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Are you looking for cheap breakfast foods? You’ve heard the saying, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” but it doesn’t have to be the most expensive, and in today’s economy, frugal meal planning is definitely the way to go. I’m going to share with you a ton of frugal breakfast ideas to get you and your entire family fueled for the day on the cheap!
Cheap Breakfast Ideas
Let’s get started with some easy breakfast ideas for busy mornings.
We prefer to start our days slowly and that usually means I do not prepare a big breakfast. Here are some great ideas for a cheap and easy breakfast.
- Peanut butter toast – throw a few banana slices on top if you have them
- Boiled eggs (prepared ahead of time) – Keep these in your fridge so they’re ready to go. I like to top mine with some Everything Bagel seasoning and hot sauce!
- Instant oatmeal packs – You can get instant oatmeal packs relatively inexpensively. Alternatively, make your own instant oatmeal packets.
- Chocolate peanut butter oatmeal – This is a super simple microwave oatmeal recipe.
- Blueberry Oatmeal – Another take on microwave oatmeal except with blueberries!
- Apple Pie Oatmeal – Yum! There’s nothing more American than apple pie.
- Yogurt with fruit and granola – All you need to do is put the ingredients together in a bowl for this simple breakfast.
- Yogurt fruit salad – Eat this alone in a bowl, or top your waffles or pancakes with it!
- Cinnamon sugar toast (simply add a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar on top of buttered toast) – add a cup of yogurt on the side for some protein
- English muffin with peanut butter or cream cheese – English muffins can be bought or made.
- Bagel with peanut butter or cream cheese – We enjoy fruit cream cheese.
Related Reading for Frugal Meal Ideas
What is the cheapest breakfast food?
I would say toast, eggs, and oatmeal are the cheapest breakfast food options available. The great thing about these foods is that they are so versatile and can be prepared in a variety of ways for a delicious morning meal.
For example, you can top your toast a million different ways. Try some nut butter and fresh fruit, jam, or spring for something savory and top your toast with a fried egg. While not inexpensive, if you happen to have an avocado you can even make some avocado toast!
If you have a little extra time, you can turn your toast into French toast sticks and top with some maple syrup!
Oatmeal can be made a million different ways, too. You can make it with water and add in some butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Top with granola and fresh fruit for a yummy and hearty breakfast.
You can definitely create an affordable breakfast with simply toast, eggs, and oatmeal. Just choose your own bread that you love to make your toast and you’re all set!
We really enjoy using this toaster for our large family!
Quick Breakfast Ideas
Make ahead breakfast recipes are some of my favorite because I can prepare a big batch ahead of time and then pull out a few items as needed. These make ahead breakfast ideas are essential for staying on track with any meal plan.
If you’ve been in a breakfast rut, try pulling out some of these delicious breakfast recipes.
- Easy Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches – These sandwiches are made with English muffins and store perfectly in the freezer. Just heat in the microwave and eat!
- Breakfast casserole – This slow cooker version of a breakfast casserole can be made the night before so it’s ready for the morning meal.
- Breakfast burrito – All you need is some ground sausage, scrambled eggs, shredded cheese and tortillas to create this family favorite!
- Banana bread – Double this banana bread recipe on a Sunday night and eat all week!
- Easy muffin recipe – Use this muffin recipe and add anything to it you like before baking; chocolate chips, blueberries, strawberries, etc.
- Homemade granola bars – Granola bars are a long time favorite in our house. Make them ahead of time to have for grab and go breakfasts!
Healthy Breakfast Recipes
Sometimes you just need some healthy breakfast options. Many breakfast foods are traditionally loaded with carbs, and some of us are trying to cut those down. A lot of breakfast foods also have an excessive amount of sugar, so I’m offering up some healthy options that are good for a tight budget.
- Healthy Veggie Egg Muffins – You can make these a million different ways. My favorite includes onion and bell peppers!
- Bacon and Eggs – Serve the eggs over a bed of green salad greens to make a very filling breakfast.
- Crispy cheese omelettes – I will never make my omelettes any other way. Spread some shredded cheese on a greased skillet, let it melt a little bit before pouring your eggs and make your omelette. The result is a crispy cheese on the outside of the omelette.
- Regular omelettes – Stuff with your favorite fillings, peppers, onions, cheese, ham, etc.
Weekend Morning Breakfast Ideas
We absolutely love slow weekends when we can take some time to make some delicious breakfasts!
One of my biggest frugal food tips is to buy the ingredients needed to make items instead of purchasing pre-made and pre-packaged items. Keep flour, sugar, brown sugar, butter, oil, baking soda, baking powder, eggs and other pantry staples on hand and you will always be able to whip up a frugal breakfast!
Here are some ideas for your weekend mornings:
- Cinnamon roll waffles – This recipe for waffles combines two of my kids’ favorite breakfast foods!
- Fluffy pancakes – You can’t go wrong with pancakes topped with butter and a little syrup!
- German oven pancakes
- Cinnamon rolls – This probably takes the cake for my kids’ favorite breakfast food.
- French toast – Try out this classic breakfast food.
- Big Breakfast spread including: eggs, bacon or sausage, pancakes, fresh fruit, and orange juice
I hope these frugal breakfast ideas have given you some ideas and inspired you to create a yummy breakfast for your family!
