15 Delicious Thanksgiving Brunch Recipes to Start Your Holiday Right
Thanksgiving brunch is the perfect way to kick off your holiday celebrations with a relaxed and festive meal before the big dinner. Whether you’re hosting overnight guests or want to start your food prep with something special, these Thanksgiving brunch recipes bring together all your favorite flavors in easy-to-make dishes that won’t stress you out on a busy holiday morning.
Save This Post!
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
From savory egg casseroles to sweet pastries and refreshing cocktails, this collection of Thanksgiving brunch ideas has everything you need to create a memorable morning spread. These recipes are designed to be make-ahead friendly so you can spend more time with family and less time in the kitchen while still serving up impressive dishes everyone will love.
Reasons You’ll Love These Recipes
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Many of these Thanksgiving brunch recipes can be prepared the night before, letting you enjoy a stress-free morning while your guests wake up to delicious aromas.
- Feeds a Crowd: These recipes are perfect for entertaining, whether you have a house full of overnight guests or family arriving early for Thanksgiving festivities.
- Seasonal Flavors: Each recipe incorporates the warm, comforting flavors of fall that pair perfectly with your Thanksgiving theme, from pumpkin and cranberry to maple and cinnamon.
- Versatile Options: With savory mains, sweet treats, and refreshing beverages, you’ll have everything you need to create a complete brunch spread that satisfies all tastes and dietary preferences.
Planning Your Thanksgiving Brunch
Timing is everything when it comes to pulling off a successful Thanksgiving brunch alongside your main holiday meal. Consider serving brunch between 9-11 AM to give everyone time to digest before the big turkey dinner in the afternoon or evening. Set up a buffet-style spread so guests can graze throughout the morning, and don’t forget to prep as much as possible the night before to minimize morning stress.
Savory Breakfast Mains
Start your Thanksgiving brunch with these hearty and satisfying savory dishes that will keep everyone full until dinner time.
- Farmers Market Ham & Egg Breakfast Casserole: This no-bread breakfast casserole layers hash browns with ham, cheese, and eggs for a hearty dish that can be assembled the night before and baked fresh in the morning for easy entertaining.
- Sheet Pan Scrambled Eggs: Perfect for feeding a crowd, these sheet pan eggs let you customize different sections with various add-ins like cheese, veggies, and bacon, then cut into perfect squares for breakfast sandwiches or serving as-is.
- Loaded Pancakes: These savory stuffed pancakes combine sausage, scrambled eggs, and cheese right in the batter for a complete breakfast in every bite that guests can top with syrup or gravy.
- 7 Ingredient Air Fryer Sausage Kolaches: These sweet and savory breakfast pastries wrap breakfast sausage in a tender, slightly sweet dough for a handheld treat that’s perfect for guests on the go.
- Crockpot Hashbrown Casserole: Also known as funeral potatoes, this creamy and cheesy hash brown side dish cooks in your slow cooker, freeing up precious oven space for your Thanksgiving turkey prep.
- Fresh Green Bean Casserole: While traditionally served at dinner, this fresh green bean casserole with its crispy fried onion topping makes a wonderful savory side for brunch that introduces those classic Thanksgiving flavors early in the day.
Sweet Treats and Baked Goods
Balance your savory offerings with these sweet breakfast treats that capture the essence of fall flavors.
- Copycat Starbucks Cream Cheese Danish: Made with puff pastry and a lemony cream cheese filling, these easy air fryer danishes come together in minutes for an elegant pastry that looks bakery-perfect.
- Easy Cinnamon Roll Cups with Apple Pie Filling: Transform canned cinnamon rolls into individual apple pie cups by filling them with warm spiced apples for a two-in-one breakfast dessert that takes just minutes to prepare.
- Easy Blueberry Oatmeal Bars: These make-ahead oatmeal bars with jammy blueberry filling are perfect for guests who want a grab-and-go option or prefer a lighter breakfast before the big meal.
- Pumpkin Banana Bread: This moist quick bread combines two fall favorites in one loaf, offering the perfect balance of pumpkin spice and banana sweetness that pairs beautifully with coffee or tea.
- Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce: Transform day-old bread into this decadent pumpkin-spiced bread pudding that can double as both a brunch item and an early dessert with its rich caramel topping.
Beverages and Drinks
Complete your Thanksgiving brunch with these festive and refreshing drink options that add a celebratory touch.
- Frozen Mimosa Slushi: This fun twist on the classic brunch cocktail blends orange juice and sparkling wine with ice for a refreshing slushy version that’s ready in just 5 minutes.
- Christmas Cranberry Mimosa: The gorgeous ruby red color of cranberry juice mixed with champagne creates a festive and easy two-ingredient cocktail that’s perfect for holiday celebrations.
- Mulled Apple Cider: Warm your guests with this fragrant spiced cider simmering in the slow cooker, filling your home with the cozy aromas of cinnamon, cloves, and apples all morning long.
- Ambrosia Fruit Salad: This classic 5-cup fruit salad with Cool Whip, coconut, marshmallows, and mixed fruit offers a sweet and refreshing side that complements any brunch spread and can be made ahead.
Storing Thanksgiving Brunch Leftovers
- Casseroles and Egg Dishes: Store leftover breakfast casseroles and egg dishes in airtight containers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat portions in the microwave or warm covered in a 350°F oven until heated through.
- Baked Goods: Keep pastries, cinnamon rolls, and quick breads at room temperature wrapped tightly for 2-3 days, or refrigerate for up to 5 days. Most baked goods can also be frozen for 2-3 months if wrapped well.
- Beverages: Leftover mimosas are best enjoyed immediately to maintain carbonation, but you can refrigerate fresh fruit juices for 2-3 days. Leftover mulled cider keeps well in the fridge for up to a week and can be gently reheated.
- Fruit Salads: Store covered in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3-4 days, though keep in mind that marshmallows may become softer and fruit may release more juice with each passing day.
Serving Suggestions
Create a beautiful Thanksgiving brunch buffet by starting with your cream cheese danishes alongside pumpkin banana bread for your sweet offerings. Anchor your savory selections with the ham and egg breakfast casserole and sheet pan scrambled eggs for those hearty breakfast appetites. Add some 3 Ingredient Sour Cream Biscuits to the table for serving with butter and jam or as a base for breakfast sandwiches.
Set up a mimosa bar with both frozen and cranberry mimosa options, along with a slow cooker of mulled apple cider for non-alcoholic guests. For guests who want something more substantial alongside their brunch, consider adding Easy Sheet Pan Vegetables or save room for Best Ever Pumpkin Chiffon Pie as a transition dessert between brunch and your main Thanksgiving feast.
FAQs
Most of these Thanksgiving brunch recipes are designed with make-ahead convenience in mind. Casseroles can be assembled the night before and baked fresh in the morning. Baked goods can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored at room temperature or refrigerated. For best results, prepare what you can the day before and save just the final touches for Thanksgiving morning.
The ideal time for Thanksgiving brunch is between 9-11 AM, giving your guests a satisfying morning meal while leaving plenty of time to digest before the traditional Thanksgiving dinner served in the late afternoon or evening. This timing works especially well if you have overnight guests or family arriving early to help with dinner preparations.
Many of these recipes freeze beautifully. Baked goods like pumpkin banana bread, blueberry oatmeal bars, and cinnamon roll cups with apple pie filling can be frozen for 2-3 months. Sheet pan scrambled eggs can be individually wrapped and frozen for quick reheating. However, items with cream cheese or sour cream-based components and fresh fruit salads are best made closer to serving time for optimal texture and flavor.
Use chafing dishes or warming trays to keep egg casseroles and savory dishes at safe temperatures throughout your brunch service. Place the hashbrown casserole on the “warm” setting and keep your mulled cider simmering on low in the slow cooker. For baked goods, keep them loosely covered at room temperature, and serve drinks in insulated pitchers or carafes to maintain proper temperatures throughout the morning.
