Easter brunch doesn’t need to revolve around ham, quiche, or anything molded into the shape of a bunny. If you’re hosting this year and feel like you’ve cooked the same thing five years in a row, these recipes are how you break that pattern. There are savory and sweet options to keep everyone happy, but all of them bring something different to the table. They work for feeding a group, making ahead, or just avoiding another pan of reheated ham.
Everything Bagel Breakfast Strata
This recipe uses everything bagels instead of plain bread and combines them with bacon, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbs. It has bold flavor and feels like something people will actually look forward to. It is a great pick when you want to serve a baked brunch dish that stands out from the usual.
Get the Recipe: Everything Bagel Breakfast Strata
Mini Ham and Cheese Breakfast Pies
These small breakfast pies are filled with ham, spinach, and cheese and bake up golden in individual portions. They are easy to serve, make ahead well, and taste more thoughtful than another tray of sliced ham or scrambled eggs.
Get the Recipe: Mini Ham and Cheese Breakfast Pies
Citrus Honey Biscuits
These biscuits bring a bright mix of citrus and honey that balances out heavier brunch items. They are great on their own or paired with something savory and work well when you want something baked that does not feel like a repeat of every other year.
Get the Recipe: Citrus Honey Biscuits
Blackberry French Toast Bites
These bites are baked in a mini muffin tin and topped with a blackberry ginger sauce. They are sweet without being too rich and are easy to serve in batches for a group. They are a good option when French toast casseroles feel too heavy.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry French Toast Bites
Cheddar Bacon Dutch Baby
This savory Dutch baby is topped with bacon and sautéed Brussels sprouts. It puffs up in the oven and brings enough flavor to carry the whole table. It is a strong alternative when pancakes or waffles feel too plain.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Bacon Dutch Baby
Asparagus Omelette Soufflé
This dish uses asparagus, green onions, and optional goat cheese to create a light and fluffy omelette that still holds its shape. It is great for spring and works well if you want to include eggs without repeating the same quiche you served last year.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Omelette Soufflé
Burger Eggs Benedict
This version of eggs Benedict uses a burger patty and a grain-free English muffin. It is hearty, flavorful, and brings something unexpected to the brunch table. It is a strong pick when you want to break away from the usual poached egg routine.
Get the Recipe: Burger Eggs Benedict
Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole
This casserole combines eggs, turkey sausage, apples, sage, and Jarlsberg cheese. It has a lot going on in a good way and works well when you want something filling that tastes like you actually tried.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole
English Muffin Berry Casserole
This sweet brunch bake layers cranberry sauce and mascarpone between pieces of English muffin. It is soft, rich, and perfect for serving to a crowd that expects something different than cinnamon rolls.
Get the Recipe: English Muffin Berry Casserole
Ground Chicken Sausage Patties
These patties are made with chicken, apples, onions, and spices. They come together quickly and bring more flavor than anything pre-packaged. They are a great savory option to mix in alongside baked dishes.
Get the Recipe: Ground Chicken Sausage Patties
Spinach Frittata
This spinach frittata is simple, light, and full of parmesan. It works for nearly any meal but makes a great brunch choice when you want something egg-based that does not involve a crust.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Frittata
Protein Bagels
These cottage cheese bagels are easy to make and come out with a chewy texture that works with both sweet and savory toppings. They are a great option when you want to serve something homemade without relying on store-bought bread.
Get the Recipe: Protein Bagels
Baked Turmeric Oatmeal
This baked oatmeal is packed with cinnamon, raisins, and a warm turmeric flavor. It holds up well for serving a crowd and brings a different spin to a basic brunch grain.
Get the Recipe: Baked Turmeric Oatmeal
Creamy Millet Porridge
Millet cooks low and slow into a thick porridge with cinnamon and vanilla. It is a solid base for fruit, nuts, or anything else you like, and it gives you an easy alternative to oatmeal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Millet Porridge
Pineapple Buckwheat Pancakes
These pancakes are made with buckwheat flour, fresh pineapple rings, and hemp seeds. They are sweet, dense, and feel fresh without relying on syrup-heavy toppings.
Get the Recipe: Pineapple Buckwheat Pancakes
Toasted Coconut Oat Pancakes
Oat bran and buckwheat give these pancakes a hearty texture, and the toasted coconut adds depth. They hold up well with fruit compote and give you something different from plain flapjacks.
Get the Recipe: Toasted Coconut Oat Pancakes
Chocolate Strawberry Bread Pudding
This bread pudding bakes into a rich chocolate and strawberry combo that works for breakfast or dessert. It is a solid brunch move when you want to serve something sweet without going the pastry route.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Strawberry Bread Pudding
Smoked Salmon BLAT
This sandwich adds avocado and smoked salmon to the classic bacon, lettuce, and tomato combo. It is salty, fresh, and more satisfying than most finger foods people expect at brunch.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Salmon BLAT
Chocolate Baked Oats
These oats taste more like cake than breakfast and come together in the blender. They are a fun option to include when you want something sweet that still feels somewhat practical.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Baked Oats
Bacon Egg Cups
These cups are made with bacon, eggs, basil, and parmesan. They are quick to prep, hold their shape well, and are great for a buffet setup that does not rely on casseroles.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Egg Cups
Gluten-Free Crepes
These thin crepes use coconut and tapioca flour and can be filled with anything sweet or savory. They cook fast and fold up neatly, making them a great base when you want to serve something versatile that is not the same old pastry tray.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Crepes
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.