Top 9 Most Popular Breakfast Foods in USA

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Breakfast is the meal that really sets the tone for the rest of your day. What you decide to eat can keep you full, energized, and focused until lunch rolls around. And starting your morning with a hearty meal is never a bad decision. Check out the list below!

1.Donuts

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There are people who like doughnuts—and then there are people who obviously just don't have good taste. Because who can deny the fluffy, sugary, warm goodness that is a fresh-baked doughnut on a cool morning? Pro tip: You can even make your own in the air fryer in under 10 minutes.

More than 10 billion doughnuts are made each year in the United States alone. Originating with the Dutch, these deep-fried cakes enjoy a rich history and a growing fan base. Specialty doughnut shops may offer wacky creations like peanut butter and sriracha, but most people are happy to indulge in the regular old glazed variety. There’s just no competing with a classic.

Almost every culture has some form of fried dough dish, making it difficult to pinpoint the donut’s origins. In the United States, the donut’s roots date to the 1700s with the Dutch settlers’ olykoek (oil cake), the “grandpa of the donut”.1 In the early 19th century, donuts were mentioned in American food chapters of English cookbooks.2

However, donuts didn’t flourish until World War I, when homesick American servicemen in France were served donuts in trenches by Salvation Army women volunteers—called Donut Lassies8—aiming to give them a comforting taste of home.3 When these men returned home after WWI, they craved more donuts—and the product began to thrive.

The reason why donuts have holes in the middle is debatable. Some say it is to help ease digestion while others say it was to save on ingredients. However, the most popular theory dates to the mid-1800s where a New England ship captain, Hanson Gregory, was unhappy with the doughy consistency in the middle of the donuts served on the ship. Gregory suggested punching a hole in the middle so the insides of the donuts would cook evenly.3

2.Scrambled Eggs

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Further data from this survey shows that when it comes to eating eggs, Americans tend to like scrambled eggs the best. More than one-third (36%) say this is their most preferred way to consume eggs for breakfast. Other popular choices include eggs over easy (18%), sunny side up (12%), and eggs over medium (11%).

How to Make America style Scrambled Eggs:

Ingredients:

4 rashers smoked streaky bacon

3 tbsp vegetable oil

1 medium brown onion

1 medium red bell pepper

6 large eggs

2 slices sourdough bread

How to cook:

-Place the bacon into a large frying pan along with a tablespoon of the oil. Place over a high heat and fry for 5-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the bacon is crispy. Remove it from the pan and leave it to drain on some kitchen paper.

-Peel the onion and deseed the pepper. While the bacon is cooking, use the Thin Slicing Disc of a Compact Food Processor to finely slice the onion and pepper. Add them and the rest of the oil into the same pan as the bacon once it’s on the kitchen paper and sauté for 5-6 minutes over a high heat, or until the onions are golden, then turn the heat down to medium.

-Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk them with a fork to combine. Splash them into the pan with the veg, then keep stirring until the eggs are thoroughly cooked through.

-Take the crispy bacon and blitz it to a fine crumb in the wiped out bowl of the food processor with the Knife Blade attachment. Toast the bread and divide your eggs on top of each slice of toast. Scatter with a sprinkling of the bacon and serve.

READ MORE: Top 7 weird foods in the world made from eggs

3.Breakfast Burrito

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A breakfast burrito is always a solid morning option, as you can load it up with eggs, veggies, cheese, potatoes—all neatly wrapped. (And in case you were wondering, this is The Secret Trick to Making the Perfect Breakfast Burrito.)

How to Make a Breakfast Burrito:

Can we let you in on a little secret? Homemade breakfast burritos are dead easy. In fact, is a breakfast burrito recipe really necessary? Well, obviously we think it is! Hear us out. True, anyone can take a few breakfast ingredients and toss them in a tortilla, but we want the best for you! Specifically, we want the best breakfast burrito recipe to be in your recipe arsenal. So! Here’s how you make the best ever breakfast burrito:

Prep! Whisk the eggs, dice the potatoes, chop the green onions, slice your avocado.

Brown! Cook the breakfast sausage—ground, not links—until it’s nicely browned and sizzling.

Scramble the eggs IN the sausage fat. Oh yes. Waste not want not—also, it makes the eggs extra delicious. We’re fans of the low-and-slow method when it comes to scrambling eggs—stir frequently and let low heat do the rest.

Fry the potatoes! In the same pan that you cooked the sausage and eggs in—one pan! You know we’ve got you!—fry the potatoes in a little oil until they’re nicely crisp on the outside and cooked through.

Mix it up! Once the potatoes are cooked, add the sausage, eggs and green onions to the pan. Stir to combine.

Assemble! One at a time, lay out a tortilla and spoon some of the sausage-egg-potato mixture directly into your mouth. No wait. That’s not right. One at a time, lay out a tortilla and spoon some of the sausage-egg-potato mixture into a tortilla. Top with cheese, avocado slices, salsa and cilantro.

Melty, crispy, gooey breakfast burrito goodness! Line all of your assembled burritos up on a baking sheet, and bake just until they are golden on the outside and the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes.

4.Biscuits and Gravy

A popular breakfast dish throughout the United States of America, especially in the Southern parts of the country, biscuits 'n' gravy consists of tender dough biscuits that are covered in a thick gravy, usually made from the drippings of pork sausages, flour, and milk.

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Although the word biscuit usually refers to twice-baked bread, the American version of a biscuit is more reminiscent of a European scone. The dish originated in the South just after the Revolutionary War, before the United States was even a country.

It was invented due to the fact that the supplies were scarce, and the breakfast meal had to be as inexpensive as possible. It's easy to see why biscuits 'n' gravy is so loved - it illustrates the Southern theme of a simple life and brings the familiarity and nostalgia of a traditional family breakfast.

5.Cheese Grits

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INGREDIENTS

2 c. low-sodium chicken broth

2 c. water

Kosher salt

1 c. corn grits

4 tbsp. butter, divided

1 c. shredded cheddar

1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan

Freshly ground black pepper

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DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan, bring broth and water to a boil and season generously with salt. Reduce heat so mixture is at a simmer, then whisk in grits. Simmer, stirring often, until grits have absorbed liquid and are very tender, 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
2. Stir in butter and cheeses and season with salt and pepper.

6. Avocado Toast

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Smashing up avocado on a piece of toast has no doubt been a genius addition to the breakfast line-up. After you add some seasoning, feel free to get fancy and even add some egg on top, too.

7.Pancakes with Maple Syrup

Pancakes are traditionally consumed across North America and Canada, made from a starchy batter, eggs, milk, and butter. Their origin is probably German, with the traditional Pfannkuchen recipe being brought by German immigrants who settled in the United States in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

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The pancake has a similar appearance and flavor as the French crêpe but differs in diameter (5 to 10 cm) and thickness. The thickness is achieved by the use of a leavening agent, either baking soda or nutritional yeast. American and Canadian pancakes are typically served for breakfast, in a pile, topped with maple syrup and butter.

8.Bacon

You can save the leftover grease for future recipes.

Bacon rolls with cream cheese. Photo Recetin

PSA: You're probably making your bacon wrong. After we tried three popular methods (oven, stovetop, and microwave), we found that making bacon in the oven is the best. However, our kitchen and cooking editor, Cassidy Olsen, explains that she still sticks to the stove when she's cooking for a crowd: "My perfect bacon method is getting a huge cast iron skillet, placing the bacon in while the pan's still cold, and then cooking low and slow until crispy and browned on both sides, flipping throughout."

9.Oatmeal

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You can whip up a bowl of oats on the stove or in the microwave.

Oatmeal is like the Taylor Swift of breakfast foods: It was always good but kind of flew under-the-radar until it reinvented itself (hello, insane Instagram oatmeal bowls) and completely blew up. While that metaphor might be a stretch, you get the point—oatmeal isn't just for your grandma anymore. Not only is it one of the most popular make-ahead breakfast recipes on Pinterest, it's also delicious, filling, and most importantly, healthy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (such as Quaker Oats Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup water
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Desired toppings (such as sliced almonds, peanut butter, or fresh fruits.

• How to Make It Step 1 Combine oats, milk, water, salt, and cinnamon in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Step 2 Simmer uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Step 3 Divide equally between two bowls. Drizzle each serving with 1/2 teaspoon honey. Add additional desired toppings and serve. Chef's Notes For dairy-free oatmeal, substitute your favorite nut milk.