Weekdays can be hectic. Perhaps no more so than at breakfast. This is true whether you’re a morning person who wants to get a lot done before work, a parent managing kids getting to school and wanting to get a bite for yourself, or absolutely hate mornings. Thankfully, no-cook breakfasts can help make mornings more manageable. Some of the ideas below are make-ahead breakfasts while others can be whipped up in a few minutes. All that’s left to do is stocking the refrigerator and pantry with the necessary ingredients and taking a few minutes the night before or in the morning to get your no-cook breakfast together.
The key with no-cook breakfasts is to keep an eye on fiber and protein. This combination is more likely to keep you full until lunch, avoiding that mid-morning crash.
HERE ARE 9 IDEAS FOR NO-COOK BREAKFASTS:
PARFAITS
If you’re someone who loves a beautiful breakfast as much as a delicious one with ample textural intrigue to boot, then a parfait is for you. Layer yogurt, granola, fruit, and nuts and seeds for a filling, pretty breakfast that takes just a few minutes to put together. Opt for Greek yogurt for extra protein and plain, unsweetened yogurt to avoid added sugar. If you prefer something slightly sweet, add a drizzle of maple syrup or honey on top of the yogurt layers.
OVERNIGHT OATS
This simple no-cook breakfast took off for good reason in the last decade—overnight oats are delicious, healthful, and easy to make. Simply stir together ½ cup milk of choice (like almond, soy, oat, or cow’s) with ¼ cup rolled oats. Add 2 teaspoons sweetener of choice like maple syrup or honey. Stir in chopped dried fruit and/or nuts and seeds. About ¼ cup of each is a good place to start (though if you add chia seeds, they will soak up a lot of liquid, so increase the milk to ¾ cup). Top with fresh fruit in the morning and loosen with more milk, if you like.
AVOCADO-SALMON SAMMIE
Avocado and salmon are a match made in heaven, and the combination is likely to keep you powering through the morning. Spread mashed avocado over two pieces sourdough bread. Season with salt and pepper. Top with smoked salmon and a squeeze of lemon. Sandwich together and enjoy. Easy ways to upgrade this include a handful of arugula, a sprinkling of chopped olives, or a few slices of pickle.
QUICK MUESLI BOWLS
Even easier than assembling a parfait is stirring together store bought muesli with your milk of choice. Top with fresh fruit and more nuts and seeds, if the mixture doesn’t have any already.
SMOOTHIES
It’s no surprise that a smoothie doesn’t have to be cooked (we don’t want to know about the ones that do…). Consider adding some ingredients to your favorite blend that will increase satiety until lunchtime like flaxseed meal, protein powder, and/or oat bran. Help your future self at the beginning of the week by pre-portioning smoothie ingredients in single-serving containers to dump and blend. Great combinations include kale/banana/blueberry or spinach/raspberry/almond butter.
SMOOTHIE BOWLS
If you have a few extra minutes, transform your smoothie into a no-cook smoothie bowl. Topping the smoothie with fruit, nuts, seeds, and a drizzle of nut or seed butter adds texture, flavor, and—crucially—extra fiber and protein.
SEEDED BANANA AND PEANUT BUTTER WRAPS
The classic suggestion is to take a whole wheat wrap, spread it with peanut butter (or your favorite nut or seed butter), top with a banana, then roll and cut. But adding a layer of chia and hemp seeds on top of the peanut butter adds filling protein and fiber to the equation, meaning this breakfast is more likely to keep you satisfied until lunch.
TUNA BREAKFAST SALAD
For those who don’t really care about breakfast foods, a salad is the answer. Slice persian cucumbers into rounds and season with salt. Arrange on a plate with arugula. Top with oil-packed tuna, capers, halved grape tomatoes, and shaved parmesan.
NACHO BREAKFAST BOWLS
Start your day with the components of nachos in a quick, no-cook package. Stir together chopped avocado, pinto beans, crumbled cotija or queso fresco, pico de gallo. Serve with tortilla chips.
