25 Weekend Brunch Recipes To Linger Over, Including Cocktails

Spend more time relaxing and less time cooking with a well-rounded brunch menu. From quiche to coffee cake to fruit salad to batch cocktails, these 25 brunch recipes will delight you and your guests.

By
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published May 13, 2023
Robin Shreeves
Side view of quiche with a piece being lifted up.
Lori Rice

Do you know what I love about having people over for brunch? So many of the dishes can be made ahead, leaving more time for me to spend with friends and family. I can prep overnight casseroles, quiches, fruit salads, muffins, and batch cocktails (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) the day before. The work I need to do the morning the guests arrive ends up being minimal.

Some recipes—like eggs Benedict—require more hands-on work before serving. But with so many delicious recipes to choose from, you can find the right combination of dishes that can all be put together well ahead of time to give you plenty of flexibility.

  • Blueberry Muffin Tops

    Stack of Blueberry Muffin Tops on a Plate with the Top Two Muffin Tops Broken in Half, and in the Background, a Bowl of Blueberries, More Muffin Tops on a Wire Rack, and a Glass of

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Everyone knows the tops of muffins are the best part, so serve your guests only the best with these blueberry muffin tops that are bursting with pockets of fresh, tangy blueberries and topped with crisp brown sugar and oat streusel. No need for a special pan, they bake freeform on a baking sheet.

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  • Classic Mimosa

    Prosecco, orange juice, orange slices and three glasses of the best mimosas are on a tray. Whole oranges are to the left of the tray.
    Elana Lepkowski

    The mimosa is the classic brunch cocktail. Just mix orange juice and sparkling wine, and you're done. You can use Champagne, while Prosecco and Cava are equally good, but less expensive, options. If you want to make mimosas THE cocktail of the brunch, consider creating a mimosa bar.

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  • Quiche Lorraine

    Quiche lorraine with a piece set on a plate behind it.
    Lori Rice

    It's so fun to see quiche in the limelight again, and quiche Lorraine is the grande dame of quiche recipes. With a buttery crust, rich eggy custard, and generous bacon content, quiche Lorraine endures as a brunch highlight regardless of trends.

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  • Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Coffee Cake

    Loaf of Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Cake on a Platte, and in the Surroundings, a Knife and a Cup of Coffee

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    If you think chocolate chip banana bread coffee cake is a mouthful to say, wait until you get a mouthful of this heavenly mashup of classic banana bread and a streusel-topped coffee cake.

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    Continue to 5 of 25 below.

  • Sheet Pan Buttermilk Pancakes

    Sheet Pan Buttermilk Pancakes with Blueberries and Raspberries Surrounded by a Stack of Plates, a Cup of Coffee, a Bowl of Berries, and Serving Utensils on a Kitchen Towel

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Rather than stand over a hot pan flipping one pancake at a time, make just one large sheet pan buttermilk pancake that will feed a crowd. Fluffy and full of blueberries and raspberries, it's cut into squares and serves with more fruit and maple syrup.

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  • Homemade Bloody Mary Mix

    Homemade Bloody Mary mix served in a tall glass.

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    Whip up a batch or two of this homemade Bloody Mary mix 24 hours before your brunch so the flavors all meld together. Full of tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and more (plus optional horseradish for an added kick), all you'll need to do is add vodka and a celery stick to serve.

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  • Rösti with All the Fixings

    Rosti in a Skillet Surrounded by Bowls of Sour Cream, Avocado, and Herbs

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    Swiss-style rösti is a crispy, creamy fried potato pancake. Cook it in a cast iron or non-stick skillet and cut in wedges. You can serve it as-is, or with toppings such as crumbled feta, pickled onions, and fresh dill.

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  • Breakfast Pizza with Cheddar, Bacon, and Eggs

    Overhead view of a breakfast pizza topped with eggs.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    This crowd-pleasing, kid-friendly breakfast pizza is topped with bacon, eggs, tomato, cheddar cheese, and herbs. It's versatile so you can make it vegetarian or substitute sausage for bacon. Use our no-knead pizza dough or buy store-bought pizza dough for extra convenience. Although the pizza needs to be assembled right before it goes in the oven, you can prep all the ingredients the night before.

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    Continue to 9 of 25 below.

  • French 75

    Fancy French 75 cocktail with champagne gin and simple syrup ingredients
    Nancy Mitchell

    This is my go-to brunch cocktail. Simply combine gin, lemon juice, simple syrup, and sparkling wine—Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, or any bubbly on the drier side will do. It works well with rosé sparkling wine, too.

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  • Mixed Green Salad With Honey Mustard, Eggs, and Toast

    Side Salad with Eggs - - salad greens with hard boiled eggs and toast
    Sally Vargas

    Salad may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think brunch, but this rendition, made from mixed greens, is very brunch-like with its hard boiled eggs and toast. It will add some veggies to the mix if you're also serving carb-heavy casseroles or pastries.

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  • Non-Alcoholic Sangria With Pomegranate and Citrus

    Virgin Sangria with Pomegranat
    Sally Vargas

    Guests will appreciate a balanced, well-crafted non-alcoholic drink option, and this N/A sangria with pomegranate and citrus does the trick. Add layers of flavor with an infusion of two types of tea and a dash of cayenne that mimics the heat that alcohol would bring.

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  • French Toast Casserole

    Syrup Being Poured On Square of Easy French Toast Casserole
    Lisa Lin

    If you've ever had a French toast casserole, then you know how perfect it is for brunch. It's sweet and always a hit. You can put it together the night before and let it sit overnight before baking or put it together in the morning and bake it right away. The overnight option makes a creamier texture. If you want some fruit in your casserole, try our blueberry French toast version.

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    Continue to 13 of 25 below.

  • Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

    Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole in a cast iron skillet
    Aaron Hutcherson

    Sausage, eggs, potatoes, and cheese are staples in brunch casseroles, but this casserole uses Tater Tots instead of peeled and sliced potatoes. The tots save time in prep and make the casserole extra appealing to kids. Grown-ups like it, too.

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  • Chocolate Fondue

    Dipping food into fondue chocolate.

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    Dessert isn't always part of brunch, but I'd love chocolate fondue at the end of brunch, wouldn't you? Cut up bananas, apples, pineapple, and strawberries for dipping. And, if you made the blueberry muffin tops listed above, I think leftover pieces would be particularly good dipped in chocolate.

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  • Zucchini Tomato Quiche

    Overhead view of tomato and zucchini quiche
    Elise Bauer

    Grated zucchini, tomatoes, and basil are abundant in the summer, and this quiche makes good use of that bounty from your garden or the farmers market. Quiche is also a great make-ahead dish. You can make it and freeze it, uncooked or cooked, weeks ahead of time if you're that much of a planner.

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  • Chia Pudding with Blueberries and Almonds

    Blueberry Almond Chia Seed Pudding
    Elise Bauer

    Easy to make and loaded with fiber, protein, and antioxidants, this chia seed pudding works best when assemble and chill it overnight. You can put it in individual ramekins before refrigerating, making individual servings for each brunch guest.

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    Continue to 17 of 25 below.

  • Fuzzy Navel

    Two Glasses of Fuzzy Naval with Orange Wheels Next to an Orange Slice

    Simply Recipes / Elana Lepkowski

    If you want a cocktail that's low in alcohol for brunch, serve these blast-from-the-past fuzzy navels. Combine peach schnapps and orange juice, and you're done. The drink is easy to batch, also. Simply multiply the serving size you need by the ingredients in the recipe and put it in a pretty pitcher to serve.

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  • Zucchini Breakfast Casserole

    Zucchini Breakfast Casserole
    Elise Bauer

    This savory casserole—that's something like a baked frittata—is a perfect destination for stale bread. Dress it up with grated zucchini, tomatoes, basil, ricotta, and Parmesan.

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  • Eggs Benedict

    Side view of eggs benedict on a plate.
    Elise Bauer

    Make the Hollandaise sauce for this eggs Benedict in a blender, and suddenly putting this brunch classic together is much easier. You can also poached the eggs a day ahead of time—instructions are on the recipe page. We also have a recipe for a vegetarian version of eggs Benedict, if that's what you'd prefer.

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  • Easy Breakfast Casserole With Prosciutto

    A slice of breakfast strata is on a white plate and spring salad is on the plate to the right. Sliced radish and chopped asparagus are visible in the salad. A fork is resting on the top of the plate. Cream linens are under the plate.
    Katie Morford

    Layer bread, eggs, onions, greens, and prosciutto in a pie dish and pour a mixture of eggs, cottage cheese, and milk over top. Top with shredded cheddar and bake. You can make the casserole the night before and let it sit in the fridge. Leave the shredded cheddar off until right before you pop it in the oven.

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    Continue to 21 of 25 below.

  • Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

    3 Lemon poppy seed muffins
    Elise Bauer

    Oh-so lemony, these muffins are alluring enough that you can expect the basket to be empty by the end of brunch. There's lemon zest in the muffin batter and a lemon glaze on top, making them darn near irresistible.

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  • Smoked Salmon Potato Leek Torta

    Slice of Smoked Salmon Potato Leek Torta on a white plate
    Elise Bauer

    Yukon Gold potatoes, smoked salmon, and leeks are bound with a dill-seasoned custard of eggs and cream and make a special brunch dish. It reheats well so you can make it the day before and warm it up right as guests arrive. It's also delicious at room temperature.

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  • Brussels Sprouts, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Casserole

    Brussels Sprouts, Mushroom and Goat Cheese Strata baked until golden and crispy in a cast iron skillet.
    Sarah Fritsche

    This hearty vegetarian strata is full of bread, cheese, and fresh vegetables that are held together with an egg mixture. Assemble the whole casserole the night before and pop it in the oven in the morning.

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  • Persimmon Pomegranate Fruit Salad

    Persimmon Pomegranate Apple Salad
    Elise Bauer

    There are plenty of fruit salad combinations that are great for brunch, but this one will take that fruit salad option up a notch. A mint, lemon, and honey dressing complements the persimmons, pomegranate seeds, and apples perfectly.

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    Continue to 25 of 25 below.

  • Spinach Frittata

    Spinach Frittata Raised from Pan with More Frittata

    Simply Recipes / Annika Panikker

    This easy and quick-to-put-together frittata is like an open-faced omelette of sorts, or an eggy crustless quiche. You can use fresh or frozen spinach, and add tomatoes and goat cheese along with the egg mixture that pulls it all together.

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