25 Best Breakfast Side Dishes for a Complete Morning Meal
You can't have eggs without a side of bacon, right?
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For The Pioneer Woman and her crew, breakfast is considered one of the most important meals of the day—so much so that even the folks at The Mercantile started serving breakfast for dinner! But no matter what time you serve it, you can't have a complete breakfast with some tasty side dishes. After all, what's a plate of scrambled eggs without a side of bacon? Or how about that big breakfast casserole without a side of fruit? If you've got breakfast (or brunch) on your mind, don't forget to check out this list of the best breakfast side dishes to make your morning meal complete.
Here, you'll find all the classics, including crispy bacon, juicy sausage, and homemade muffins galore! Plus, you can get creative with your breakfast sides by swapping out your typical breakfast potatoes for an extra crispy potato galette or sweet potato hash. Looking for a breakfast side that doubles as dessert? Try a slice of sour cream coffee cake or the easy doughnuts with caramel sauce. On the lighter side of things, you can make a refreshing bowl of fruit salad with mint syrup or a yogurt parfait layered with granola. Serve them up with your favorite egg dishes, pancakes, or waffles and a cup of coffee—and breakfast is served.
Air Fryer Bacon
Say hello to your new favorite way to cook bacon! This method results in less mess but just as much crispiness. And you can still save the rendered bacon fat for cooking eggs or spooning over potatoes.
Get the Air Fryer Bacon recipe.
Morning Glory Muffins
These muffins are chockfull of mix-ins like apples, raisins, carrots, coconut, and pecans. They're not just a tasty way to start your day, but they're also a good way to sneak in some fruits and veggies, too.
Get the Morning Glory Muffins recipe.
Homemade Chicken Apple Sausage
Ground chicken is lean and mild, but it stays extra juicy here thanks to the addition of grated apples. Serve 'em up with eggs and pancakes for a hearty morning meal.
Sweet Potato Hash
This breakfast hash is both smoky and sweet thanks to the bacon, sweet potatoes, cumin and paprika. If steak and eggs are your breakfast of choice, it would also make for the perfect side dish.
Get the Sweet Potato Hash recipe.
Sunrise Fruit Salad
Wake up to a refreshing breakfast with this sunny fruit salad on the side! The colorful mix of melon, mango, and pineapple will pair perfectly with the crunch from the toasted coconut.
Get Ree's Sunrise Fruit Salad recipe.
Skillet Biscuits with Cinnamon-Honey Butter
These biscuits are flaky and tender with a beautiful crust that comes from baking them in a cast iron skillet. All they need is the cinnamon-honey butter on the side!
Get Ree's Skillet Biscuits with Cinnamon-Honey Butter recipe.
Candied Bacon
This bacon has a sweet and spicy coating that's completely addictive. You'll want to serve it up as a side dish, a garnish for bloody marys, or even on a breakfast sandwich!
Get the Candied Bacon recipe.
Corn Muffins
There's something so simple yet perfectly classic about a basket of corn muffins. They can go with just about anything! Best of all, the salted honey butter makes them extra satisfying.
Get the Corn Muffins recipe.
Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread
The Drummond family loves cinnamon rolls but this twist is even easier to make! Just pop open a can of large cinnamon roll dough to get started. There's no need to wait while it rises since the whole thing takes only an hour to make.
Get the Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread recipe.
Potato Galette
This recipe is like a giant crispy hash brown so you know it's going to be a hit alongside your favorite eggs. Try making it for a fun brunch party and everyone will be impressed.
Get the Potato Galette recipe.
Yogurt Parfait
With layers of vanilla yogurt, fresh fruit, and homemade granola crunch, these little cups are anything but boring. You can even get your family to help build their own with a yogurt parfait bar.
Get the Yogurt Parfait recipe.
Grit Cakes
While you can't go wrong with creamy grits, this recipe has the added bonus feature of those crispy, golden edges! Plus, you can make them in any shape like squares, rounds, or even hearts.
Get the Grit Cakes recipe.
Rainbow Fruit Skewers
This is one of the best ways to get your family to eat their serving of fruit! The colorful skewers are served up with a vanilla yogurt dip and a donut hole on the end for extra sweetness.
Get the Rainbow Fruit Skewers recipe.
French Toast Sticks
Break out the maple syrup! These French toast sticks are a morning treat that pairs well with fresh fruit.
Get the French Toast Sticks recipe.
Doughnuts with Salted Caramel Sauce
These doughnuts are made with frozen puff pastry so they couldn't be easier. It's a supermarket hack that'll be glad you tried!
Strawberry Butter
A simple basket of toast is a no-brainer at breakfast, but don't just serve it up with any old spread. This strawberry butter is sweet, colorful, and only takes minutes to make.
Get the Strawberry Butter recipe.
Air Fryer Potatoes
Crispy potatoes are a breakfast must! And making them in your air fryer ensures they get crispy on the outside and pillowy on the inside every time.
Get the Air Fryer Potatoes recipe.
Cranberry Scones
These perfectly tender scones are studded with sweet-tart cranberries. But if you really want to take them to the next level, simply drizzle them with the pink cranberry glaze!
Get the Cranberry Scones recipe.
Avocado Toast
Avocado toast is one of Ree's favorite items on the menu at The Merc! You can keep them simple or dress them up with pico de gallo or chopped mango.
Get the Avocado Toast recipe.
Fruit Salad with Mint Syrup
The refreshing minty syrup brings such a welcome pop of flavor to this colorful bowl of fruit. Feel free to add in your favorite berries or swap for different types of melon depending on the season.
Get Ree's Fruit Salad with Mint Syrup recipe.
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