25 Traditional English Breakfast Recipes to Enjoy

25 Traditional English Breakfast Recipes to Enjoy

I have always been fascinated by the rich culinary heritage of England, and one of my favorite meals of the day is undoubtedly breakfast. There is something undeniably comforting and satisfying about a traditional English breakfast that warms my heart and satisfies my hunger.

Whether it is the perfectly cooked bacon, the soft and fluffy scrambled eggs, or the hearty baked beans, each element of this iconic meal tells a story of tradition and culture.

In this article, I am excited to share with you 25 traditional English breakfast recipes that will transport your taste buds to the heart of England. From classic favorites to lesser-known gems, join me on a mouth-watering journey through the flavors of English breakfast.

1. Full English breakfast

Ingredients:

– 2 slices of bacon

– 1 pork sausage

– 2 eggs

– 1 tomato

– 4 mushrooms

– Baked beans

– Toast

– Butter

Instructions:

• Heat a frying pan over medium heat and cook the bacon until crispy. Remove from pan and set aside.
• In the same pan, cook the sausage until browned and cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Crack the eggs into the pan and cook to your preference (fried, scrambled, or poached).
• Meanwhile, slice the tomato in half and grill it in the pan until slightly softened and charred. Remove from pan and set aside.
• In the same pan, cook the mushrooms until tender.
• Warm up the baked beans in a small saucepan or microwave.
• Toast the bread and spread butter on it.
• Arrange all the cooked ingredients on a plate, including the bacon, sausage, eggs, tomato, mushrooms, baked beans, and toast.
• Serve hot and enjoy your full English breakfast.

2. Eggs Benedict

Ingredients:

– 2 English muffins

– 4 slices of Canadian bacon or ham

– 4 eggs

-Hollandaise sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Instructions:

• Toast the English muffins and set aside.
• Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and cook the Canadian bacon or ham slices until warmed through. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Poach the eggs: Fill a shallow pan with water and bring to a gentle simmer. Add a splash of white vinegar to help the eggs set. Crack each egg into a small ramekin or cup and carefully slide it into the simmering water. Cook for about 3-4 minutes for a runny yolk, or longer if desired. Remove the eggs from the water using a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain.
• Assemble the Eggs Benedict: Place a slice of Canadian bacon or ham on each half of the toasted English muffins. Top each with a poached egg.
• Drizzle Hollandaise sauce over the eggs and muffins. You can either use store-bought Hollandaise sauce or make your own.
• Serve immediately and enjoy your Eggs Benedict.

3. Eggs Florentine

Ingredients:

– 2 English muffins

– 4 cups of fresh spinach

– 4 eggs

– Hollandaise sauce (store-bought or homemade)

Instructions:

• Toast the English muffins and set aside.
• Rinse and drain the spinach leaves. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and add the spinach. Cook until wilted, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Poach the eggs: Fill a shallow pan with water and bring to a gentle simmer. Add a splash of white vinegar to help the eggs set. Crack each egg into a small ramekin or cup and carefully slide it into the simmering water. Cook for about 3-4 minutes for a runny yolk, or longer if desired. Remove the eggs from the water using a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain.
• Assemble the Eggs Florentine: Place a mound of cooked spinach on each half of the toasted English muffins. Top each with a poached egg.
• Drizzle Hollandaise sauce over the eggs and muffins. You can either use store-bought Hollandaise sauce or make your own.
• Serve immediately and enjoy your Eggs Florentine.

4. Bacon and eggs

Ingredients:

– 4 slices of bacon

– 4 eggs

– Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

• Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove from heat and place on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess grease.
• In the same skillet, remove some of the bacon fat, leaving about 1-2 tablespoons.
• Crack the eggs into the skillet and cook to your preference (fried, scrambled, or poached).
• Season the eggs with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the cooked bacon and eggs together on a plate.
• Enjoy your classic bacon and eggs breakfast.

5. Sausage and eggs

Ingredients:

– 2 pork sausages

– 2 eggs

– Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat.
• Add the sausages to the skillet and cook until browned and cooked through, turning occasionally to ensure even cooking.
• Crack the eggs into the skillet and cook to your preference (fried, scrambled, or poached).
• Season the eggs with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the cooked sausages and eggs together on a plate.
• Enjoy your hearty sausage and eggs breakfast.

6. Toast with butter and jam

Ingredients:

– Slices of bread

– Butter

– Jam

Instructions:

• Toast the slices of bread using a toaster or by placing them under a broiler until golden brown.
• Spread a generous amount of butter onto each slice of toast while they are still warm.
• Add a dollop of your preferred jam on top of the buttered toast. You can use any flavor of jam you like, such as strawberry, raspberry, or apricot.
• Serve immediately and enjoy your simple and delicious toast with butter and jam.

7. Porridge with milk and honey

Ingredients:

– 1 cup oats (rolled or steel-cut)

– 2 cups milk (dairy milk or a dairy-free alternative such as almond milk or oat milk)

– Honey, to taste

Instructions:

• In a saucepan, bring the milk to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
• Stir in the oats and reduce the heat to low.
• Cook the oats according to package instructions, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
• Once the porridge reaches your desired consistency, remove it from the heat.
• Serve the porridge in bowls and drizzle with honey to taste.
• Allow the porridge to cool slightly before enjoying it.

8. Grilled tomatoes and mushrooms on toast

Ingredients:

– 2 tomatoes, halved

– 4 mushrooms, sliced

– Olive oil

– Salt and pepper, to taste

– Slices of bread

Instructions:

• Preheat the grill or broiler to high heat.
• Place the tomato halves and mushroom slices on a baking sheet lined with foil.
• Drizzle olive oil over the tomatoes and mushrooms, and season with salt and pepper.
• Grill or broil the tomatoes and mushrooms for about 5-7 minutes, or until they are softened and slightly charred.
• While the vegetables are cooking, toast the slices of bread.
• Arrange the grilled tomatoes and mushrooms on top of the toasted bread.
• Serve immediately and enjoy your grilled tomatoes and mushrooms on toast.

9. Black pudding with fried eggs and beans

Ingredients:

– 2 slices black pudding

– 2 eggs

– Baked beans

Instructions:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat.
• Add the slices of black pudding to the skillet and cook on each side for about 3-4 minutes or until crispy and heated through.
• Remove the black pudding from the skillet and set aside.
• In the same skillet, fry the eggs according to your preference (fried or scrambled).
• Warm up the baked beans in a small saucepan or microwave.
• Serve the black pudding and fried eggs together on a plate, with a side of baked beans.
• Enjoy your flavorful black pudding with fried eggs and beans.

10. Kippers with scrambled eggs

Ingredients:

– 2 kippers

– 4 eggs

– Salt and pepper, to taste

– Butter

Instructions:

• Preheat the grill or broiler to high heat.
• Place the kippers on a baking sheet lined with foil.
• Grill or broil the kippers for about 6-8 minutes, or until they are cooked through and slightly charred.
• Meanwhile, crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk them together.
• Heat a skillet over medium heat and melt a knob of butter.
• Pour the whisked eggs into the skillet and cook, stirring gently, until they reach your desired consistency (soft, fluffy, or well done).
• Season the scrambled eggs with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve the kippers and scrambled eggs together on a plate.
• Enjoy your delicious kippers with scrambled eggs.

11. Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients:

– 4 large eggs

– 100g smoked salmon

– 30g butter

– Salt and pepper to taste

– Chopped chives for garnish

Instructions:

• Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk until well beaten.
• Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat and melt the butter.
• Pour the beaten eggs into the pan and gently stir with a spatula until they start to curdle.
• Add the smoked salmon to the pan and continue to stir until the eggs are cooked to your desired consistency.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve the scrambled eggs on a plate, garnish with chopped chives, and enjoy.

12. Bubble and Squeak with Fried Eggs

Ingredients:

– 500g leftover mashed potatoes

– 250g leftover cooked cabbage

– 1 onion, finely chopped

– 2 tbsp vegetable oil

– Salt and pepper to taste

– 4 fried eggs

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, mix the mashed potatoes, cooked cabbage, and chopped onion until well combined.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
• Add the potato and cabbage mixture to the pan, pressing it down with a spatula to form a large pancake.
• Season with salt and pepper and cook for about 8-10 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown.
• Carefully flip the bubble and squeak pancake and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until the other side is also golden brown.
• In a separate frying pan, fry the eggs until the yolks are cooked to your liking.
• Serve the bubble and squeak topped with a fried egg. Enjoy.

13. Corned Beef Hash with Fried Eggs

Ingredients:

– 300g leftover cooked corned beef, shredded

– 2 large potatoes, boiled and diced

– 1 onion, finely chopped

– 2 tbsp vegetable oil

– Salt and pepper to taste

– 4 fried eggs

Instructions:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
• Add the chopped onion to the pan and cook until softened.
• Add the shredded corned beef and diced potatoes to the pan, stirring well to combine.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Press the corned beef and potato mixture down with a spatula to form a large pancake.
• Cook for about 8-10 minutes on each side, or until the bottom is golden brown.
• In a separate frying pan, fry the eggs until the yolks are cooked to your liking.
• Serve the corned beef hash topped with a fried egg. Enjoy.

14. Welsh Rarebit

Ingredients:

– 4 slices of thick bread

– 250g grated cheddar cheese

– 2 tbsp butter

– 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

– 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

– 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

– 150ml beer or milk

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in the beer or milk until smooth and thickened.
• Stir in the grated cheese, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth.
• Toast the slices of bread until golden brown on both sides.
• Pour the cheese sauce over the toast and place under the grill for 3-5 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
• Serve the Welsh rarebit hot and enjoy.

15. Baked Beans on Toast

Ingredients:

– 4 slices of bread

– 400g can of baked beans

– Butter for spreading

Instructions:

• Toast the slices of bread until golden brown.
• While the bread is still warm, spread a thin layer of butter on each slice.
• Heat the baked beans in a saucepan over medium heat until hot.
• Pour the baked beans over the buttered toast.
• Serve the baked beans on toast hot and enjoy.

16. Fried Bread with Bacon and Eggs

Ingredients:

– 4 slices of bread

– 4 slices of bacon

– 4 eggs

– Butter for frying

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• In a large frying pan, fry the bacon slices until crispy. Set aside on a paper towel to drain excess grease.
• In the same frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat.
• Place the slices of bread in the pan and fry until golden brown on one side. Flip and fry the other side until golden brown as well.
• Remove the bread from the pan and set aside.
• In the same pan, fry the eggs to your desired level of doneness.
• Season the eggs with salt and pepper.
• Place a slice of fried bread on a plate, and top it with a slice of bacon and a fried egg.
• Repeat with the remaining bread, bacon, and eggs.
• Serve the fried bread with bacon and eggs hot and enjoy.

17. Omelette with Various Fillings (Cheese, Mushrooms, Ham)

Ingredients:

– 4 large eggs

– 50g grated cheese

– 50g sliced mushrooms

– 50g diced ham

– Butter for frying

– Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk until well beaten.
• Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat and melt the butter.
• Pour the beaten eggs into the pan and swirl around to distribute evenly.
• Cook the eggs until the edges start to set.
• Sprinkle the grated cheese, sliced mushrooms, and diced ham on one half of the omelet.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Carefully fold the other half of the omelet over the filling and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the omelet is cooked through.
• Slide the omelet onto a plate and cut into slices.
• Serve the omelet with various fillings hot and enjoy.

18. Pancakes with Maple Syrup

Ingredients:

– 200g all-purpose flour

– 2 tbsp sugar

– 2 tsp baking powder

– 1/2 tsp salt

– 250ml milk

– 2 large eggs

– 2 tbsp melted butter

– Maple syrup for serving

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and melted butter.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. It’s okay if there are lumps.
• Heat a non-stick frying pan or griddle over medium heat.
• Scoop 1/4 cup of the pancake batter onto the pan for each pancake.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until bubbles form on the surface of the pancake.
• Flip the pancake and cook for another 1-2 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove the pancake from the pan and keep warm.
• Repeat with the remaining batter to make more pancakes.
• Serve the pancakes with maple syrup and enjoy.

19. Waffles with Berries and Cream

Ingredients:

– 200g all-purpose flour

– 2 tbsp sugar

– 2 tsp baking powder

– 1/2 tsp salt

– 250ml milk

– 2 large eggs

– 2 tbsp melted butter

– 200g fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)

– Whipped cream for serving

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and melted butter.
• Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. It’s okay if there are lumps.
• Preheat a waffle iron according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Scoop the batter onto the hot waffle iron and cook until golden brown and crispy.
• Remove the waffle from the iron and keep warm.
• Repeat with the remaining batter to make more waffles.
• Serve the waffles topped with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream

20. Ham and Cheese Croissant

Ingredients:

– 4 croissants

– 4 slices of ham

– 4 slices of cheese (cheddar, Swiss, or your favorite kind)

– Butter for spreading

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
• Cut the croissants in half horizontally.
• Place a slice of ham on the bottom half of each croissant, followed by a slice of cheese.
• Place the croissants on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Spread a thin layer of butter on the top half of each croissant.
• Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for about 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the croissants are heated through.
• Remove from the oven and put the top half of the croissant on each sandwich.
• Serve the ham and cheese croissants hot and enjoy.

Traditional English breakfast recipes offer a delicious and hearty start to the day. With an array of options, there is something for everyone’s taste buds to enjoy. Whether you prefer a full English fry-up, a lighter smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, or a classic bowl of porridge, these recipes provide the perfect way to fuel your morning.

Incorporating a mix of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, these breakfasts offer a well-balanced and satisfying meal to kickstart your day. So, why not try one of these 25 traditional English breakfast recipes and treat yourself to a truly delightful morning meal.