10 Make Ahead Breakfast Boxes
Start the day with one of these 10 make ahead breakfast boxes, perfect for school or even work!
Need some easy breakfast ideas that you can prep ahead? Then you’re going to love these 10 make ahead breakfast boxes! These are super easy to make, with staples you might already have on hand. Combining a few things you can pick up at the store, you can whip up these easy breakfast boxes in no time!
How many times have you or your kiddos run out the door with a pop tart in hand? Guilty! Let’s face it, mornings can be hectic. Getting the kiddos out of bed can be a struggle, or the alarm clock didn’t go off, or just needed to hit the snooze a few times. Before you know it, it’s time to go! Mornings are crazy! I insist my kids eat something for breakfast before they leave for school. They need something in their bellies to start the day. Cereal just doesn’t cut it every day, and let’s face it, there are mornings where even getting the frozen waffles ready cut it close to leaving.
Well fear no more my friends! Say hello to the breakfast box. These breakfast boxes are made ahead of time, mostly the night before, a few can hold up a few days in the refrigerator so on those mornings you just can’t even leggo my Eggo, you can just grab one of these breakfast boxes out and head out the door. The kiddos can eat them in the car, or even on the bus on their way to school, or if you spared a few minutes they can sit and eat it before they leave.
These breakfast boxes have saved my sanity in the mornings. Sure I could toss a pop tart at my kids to eat, but these breakfast boxes have a little more variety.
I know Pinterest is flooded with ideas for breakfast and lunches, and I wanted to simply it a bit. It can be overwhelming to decide what to combine, and before you know it you have a ton of different things you tossed in your Target shopping cart you don’t know what to do with.
KEEP BREAKFAST BOXES SIMPLE
I like to keep breakfast boxes simple, using the same things in a variety of breakfast boxes so I can stretch out what I have. I don’t have to buy a ton of different things to create all of these. You will see as you scroll down and look at the different boxes I use similar items in different boxes which saves time, space and money.
Here are a few more of my handy breakfast boxes tips to get you going.
- Use a 3 compartment container. More than 3 compartments makes is too much, at least for me. Three compartments is just enough, and you can always add more if needed. I love Lunchbots containers which you can get on Amazon (HERE).
- Use silicone cups (like these on Amazon) to place items in to to keep things together.
- Have 1 main breakfast item
- Have 1 fruit item
- Have 1 dairy or snacky item
Main Breakfast Item
Keep it simple with a few main breakfast items. Choose just a few that you can rotate or use for a variety of different breakfast ideas. I love frozen waffles because I always have them in the freezer and I can use them for several breakfast type meals. I also like shelf stable store bought mini muffins. You could use one’s like Entenmenn’s or the little 4 pack muffins. The ones you will see below that I use in several boxes come individually wrapped in a 12 pack from Walmart. I love those because I can tuck them into breakfast or even lunches, and they are a little bit bigger than the dinky ones you get in those little muffin packs.
Snack and Dairy Items
Keep the snack type items to just a few. Don’t buy everything in the snack aisle, unless it’s a good deal, of course. Buy a few that you can use for breakfast and even after school so things don’t go to waste.
I usually don’t get more than 3 or 4 snacky items at a time. When it comes to replenishing them, I’ll get something new or if it’s working and the kiddos are liking it and aren’t bored with it, I’ll keep it around and get it again for another round.
Same with dairy. I keep it to cheese and yogurts and then just rotate them. I usually have either a string cheese, Babybel or similar, yogurt, squeezie yogurt, and a pack of yogurt smoothies.
Fruit Items
I keep fruit simple too. I always have berries on hand, so I incorporate those where it seems to work. I also keep one shelf stable fruit on hand as well. I also like bananas, clementines, and apples. I don’t go overboard so things don’t get wasted.
Sliced apples
To slice apples that won’t go brown quickly, simple slice your apples and soak them in a bowl with club soda for 15-20 minutes. Easy peasy!
What to drink?
I always have filled water bottles or juice boxes ready to go in the refrigerator so these breakfast boxes are intended to just be the meal portion, and you can grab whatever drink you have. Always keep juice boxes, Horizon or Nestle chocolate milk boxes, water bottles, or any of your favorite single serve drinks ready to go in the refrigerator so all your kids have to do in the morning is grab a breakfast box, a drink, and your kids are out the door!
Build your breakfast box
With these 10 different breakfast boxes, they all are different so they never get old or boring. Just rotate them every few weeks and you’ll have some happy kiddos.
I honestly just always have one back up on hand. Once it’s used, I make another, or if I know the morning is going to be crazy, I’ll make them the night before. Just like making your kiddos lunches, getting the breakfast prepped ahead is just as important.
So if you’re looking for some breakfast ideas, then these 10 make ahead breakfast boxes will be your key to a calmer morning that don’t consist of Pop Tarts and Fruit Loops, and spilled milk!
All week I’ve be sharing kid-approved back to school breakfast ideas! I’ve teamed up with Busy Bee Gift and Stationary to bring you some easy back to school breakfast ideas that you can whip up before heading out the door. We want you and your kiddos day to shine bright!
Shine Bright Collection
This Shine Bright Collection is from Busy Bee Gift and Stationary which includes:
- Shine Bright Cup
- Package of Shine Bright napkins to tuck in lunch boxes or to have at your kitchen table.
- 2 stickers
- Scripture Cards
I’m in love with the scripture cards! These are great to tuck in lunch boxes or to have placed at your kiddos place setting for them to ready as they start their day and enjoy their breakfast. You can have one or a few at their place setting for them to read so they can fill up on God’s word, or just focus on one card a week, so they can repeat it day after day. The collection of scripture cards are great not just for breakfast, but to read throughout the day.
The Shine Bright Collection comes bundled up nicely, so perfect to get one and give one! CLICK HERE to find out more about the SHINE BRIGHT COLLECTION and to purchase one today!
“Milk” and Cereal Breakfast Box
Print“Milk” and Cereal Breakfast Box
- Yield: 1 box
Ingredients
- 1 blueberry mini muffin
- strawberries
- vanilla yogurt
- honey nut Cheerios (or any favorite cereal)
Instructions
- Place muffin and strawberries in smaller compartments.
- Put yogurt in a container with a lid that fits into box. Put cereal in a smaller container. Store in refrigerator until ready to eat.
- When ready to eat, sprinkle cereal on top of yogurt. Enjoy with a muffin and strawberries.
Notes
This box can be made several days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
The blueberry muffins used in this recipe come in a 12 pack of individually wrapped muffins from Walmart. Perfect to tuck into boxes like this!
Bacon and Eggs Breakfast Box
PrintBacon and Eggs Breakfast Box
- Yield: 1 box
Ingredients
- 2 hard boiled eggs
- 2 slices cooked bacon
- 1 clementine
- 1 pkg mixed nuts
- 1 pkg Babybel cheese string (or similar)
Instructions
- Slice eggs, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in main comparment along with packaged cheese and nuts.
- Cut cooked bacon slices in half or thirds, and place in smaller compartment.
- Place orange or orange slices in remaining compartment.
- Store in refrigerator until ready to eat.
Notes
This box can be prepared a few days ahead of time. Store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
Nutella and Banana Waffle Sandwich
PrintNutella and Banana Waffle Sandwich Breakfast Box
Ingredients
Nutella and Banana Waffle Sandwich Breakfast Box
- Yield: 1 box
Ingredients
- 2 frozen waffles
- Nutella (or hazelnut spread)
- 1/2 banana
- strawberries
- 1 Babybel cheese (or similar)
Instructions
- Lightly toast waffles. Spread Nutella on one of the waffles. Slice banana and place slices on top. Top with other waffle and cut in half. Place in container.
- Fill remaining compartments with strawberries and packaged cheese.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Best eaten within 1 day.
Savory Breakfast Bagel Box
PrintSavory Breakfast Bagel Box
- Yield: 1 box
Ingredients
- 1 apple (or apple slices)
- 1–2 cups club soda
- 1 plain mini bagel
- chive cream cheese
- 1 hard boiled egg
Instructions
- Slice apples and place in a bowl with club soda and let soak for 15-20 minutes.
- Slice bagel and spread cream cheese on one side. Top bagel with remaining slice. and cut in half. Place in main compartment.
- Slice hard boiled egg. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper and place in another compartment.
- Place drained apple slices in remaining comparment.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
Fruit and Waffle Kebab Breakfast Box
PrintFruit and Waffle Kebab Breakfast Box
- Yield: 1 box
Ingredients
- 6 mini waffles
- 1/2 banana
- 2–3 strawberries
- 4–6 blueberries
- 1 Babybel cheese (or similar)
- 1 pkg Fruit and Yogurt snacks (like Welch's)
Instructions
- Lightly toast waffles.
- Slice banana and strawberries.
- Cut kebab sticks to fit box. Then add waffles and sliced fruit on to kebabs as pictured. Place in main compartment.
- Fill remaining compartments with cheese and fruit and yogurt snacks. Store in refrigerator.
Banana and PB&J Roll Ups Breakfast Box
PrintBanana and PB&J Roll Ups Breakfast Box
- Yield: 1 box
Ingredients
- 1 apple
- 1–2 cups club soda
- 1 large flour tortilla
- 1/2 banana
- peanut butter
- strawberry jelly (or grape)
- 1 pkg Annie's mini fruit snacks (or similar)
- 1 Stonyfield smoothie (or similar)
Instructions
- Slice apple and place in a bowl with club soda. Let soak for 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile lightly spread peanut butter and jelly on flour tortilla. Peel banana and add to starting end of tortilla and roll up. Place seam side down and cut into slices.
- Place slices into large compartment along with Stonyfield yogurt smoothie.
- Drain apples and add to another compartment. Add fruit snacks to remaining compartment. Store in refrigerator. Best served within 1 day.
Strawberries and cream mini waffle sandwiches breakfast box
PrintStrawberries and Cream Mini Waffle Sandwiches Breakfast Box
- Yield: 1 box
Ingredients
- 8 mini waffles
- strawberry cream cheese
- strawberries
- 1 pkg fruit and yogurt snacks (like Welch's)
- 1 Stonyfield yogurt smoothie (or similar)
Instructions
- Lightly toast mini waffles. Spread with strawberry cream cheese. Make into little sandwiches and place in large compartment along with Stonyfield yogurt smoothie.
- Fill remaining compartments with fruit and yogurt snacks and strawberries.
- Store in refrigerator. Best used within 1 day.
Whooo’s Breakfast Box
PrintWhooo’s Breakfast Box
- Yield: 1 box
Ingredients
- 1 apple
- 1–2 cups club soda
- 1 english muffin
- peanut butter
- 1/4 banana
- 3–4 strawberries
- 4 blueberries
- 1/3 cup honey nut cheerios (or similar)
- 1 Stonyfield smoothie (or similar)
Instructions
- Slice apples and place in a bowl. Cover with club soda and let soak for 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, slice english muffin and spread with peanut butter.
- Slice banana and place on english muffins to form eyes. Add blueberries on top of banana slices.
- Slice strawberries and add as wings. Halve one of the sliced strawberries for the beak. Add english muffins to large compartment along with yogurt.
- Drain apple slices and add to another compartment, and cheerios to remaining compartment. Store in the refrigerator. Use within 1 day.
Waffle Dippers Breakfast Box
PrintWaffle Dippers Breakfast Box
Ingredients
- 8 mini frozen waffles
- maple syrup (or pancake syrup)
- 1 clementine (or mandarin)
- 1 orange Chobani Gimmies (or similar)
Instructions
- Lightly toast waffles and place in large compartment. Pour syrup in a small container with a lid and place in large compartment.
- Slice clementine and add to another compartment if desired.
- Add yogurt to remaining compartment.
- Store in refrigerator.
On The Go Breakfast Box
PrintOn The Go Breakfast Box
Ingredients
- 3 store bought mini muffins
- 1 fruit cup
- 1 pkg Fruit and Yogurt snacks (like Welch's)
- 1 pkg Justin's almond butter (or single serve peanut butter)
- 1 Chobani Gimmie (optional)
Instructions
- Place muffins in large compartment along with a single serve almond butter or peanut butter.
- Place fruit cup and yogurt snacks in remaining compartment. Store in pantry.
- Keep everything in it's original packaging and use by the sell by date of the earliest sell by date.
- When ready to use, pull out of the pantry and it's ready to go. Toss in a yogurt if desired.
Notes
This breakfast box is intended to be part of the pantry stash to have as an easy grab and go breakfast, so even on those days you don’t have one in the the refrigerator to grab, you will always have this. And if you have an extra second to toss in a yogurt with it too, great, if not, at least it’s got some breakfast goodies to fill a hungry tummy!
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