10 brunch recipes for the weekend

Brunch and weekends go together like, well, bacon and eggs. A relaxing lie-in in the morning means that I’m hungry enough for more than just a bowl of cereal—and if I’m pushing the boat out and making a bit of an effort, then expanding the mid-morning meal into something substantial, filling and delicious really sets me up for the rest of the day. Here are some of my favourites.

Image via Fuss Free Flavours

Eggs benedict is, for me, the quintessential brunch dish. You can make hollandaise sauce from scratch, or you can save a bit of effort and buy some ready-made. Here, the usual eggs Benedict ingredient of ham is substituted for high quality prosciutto di San Daniele, and Grana Padano cheese is added for extra flavour.

Get the recipe for Italian eggs Benedict with Grana Padano & prosciutto di San Daniele

Image via Supergolden Bakes

Eggs again, this time as a fusion of a British fry-up (bacon, sausages, tomatoes and mushrooms) with a frittata. The cheese used in this dish is Comté, a French raw cow’s milk cheese made on the Jura massif. It’s nutty flavour and smooth texture complements the saltiness of the bacon and sausages well.

Get the recipe for fully loaded breakfast frittata with Comté cheese, bacon, sausages, tomatoes and mushrooms

Image via The Petite Cook

Shakshuka is a North African dish of eggs poached in tomato with sautéed vegetables, spices and chili. Eggs and tomatoes are a classic combination, and this vegetarian recipe uses chick peas for a hearty and robust brunch dish. After this, you’re ready for anything the day can throw at you.

Get the recipe for spicy chickpea shakshuka

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Fried potatoes also commonly make an appearance at brunch; from crunchy rösti, or in the wonderfully named bubble and squeak (fried mashed potatoes and cabbage), to just a few left-over boiled potatoes chucked into the frying pan along with everything else. Here, they’re used in potato pancakes; something a bit different from sweet blueberry pancakes.

Get the recipe for Boxty: Irish potato pancake

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Our final savoury dish starts as a straightforward poached egg on toast, but adds a couple of twists with some sweetness from fried onions (nothing makes my mouth water like the smell of onions frying) and some kick from harissa paste. Just taking a couple of extra minutes adds so much interest to this dish.

Get the recipe for harissa onion and poached egg on toast

Image via Domestic Gothess

American-style, fluffy pancakes are a really convivial brunch dish. They’re best eaten straight out of the pan, drizzled with maple syrup. Perfect for everyone to congregate in the kitchen and eat in rotation as they’re made. Here’s a recipe that bumps up the virtuousness with porridge oats and a banana. Lots of topping ideas, too!

Get the recipe for healthy superfood pancakes

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Balsamic vinegar sounds like an odd accompaniment to strawberries, but once you’ve tried it, you’ll keep going back. Here, the combination is used on top of sweet brioche toast for a real sweet/sharp taste combination.

Get the recipe for balsamic strawberries on brioche toast

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Churros are sticks of deep fried pastry; if the thought of tackling deep fat frying first thing in the morning doesn’t excite, how about this churro-based waffle recipe? The coffee-and-chocolate of the mocha sauce sounds brunch-perfect.

Get the recipe for churro waffles with mocha sauce

Image via Elegant Meraki

A riff on the more common cinnamon roll, these chai spiced rolls are stuffed with dates and walnuts. I like the way that the constituent parts of the rolls—dough, almond cream, and sugar icing—can be prepared the night before. Then in the morning, it’s minimal fuss and maximum enjoyment!

Get the recipe for chai spiced rolls

Image via Lauren Caris Cooks

Unsurprisingly, most dishes in this round-up have been egg heavy, as a traditional brunch favourite. But vegans don’t need to miss out on the delights of lazy, mid-morning meals; here’s a recipe for French toast that substitutes chia seeds for the egg, and also uses almond milk. The caramelized banana is pure indulgence but, hey, brunch. It’s the weekend, you know!

Get the recipe for vegan French toast with caramelised bananas and berries

Helen Best-Shaw, is a freelance food & travel writer, recipe developer & photographer. She has been blogging at Fuss Free Flavours for over 10 years.

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