Breakfast Eggs in 20 Minutes or Less

 
‘Tis the season for heading back to school, and you know what that means: waking up early, taking turns in the bathroom, and last-minute “Mom, where are my shoes? I’ll be late!” panicked pleas. The last thing you want to do is spend too much time making the kind of breakfast that’ll see them through the day into lunch time.

If you’ve got 20 minutes, which is just about the amount of time it will take for the kids to get out of bed, clean up, get dressed (and, in some cases, try on two or three different outfits before finally being happy with how they look) and head to the table for breakfast, then we’ve got a collection of breakfast recipes for you that all take 20 minutes or less to make. And if you’re aiming for hearty, healthy, and satisfying, you can’t go wrong with eggs.

Eggs are packed with nutrients and protein that will keep their tummies happy until lunch time rolls in. Egg whites are about as pure a protein form as you can get, beating out even milk, fish, and beef in terms on how much of it is absorbed by the body and then used to rebuild tissue. That’s pretty awesome, and it’s one reason bodybuilders add eggs to their diet.

Don’t worry, we’re not going to go all Rocky on you and tell you to fix a morning smoothie using raw eggs. Why would we, when we have such wonderful and delicious other ways to enjoy eggs? Like omelets, for instance. You can fill them with your favorite vegetables or even leftovers from last night’s dinner. Don’t have time to sit down and eat it? Wrap it up in foil like a burrito (or in an actual tortilla wrap), and take it to go.

Clockwise from top left: Vegetarian Omelet from steamykitchen, Zucchini Goat Cheese Omelet from Foodologie, and Mexican Omelette from rebeccamanor.

 
 
 
You can also skip filling an omelet and instead just mix everything up and cook it in the pan as a frittata. Or make them in muffin pans like whatsgabycooking did below. Again, like omelets, you can add whatever you want to a frittata. You can even top it with some cheese, let that melt, and then make a quick breakfast sandwich of it. Not only are your kids getting a yummy breakfast but they’ll also be getting a nice boost of nutrients to start off their day. Hiding inside that egg shell is a big vitamin and mineral party—Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, D (it’s one of the very few food sources of naturally-occuring vitamin D), E, calcium, iodine, iron, selenium, and zinc. Imagine a Volkswagen Beetle and all the clowns that can fit in it.

 
Wait. Did I just call vitamins and minerals clowns?

Clockwise from top left: Mini Vegetable Frittatas from whatsgabycooking, Seven Herb Frittata from georgiapellegrini, Caprese Frittata with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella & Basil from cookincanuck, and Asparagus Frittata from The Italian Dish.

 
 
 
Or maybe you don’t want to add anything to the egg. Maybe you just want it fried, or fried and then topped with something unexpected and delicious. Maybe … maybe the fried egg is for you because you need it after getting four kids out the door in time for school, packing their lunches, helping them find three lost shoes, two missing pencils, and a partridge in a pear tree. So yes, you have our permission to go make yourself some fried eggs and go ahead and have some smoked salmon with it.

Clockwise from top left: Perfect Fried Egg Sandwich from Laurie, Egg-in-a-Hole from Ree, Fried Egg with Smoked Salmon and Lemon-Chive Cream and Fried Eggs with Southwest Cabbage Slaw, both from from Natalie (Perry’s Plate).

 
 
 
If you want a change from the same old fried egg, you can switch things up by going international. It’s a budget-friendly way to explore other cuisines, from Mexican to Italian to Turkish. As varied as the preparation methods are, it’s clear that eggs are quite the popular universal breakfast food.

Clockwise from top left: Eggs with Tomato on Toast from A Cozy Kitchen, Huevos Rancheros from hailskitchen, Breakfast Fajitas from Mariel Emory, Turkish Eggs from ioh10, and Huevos Ree-os from Ree-o.

 
 
 
The great thing about eggs is that despite all the different creative and even fancy ways of preparing them, sometimes simple works just as well. A quick scramble with some cheese or a touch of herbs is just downright comfort food, and often, there’s nothing better than dipping some toast into the soft yolk of a baked or poached egg.

Clockwise from top left: Basic Baked Eggs from missamy, Fatty’s Grandma’s Cheez Eggs from, well, Fatty’s Grandma, Sour Cream and Chive Scrambled Eggs from A Cozy Kitchen, and Perfect Poached Eggs from Chez Us.

 
 
 
And there you have it! Breakfast eggs in 20 minutes or less, for the new season of rushed mornings and sometimes cranky early-risers. Eggs are a quick and easy way to start the day right. Nutrition-wise, that is. I’m not sure it can help you with those lost shoes.

 
How about you? Do you have any quick breakfast options for those mornings when you just don’t have the time? I’m sure many of us would love some new ideas!