30-Minute Brunch Recipes, for Anyone Who Hates Waiting in Lines

huevos rancheros
Skillet huevos rancheros | Courtesy of Feasting at Home
Skillet huevos rancheros | Courtesy of Feasting at Home

More often than not, going out for brunch sounds way more fun than it actually is. You know the routine: show up, be told to wait five to 10 minutes, wait 25, have a weak Bloody Mary, eat mediocre food, go home, cry about it. Instead, why not try to MAKE something for brunch that will be done from start to finish in the amount of time you took to wait at the bar? Here are 12 recipes that do just that.   

tofu scramble
Southwest tofu scramble | Courtesy of Minimalist Baker

One pan, 10 ingredients, 30 mins. Not to mention it’s vegan and loaded with protein if you’re into that sort of thing. Pro tofu tip: mixing spices and seasonings with a little bit of water makes for a simple sauce to flavor the tofu. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Tofu
  • Red onion
  • Red pepper
  • Potatoes
  • Hot sauce
omelet
Tony Biancosino/Thrillist

Infinitely customizable, this omelet recipe is ready in 10 minutes. That means you can churn 'em out for guests with no problem. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Eggs
  • Butter
  • Cheese
  • Peppers
spinach tarts
Spinach artichoke egg tarts | Courtesy of Neighbor Food Blog

This recipe is perfect for entertaining -- bite-size puff-pastry cups filled with one of our favorite things: spinach artichoke dip. Adding eggs just gives it more of a place at the brunch table. Bonus: you can make them ahead of time and freeze. Get the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Spinach artichoke dip
  • Puff pastry
  • Eggs
  • Gruyere cheese
hash browns
Crispy cheese sausage hash browns | Courtesy of Recipe Tin Eats

Why have regular hash browns when you can have cheesy and crispy hash browns with sausage? Under 30 minutes from start to finish, and you can make them ahead of time, too. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Sausage
  • Potatoes
  • Grated cheddar
  • Egg
french toast cups
Cinnamon streusel French toast cups | Courtesy of Pinch of Yum

Streusel is basically crumbs of butter, sugar, flour, and, in this case, cinnamon. It makes a crunchy and sweet topping for these French toast cups. Get baking with the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • French bread
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Sugar
  • Cinnamon
huevos rancheros
Skillet huevos rancheros | Courtesy of Feasting at Home

Layering is not just for clothing. This skillet starts with a flour tortilla in a cast-iron skillet, then gets layered with all sorts of delicious things: onions, beans, eggs, avocado, and cheese. It comes together in just 30 minutes too. Get the recipe here.  

Key ingredients:

  • Eggs
  • Flour tortillas
  • Beans
  • Avocado
  • Onions
asparagus gratin
Cheesy asparagus gratin | Courtesy of Damn Delicious

For all the vegetarians in your life, this is a great and simple side dish. Asparagus, cheese, and herbs. Then bake. Done. You can add meat if you wish, but sometimes it’s better to keep it simple and just add more cheese. See for yourself with the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Asparagus
  • Mozzarella
  • Brie
  • Garlic
  • Parsley
tortilla cups
Mini egg-and-cheese cups | Courtesy of Gimme Delicious

These mini brunch bites have everything in one little cup. Eggs, cheese, flour tortillas, sour cream, and veggies. You can get creative and carnivorous with ‘em by adding bacon or sausage too. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Flour tortillas
  • Eggs
  • Cheese
  • Veggies
breakfast hash
Chorizo and arugula breakfast hash | Courtesy of My Life as a Strawberry

The key players are chorizo, potatoes, arugula, and eggs topped off with a lime Greek yogurt crema. Add some hot sauce and you’ve got yourself one knockout dish. Get the recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Eggs
  • Chorizo
  • Potatoes
  • Greek yogurt
  • Lime
frittata
Cheese herb prosciutto frittata | Courtesy of Stasty

Brunch dishes are so much easier when it’s all made in one pan like this frittata. With prosciutto, Parmesan, and potatoes topped off with feta and chives, everyone will be impressed with your cooking prowess. Start cooking right here.

Key ingredients:

  • Eggs
  • Potatoes
  • Prosciutto
  • Feta
  • Butter
crab eggs benedict
Easy crabcake eggs Benedict | Courtesy of My Life as a Strawberry

You can’t have brunch without eggs Benny. You just can’t. And finding a recipe that incorporates leftover (or store-bought) crabcakes AND gets it on the table in 20 minutes is our kind of recipe. Bonus: there is a video tutorial link in the recipe for easy homemade hollandaise. Check that out right here.  

Key ingredients:

  • Crabcakes
  • Eggs
  • English muffins
  • Egg yolks
  • Butter
waffle sandwich
Breakfast sandwich waffles | Cole Saladino/Thrillist

When you can't choose between waffles or a breakfast sandwich, don't. These are also crazy easy to make -- everything gets thrown right onto the iron. Recipe here.

Key ingredients:

  • Bisquick
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Sausage
  • Cheese

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Dara Pollak is a freelance writer and recipe creator. She likes her pasta with a side of bacon. Follow her at @theskinnypignyc.