11 Recipes That Prove Breakfast for Dinner Is the Best Kind of Evening Meal

Waffles, eggs, and toast: You are officially welcome at our dinner table.

A sunny-side-up sheet pan breakfast
Photo: Greg Dupree

There's no rule that breakfast has to happen before noon. Or night, for that matter. Why should the most important meal of the day be relegated to the early morning hours? It shouldn't be!

Making breakfast for dinner is a fun way to switch things up, break out of a cooking rut, and luxuriate over some scrambled eggs or decadent French toast instead of stuffing your face just in time to run out the door. Coffee is optional at this hour, but breakfast cocktails are certainly not off-limits when you're eating breakfast right before bed. Craving breakfast for dinner? Here's what to make!

01 of 11

Potato Tot Breakfast Casserole

Potato Tot Breakfast Casserole
Greg DuPree

You can't go wrong with crispy potatoes in a breakfast-for-dinner recipe. It just so happens in this one, the potato tots form the bed of a hardy, ultra-comforting breakfast casserole. This dish requires just 15 minutes of hands-on time, for cooking the sausage and onions and combining the egg mixture. You can complete chores or help kids with the homework while it bakes. If your little ones have sensitive palates, opt for mild sausage and leave off the jalapeños at the end (or put them to one side for the diners who want that heat).

02 of 11

Sunny Side Up Sheet Pan Breakfast

Sunny-Side-Up Sheet Pan Breakfast Recipe
Greg DuPree

Your sheet pan dinner just got a major glow-up. Sunny-side eggs are perfectly cooked alongside veggies and prosciutto for an easy-to-make and clean meal that is quite likely to become part of your weeknight dinner lineup. Serve with hot sauce, crumbly cheese, or fresh herbs for a fun customization experience when plating.

03 of 11

Brown Butter Waffles

brown-butter-waffles-1219big
Greg DuPree

Drenched in warm syrup, covered with berries and whipped cream, or even as a base for fried chicken or chicken nuggets, these waffles are perfection. The brown butter adds some nuttiness and sophistication to waffle night. The key is whipping the egg whites into stiff peaks for the ultimate fluffy waffle that can be enjoyed at any time.

04 of 11

Smoked Salmon Toast

Smoked Salmon Toast
Caitlin Bensel

So salmon is already a dinner food, and opening a package of smoked salmon just takes away a few steps. Perfect for nights you definitely don't want to preheat the oven. Avocado adds richness to this recipe, which can be made on all types of bread and adorned with seeds or even chili crisp for some more crunch and flavor.

05 of 11

Scrambled Egg Tacos

Scrambled Egg Tacos
Charles Masters

There's something extra special about taking a classic lunch or dinner meal—in this case, tacos—and flipping it to make it a breakfast dish. With this breakfast-for-dinner recipe, you'll whip up plenty of scrambled eggs to share with your family. Then, let everyone top them as they see fit. Salsa, tangy Monterey-Jack cheese, cilantro, and avocado are our recommendations, but you can't go wrong with a DIY approach to topping your own breakfast taco.

06 of 11

Zucchini Parmesan Frittata

Zucchini Parmesan Frittata
Sheri Giblin

A frittata, or crustless quiche, may be the quintessential breakfast-for-dinner dish. At breakfast, you can eat it with potatoes or toast, and at dinner, you can utilize leftover ingredients for the filling and then finish it off with a side salad or chilled grain salad. Play around with the cheese in this recipe if you make it more than once. A funky fontina might be fun in place of Parmesan. It all comes together quickly, too, so you can let it bake while everyone is assembling after a long day.

07 of 11

Brown Rice Congee with Kimchee, Scallions, and 7-Minute Eggs

Brown Rice Congee
Brie Passano

Congee, a Chinese porridge, is one of those breakfast foods that's seriously good all day long, and even better left over. Make it for dinner and eat your second round for actual breakfast in the morning.

08 of 11

Mushroom and Egg White Omelet

Mushroom and Egg White Omelet
Charles Masters

Omelets are a filling breakfast dish that are equally at home for dinner. The almost effortless preparation makes them ideal when you're pressed for time, and their versatility makes them great for eating regularly and never getting bored. Indeed, you can use any omelet-worthy ingredients you have on hand, from sausage to spinach, bacon to bell peppers. We like the simplicity of this Mushroom and Egg White Omelet, though, because you can cook one for each person in just a few minutes. Cook all the mushrooms and scallions at once, then you need only cook the egg base. For a full meal, add a side of home fries or hash browns.

09 of 11

Crunchy Skillet Eggs with Herbs

Breakfast ideas with eggs - Crunchy Skillet Eggs With Herbs
Jen Causey

These fried eggs up the ante on what the humble egg can do. So much texture! So much flavor! Serve with sliced steak, bacon, or just some toast to round out the meal.

10 of 11

Cacio e Pepe Dutch Baby

Cacio e Pepe Dutch Baby
Victor Protasio

There's nothing baby about this enormous pancake, which takes inspiration from the pasta dish of the same name for the ultimate peppery, cheesy and savory flavor. This dish practically cooks itself, freeing you up to do whatever you need to do before indulging in breakfast for dinner.

11 of 11

Skillet Eggs in Enchilada Sauce

Green Shakshuka / Skillet Eggs in Enchilada Sauce
Caitlin Bensel

Similar to shakshuka, these eggs cooked in enchilada sauce offer a spicy, tangy, one-pot meal that's excellent with a side of tortillas or tortilla chips. Adjust the recipe for how many people you want to serve, or make it in small skillets for a restaurant-worthy presentation.

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