America's Breakfast Foods - The 21 Best You Must Try

Breakfast is traditionally considered the most important meal of the day, but it can also be the most delicious.

Sometimes we may think that breakfast foods are just cereal, pastries, eggs, waffles or pancakes, but there is a whole world of exciting and unique breakfasts that you can try.

Different regions of the US have different styles of breakfast foods that are popular there, but may be unfamiliar just a few hours away. In this article, we are going to share the 21 most popular breakfasts from across the country.

So what are the 21 most popular breakfast foods you have to try?

They range from classics like pancakes with real maple syrup and whipped cream, to eggs and country fried steak, to American twists on Canadian, Cuban and Mexican recipes.

Read on to discover 21 must-try breakfasts from across America. Your taste buds will thank you.

1. Biscuits and white sauce

This iconic breakfast is found on many tables in the American South, with slight variations by region.

This decadent and delicious breakfast is made with southern biscuits the size of a small baked muffin with a crumbly interior.

The texture of the sponge cake is crucial, as it helps soak up the delicious white sauce. This sauce is usually made from ground pork, rich cream, and butter. If you’re used to brown sauce, the white version is a real treat.

If you don’t live in a state where you can find biscuits and white gravy on a menu, fear not. There are tons of authentic recipes on the internet that you can try.

Just make sure you find a recipe from someone who actually lives in the South and not a different regional adaptation – trust us, you’re going to want the real thing!

2. Grits - Sweet or salty

Another popular dish in the South, especially Alabama, grits takes center stage at any breakfast table.

You can use stone ground grits (most popular in the South) or quick grits to make your meal.

The stone-ground version will have amazing texture, but it takes up to an hour to prepare.

Grits are usually slowly and lovingly cooked with heavy cream, butter and some salt to create a delicious porridge-like dish. You can make sweet or salty grits, depending on what you add to it.

One of Alabama’s signature breakfast dishes is shrimp grits. Cheese is added to this grits (yum!) and fresh prawns cooked on top.

Other things you can add are

sweet dressings

• berries
• Brown sugar
• Maple syrup
• Butter
• Cinnamon
• Raisins
• Peanut butter
• Jam

salty toppings

• Cheese
• Eggs
• Bacon
• Shrimp
• Hot dog
• Tomatoes
• Chives/green onions
• Herbs
• caramelized onions or peppers

3. Chicken and waffles

We’ve decided to take a little tour of southern cooking at the top of the list because honestly, they all sound delicious.

And chicken waffles is no exception! This soul food is super comforting and combines sweet waffles with savory fried chicken, covered in maple syrup.

It’s really hard to go wrong with the combination of crunchy, fluffy, sweet and salty. If you are a fan of sweet/salty combinations, definitely add this one to your list.

4. Kolaches

This breakfast food is a popular staple in Texas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

These pastries originate from the Czech Republic and can be filled with sweet or savory products.

They use a type of brioche dough (which is an enriched bread dough) that is shaped into a circle and filled with whatever filling is desired.

Some places fill them with jam and fresh cheese, while you can also find them stuffed with sausage for a twist on the British sausage roll, or pigs in a blanket.

Regardless of the filling, these portable breakfast treats are worth a try if you like pastries.

5. Banana Foster Pain Perdu

This New Orleans breakfast looks absolutely amazing. It’s a twist on the classic French toast paired with the dessert, foster bananas.

This dessert is usually made with plantains cooked in a sauce made with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark rum, and plantain liqueur.

If you haven’t tried French toast, it’s a way to use up bread that would otherwise go to waste (hence the term pain perdu). You dip it in a mixture of egg, milk, vanilla, and spices, and then deep-fry it so that it’s golden on the outside and soft on the inside.

As you can imagine, the combination of French toast with foster banana makes for a heavenly breakfast.

6. Fluffy Pancakes With Vermont Maple Syrup

For this breakfast we’re going a little north to the world of maple syrup, specifically to Vermont (although some other states also produce excellent syrup).

Pancakes are a staple across the country, but the fluffy pancakes with real, rich Vermont maple syrup are off the charts.

There is no comparison between real maple syrup and store-bought “maple” syrup, made with corn syrup and maple flavor. Combined with the fluffy American-style pancake made with eggs, flour, milk, and baking powder, it’s a real treat.

You can also add whipped cream and berries. Or if you want to play with the sweet and salty combination, you can add bacon or breakfast sausage to your pancake and maple plate.

7. Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich

It’s hard to pinpoint where exactly the classic American breakfast sandwich came from, but it’s a staple across the country.

There may be variations in the types of cheese used, substituting sausage for bacon, or whether English muffins or biscuits are used, but this sandwich stands the test of time.

It’s super easy to take on the go and can be as simple or decadent as you like. Although it may seem a bit plain when stacked next to other dishes on this list, it’s a classic for a reason. It’s almost impossible to have a bad bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.

8. Huevos Rancheros Tex-Mex

Although this breakfast originated in Mexico as a delicious and nutritious way to feed people who worked on farms, it has made its way north to San Antonio, Texas and beyond.

This dish traditionally consists of a plate with omelettes, beans, eggs and sometimes meat, all covered in a delicious tomato-based sauce.

Since it moved north, other ingredients have been added, such as guacamole or sliced avocado, cheese, hot or chili sauces, and sour cream. This breakfast is very filling, but tastes fresh and light thanks to the tomato sauce. We love to add a squeeze of lime to liven it up.

If you’re looking for a dish that hits all the savory notes and fills you up until lunchtime, huevos rancheros are definitely the way to go.

9. Breakfast Burrito

Oh, the breakfast burrito. It’s a staple for busy professionals across the US, but it originates from a coffee shop called Tia Sophia’s in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

It’s a twist on the classic burrito, but filled with traditional breakfast foods like eggs, sausage, cheese, potatoes, and salsa.

Since it became popular, there have been countless variations on the breakfast burrito, with fillings ranging from ham to beans to spinach and everything in between. The tortilla is usually wrapped in aluminum foil or paper for easy transport.

Whatever your preference, if you want to find a filling breakfast food that you can take on a trip, the burrito will be a perfect choice for you.

10. Eggs Benedict

This breakfast is probably our all-time favorite on this list. There’s something so comforting and decadent about Eggs Benedict that we just can’t resist.

Popularized in New York City, this dish is typically made with two English muffin halves topped with Canadian bacon rashers, poached eggs (always go for soft poached ones), and hollandaise sauce. The sauce is our favorite part, probably because it’s mostly made of butter.

There are other popular variations of Eggs Benedict that you’ll see on menus, such as eggs Florentine, in which spinach is substituted for ham, or a version with sliced tomato instead of bacon. In the Pacific Northwest, it’s not uncommon to find a smoked or confit salmon Benedict.

Another version of Eggs Benedict are Neptune Eggs. This is a popular dish that is traditionally served on Mother’s and Father’s Day. Like the original Benedict, it was popularized in New York City.

This version is made with a split English muffin, topped with delicate crabmeat, poached eggs, and creamy hollandaise sauce.

A similar option is Hussarde Eggs, which takes Eggs Benedict in another direction. This dish is popular in New Orleans and has a few key changes that make it a unique breakfast.

Instead of using English muffins, this dish traditionally uses Dutch muffins (small flat circles of dry, toasted bread that are made in Holland). These rolls are topped with Canadian bacon or tomatoes and poached eggs. They are then covered in a red wine sauce called marchand de vin sauce.

Lastly, it’s slathered with hollandaise sauce to create a decadent and complex twist on a classic.

In Alaska, you’re likely to find a Benedict made with crab cakes. So wherever you are in the United States, it’s almost guaranteed that there will be a regional variation that you can try to become an Eggs Benedict aficionado.

11. Creamed eggs on toast

This breakfast is one of the most popular simple dishes in the United States.

Believed to have originated during the Depression in the 1930s, it is made with slices of toast topped with chopped boiled eggs and a creamy white sauce.

The white sauce is a twist on the traditional béchamel and if you want to get creative you can add cheese, herbs or spices to the sauce to make it your own.

Although it seems simple on the surface, it combines different flavors and textures to create a hearty and comforting breakfast to start the day with.

12. Avocado toast

Although avocado toast has become something of a joke aimed at millennials, it is a delicious and healthy breakfast.

It has its roots in Californian cuisine. Like other breakfast foods on this list, there are many ways to make it to your liking.

The basic avocado toast is a toast with sliced or smashed avocado on top, and perhaps a little salt and pepper. But you can add butter to the toast or sprinkle different toppings on the avocado, such as crunchy nuts or seeds, cheese, chopped bacon, fresh herbs or microgreens, or poached eggs.

You can also use different styles of bread, from sour dough to multigrain, through ancient grains or classic white bread. Each one will give a unique flavor and texture to this simple dish.

13. Cider Donuts

A staple of New England breakfasts that are especially popular in the fall, these donuts are made by adding apple cider to the dough.

This gives the donuts a unique crumbly texture and delicious flavor. They are often coated in sugar to make it a really sweet way to start the day.

We recommend that you grab a cider donut, a rich hot chocolate and bundle up for a cozy autumn breakfast in the fresh air while you watch the changing of the season’s leaves.

14. Sweet rice

Considering that Arkansas is the top rice-producing state in the US, it’s no surprise that this staple grain has made its way to the breakfast table in the form of sweet rice.

It is similar to porridge, but made with rice instead of oats.

It is creamy and is usually made with butter, milk and sugar and simmered to give it the perfect silky texture. You can easily add different flavors to the dish, like cinnamon and vanilla, or even cocoa powder for a chocolatey treat.

Fruit, raisins, nuts, and other garnishes can add some texture and flavor to this sweet breakfast.

15.Scrapple

If you’ve never been to Pennsylvania, you may have never heard of scrapple, but this breakfast is one of the state’s most iconic dishes.

Created by the Pennsylvania Dutch, this hearty dish uses kitchen scraps to create a delicious breakfast.

To make scrapple, leftover meat is combined with cornmeal, wheat or buckwheat flour, and spices. These ingredients are shaped into a small loaf and then fried until crispy and delicious. Some traditional recipes that we have seen use pieces that we usually throw away, such as the pig’s head, to make it.

Although you don’t have to go exactly that route, this dish is a great way to use up chunks of meat that you’d normally throw away. And with the popularity of nose-to-tail cooking, there are plenty of scrapple variations you can make depending on the meat used and the spices you like.

16. Buttermilk Cornbread

You may be familiar with adding a slice of delicious cornbread to your lunch or dinner plate, but in the South, buttermilk cornbread combo is a popular breakfast choice.

Traditionally, this dish is served as a bowl of crumbled cornbread topped with buttermilk.

Some people coat the dish with sugar to cut the tart taste of the buttermilk. If you’re a big fan of breakfast cereal, this twist can be a fun way to switch it up.

17. Fried steak and eggs

Another tasty and filling breakfast from the South, country fried steak and eggs will help you start your day with a full tummy and a happy soul.

To make this dish, a piece of steak is breaded in flour and then pan-fried for a crispy exterior and meaty center.

Paired with eggs, however you like, and either potatoes or bagels, this breakfast is not for the faint of appetite in the morning. It’s the perfect way to start the day if you know you won’t have your next meal for a while or if you have a physically demanding day ahead of you.

18. Jonnycakes

Going back to the Northeast, Jonnycakes are a super popular breakfast food in the small state of Rhode Island.

These little griddle cakes are similar to pancakes, but mixed with polenta/cornmeal to make something unique and delicious.

This recipe is said to have been handed down to settlers by the Narragansetts on the coast and remains popular to this day thanks to its crispy exterior and fluffy center. Although they are most often associated with Rhode Island, they can be found all along the East Coast, from Newfoundland to Jamaica.

These corn cakes are a great addition to any breakfast dish and pair well with eggs, sausage, bacon, and maple syrup for a hearty way to start your day.

19. Cupcake

America is a melting pot of different flavors, and this breakfast delight is no exception.

This breakfast of sweet pastries is enjoyed in Florida, but it originates from Cuba.

These incredible delicacies are made with a dough similar to that of puff pastry, filled with sweet or savory products.

A popular filling is guava and cream cheese, although the variations on this dish are virtually limitless.

Grab a pastry and a cup of amazing cafecito (a Cuban espresso) in Florida and start your day with a taste of Cuba.

20. Fried mush

Although the name of this Indiana-native dish might be off-putting, the dish itself is crunchy, flavorful, and super satisfying.

It is made with a combination of cornmeal, milk, water, and salt that is fried in butter. Is there anything better than food cooked in butter?

This dish is basic and super customizable, which means you can add whatever toppings you want. Do you want a salty breakfast? Serve it with bacon, eggs, sausage and cheese. Looking for something sweeter? Try topping it with honey or maple syrup, whipped cream, berries, and cinnamon.

There are so many ways to enjoy this Indiana (or heartland) breakfast staple. Be creative and try to make your own version at home.

21. Poutine with an American twist

Although not traditionally served as a breakfast food, adaptations of this Canadian dish have been making their way to the southern United States, and we’re definitely on board.

It was first created in rural Quebec (a French-Canadian province) at snack bars and is made from fresh-cut French fries, cheese curds, and gravy.

Many American breakfasts and brunches put their own spin on it by using hashbrowns or hashbrowns, hollandaise sauce or gravy, different types of cheese, and sometimes adding things like bacon or eggs to take it to a truly decadent level.

If you’ve never tried poutine before, we recommend making a version at home or trying it the next time you see it on a brunch menu. You won’t be disappointed.

Final thoughts

With so many American breakfasts to try, you can make this meal a time to be creative and explore different regional and cultural cuisines.

Do you have a favorite breakfast food that didn’t make the list? Let us know in the comments.