45 Cheap and Easy Breakfast Ideas For The Whole Family

As Mama always says, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. When life is busy, and you’re running out the door to work or school, having a healthy, cheap breakfast that you can eat on the go is easy with some planning. Check out these inexpensive breakfast ideas on the go.

Who Needs Cheap Breakfast Ideas To Go?

Anyone who wants to maximize their mornings can benefit from a to-go breakfast. Whether you want something to eat in the car, on a train, or the school bus (if allowed), cheap and frugal breakfast ideas are a bonus.

As a starving college kid, finding a cheap student breakfast, I could eat while running out the door to class was something that interested me.

I was not good at getting out of bed and being at the cafeteria on time when I was 18.

These breakfast-on-the-go ideas are excellent for someone who doesn’t care to eat first thing in the morning. Bringing these to work in an insulated bag to have them later will cut the spending you might otherwise do.

Best to start your day with a good meal.

I’m not a fan of cooking. My family says I’m good at it, but honestly, I would prefer not to do it. These cheap and healthy breakfast recipe options can be great for anyone.

It’s an inner struggle because I’m also very frugal. So I’m almost forced to cook – there’s no way I’m spending all that money on convenience foods or worse: restaurants and take-out!

How to Prepare Affordable Breakfasts

Plan.

Planning for those busy mornings can make the morning rush go smoother. This includes creating a meal plan ahead of time – not only for dinners but for breakfasts and lunches.

Having the items that you need.

Having a well-stocked pantry will save you from running out of the store when you realize you have nothing ready at 8 PM on a Sunday.

Building up a stockpile of dry goods like flour, sugar, chocolate chips, and canned fruit will guarantee you can whip up something on the fly.

Enlist the help of appliances.

Consider using slow cookers to make oatmeal overnight or a breakfast casserole. Use your Instant Pot to hard-boiled eggs. These appliances can help make those jobs easier.

Batch cook.

Bake double and triple batches of things to freeze for later. Many of the baked goods on this list freeze so well. And you are heating your oven just once instead of three times can help you save on electricity.  Batch cooking makes for quick breakfast ideas because most work is already done.

Cheap and Easy Breakfast Ideas For The Entire Family

My husband has to be at work by six. He gets up, showers, and runs out the door. He either eats on the way to work or during his morning meeting.

I would rather he have hearty breakfast meals and eats healthily rather than get a take-out donut.

Having something that he can eat hot on the way to work requires that I wake up at five to prepare. If I don’t want to do that, I have to plan and make things he can grab and go.

This is how I have come up with the list. I have made most of these things for him with a few fun, new ideas.

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1. Ham and Swiss egg cups

No recipe is needed for these. A dozen eggs, milk, diced ham, shredded Swiss cheese, and salt and pepper. Mix all together and pour into a sprayed or silicone muffin pan. Bake at 350 until done.

The variations are endless with egg muffins. Searching Pinterest is a great way to gather ideas.

2. Bacon and cheese omelet wrap

You could make it super frugal and use meat and veggies leftover from dinner. Create a thin omelet in a pan with all the veggies you want. Then add some cheese and cooked bacon and roll it up. It’s great for eating in the car or a budget breakfast.

3. Pumpkin bread and cream cheese

Here’s my recipe:

Prep time 5 minutes

Bake time 40 minutes at 350 degrees

Yield 3 mini loaves or two dozen muffins

• 1 cup pumpkin
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Mix in a big bowl in order and pour into greased mini loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

Either spread. Cream cheese on them or make a cream cheese frosting.

Add one brick of cream cheese, softened to 1 cup powdered sugar, and one teaspoon of vanilla. Whip until creamy and fluffy. Spread on top or pipe inside coming from the bottom.

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4. Breakfast deviled eggs

These are one of my husband’s favorites. Make your traditional deviled egg with mayo, salt, and pepper. Then add bacon bits and some finely shredded cheese. Add mixture back to the egg whites and top with chopped scallions.

5. Egg sandwich on an English Muffin

English muffins are my husband’s preferred bread substance for egg sammies. But he also doesn’t mind a bagel. We like the sausage patties from Aldi for these breakfast sandwiches best. And then add a fried egg, a generous amount of sharp cheddar cheese, and ketchup (also, I like hot sauce).

6. Trail mix oatmeal

make a big pot of old-fashioned oatmeal and separate it into glass serving-sized dishes. Then you can microwave it and add it to a thermos. Top with your favorite nuts, dried fruits, seeds, and good chocolate chips.

Oatmeal is always a delicious low-budget breakfast.

Frugal Breakfast Ideas That Will Keep You Full

7. Homemade hash and egg breakfast burritos

This is the perfect breakfast when you have leftover steak or pot roast. Dice up potatoes and fry in some butter. Then add the diced or shredded beef.

Scramble some eggs and add the mixture to a burrito wrap. We like to grill the rolled-up burrito in a frying pan to toast it a little.

This is an excellent choice for your husband’s cheap breakfast on the go because you are using leftovers, and it’s easy to eat on the way to work.

Although, if he is eating this in the car on the way to work, he might need a big clothing protector.

8. Bagels and hummus with cucumbers, sprouts, & peppers

A healthier choice for an affordable on-the-go breakfast. Make a veggie sandwich from a bagel, some hummus (on both sides), and layer thinly sliced cucumbers, peppers, and sprouts. Reduce the costs by making your hummus.

9. Sausage quesadilla

Brown, some ground sausage, melt some cheese onto any soft taco, and fold in half. Serve with sour cream or salsa. Or, if you are taking this to eat in the car, add them inside.

10. Maple pumpkin oatmeal bars

This is a new recipe from Iowa Girl Eats that I cannot wait to try. I think my husband would love these! They like a muffin but better.

11. Peanut butter waffles and jelly

I use our favorite pancake and waffle mix and add peanut butter powder to make these waffles. You could also use the protein waffle mix for added substance. Spread some strawberry jelly in the middle of two waffles and eat it on the way to work.

You can always use frozen waffles. Then add the peanut butter and jelly, but it won’t be as cost-effective.

You can also find a good deal on frozen waffles from the grocery store.  That will speed up breakfasts on the go.

12. Cheesy potato breakfast bowl

This breakfast bowl is a much better choice for reheating once you’re at work rather than trying to eat in the car. Simply cook some frozen hash browns, scramble some eggs, add some vegetables, and top with cheese.

Once you get to work, warm it up in the microwave for a hearty, protein-packed breakfast.

13. Mini maple pancake sausage roll-ups

These are a great make-ahead option and easy to eat on the go. Simply add the maple pancake syrup to taste before cooking the pancakes. Then roll the pancake around a cooked breakfast sausage link. Make a big batch and freeze.

14. Egg bake

One of our favorite go-to meals (not just for breakfast). Add tater tots or hash browns to the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. Scramble a dozen eggs, add salt and pepper, shredded cheese, and frozen chopped broccoli.

Top with more cheese and bake at 350 until cooked (about 35 minutes).

This is great as a warm-up option and also for work breakfasts or lunches.

15. Banana bread

Make-ahead, so it’s a quick and easy grab-and-go meal idea to save money. Who doesn’t love a loaf of good banana bread? Add nuts or, even better, chocolate chips to win breakfast.

Here’s my recipe:

Prep time 5 minutes

Bake time 40 minutes at 350 degrees

Yield 3 mini loafs

• 3-4 ripe bananas smashed
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• pinch of salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Mix in a big bowl in order and pour into greased mini loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.

16. BELT Sammy

Bacon, egg, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches are a new take on the original and perfect for breakfast. Also, a great traveling breakfast.

17. Fruit parfait with homemade granola

It’s about that time of year when I like to start making homemade granola. It’s also an economical option to a store-bought bowl of cereal and a healthier option, also. Here’s a great recipe from Cookie and Kate that is very similar to mine.

Top your favorite Greek yogurt with granola and add some fresh fruit.

This would also be good with cottage cheese.

18. Hard Boiled Eggs and Pre Cooked Bacon

Easy when you’re in a hurry.  A warning, though.  Hard-boiled eggs smell terrible!

19. French Toast Sticks

Grab some bread made with whole grains or your own bread leftover from dinner last night and whip up a batch of French toast sticks.  Serve with a side of fruit and it makes for an affordable breakfast!

20. Savory veggie crepes

Full disclosure, I’ve never made these before. I’ve eaten them and enjoy the savory over the sweet. But I thought I could include this (at the suggestion of a friend0 as they are an excellent option for cheap breakfast ideas on the go.

I enjoy my crepes with goat cheese like this one from Martha Stewart.

21. Egg and sausage balls

These go-to breakfast sausage balls are perfect if you are leaning into low carb. Simply combine a pound of ground sausage, one egg, a block of softened cream cheese, and a cup of shredded parmesan cheese. Form into balls and bake at 350 until done.

Easy to warm in the microwave and eat on the road.

22. Apple French toast pockets

This little sandwich crimper from Amazon is perfect for on-the-go meals. Use two pieces of bread and fill the middle with canned apples or diced apples tossed with cinnamon and sugar.

These are good! If you like your apples less “raw”, sautee these apples first. Cut and crimp the apple sandwich and dip it into the egg french toast mix, then cook as you would regular french toast.

23. Meat lover’s breakfast panini

We have a panini maker. If you don’t, simply make this like you would a grilled cheese.

Cook up a sausage patty, some bacon, and ham. Lay down one slice of bread, add a piece of cheese, all your meat, and another slice of cheese. Then close the lid to cook your panini.

If you cook the sausage patties and bacon before, you can quickly just reheat them, saving time.

Frugal Breakfast Ideas To Feed Your Family

24. Spinach and feta crustless quiche

I am a lover of quiche. Making it crustless will allow it to be eaten on the go much easier. This recipe from Budget Bytes adds mushrooms. And now my mouth is watering.  This is a good breakfast filled with protein to keep you full longer.

25. Lemon blueberry biscuits

I created this when I was looking for a scone recipe but didn’t have the ingredients I needed. So I pulled out my drop biscuit recipe and added a tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries.

Top with a quick icing (powdered sugar and water) and it’s delicious. We all love them.

Drop biscuit recipe

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• ⅓ cup melted butter
• 1 cup milk

26. Spicy Italian breakfast taco

Brown some spicy Italian sausage and slice it up. Add sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese to soft taco shells or corn tortillas. You could even add guacamole or avocado to get in some healthy fats and make this more Mexican than Italian.

27. Apple pie breakfast cookies

My husband loves apple pie. Instead of cake for his birthday, my mother-in-law bakes him an apple pie. She is a mater apple pie maker.

This is on my list to make for him. We have the apples already so this will be a perfect cheap breakfast idea on the go for my husband.  The idea that it’s called a cookie is the best part!

Here’s the recipe from Amy’s Healthy Baking.

28. Veggie and meat breakfast calzone

I love making these with the biscuit dough in the rolls. They are so affordable and make for a quick job. You can also make these with your favorite pizza dough.

Roll out the biscuit dough to make bigger circles. Add ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite veggies. Dice up some ham or bacon and add that. Also, turkey bacon works great in this, too. Then fold over the dough and bake at 350 until done.

29. Banana monkey muffins

Grab my banana bread recipe from above and add some walnuts, 1/4 cup of peanut butter, and 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Pour into a muffin tin and bake at 350 until done. Or just regular blueberry muffins (any kind of muffin will do) is a great grab-and-go breakfast.  If you’re in a pinch, grab your favorite quick breads recipe.

30. Breakfast pigs in a blanket

Instead of hot dogs, use sausage links. Grab a tube of crescent rolls and add cheese, a sausage link, and a spoonful of scrambled eggs. Bake until done. An excellent warm-up to-go breakfast.

31. Blackberry rice porridge

I have been eating this since I was a kid. My mom would make me a version of this for breakfast whenever we had leftover rice. Warm up the rice with brown sugar and milk.

Top with blackberries or any other berry you might have on hand. Great to take to work and heat up.

32. Carrot cake zucchini bread

Any time I can sneak some added vegetables in, I’m game. This is a good recipe I have made for carrot zucchini bread from Sweet and Savory Meals.

33. Loaded breakfast biscuits

Have you ever had the cheesy biscuits from Red Lobster? This inspired me to create the loaded breakfast biscuit for my husband to take to work.

Here’s the recipe:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ⅓ cup melted butter
• 1 cup milk
• 2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/8 cup of bacon bits

34. Strawberry pancake poppers

This is on my list to try soon – maybe a trial run on the weekend. I’m going to grab my favorite pancake mix and add some maple syrup and some frozen strawberries.

I have a mini muffin tin with silicone bottoms that would make this perfect. I’ll come back and update this to let you know how it goes. Let me know if you’ve tried it.

35. Breakfast empanadas

Breakfast empanadas are a delicious and portable breakfast option that are easy to make and customize. Simply fill pre-made empanada dough with scrambled eggs, cheese, and your choice of veggies like peppers, onions, and spinach. Bake until golden brown and enjoy a savory breakfast that’s both cheap and satisfying.

36. Chia Pudding

This is super yummy and a great make-ahead breakfast for everyone.  Who doesn’t like pudding for breakfast?  Add chia seeds and almond milk along with pantry staples like cocoa, raisins, or nuts, and have a yummy morning meal with no rush.

37. Overnight Oats

Overnight oats are a cheap and convenient breakfast option. Simply mix oats with milk, yogurt, and toppings of your choice, and let it sit in the fridge overnight. The oats absorb the liquid and become soft and creamy. It’s a filling and nutritious breakfast that can be prepared in advance, saving you time and money, and it’s my son’s favorite way to eat oatmeal.

38. Pancakes

Don’t forget the traditional pancakes. These things are cheap to purchase and even cheaper to make from scratch in bulk. Add your favorite berries or chocolate chips and remember, maple syrup is delicious but other toppings like strawberries and peanut butter are also just as good.

39. Baked Oatmeal

This is a cake-type consistency that is sure to please the entire family. Check out this chocolate recipe from Slender Kitchen.

40. Scrambled Eggs and Toast

One of the most traditional breakfast meals you could ask for. Scrambled eggs and toast are cheap, fast, and easy. No muss, no fuss. Pair with a banana to eat on the way out the door!

41. Breakfast Pizza

Cheap and easy breakfast pizza is a delicious and filling breakfast option. Simply use a pre-made pizza crust or make your own with flour and yeast, add scrambled eggs, cheese, and your choice of toppings like ham or veggies. Bake in the oven and you have a tasty breakfast that the whole family will love.

42. Smoothies

A cheap and easy breakfast smoothie is a healthy and delicious way to start your day. All you need is a blender, frozen fruit, milk or yogurt, and optional add-ins like spinach or protein powder. Blend until smooth and enjoy a nutrient-packed breakfast on the go that won’t break the bank.

43. Huevos rancheros with beans, cheese, and salsa

Huevos rancheros is a classic Mexican breakfast dish that’s both cheap and easy to make. Start with a layer of refried beans on a tortilla, add a fried egg, sprinkle with cheese, and top with salsa. Serve with a side of avocado or guacamole for a delicious and filling breakfast that’s perfect for any morning.

44. Granola pan bars

Store-bought granola bars are a good start but they are lacking in many areas.  I have been making homemade granola bars for a really long time. This has always been my go-to recipe except we use regular flour instead of almond flour and substitute or omit what we have on hand.

My husband doesn’t like them crunchy so you can actually eat these without breaking your teeth.

These are a heap and easy breakfast to eat on the go. Even good for a snack, too.

Check out some easy recipes from 100 Days of Real Food.

45. Egg Cups

Cheap and easy egg cups are a protein-packed breakfast that can be made ahead of time for busy mornings. Simply whisk eggs, milk, and your choice of add-ins like veggies and cheese, and pour into a muffin tin. Bake until set and enjoy a delicious and portable breakfast that’s both budget-friendly and filling.

Final Thoughts on Cheap And Frugal Breakfast Ideas On The Go

This list holds a lot of really great ideas for breakfast ideas for your husband and family whether they are eating at home or running out the door each day.

Trying to keep it cheap, easy, and healthy is always a challenge to fuel their mornings. Planning and preparing ahead will always make the morning rush that much easier.