lovely slightly warm.
Whether you’re hosting a casual weekend brunch or a celebratory breakfast gathering, these recipes take the stress out of feeding a crowd. The key is choosing dishes that can be made ahead, scale easily, and don’t require constant attention whilst baking. With options ranging from quick 15-minute scrambles to elegant overnight French toast casseroles, you’ll find the perfect recipe for any occasion—and actually have time to sit down and enjoy the meal with your guests.
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