Learn how to simplify mornings with these easy breakfast meal prep ideas to make for the kids—and yourself. Each of these can be made in minutes ahead of time, is seriously yummy, and loaded with nutrition.
Breakfast Meal Prep
I love having easy breakfast foods on hand, including cereal and toast, but I also love to make one or two recipes each week to give us more easy options to grab for breakfast. Because whether you were up with the kids, never have enough time to make breakfast, feed everyone, and feed yourself, or you just want more of a shot of drinking your coffee or tea while it’s warm, these ideas are for you.
My goal with this collection is to give you an assortment of ideas that work for kids that you may want to enjoy, too. There are a range of options from yogurt and overnight oats to baked goods and egg recipes.
Click through to each individual idea that you like and I hope this takes a smidge of the work out of the morning meal.
(You may also like Make-Ahead Toddler Dinners and my Banana Breakfast Cookies.)
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Yogurt Recipes
Below are my favorite yogurt recipes to meal prep for babies, toddlers, and us parents.
Favorite Coconut Chia Pudding
Transform simple ingredients into nutrition-packed Coconut Chia Pudding. It’s a perfect kid’s breakfast or snack that parents will enjoy too!
I like to use canned full-fat coconut milk for the best flavor and creamy texture, though you can use “light” coconut milk if that’s what you can find at your store.
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Chocolate chia Pudding
This can be made in minutes and is a perfect make-ahead breakfast to have on hand and serve up throughout the week. It’s also great for snack or dessert, according to the day.
With just a few simple ingredients, you can make the yummiest creamy Chocolate Chia Pudding that’s both delicious and nutritious.
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overnight oats with greek yogurt and mango
With a bright tropical flavor and a simple method, these Overnight Oats with Greek Yogurt are an easy make-ahead breakfast for the whole family. The Mango Overnight Oats take 5 minutes to stir together, and they store in the fridge for days!
You can blend all the ingredients together to make a more uniformly smooth texture if your toddler (or you!) prefer.
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easy overnight oats with applesauce
Overnight Oats are a perfect breakfast recipe to make ahead. They pack protein, probiotics, vitamin C, fiber, and healthy fats—and all you need to do to make them is to stir the ingredients together and let it hang out in the fridge while you sleep!
You can easily double (or triple!) the recipe to make more servings. It uses a 1 to 1 ratio of yogurt to applesauce so you can easily scale it up. Mix these up the night before you plan to serve them.
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Favorite strawberry overnight oats
Make it easy to feed yourself and the kids a healthy breakfast, no matter how busy you are, with this simple make-ahead Strawberry Overnight Oats recipe.
This recipe makes enough for one adult or for one adult and one small child serving. It’s easy to double, so make more as needed!
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Favorite strawberry yogurt
Blend up this fresh Strawberry Yogurt for a quick baby snack, toddler breakfast, or even your own breakfast or snack. The method is easy, and stores well, too!
You can use fresh or frozen strawberries, freeze-dried strawberries or strawberry puree. This is an easy way to make flavored yogurt at home for breakfast or snack.
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Easy fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt
Learn how to make the best fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt with all kinds of fruit flavors—and with less sugar and for less money than buying it at the store. This is a yummy way to flavor yogurt for kids and babies.
Scale this up or down according to how many servings you’re planning to make. The directions here are for one small toddler-size serving. (It’s okay if your kiddo wants more or doesn’t eat a whole serving though!)
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Breakfast Bars
From oatmeal bars and granola bars, to jam bars and pumpkin bars, these easy baked goods offer a range of flavors and nutrients to start the day.
Banana oatmeal bars
This recipe has become a new staple weekday breakfast in our house. It’s been amazing to have this option to make-ahead and stash in the fridge to grab on mornings when the kids need a little more time to sleep…and still make sure they have a substantial breakfast.
With just five ingredients and a texture and flavor that’s similar to a soft oatmeal cookie, these Banana Oatmeal Bars are a nutritious (and yummy!) make-ahead breakfast or snack.
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Healthy Breakfast Bars with Jam
With wholesome ingredients and not a lot of added sugar, you can quickly bake up Healthy Breakfast Bars to serve for breakfasts or snacks throughout the week. And they are SO good!
Use Sunbutter to make these nut-free. You can cut these into smaller bars if desired. If you want them a little softer, serve them at room temperature rather than chilled.
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Blueberry Date Bars
Wow, this recipe for Date Bars is so good. It’s super moist and easy for little ones to chew, and it’s made with a handful of wholesome ingredients that taste seriously good, too. It’s ready in under 30 minutes and stores amazingly well.
These Date Bars are super moist and easy for little ones to chew—and are made with a handful of wholesome ingredients that taste seriously good, too. It’s ready quickly and stores amazingly well.
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fruit and nut bars (copycat larabar)
Larabars have forever been one of my go-to toddler snacks, but since they stopped making the mini ones that were a perfect size for kids (and because they can be expensive), I started making this recipe.
With just 5 simple and nutritious ingredients and no baking, these Fruit and Nut Bars taste like store-bought Larabars but for less cost. You can customize the flavors and store them in the fridge or freezer for weeks.
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3-Ingredient Cereal Bars
In just about 10 minutes, you can make seriously delicious Cereal Bars made with just three super simple ingredients. They’re crispy, flavorful, and a perfect snack for kids.
Made with just 3 pantry staples, these bars make an excellent kids snack. They hold their shape best when stored in the fridge and served cold.
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Easy Oatmeal Bars (with Blueberry and Carrot)
With nutritious yet accessible ingredients, these easy Oatmeal Bars are a yummy snack or breakfast to share with the kids. They have carrots and blueberries, plus whole grains and protein. They’re so yummy…and made without eggs or dairy for friends with allergies.
These oatmeal bars taste like an oatmeal cookie and are great for breakfast or snack. You can make them ahead, too! (You can add the egg or leave it out. Without egg, these are a crisp cookie bar texture. With it, they’re a little cakier.)
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Quick Breads
Quick breads, including banana bread, pumpkin bread, and zucchini bread, are some of the easiest and most satisfying meals to make to share with the kids. And they store beautifully, so you can freeze half of a loaf for a future week if that works for your family.
Zucchini Banana Bread (Lower Sugar)
I love an easy quick bread recipe to take care of breakfast and snack for the coming week and this one is a new favorite to add to the mix. It’s the best of both Banana Bread and Zucchini Bread, with flavors from both, and is still just as easy to make.
Combine the best of both quick-bread worlds with this easy Zucchini Banana Bread. It’s delicious chilled or warm, as breakfast or a snack, and is a perfect use for ripe banana and zucchini.
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Oatmeal Banana Bread
This quick bread is soft, moist, and sweet— yet firm enough for little fingers to hold without it falling apart. But the thing I love most about this recipe? It’s so packed with nutrients and it tastes great. It’s a win-win.
This Oatmeal Banana Bread is a total family favorite. Similar to baked banana oatmeal, it comes together in the food processor (or right in the pan)—and once cooled and wrapped, the bars store amazingly well in the fridge and freezer. It’s totally delicious for snack time or breakfast.
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Lower Sugar Banana Bread (SO Good!)
Bake up healthy comfort food with this super easy and super delicious lower sugar Banana Bread. It’s so easy, so good, and is a perfect breakfast or snack to share with the kids.
Be sure to use super ripe bananas—the more black and brown spots, the better the flavor and sweetness will be!—for the best results here. Adapted from The Salty Marshmallow
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Healthy Pumpkin Bread
This recipe uses a whole can of pumpkin puree, so you won’t be left with a small amount at the end to use up. And it bakes up moist and delicious. It stores well, is good cold or toasted, and is an easy breakfast or snack to share with the kids.
This bread has the classic flavor and moist crumb of a traditional Pumpkin Bread, but with half the sugar. It stores well too! (Heads up: There’s a full can of pumpkin puree In this, so it takes a little longer to bake.)
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Favorite Blueberry Banana Bread
I may be prone to hyperbole, but this Blueberry Banana Bread is ridiculously delicious. Imagine the very best banana bread crossed with the ultimate blueberry muffin. Epic!
This bread is incredibly moist from the bananas and berries, so it takes a little while to bake through. I add foil in Step 4 to prevent it from becoming too brown. You can enjoy this chilled, cold, or at room temperature.
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Easy Strawberry Banana Bread
Bursting with fresh berries, this Strawberry Banana Bread is so easy to make for breakfasts and snacks. It stores well in the fridge for days, has a simple ingredient list, and is super moist. So good!
Bursting with fruit and the moistness you expect from a classic loaf, this lower-sugar Strawberry Banana Bread is a seriously delicious breakfast or snack to share with the kids.
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Fresh Cranberry Orange bread
Filled with bright cranberry and citrus flavors, this Cranberry Orange Bread is a perfect breakfast, snack, or make-ahead holiday side for this time of year. It freezes beautifully, too!
This quick bread works really well to bake ahead and store in the fridge or freezer until ready to serve it. We love it topped with cream cheese, but butter and honey also work.
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Muffins
I have made so many muffins in my life as a parent and these are some of my very favorite ones to make ahead and serve up for breakfast.
Favorite Blueberry Mini Muffins
Try this simple stir-together recipe for perfectly fluffy Blueberry Mini Muffins every time—whether for breakfast or kids snack time. (These are perfect for kids who love Little Bites muffins!)
Fluffy and perfectly moist, these little muffins have protein and calcium—plus bursts of delicious blueberries. (Like Little Bites, but with more nutrients and for less $$.) See Notes for allergy variations.
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ABS Baby Muffins (Apple, Banana and Carrot!)
Made with a nutrient-packed ingredient list, these tender Baby Muffins are a perfect first muffin. They are easier to chew than a regular muffin, have three kinds of produce, are added sugar free, and they boast a solid dose of healthy fats—exactly what the littles need!
These are deliberately very moist (and moister than regular muffins) to ensure they are easy for baby to chew and swallow, so expect that from the interior. If you’d like to make them sweeter for older kiddos, add ¼ cup sugar to the batter.
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Sweet Spinach Muffins with Banana
These Spinach Muffins with Banana are a super healthy and yummy toddler or big kid breakfast or snack. Each bite is packed with nutrients from greens and fruit—and the interior is so moist that even babies can enjoy these easy blender muffins!
These healthy muffins taste like a delicious banana muffin, but with the added nutrition of a big handful of spinach. These store well, so you can make them ahead of time and pull them out of the fridge or freezer to serve.
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Healthy Zucchini Muffins
We almost always have a batch of muffins in the rotation since they make such easy meal and snack components and my kids love these Zucchini Muffins. My favorite part about them is that you don’t have to grate the zucchini and squeeze it dry like you usually do for zucchini-based baked goods.
With an easy method (no squeezing the zucchini required!) and super moist results, these healthy Zucchini Muffins are a yummy breakfast or snack (that you’ll enjoy too!). They happen to be vegan and they store well for days.
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Favorite Yogurt Muffins
With a base recipe that bakes up perfectly fluffy and just-sweet-enough muffins, and 6 options to add flavors from fruit, veggies, spices, and chocolate chips, this Yogurt Muffin recipe is as versatile as it is delicious!
This is an epic of a basic muffin recipe that you can then add flavor to in all sorts of ways—from fruit to veggies to chocolate chips. The batter is packed with protein too, so the muffins are great for breakfast or snack. (The allergy-friendly substitutions are listed in the Notes section at the bottom.)
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Pancakes and French Toast
Yes, pancakes and French toast are great for weekend breakfast or brunch, but they are also a cinch to reheat, which makes them great to meal prep. (Or simply stash leftovers to enjoy another day.)
easy pancake muffins
Adding pancake batter (and any toppings you want!) to a muffin pan is a quick and easy way to deliver all of the goodness of homemade pancakes and so much less fuss. This method for Pancake Muffins, which are sometimes called Pancake Bites, is versatile, easy to reheat, and so yummy.
Baking pancake mix in the oven is an easy way to streamline breakfast and to reduce the amount of time you have to stand at the stove cooking. You can add any topping you like to these and bake them as mini muffins or regular sized ones.
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Mini Pancakes (with Fruit)
They are a perfect size for a baby-led weaning breakfast, they are delicious with a slice of banana in the middle for banana bites (or you can use another sliced fruit), and they are easy to make.
Mini Pancakes are the most fun and are also a nutritious breakfast to share with the kids. You can make them plain or with fruit tucked inside—and they even work to make ahead of time and quickly reheat.
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Apple sheet pan pancakes
I love the ease of throwing a batch of pancake batter onto a baking pan and cooking the whole thing up in one go—to reduce the amount of time I need to stand in front of the stove flipping them one at a time. Sheet pan pancakes are both convenient and versatile, and this one has whole grains and delicious apple flavor.
With a super simple method that allows you to bake an entire batch of pancakes at once, these Sheet Pan Pancakes are a breakfast win.
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Best 2-ingredient pancakes for babies & toddlers
Blend up a fruit or veggie with an egg for the fluffiest, easiest, healthy pancakes for kids. These 2-Ingredient Pancakes use one simple method for all 4 flavors and are a perfect baby pancake or toddler pancake.
This recipe makes one small batch of super tender 2-Ingredient Pancakes. It usually makes 1-2 little-kid-size servings. To make more, simply double the recipe. These are delicate pancakes with a texture that’s sort of custardy like French toast, so be gentle when flipping them. See the NOTES at the bottom for the flavor variations.
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Best Banana Spinach Pancakes
These sweet Banana Spinach Pancakes are a favorite when you’re looking to boost nutrition in a favorite breakfast option. Or to have a little fun at the breakfast table by serving up a colorful meal.
This is a thin batter that makes tender, naturally sweet Banana Spinach Pancakes. Be sure to let the pancakes cook until the surface is almost entirely firm before you flip them over.
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fluffy greek yogurt pancakes
These are a great way to fuel up in the morning, they are easy to stir together, and they work with just about any diced fruit your family likes.
With the most delicious fluffy texture and protein from Greek yogurt, these Greek Yogurt Pancakes are a breakfast win. You can add any fruit you like to the batter, too!
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Egg Meal Prep
Eggs are nutritious, yes, but they are also one of the easiest foods to make ahead and serve to the kids quickly in the moment. Below are our favorite ways.
easy egg cups with zucchini and cheese
With just a few simple ingredients, you can bake up these Egg Cups packed with zucchini and cheese to make an easy breakfast or lunch option for the kids. They store well in the fridge for days, and they’re packed with nutrition too!
Feel free to double the recipe to make a full 24 mini muffins! We like to stash these in the fridge to eat all week, so having more is usually helpful in our house.
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Mini egg muffins with cheese and veggies
These Mini Egg Muffins with cheese and veggies (like sweet potato or broccoli) are a go-to for quick and easy toddler breakfasts on busy mornings. These savory muffins are packed with nutritious ingredients and are so quick to bake up—and they work so well to make ahead.
These tender Egg Muffins are packed with protein and vitamins—and can be made ahead of time! Add any veggie you like, whether carrots, butternut squash, broccoli, or spinach.
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Favorite Spinach Eggs
With a heaping pile of spinach and a super simple method, you can make these bright green Spinach Eggs in less than 10 minutes to share with the kids. They’re packed with protein and a great source of iron. You an also pop into a breakfast bowl or breakfast sandwich by adding to an English muffin.
Packed with spinach (and iron!), these bright green eggs are fun and delicious. You can serve them as you would scrambled eggs, or use in a breakfast burrito or egg sandwich.
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easy egg bake (with broccoli)
This egg recipe can be made whenever you have time and warmed up briefly to serve. You may also enjoy it at room temperature. It’s delish dipped into sour cream, guacamole, salsa, pizza sauce, or even ketchup. It’s a favorite way to serve eggs to kids (and adults) and they’re freezer-friendly.
Transform just a few simple ingredients—including a pile of broccoli—into this protein-packed Egg Bake to share with the kids. It’s an easy breakfast or lunch that stores well and is simple to make ahead.
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Easy zucchini slice recipe
This is such a fun way to use zucchini since it slices into bars that are easy to hold and dip. That means it’s a great baby-led weaning breakfast, it is an easy lunch or snack for any age, and it’s perfect to make ahead and stash in the fridge until everyone is hungry.
Transform basic ingredients—including a pile of zucchini—into this protein-packed Zucchini Slice to share with the kids. It’s an easy breakfast or lunch that stores well and is easy to make ahead. (See the Notes for options to up the flavor as desired.)
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Baked Oatmeal
With all of the nutrition of oatmeal, but a firmer texture the kids might enjoy more, these recipes for baked oatmeal (and baked oatmeal cups) are perfect meal prep recipes.
Baked Oatmeal Cups with Cinnamon and Raisins
These easy Baked Oatmeal Cups are an ideal way to serve oatmeal to babies, baby-led weaning style, and to toddlers who like to feed themselves. Oatmeal as finger food with much less mess? Yes please!
Transform plain oats into a yummy and easy to eat finger food with this baked oatmeal cups recipe. You can double the recipe to make more if desired.
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Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
This breakfast recipe is easy and delicious, and it’s a nice way to change up how you usually serve oatmeal. It somehow feels more decadent baked in a pan like this—and it’s a great hands-off method to cook oatmeal if you can’t be near the stove to stir.
Stir together this wholesome Blueberry Baked Oatmeal before bed, pop it into the oven when you wake up, and enjoy a hearty bowl of oatmeal with the family without any standing by the stove and stirring. Plus: It reheats so well. Adapted from Brown Eggs and Jam Jars.
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Favorite Apple Baked Oatmeal
This easy Apple Baked Oatmeal is moist, flavorful, and packed with whole grains and fruit. Plus, it has a texture that’s soft enough for even the littlest eaters, can be eaten in slices or scooped into a bowl and topped with peanut butter, and stores well in the fridge for days.
This Apple Baked Oatmeal is delicious and hearty. It’s delicate when warm, so let it cool fully before you slice it with a serrated knife. Serve it in slices like you would apple bread, or in a bowl to eat with a spoon or a fork.
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Easy Instant Oatmeal
Make an assortment of flavors of instant oatmeal in minutes and have delicious breakfast options ready and waiting for the whole family.
You can make a handful of containers ahead of time, then pull them out for easy breakfasts when you need them. Or, make and serve all at once.
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zucchini banana bread with chocolate chips
Combine the best of two favorite baked goods with this delicious take on Zucchini Banana Bread. It has whole grains, both fruits and veggies, and a super easy method that you can do even if you have a toddler underfoot!
Texture-wise, this tastes like a cross between baked oatmeal and banana bread. We like it for breakfast or as a snack.
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Fruit Meal Prep
Make quick work of prepping fruit for breakfast with these easy ideas for how to meal prep fruit for babies and toddlers. (And yourself!)
easy fruit cups
My kids love store-bought fruit cups, but it’s hard to buy enough (without breaking my food budget)—enter homemade Fruit Cups. These work to make ahead of time and stash in the fridge and you can use them to repurpose leftover fruit. Win!
Transform diced fruit into delicious homemade fruit cups that rival store-bought in terms of flavor and cost. You can make more cups or less, according to your preference.
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Homemade Applesauce
I sometimes buy applesauce pouches and jarred applesauce at the store, but when apples are in season and I can get them for a low price, making applesauce at home is a favorite option. This method, which involves simply simmering diced apples until soft on the stove, is fast and delivers consistently great results.
Learn the easiest way to make a batch of Homemade Applesauce, with easy flavor options, in less than 30 minutes. It’s delicious, versatile, and easy to store for future meals and snacks.
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10 easy homemade baby food ideas
Learn how to make the EASIEST homemade baby food recipes (stage 1) for your little one with these super simple no-cook ideas. Plus: I have the best tips for making them ahead and freezing them so you can batch cook and simplify your days!
You’ll choose ONE ingredient to blend up—a fruit, a veggie, or beans. See the list below. You can make enough for a few days or make a double batch to freeze more baby food for future weeks. The nutrition information will vary based on which ingredients you use.
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Favorite Banana Popsicles
Blend ripe bananas into the most flavorful and creamy Banana Popsicles with this super simple method. You’ll find a base recipe, plus six variations to change up the flavor as you like.
These fresh banana popsicles are incredibly creamy and easy to make—and they’re a balanced snack or dessert to share with the kids. Try the base recipe or one of the optional flavors.
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Best Tips for Success
- To start meal prepping without overwhelming yourself, remember that it’s okay to do just one recipe a week.
- Let any food you make cool completely before adding it to a storage container. This prevents steam from being trapped in the container and causing excess moisture.
- Most recipes last for about 5 days in the fridge.
- Add fruit, milk, a smoothie (like my Simple Green Smoothie), toast, freezer turkey sausage or bacon, or any other simple food to these ideas if you think your kids will need additional food.
- Add almond butter or other nut butter or seed butter to a muffin or quick bread to make them a little more substantial.
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