Breakfast For Dinner Ideas
And a visit to someone else's kitchen
Dinner often feels like it has a capital D. As the main meal, it seems to require something substantial and fitting of this weighty category. Breakfast can be a bowl of cereal and lunch can be anything, really. (Ever had a handful of pretzels and a spoonful of peanut butter? I have). Dinner, on the other hand, looms large with its quintessential images of roast chicken or a big bowl of spaghetti.
When you think about it, there are only so many types of food available. I’m picturing the old food pyramid or the more updated MyPlate. No matter the meal, we’re all working with some combination of fruit, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. It’s only our arbitrary categorization that makes a certain thing acceptable at a certain time. Cheese on toast is breakfast. On a sandwich, we call it lunch. Sprinkle it on pasta and you have dinner. Yet, cheese on crackers is a snack.
For this reason, I love the idea of breakfast for dinner. My friend, Lianna, kindly shared what weeknight dinner looks like in her house in an interview featured below. Omelets with salad is one of her go-tos. This pairing, which feels both simple and refined, inspired a deeper dive into ways we can simplify dinner by broadening our definition of it.
The variety at breakfast opens up a whole host of new dinner options, and eggs (if you can find them right now) are an easy, healthy source of protein. Because food is food at any time of day, here’s a list of other breakfast for dinner ideas and recipes.
Savory Breakfast for Dinner
Healthy Breakfast Casserole, from Cookie+Kate: This egg bake is loaded with vegetables and can be prepped ahead of time, leaving just the baking step for the dinner hour.
Breakfast tacos: Top tortillas with scrambled eggs and black beans. Add salsa, avocado, shredded cheese, the works.
Shakshuka with Feta, from NYT Cooking: This middle eastern egg dish is a staple of Israeli breakfast, but gives off dinner vibes with its spicy tomato base. For a larger table, you can also make it in a baking dish: Shakshuka for a Crowd, from the Nosher.
Bagels with cream cheese & smoked salmon: Serve these with a plate of chopped vegetables. Zero cooking required.
Quiche (pre-made) & salad: A nod to my favorite meal at Le Pain Quotidien, a simple salad of greens with dressing (like Ina Garten’s 4-ingredient vinaigrette) elevates this store-bought option.
Sweet Breakfast for Dinner
Apple Sheet Pan Pancakes, from Amy Palanjian: These apple pancakes are delicious, but you could follow Amy’s method (spread batter on a parchment-lined sheet pan and bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes) for any pancake batter, even my trusty Kodiak mix.
Oatmeal with “baked” apples: As a topping for basic oatmeal, make warm cinnamon apples in the microwave. Dice 2 apples and place in a bowl with a tablespoon of water and a small scoop of butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon, cover with a plate, and microwave for 2 minutes.
Granola buffet: A standard breakfast in my house involves loading up the table with granola, cereal, yogurt or milk, berries, and toppings (e.g. nuts, shredded coconut, raisins, and a few chocolate chips). Any box of granola works here, but if you want to make your own, these are my favorite recipes:
The Very Best Granola, from Cookie+Kate
Olive Oil Granola with Dried Apricots and Pistachios, from NYT Cooking
Dinner at Lianna’s
Let’s kick it off with a simple question. What did you have for dinner?
Last night, we had frozen pizza for dinner. Two nights ago, we had baked potatoes, pasta, chicken thighs, and broccoli.
Can you share a little about what dinner typically looks like in your house on a weeknight?
Our weeknight dinners vary a lot depending on the kids’ activities. Sometimes we have time to cook, and other times we rely on ready-made meals like frozen Indian food or pizza. No matter what, we always make an effort to sit down together as a family.
What are some of your go-to dinners?
My go-to dinners are omelets with salad, baked potatoes with chicken, pasta with salad, or soup.
Considering all parts of the process, what do you think is the hardest part about dinner?
The hardest part for me is planning because I never know what the kids will be in the mood for. I rarely make new dishes that require looking up recipes—it just takes too much time.
If a friend asked for your best dinner tip or recipe, what would you say?
My best dinner tip is to always have some frozen meals stocked for those busy nights when you need them.