16 Breakfast Recipes That Will Get You Through College

Sarah Spigelman Richter

updated Jul 5, 2023

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Credit: Kimberley Hasselbrink

College is where my breakfast habits took a nosedive. I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t prepping egg whites and avocado toast in my dorm-room microwave freshman year. In fact, I don’t think I had any fresh produce my entire freshman year. That was the year I wore all black, read Chekhov, and started every morning with a Diet Pepsi.

I wish I’d had the wherewithal to cook any of these delicious breakfasts back then. Some are quick, some are nutritious, and some are cheap — but they all taste great.

College-Ready Breakfast Recipes

1 / 16

Overnight Oats with Jam and Toasted Coconut

If you haven’t yet tried overnight oats, you absolutely have to. This is a hearty and filling breakfast that isn’t too heavy and that requires almost no preparation at all.

2 / 16

Morning Glory Overnight Oats

Inspired by the hearty muffins of the same name, tender soaked oats are mixed with apple, carrot, and walnuts for a wholesome, make-ahead breakfast.

3 / 16

Blueberry Pie Overnight Oats

This particular recipe is a fun variation on my usual overnight oats. It takes a bit of extra time to make the crumbly streusel topping but it’s definitely worth it.

4 / 16

2-Ingredient Banana Pancakes

A step-by-step guide to making pancakes out of two ingredients: bananas and eggs.

5 / 16

Ham and Cheddar Lunch Box Muffins

These hearty muffins are mixed with cornmeal for extra heft and texture, and loaded with thick-cut chunks of ham, sharp cheddar, and a pinch of chives.

6 / 16

Savory Muffins with Prosciutto & Chives

The base of these muffins is more cottage cheese and egg than flour, so the result is less like a springy baked good, and more like a pleasant meet-up of quiche and muffin.

7 / 16

Savory Tomato-Basil Morning Muffins

If savory foods dominate your morning cravings, these tomato-basil muffins are for you.

8 / 16

Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Burritos

Burritos with eggs, cheese, and potatoes, made ahead and heated up quickly on a weekday morning. Breakfast victory.

9 / 16

Potato, Chorizo, and Cheesy Egg Burritos

These breakfast burritos were created with busy weekday mornings in mind, fulfilling the egg, cheese, meat, and carb foursome that’s guaranteed to deliver a hearty morning meal.

10 / 16

Zucchini Chocolate Breakfast Cookies

A recipe for wholesome chocolate breakfast cookies filled with grated zucchini and oats and made with Greek yogurt.

11 / 16

Apple Pie Breakfast Cookies

Whole-grain breakfast cookies that are filled with chunks of apple, raisins, and nuts.

12 / 16

Spiced Carrot Oat Cookies

These breakfast cookies are naturally sweetened with maple syrup and loaded with oats, walnuts, shredded carrots and raisins — making them perfect for a quick breakfast.

13 / 16

Honey-Yogurt Avocado Toast

Although avocados are usually seen in savory dishes, they’re also used in desserts in some cuisines.

14 / 16

Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Corn, Goat Cheese & Tomatoes

This meal could be breakfast or dinner.

15 / 16

Scrambled Eggs with Lazy Salsa

A few spoonfuls of this spicy fresh (and make-ahead) salsa sprinkled over your eggs will wake you up better than a cup of coffee.

16 / 16

Scrambled Eggs With Green Peppers & Mushrooms

I swap pepper jack cheese for the cheddar, or toss in some other orphaned vegetables from the crisper.

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