Cheap breakfast ideas
Reboot your morning routine with a breakfast which keeps food bills down – choose from budget overnight oats, peanut butter breakfast pots, two-minute smoothies and more
Fancy shaking things up for breakfast, without the need to buy lots of expensive ingredients? We can all grow tired of cereal and toast, and here at Good Food we're all for a breakfast which is easy, flavourful and quick to assemble.
You can make a winning homemade breakfast solely using kitchen basics, such as eggs, oats, flour and milk. Turn a handful of storecupboard ingredients into a smoky shakshuka, mix porridge oats with peanut butter to make a vegan breakfast pot, or whizz up fruit and milk in a blender to make a creamy two-minute breakfast smoothie.
We cover cheap breakfast recipes with eggs, storecupboard baked oats and even air-fryer bacon. What else could you need, (besides coffee), to start the day right? These breakfast ideas showcase cheap, everyday products, and the ingredient list is kept short, with many using five ingredients or less. Chances are, you'll have most of the ingredients to hand. These cheap recipes are quick to prep, and some can be made overnight to take the hassle out of mornings.
For more breakfast ideas, see our round-up of savoury breakfast recipes, healthy breakfast recipes and American breakfast recipes.
For more budget meals see our cheap lunch ideas. Check out our main budget hub for all your cost-cutting needs, where we have options for budget desserts, budget comfort food and meals you can make with canned veg.
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Cheap breakfast ideas
Overnight oats
Transform your porridge oats into a breakfast treat that's as delicious as it is healthy. This budget breakfast is simple to make: stir the cinnamon and 100ml water (or milk) into your oats with a pinch of salt. The next day, top with yogurt, berries, a drizzle of honey and a dollop of nut butter. Feel free to adapt this recipe to suit your tastes – you can add dried fruit, seeds and nuts, grated apple, anything you have in your cupboard.
See more overnight oats recipes for easy breakfast prep.
Crunchy peanut butter & banana pots
Start your day right with a winning combo of peanut butter and banana. These high-fibre breakfast pots layer cheap everyday ingredients including porridge oats, yogurt and cinnamon. This recipe makes up to six pots, which can be kept in the fridge for four days, so they'll tide you over for the working week.
Find more on-the-go breakfast ideas.
Ham & cheese croissants
Recreate a café breakfast favourite at home on a budget with these simple ham & cheese croissants. We’ve used gruyère, but any good melting cheese which you can get your hands on will work. Adding chutney onto the base adds a juicy sweetness, but it's not essential.
See our best croissant recipes for more comforting breakfast ideas.
Two-minute breakfast smoothie
Whizz up cheap fruit, milk and a few storecupboard staples to make a creamy breakfast smoothie. We've kept costs low by using banana, plus honey for a little sweetness and oats for slow-release fuel. This is a great one to make if you're eating breakfast on-the-go, too.
Check out more oat smoothie recipes for a speedy breakfast.
Smoky shakshuka
Rustle up a simple, four-ingredient version of the North African dish for a leisurely breakfast. This shakshuka contains chorizo, roasted red peppers, tomatoes and eggs – that's it. Eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Search for more shakshuka recipes.
Baked oats
Fancy getting a little experimental for breakfast, without the need to buy lots of specialist ingredients? It's highly likely you'll have most of the ingredients required to make this recipe already: oats, cinnamon, honey, eggs. They're combined to make a dish which feels like a treat, without the costly food bill. Plus, you can make it in the air-fryer, which helps cut energy costs.
Try more baked oats recipes.
Easy pancakes
Don't limit pancakes to Shrove Tuesday – a few ingredients is all you need to make these crispy thin pancakes, plus the act of elaborately flipping your pancakes in the morning makes a fun way to wake the mind and body up. See our savoury pancakes for inspiration, or treat yourself with our collection of sweet pancakes.
Healthy cookies
Try these thrifty four-ingredient cookies for an energy-boosting breakfast. Simply mix banana, oats, almonds, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt to create a sticky dough. Gently stir through raspberries, roll them into balls and bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Grab a few of these for a quick breakfast or enjoy at the table with yogurt and fruit. These can be made in the air-fryer, too.
Find more healthy treat recipes.
Budget porridge
Porridge is already a brilliant budget item, but a few simple additions can elevate your breakfast game to new heights. A few cheap add-ons – grated apple, raisins, walnuts and cinnamon – turn a simple meal into a nutritious and filling morning treat.
Try more of our best porridge recipes for budget recipes.
Air-fryer bacon
Did you know crispy bacon can be achieved in the air-fryer? A crispy texture with less fat, it's a healthier alternative to standard frying. Simply cook in the air-fryer for 10 minutes, sandwich between two slices of bread and serve with your choice of sauce.
See our air-fryer recipes for beginners for more hacks.
