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Recipes

Make These 5-Minute Breakfast Recipes When You’re in a Rush

This article is written by a student writer from the Spoon University at UNT chapter.

While breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, for many, a few extra clicks of the snooze button outweigh the benefits of a healthy morning meal. Rushing out the door and scrambling for a last-minute, and likely unfulfilling, snack is a scenario that’s all too common. If you want to start your day off with a jolt of energy and still get to hit snooze, try making one of these easy 5-minute breakfast recipes.

1. Smoothie Bowl

restaurants at the university of michigan vegetable salad
Diana Davis

This quick breakfast is as effortless as getting a bowl, plugging in your blender, and digging in with a spoon. The seven recipes linked above range from green machine mixes, banana berry with a scoop of Nutella in the middle, and even a berry delight with chia seeds, coconut, and pepitas. 

2. Create-Your-Own Oatmeal

Oatmeal porridge sweet
Christin Urso

Everyone can read the directions on a microwavable oatmeal pack, but if you wanna step up your chef game, follow these easy oatmeal hacks (linked above) and you’ll impress your friends in no time. From bananas and berries, to adding some crunch, making your morning oatmeal delicious has never been so easy. 

3. Breakfast Banana Split

5 minute breakfast recipes berry sweet
Clarisse Callahan

This creative spin on the classic banana split is a fun and healthy treat to get your morning started. This banana split uses peanut butter and Greek yogurt instead of ice cream, and its toppings are juicy berries instead of hot fudge and nuts. With these simple, protein-filled ingredients, you’re sure to fall in love with this healthy breakfast banana split.

4. Fruit and Cheese

Picnic photo by Prudence Earl (@prudenceearl) on Unsplash
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This sunrise snack doesn’t need an elaborate explanation, or even a world-class recipe; waking up to a fruit and cheese plate is as simple as it sounds. The elegant combination of ripe, juicy fruits and creamy cheeses will quickly make you into the morning person we all aspire to be. A timeless combination, and my personal favorite, is crisp pear with the nutty flavor of Brie. With so many classic fruit and cheese pairings, this dish is sure to be a perfect fit for you.

5. Microwave French Toast

This single serve, microwavable French toast recipe will make you feel like an accomplished chef no matter your cooking skills. Not only is this recipe straightforward, but the total cost is only around $0.84, making it a terrifically affordable way to start your morning off right.

6. Microwavable Apple Cinnamon Crumble

While this dish may seem more like a treat than a hearty breakfast, these microwavable apple cinnamon crumbles promise to start your day off with a little sweetness. The recipe does require some baking and pantry staples like flour, oats, and coconut oil, but the terrific taste of apples, cinnamon, and a toasty topping will be worth it. This crumble will quickly become your go-to breakfast sweet to impress your friends and make you feel like an adventurous eater, all with the press of a microwave button.

#SpoonTip: Chop the apples and pecans the night before to make the prep time even shorter.

7. Green Goddess Smoothie

5 minute breakfast recipes smoothie sweet
Christin Urso

While green machine smoothies may seem like a remedy after a long day at the gym, this green goddess recipe combines refreshing fruity flavors with the energizing benefits of greens, making it a perfect breakfast recipe. The recipe calls for peaches, pineapples, or mangos, but you can substitute your favorite fruits to create your favorite blend. Spinach may not be everyone’s favorite, but teaming it up with sweet fruits will kickstart your morning and allow you to push through anything your day has in store.

#SpoonTip: Try out different liquid bases and sweeteners such as coconut water and agave nectar or honey and almond milk to make your smoothie one-of-a-kind.

8. Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl

recipes for thanksgiving leftovers sauce chicken
Jordan Gottlieb

Sweet potatoes might not scream ‘breakfast,’ but their creaminess serves as the base for the perfect bowl to start your morning. Much like an açaí bowl, this recipe is open to an assortment of toppings. From almond butter and granola to fresh fruit and coconut flakes, this sweet potato bowl is sure to awaken your creative side and start your day off right.

#SpoonTip: Cook the sweet potato the night before in the microwave to make your breakfast prep faster.

9. Honey Ricotta Toast

This quick sunrise snack is as delicious as it sounds. Simply toast your favorite slices of bread, spread on a creamy layer of ricotta cheese, and top it off with a drizzle of honey. While you can follow a recipe, you can also customize this dish by adding your choice of toppings.

#SpoonTip: Try adding figs, strawberries, pears, or even pistachios to take your toast game to the next level.

10. Banana Pancake in a Mug

5 minute breakfast recipes sweet cream
Natsuko Mazany

With some simple ingredients and just a few minutes of your time, this mug banana pancake recipe will make your morning shine. The hardest thing about this delicious dish is having to wait three minutes while your masterpiece cooks in the microwave.

#SpoonTip: Try adding some cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice to this quick breakfast recipe.

11. Build Your Own Parfait

protein-packed dorm snacks yogurt milk
Jenny Mun

Who says you can’t have a delicious breakfast before an 8am class? Creating your perfect parfait may just be the cure to alleviating the stress of early mornings. If you need some direction, follow this guide to making a crave-worthy parfait. If you have time to prep for your breakfast the night before, be sure to try this parfait with homemade blackberry chia sauce.

#SpoonTip: Try stacking your layers of perfection in a mason jar or another re-sealable container to enjoy this quick breakfast on the go.

12. Broiled Grapefruit

grapefruit juice citrus
Brittany Arnett

You’ll have to wake up a few minutes earlier to pre-heat the oven, but this recipe will make you feel like an Iron Chef. A simple combination of brown sugar, cinnamon, and ginger offsets the tartness of the grapefruit. If you don’t have an oven, don’t worry–a toaster oven works just as well. 

13. Blueberry Mug Muffin

Find your apron and get your baking face on, because this blueberry mug muffin is another fantastic microwavable recipe. From juicy blueberries to a scrumptious cake-like consistency, this morning delight will bring an element of sweetness to your daily routine. 

14. Create-Your-Own Bagel

jewish foods bagel salmon
Jennifer Nigro

Whether you like it basic with just schmear or crave a mountainous tower of a sandwich, the bagel is the perfect medium to deliver your breakfast wishes. You can always follow a recipe to create your own homemade bagels, but all you really need is a trip to the grocery store and some creativity. There’s no wrong turn with this versatile morning dish, but if you wanna be safe and turn to the pros, check out where to get the best bagels in every state.

15. Classic Avocado Toast

5 minute breakfast recipes salad vegetable
Amanda Shulman

I’m sorry, I had to. While avocado toast is as basic as it gets, it’s an effortless, uncomplicated, and endlessly customizable dish. For all the avocado toast haters, give it another go with these seven creative combinations. For all the avocado toast lovers out there, check out these 10 recipes that make it acceptable to eat avocado toast for every meal of the day.

While you can continue to pick up that granola bar or snack on some trail mix to hold you over until lunch, these 5-minute breakfast recipes are easy, simple, and customizable. Whether you wanna show off your culinary skills or simply start taking the steps towards a healthier, fresher diet, breakfast offers endless opportunities to revolutionize how you eat and how you live.

A lover of all things food, exploring the world one plate at a time.