8 Back-to-School Breakfast Ideas & Recipes

There’s one week left until school starts around here and we’re clinging to those last carefree, unscheduled summer days. They feel particularly precious to me for when the last one is crossed off, I will be waking my first-born early, making him a stack of pancakes for breakfast, and kissing him goodbye for his first day of school.

Oh. I’m going to miss him so very, very much.

Yes, after a relaxed summer, an early morning routine is headed our way and we’re busy getting prepared for it. I sat down to plan out some fast, wholesome eats for our week-day mornings and didn’t have far to look; in the short six months that we’ve been up and running, Simple Bites has amassed a variety of breakfast suggestions.

Here are my picks for back-to-school breakfast ideas. Follow the links to get the full recipes, then grab a pen and paper and make a shopping list, because, ready or not, it’s back to school time!

1. Cottage Cheese & Yogurt Parfait with Fruit

This is breakfast to go at its very best. Layer fresh or frozen fruit with your favorite yogurt and cottage cheese, then top with granola and dig in with a spoon. For kid’s breakfasts, assemble them in small plastic containers with a tight fitting lid so they can be enjoyed anywhere between door and desk. (Pictured at the top of the post)

Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese & Yogurt Parfait

2. Coconut Milk & Berry Smoothie

Jump-start your day with this dairy-free, sugar-free smoothie. Change up the berries with whatever you have on hand and customize to suit your child’s tastes.

Get the Recipe: Coconut Milk-Berry Smoothie

3. Buckwheat Pancakes

Make Monday mornings extra special with minimal effort, thanks to this do-ahead pancake mix. Mix the dry ingredients together in large batches, then store in the freezer to maintain freshness.

Get the Recipe: Buckwheat Pancake Mix

4. Berry Powerful Bars

Homemade energy bars couldn’t get any easier than these ‘berry powerful bars. They also boast plenty of antioxidants, whole grain goodness, no processed sweeteners and a lot less fat than regular granola bars.
Now there’s a strategy for feeding your family that don’t involve a drive-through window!

Get the Recipe: Berry Powerful Bars

5. Egg ‘McMuffin’

A cheese-topped egg sandwiched between a whole-wheat bun, this stick-to-your-ribs breakfast sandwich is hard to turn down. Add pre-cooked bacon for extra protein.

Get the Recipe: Quick Homemade Egg ‘McMuffin’

6. Scottish Oat Scones

For the non-breakfast person, a warm scone wrapped in a napkin is just the ticket. It can easily hold until mid-morning, but I’m guessing it won’t last that long.

Get the Recipe: Scottish Oat Scones

7. Muffins…your way

Use our basic One-Bowl Oatmeal Muffin recipe and suggestions for add-ins to create the perfect flavor combination for your family’s morning muffin. Never eat a disappointing muffin again!

Get the Recipe: One-Bowl Oatmeal Muffins

8. Chai-Spiced Granola

Sprinkle it on yogurt or oatmeal or just enjoy it with milk, this unique and flavorful granola will keep you and your little scholars energized until lunch!

Get the Recipe: Chai-Spiced Granola

What are you dishing up on those Monday to Friday mornings?

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29 Comments

  1. Oh, gosh. I don’t do anything fancy like this for the work week. Cold cereal, toast, or oatmeal (mostly during winter)…is about it. Maybe I’ll have to start trying out some of these.

  2. We are big on cottage cheese w/ “stir ins” around here and LOVE a good egg sandwich (certainly beats the drive thru ones, for sure!)

    My kids also like scrambled egsgs w/ diced ham & veggies (usually whatever is leftover from the night before)

    We do a lot of re-heating leftover rice w/ a little milk and butter, too. Excellent w/ cinnamon and raisins stirred in (faux rice pudding, I guess LOL)

    Love these ideas! Thank you!

  3. Holy Yummy! Awesome site and I love all these recipes. I can’t wait to try them. This is my new favorite food blog.

    Thanks Girl, You rock!

  4. Hey there Aimee I know what you mean about the carefree schedules and counting down to school days… with three on the go I am not really looking forward to the hectic schedule but alas it must be… I recently found two recipes thAT ROCK.. Dutch baby… which are like a cross between pancakes and beaver tails,,, and chai flavoured oatmeal made in the oven and it will keep in the fridge to warm up in the micro…. I can share the recipe just let me know… linda

    1. Thanks for the comment, Linda. We love Dutch Babies around here too. The chai oatmeal sounds great. Sure, I’d love the recipe. Thanks!

  5. My mom always used to make me quick breakfast tacos in the morning by having cooked ground sausage in the fridge, ready to go. In the morning, she’d scramble an egg and toss in a little sausage at the end just to warm it. Then, into a tortilla with a touch of cheese…yum! So easy, and so satisfying.

  6. Great ideas! We homeschool and our son doesn’t like breakfast right away (bonus for homeschool!) but these look wonderful! When I’m good about meal planning, I do all three-breakfast, lunch and dinner. These will make their way into the rotation, for sure!
    For an after school treat, the coconut berry smoothie can be poured into popsicle trays and frozen, YUM!

  7. Thanks for the great ideas Aimee! I’ve been on the lookout for a recipe for buckwheat pancakes for a while now and these look perfect. We are up to our ears in ‘finger foods’ at the moment so these will be perfect for my little boy (and for me!).

    1. Sarah- I also make up pancake ‘dollars’ and freeze them for quick snacks. I’ll sandwich them together with peanut butter for a hearty snack.

  8. wow, these all look amazing! I’ve been making your buckwheat pancakes and love how easy they are on a weekday. Can’t wait to try more of these!

  9. Love these ideas! Still looking for a healthy homemade hotpocket recipe to make ahead then freeze & heat in the microwave the morning of. If anyone has suggestions please let me know! Thanks! 🙂

  10. Great ideas -for me and the kids! I have made 3 batches of the chai granola so far and LOVE it. I’ve started adding in some diced candied ginger – yum! Thanks again for such great ideas and recipes Aimee :o)

  11. THIS is just what I’ve been needing – with 5 kids, 3 of them under 4 years old, mornings are hectic for me.

    Thanks so much!

    Hope

  12. These are great! My kids don’t go to school, but I’m always desperate for new breakfast ideas…healthy ones, that is!

  13. Your buckwheat pancakes have me drooling and the kids love pancakes anyway. Will have to try the Scottish oat scones as they look delicious and can be pre-made and kept in a container, handy for fixing quick hunger pangs.

  14. Oh, my goodness. I’ve linked to this post on a roundup of back-to-school food ideas on parentingsquad.com to publish in August. I’m a cook, and a mom to a scone-eating, berry-and-yogurt loving, whole-grain-pancake-devouring family. I’ve bookmarked your site! Thanks for these great recipes – for me, personally, and for our readers over at the squad.

    Rhonda
    Contributing editor, parentingsquad.com