Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but as we rush through our morning routine, sometimes we are forced to skip breakfast altogether, grab a slice of bread as we run out the door, or worse, have to pick up a $4 muffin and coffee on our way to work.
But, there’s no need to sacrifice quality for affordability. This list of budget-friendly breakfast ideas is perfect for getting you out of your breakfast rut while eating frugally and with healthy eating options.
Cheap Breakfast Ideas
Pancakes
Although purchasing a ready-made pancake mix may be an easier option, have you ever tried making pancakes from scratch? It’s satisfyingly simple and less expensive. To prepare a pancake mix, you need flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Keep this mixture handy to make pancakes whenever you need them, and don’t forget a drizzle of honey, maple syrup or powdered sugar for a sweet topping!
Omelets
Eggs are one of the least expensive breakfast, lunch, or dinner options. Omelets are a quick and easy breakfast to make any time you want. When looking for cheap yet healthy breakfast foods, omelets can never go wrong. Eggs are packed with nutrients and don’t cost you a lot.
You can also add hard-boiled eggs, egg wraps, sunny-side-up eggs, scrambled eggs, fried egg sandwiches, egg muffins, and egg quesadillas to your breakfast plan.
Breakfast Sandwiches
Sandwiches can offer you a delectable breakfast for under a dollar. Making an egg sandwich is as easy as grabbing some bread slices and stuffing them with an omelet, veggies, salt, and pepper.
You can add more ingredients per your taste and make it extra flavorful without spending much money.
Breakfast Quesadillas
Breakfast quesadillas are simple and easy to make on the super cheap and are very customizable if you are looking for a savory option.
You can make it as easy as eggs and cheese. You could create a southwestern option with eggs, beans, bell peppers, salsa, and guacamole. When I’m looking for something a little more fun but easy to eat in the car on the way to work, this is one of my favorite egg breakfast options. I wrap it up in foil and away I go.
English Muffin With Hummus
English muffins are low-calorie and rich in nutrients. Pairing them with hummus makes it a protein-packed breakfast idea that is delicious and budget-friendly too.
Oatmeal
Besides being inexpensive, a bowl of oatmeal contains a good amount of protein and carbohydrates. The versatility of oatmeal allows it to be used for everything from morning cereals to pancakes and muffins.
Trying some recipes with oatmeal can help you add healthy options to your breakfast plan while you stay on a tight budget.
Overnight Oats
My go-to healthy breakfast suggestion that can be made in advance and last the entire week is overnight oats.
If you are looking for an amazing overnight oats recipe, check out this one from Eating Bird Food .
Due to its high fiber content and 100% whole grain composition, overnight oats make a nutritious breakfast option. Overnight oats contain several vitamins like copper, magnesium, and iron.
You can store these in a mason jar for a grab-and-go option — making it a great idea for your weekly breakfast meal plan.
Rice Porridge
Rice porridge is another healthy, nutritious breakfast idea that doesn’t cost you a fortune. You can make rice porridge with minimal ingredients like rice, water, and salt, or you can make it extravagant by adding some nuts, dates, milk, and cinnamon. Rice porridge is an affordable breakfast; you can customize it according to your taste and budget.
Granola Bars
Granola bars are a healthy and convenient breakfast idea that you can make weeks in advance and eat whenever you want. Homemade granola bars are easy to make, and you can prepare them with very few ingredients like rolled oats, seeds, honey, dry fruits, and dates.
Breakfast Burritos
Did you know that burritos can be an economical breakfast idea? You can make burritos with minimal ingredients and save money on a healthy yet delicious breakfast. Get a pack of tortillas and create your very own burrito wrap using the ingredients in your pantry or refrigerator. The essential ingredients you need are cheddar cheese, ground beef, salsa, and tortillas.
You can make burritos with stuff like rice, beans, cheese, and veggies if you are a vegetarian.
Sweet Potato Hash Browns
Another healthy breakfast idea that needs next to nothing is sweet potato hash browns. You can create a tasty breakfast with some sweet potatoes (grated or spiralized), avocado oil (or vegetable oil for an affordable alternative), and a pinch of salt. Easy on the pocket and yummy on the tummy, sweet potato hash browns are a no-fail healthy breakfast idea for a frugal living family.
Mashed Potato Cakes
Old-fashioned mashed potato cakes need minimum ingredients and are easy to make. You will need mashed potatoes, eggs, cheddar cheese, all-purpose or whole wheat flour, and vegetable oil to cook delicious mashed potato cakes. Adding crushed garlic is a great way to make the mashed potato cakes extra flavorful.
Fruit Smoothie
Fruits are a much cheaper breakfast option and are readily available throughout the year. You can try some simple smoothies if you are bored eating whole fruits. You must blend some seasonal fruits to create a tasty glass of smoothie. Add chia seeds to the fruit smoothie to make it healthier and more nutritious.
Quiche
Do you like smooth and creamy quiche? And did you know that they are easy to make and are less pricey? If not, you need to try making them right away. Check this recipe for the basic quiche to make them ahead of time and have them instantly whenever you want.
Bowl of Cottage Cheese and Fresh Fruits
Cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein. Make a bowl of cottage cheese and fresh fruits to make breakfast the healthiest meal of the day while keeping up with your budget.
Bagels with Cream Cheese
Bagels with cream cheese are a quick, easy, and inexpensive option for breakfasts on the go.
Breakfast Casserole
If you are looking for more quick breakfast ideas baking a breakfast casserole is great option. One of my favorite casseroles to bake on the weekends for the week is a french toast casserole. I quite like this casserole recipe from Belle of the Kitchen. If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, the powdered sugar and maple syrup in this delicious recipe really hit the spot!
The best part is you can feed your entire family a good breakfast without alof of fuss or you can slice it up and freeze it for future breakfasts.
Greek Yogurt and Fresh Fruit
If you are looking for a light, but filling breakfast idea, try greek yogurt and fruit.
Greek yogurt is packed with protein, and you can use up whatever fruit you have on hand. It’s quick and easy.
Avocado Toast
Avocados are loaded with fiber and potassium, making them good for you, but they’re also just plain delicious.
If you love avocado, you can slice or mash one on top of toast and if you are looking for a little extra protein, you could also top it with an egg.
How to Save Money on Breakfast
Since people have busy mornings and no time to prepare breakfast, they spend more money on high-priced breakfast items. If you buy a cup of coffee every morning, you may pay approximately $100 monthly. You might not even know it, but you can have a wholesome, nourishing breakfast without breaking the bank. Here are some practical tips to save money on breakfast every day.
Meal Planning
Planning your meals will help you save a good amount on breakfast. Meal planning helps in having a rough estimate of necessary food items and avoids the wastage of anything. You will prefer using every ingredient you have when a meal plan is in place. You can plan your morning meals for weeks or even months and save a lot of time and money on breakfast.
Stock Your Fridge
You can stock your fridge with breakfast essentials like fruits, eggs, nut butter, rolled oats, baby spinach, corn, and mixed nuts. These ingredients will always be handy for preparing a healthy and budget-friendly breakfast daily.
Buy Ingredients in Bulk
Bulk purchases are cost-effective. If you are aware of the consumption amount of the ingredients you frequently use, buying in bulk can help you plan and save money on bulk deals. Buying in large quantities enables you to get the ingredients at a lower cost. Store your bulk purchases precisely and use them when you need them.
Brew Coffee Yourself
As I said earlier, brewing your coffee can save you approximately $100 monthly, that’s $1200 a year. Brew a cup of coffee as you want and like to have it. Nothing can beat the joy and cost of brewing your cup of coffee.
Eat Fresh Fruits
If you don’t have time to prepare breakfast every morning, eat fresh fruits for breakfast. Fruits don’t need any preparation or processing and are full of healthy nutrients. Stock your refrigerator with various fruits to have a healthy breakfast on the go.
Eat Leftovers
When you want to save money, use every bit of food. Eat the previous night’s leftovers for breakfast or create a new dish out of the leftovers. This way, you can stop wasting food and save money on breakfast.
Shop When Foods Are Marked Down
Make a list of foods you shop for frequently. Visit a few stores to know the markdown timings for those particular food products. Start shopping for the necessary ingredients during certain markdown hours to save a decent amount when you visit a grocery store.
Shop Your Pantry
Keeping pantry staples on hand like, flour, sugar, honey, and oats is a good idea to stock up on when they are on sale. It gives you lots of options for easy breakfast recipes and it’ll help you save on your grocery budget.
Final Thoughts on “Cheap Breakfast Ideas”
It’s hard to keep up with the rising costs of food products and stay healthy simultaneously. But it isn’t challenging to have a balance of both. Some meal planning and learning to cook can save you a lot of money on food, and you don’t need to stuff your tummy with unhealthy foods.
Try these cheap and easy breakfast ideas to make your morning meal healthier and more affordable.
