Recipes Breakfast + Brunch 15 Breakfast Recipes Every Beginner Cook Should Know By Elisabeth Sherman Elisabeth Sherman Instagram Twitter Website Elisabeth Sherman is a writer, editor, and fact-checker in the food, culture, and entertainment spaces. She has been working professionally at national magazines since 2015. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 20, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: © Abby Hocking Scrambled eggs or pancakes might be the first thing many people learn to cook, but beyond these staples, there's a whole world of breakfast recipes that are essential for anyone's repertoire. If you're looking to hone your skills cooking breakfast, conquer these essential dishes that range from savory to sweet. Challah French toast, anyone? 01 of 15 Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Omelets © John Kernick Master your omelet-making skills and you'll have a last-minute breakfast or dinner under control. This creamy-tangy one, with shiitake mushrooms and delicate fresh pea shoots, would be satisfying any time of day. Get the Recipe 02 of 15 Carla Hall's Buttermilk Biscuits Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Torie Cox Every home cook should have a biscuit recipe in his or her arsenal. The trick here is to give the dough two turns when you're rolling it out to ensure you evenly distribute the combination of butter and shortening. This will make the biscuits extra tender and flaky. Get the Recipe 03 of 15 Eggs Florentine with Smoky Mornay Sauce © Heather Chontos Poaching eggs is tricky business, but once you perfect the craft, you can put them on everything — from avocado toast to a bed of greens. As for the Mornay sauce, it's a French classic that's great to know how to make, too. Going the distance with this recipe will pay off, in other words, long after you finish breakfast. Get the Recipe 04 of 15 Whole-Wheat Pancakes with Roasted Berries © Christina Holmes The key technique here is using a resealable plastic bag to pipe out perfect pancakes — resulting in one less bowl to wash. To make the roasted berries, simply toss them with sugar and pop them in the oven for 10 minutes. Get the Recipe 05 of 15 BLT Fried Egg and Cheese Sandwich © Kana Okada Chef Thomas Keller's scrumptious recipe combines three of the world's most popular sandwiches — bacon, lettuce, and tomato; fried egg; and grilled cheese. Get the Recipe 06 of 15 Broccoli Frittata If you don't feel like flipping an omelet, make a frittata. But seriously, having a good frittata recipe on hand will make weekend brunch a breeze, whether you're cooking for one or a crowd. Get the Recipe 07 of 15 Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping © James Baigrie These muffins are super simple to make; feel free to swap out the blueberries for other fresh fruit like peaches or raspberries if you prefer. Plus, once you see how easy it is to make crumb topping, you'll want to put it on everything. Get the Recipe 08 of 15 Soft-Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Sablefish and Trout Roe © Chris Court The crucial egg dish to perfect is a soft and creamy scramble (leave the rubbery eggs at the door). Chef Andrew Carmellini's luxurious eggs are heavenly on their own, and serving them with smoky sable, briny roe, and rich sour cream puts them over the top. Get the Recipe 09 of 15 Challah French Toast © Daria Khoroshavina Pillowy challah is the perfect vehicle for French toast. Remember to flip the slices in the egg mixture a few times before cooking. Get the Recipe 10 of 15 Escarole Shakshuka Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely Eggs poached in a savory sauce are livened up with the addition of silky, sweet escarole and tangy feta. A deliciously bright addition to your breakfast or brunch spread, serve with crusty bread or toast for sopping. Get the Recipe 11 of 15 Classic Belgian Waffles © Tina Rupp These light, crispy waffles get their rise from yeast and eggs. Top them with anything from dulce de leche to maple syrup to chocolate sauce. Get the Recipe 12 of 15 Eggs Benny Toast Photo by Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer and Paige Grandjean / Prop Styling by Christine Keely The secret to this super-simple eggs Benedict? Cornstarch. It stabilizes the emulsion in the hollandaise, helping to prevent the sauce from breaking while it cooks over direct heat. Easier than poaching, gently steaming eggs results in delicately tender whites and smooth, creamy yolks. Get the Recipe 13 of 15 Basic Crêpes Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Kay Clarke The most difficult part about making crêpes might be waiting for the batter to rest. Once you've tried your hand at flipping them a few times, you'll get the hang of it and want to make these thin pancakes for anyone who comes over. Get the Recipe 14 of 15 Quiche Lorraine © Abby Hocking This classic is great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and it'll help you work on various techniques from dough to custard. The sour cream in the recipe imparts an extra silky texture for an impressive spin on the French staple. Get the Recipe 15 of 15 Strawberry-Almond Scones Con Poulos In the breakfast pastry cannon, scones rank low on the difficulty scale. Start with this recipe and then get creative with flavor variations. Get the Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit