Brunch Recipes Under 300 Calories

Updated May 01, 2009
Credit: Oxmoor House

Formal sit-down or casual buffet, we've got the perfect brunch recipes for any gathering.

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Savory Granola

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Savory Granola Recipe

Meet your new granola, which has two-thirds less sugar than most store-bought varieties. We like it with a little extra kick, but knock the red pepper back for less heat. Stir into yogurt, sprinkle over fresh fruit, or toss into salads.

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Bulgur Bowl with Apples, Almond Butter, and Goat Cheese

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Bulgur Bowl with Apples, Almond Butter, and Goat Cheese Recipe

For brunch in a snap, this fluffy, make-ahead, Bulgar bowl sweeps in right under 300 calories. The health benefit to this whole wheat bowl? Bulgar is a good source of fiber, protein, iron, vitamin B-6 and just what you need to start your day off right.

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Egg and Toast Cups

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Egg and Toast Cups Recipe

No brunch is complete without these adorable muffin tin egg cups. With only 170 calories per serving and the easiest cleanup ever, this is definitely a brunch must-make!

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Huevos Rancheros Burritos

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin

Huevos Rancheros Burritos Recipe

Roasting the vegetables gives our ranchero sauce intensely rich flavor in just 10 minutes. Be sure to use plum tomatoes, which are meaty and not overly juicy--this will ensure a thick sauce that won't make the burrito soggy.

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Make-Ahead Shakshuka

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Kira Corbin

Make-Ahead Shakshuka Recipe

To make ahead, complete step 1; then follow instructions below. Be sure to pierce the yolks (without breaking them) so they won't burst when microwaved.

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Cherry-Hazelnut Cake with Streusel Topping

Credit: Neil Dacosta

Cherry-Hazelnut Cake with Streusel Topping Recipe

The Pacific Northwest's cherry crop runs from May through early July. Use a sweet fresh cherry such as Bing or Rainier for this hearty cake. You can substitute frozen cherries, thawed and drained, if fresh fruit is unavailable.

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Grilled Asparagus with Fried Eggs and Pancetta

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower, Claire Spollen

Grilled Asparagus with Fried Eggs and Pancetta Recipe

Asparagus and fried eggs are a classic springtime combo for good reason--they're delicious together. Medium-thick asparagus spears will char nicely outside while staying crisp-tender within.

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Cheese and Tomato Omelet

Credit: Oxmoor House

Cheese and Tomato Omelet Recipe

This veggie-packed omelet is perfect for brunch or a simple supper. For a delicious side, serve a medley of fresh fruit, such as mandarin oranges with kiwifruit and grapes.

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Tomato-Asiago Frittata

Credit: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Claire Spollen

Tomato-Asiago Frittata Recipe

Customize the frittata--essentially a large, crispy-bottomed omelet--with any vegetables, fresh herbs, or cheeses you like.

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Boysenberry Danishes

Credit: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Robyn Valarik

Boysenberry Danishes Recipe

Even if you're a baking newbie, you can turn these out with ease, thanks to frozen puff pastry. To keep them from sticking, remove the pastries from the pan right after baking.

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Cajun Quiche in a Rice Crust

Cajun Quiche in a Rice Crust Recipe

Hot and spicy, this twist on a classic quiche omits the usual calorie-heavy crust and instead uses a lighter crust made with cooked rice. For extra fiber and nutrients, use whole-grain brown rice instead of white rice. This dish is perfect for brunch or for a breakfast at dinner meal alongside a light garden salad.

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Blueberry Coffee Cake

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Blueberry Coffee Cake Recipe

Studded with plump, juicy berries, the cake also features a sprinkling of turbinado sugar on top that adds another dimension of texture. Ideal for breakfast, brunch, dessert, or as a snack to savor with coffee, it's a recipe you'll make more than once.

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Arugula and Fontina Soufflé

Arugula and Fontina Soufflé Recipe

This light and fluffy soufflé gets its volume from the addition of whipped egg whites. Egg whites are an excellent source of protein minus the fat found in the yolk of the egg. You can also try substituting spinach or broccoli for an extra dose of nutrients like fiber, folic acid and calcium.

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Hash Brown Casserole with Bacon, Onions, and Cheese

Hash Brown Casserole with Bacon, Onions, and Cheese Recipe

This lightened version of a classic favorite is so rich and creamy that you'll never miss the extra fat and calories of the traditional recipe. Reduced-fat cheese is a good source of calcium, which helps build strong bones and teeth, and also prevents osteoporosis. Omit the bacon for a vegetarian option or substitute with lean turkey sausage if you wish.

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Breakfast Shakshouka

Credit: Thomas J. Story

Breakfast Shakshouka Recipe

To scoop up every bit of this spicy egg and tomato dish, popular in North Africa and Israel, we brushed slices of pain au levain with oil, then toasted them on a grill pan set on a camp stove. After breakfast, we cleaned the cast-iron skillet by scrubbing it with hot water and a nylon wash pad (no soap). We set it back on the stove to dry and wipe with a thin film of oil. For more: sunset.com/cleancastiron.

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Fried Egg and Avocado Toasts

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Fried Egg and Avocado Toasts Recipe

Sunny-side-up eggs, fresh sprouts, and salsa amp up avocado toast for a fast, no-fuss meal. It's a sure winner at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

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Brunch Parfaits

Credit: Jim Bathie; Jan Gautro

Brunch Parfaits Recipe

These parfaits are as tasty to eat as they are lovely to look at. Using low-fat yogurt saves on fat and calories while still giving you the benefits of protein and calcium. Strawberries and apricots add sweetness, and vitamin C and granola gives fiber and crunch.

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Spinach-Potato Fritters

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Spinach-Potato Fritters Recipe

Enjoy the flavorful blend of spinach, potatoes, and eggs in these breakfast fritters.

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Grits Casserole with Mushrooms, Prosciutto, and Provolone

Credit: Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Grits Casserole with Mushrooms, Prosciutto, and Provolone Recipe

This sophisticated take on a casserole uses several healthful tricks for adding flavor. Use herbs, dried or fresh, like the herbes de Provence in this recipe to add flavor without adding sodium. Sharp provolone cheese has a strong enough bite that a small amount goes a long way in a recipe. Sautéed mushrooms in wine are another excellent way to add a meatier flavor to a dish without the extra fat and calories of using meat.

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Skillet Soufflé

Credit: Sang An

Skillet Soufflé Recipe

Fluffier than scrambled eggs, this soufflé is just as easy to prepare and is perfect served alongside a juicy wedge of melon and a green salad. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids. Eggs are also one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.

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Garden Vegetable Crustless Quiche

Credit: Randy Mayor

Garden Vegetable Crustless Quiche Recipe

The season's best vegetables and a variety of cheeses make this a crowd-pleasing and healthy meal that can be assembled the night before, refrigerated and cooked just prior to serving. The benefits of a diet rich in vegetables include lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, and some cancers.

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Mushroom and Spinach Omelet

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower, Claire Spollen

Mushroom and Spinach Omelet Recipe

A veggie-stuffed omelet makes for one easy, satisfying dinner when paired with a simple side salad. While the cooked spinach mixture sits, it may give off some more liquid; strain this off to keep the omelet from becoming watery.

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Ranch Breakfast Muesli

Credit: Alex Farnum; Styling: Randy Mon

Ranch Breakfast Muesli Recipe

Jump-start your morning with this heart-healthy dish that's bursting with healthful ingredients. Almonds are high in protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, and other antioxidants and an excellent source of monounsaturated fats that research has shown to be helpful in lowering cholesterol.

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Everyday Frittata

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Everyday Frittata Recipe

We use evaporated milk here because it has a richness similar to that of sat fat--heavy half-and-half, but with far less fat. Be sure to shake the can vigorously before using. We love the flavor that bacon adds, but if you'd rather omit it, each serving will contain 212 calories, 13.2g total fat (4.4g sat), and 379mg sodium. (Cost for 4: $6.95)

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Cherry Clafouti

Cherry Clafouti Recipe

Cherries are a terrific source of important nutrients such as beta carotene (more than blueberries or strawberries) vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, iron, fiber, folate and disease-fighting antioxidants.

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Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

Credit: Oxmoor House

Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole Recipe

All of the classic breakfast elements–sausage, eggs and cheese–are featured in this casserole that's perfect for a crowd or can be cut in half for a smaller family meal. Using turkey sausage, egg substitute and reduced-fat cheese saves on fat and calories without sacrificing flavor. No one will ever guess it's only 184 calories per serving.

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