21 Thanksgiving Breakfast Ideas

During Thanksgiving, you might not want to eat a heavy breakfast so you can save room for your favorite dishes at dinner. But if you are the one hosting, you need something quick and easy to power you through the day!

After Thanksgiving, there is always so much extra food. Using Thanksgiving leftovers to make breakfast helps reduce food waste. It can also lead to some creative and innovative dishes.

Below you’ll find several Thanksgiving breakfast ideas. The first part covers easy breakfasts to serve the day of Thanksgiving, whether for yourself, your family, or a house full of guests. The second part offers ideas for using leftover Thanksgiving dishes to create delightful breakfasts to enjoy in the subsequent days.

Thanksgiving morning breakfast ideas

Thanksgiving is the ultimate feast, so you certainly don’t want to ruin it with a big breakfast. On the other hand, you don’t want to starve all day in anticipation. Below are some quick and easy Thanksgiving breakfast recipes that will hold you over until the main event:

1. Seasonal cold oats

Preparing a batch of cold oats is an easy breakfast solution if you are short on time because you are busy working on your turkey. Combine rolled oats with milk overnight to soften them for a refreshing morning treat. Add a dash or two of pumpkin pie spice and sprinkle with toasted pecans for a seasonal touch.

2. Breakfast frittata

Frittatas are fantastic for Thanksgiving breakfast because they can be cooked the night before, so you don’t have to do any more cooking than you have to on the big day. Refrigerate frittatas overnight and microwave them in the morning for a quick and easy breakfast. Combine veggies, herbs, and cheeses of your choice to create a delicious breakfast meal with little effort.

3. Seasonal fruit smoothie

Keep it light Thanksgiving morning with a fresh fruit smoothie. Make use of any seasonal ingredients you may have, such as cranberry sauce, apples, pecans, and cinnamon, and combine with milk and a frozen banana. 

4. Old-fashioned oat porridge

If it’s too chilly to enjoy cold oat in November, please your tummy with a hot and steamy bowl of old-fashioned porridge. Add milk and mix in nuts or dried fruit to give your cup an energy boost.

5. Continental breakfast

The classic continental breakfast is an easy solution for breakfast, especially if you are feeding house guests.  An array of pastries, toast, mixed fruit, and boiled eggs will give you and your company plenty of options for staying satiated until dinner time. Don’t forget the orange juice!

6. Rice pudding

Make an easy stovetop rice pudding with rice, milk, cinnamon, and raisins. Like oatmeal porridge, you can make a big batch at once, and any houseguests can help themselves to as much as they want.

Leftover Thanksgiving breakfast ideas

After Thanksgiving begins the annual tradition of figuring out what to do with all the leftovers. Fortunately, there are many creative ways to incorporate leftover Thanksgiving foods into delicious breakfasts over the next few days:

7. Cranberry sauce French toast

Leftover cranberry sauce is the perfect accouterment to classic French toast. Chances are, you may have lots of leftover bread as well. 

8. Turkey hash

Pan fry chopped potatoes (or leftover taters) with peppers and onions. Mix in chopped Thanksgiving turkey and sauté. 

9. Thanksgiving omelet

Omelets are an excellent vessel for leftover Thanksgiving foods. Add your choice of chopped turkey or ham with a few leftover side veggies such as collard greens or green beans. Combine with eggs and cheese and cook up some tasty omelets.

10. Spiral ham and eggs

Skip the bacon, and use up the leftover ham first. Throw it in a hot skillet to sear it and enhance its flavor. Serve with scrambled eggs.

11. Cranberry sauce parfait

For a healthy leftover breakfast, prepare a parfait with cranberry sauce, dried fruit nuts, and non-fat Greek yogurt.

12. Pumpkin oatmeal

If you made more pumpkin pie filling than could fit in your pie, don’t toss it out. You can add it to other meals throughout the week. One way is to mix in a couple of scoops with your oatmeal for an indulgent morning treat.

13. Potato cakes with poached eggs

Make pan-fried potato cakes using leftover mashed potatoes. Top with poached eggs and drizzle with Hollandaise sauce, or maybe even leftover gravy.

14. Turkey and egg breakfast tacos

Breakfast tacos are a quick and easy post-Thanksgiving breakfast meal. They’re perfect for overnight guests that need to hit the road first thing in the morning.

15. Sweet potato pancakes

As with pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie filling or even extra cooked sweet potatoes can be used in several dishes. Adding sweet potato to your pancake batter is another excellent option.

16. Cranberry smoothie

If you overindulged on Thanksgiving, maybe you feel like you want to have a light breakfast afterward. Freeze extra cranberry sauce and blend with apples, cinnamon, milk, and Greek yogurt.

17. Turkey or ham egg and cheese breakfast sandwiches

Use up leftover rolls and biscuits by making egg and cheese sandwiches. Pan fry up leftover turkey or ham for your protein. Offer them as a grab-and-go option for guests that need to depart quickly.

18. Collard greens and eggs

Greens are often overlooked at breakfast, but they can provide a healthy dose of needed nutrition early in the morning. Serve with eggs and hot sauce for a comfort food breakfast without the grease.

19. Biscuits and gravy

Put your leftover biscuits and gravy to good use. Fry up some ground breakfast sausage and stir into your excess gravy. Serve with warm biscuits for a hearty morning meal.

20. Fried turkey and waffles

If you fried your turkey this year, imagine how great it will go with a buttermilk waffle and drizzled with syrup. Add rosemary and thyme to your waffle mix for a more savory waffle.

21. Pie for breakfast

When else are you going to be able to justify eating pie for breakfast? Whether it’s pumpkin, pecan, apple, or cherry, you deserve it. Just maybe skip the ice cream until after lunch.

Cooking Thanksgiving breakfast

As you can see, there are many ways to use Thanksgiving leftovers for breakfast, both sweet and savory. Let these ideas serve as inspiration for your own concoctions, so nothing goes to waste!

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