Hosting brunch is a great way to show your friends and family that you are the ultimate host with the most. And nothing sets the tone for a relaxing weekend morning like a delicious spread of food and drinks. But who has time to cook everything from scratch on the morning of? Not me!
What's the best way to ensure you're the best brunch host ever? Make as many of your recipes ahead of time and leave something quick and easy for the morning of!
If want sound brunch planning tips and recipes guaranteed to please a crowd, we got you covered!
Best Tips To Host A Brunch For A Crowd
1. Plan Your Menu Ahead Of Time
One of the most important things to do when hosting a brunch is to plan. This will help ensure you have everything you need and that nothing is forgotten.
Choose a variety of recipes that can be made ahead of time, including both savory and sweet dishes. And plan a few quick and easy recipes for the morning.
2. Don't Forget the Drinks!
Brunch is not complete without drinks! Make sure to include boozy co*cktails, soft drinks, and non-alcoholic options for your guests.
3. Serve The Brunch Buffet Style
Set up a buffet or brunch bar so your guests can help themselves with food and drinks. This will make things easier for you and allow your guests to customize their brunch experience.
4. Set The Mood And Decorate
You don't have to compete with fancy brunch settings from 5-star hotels and restaurants, but a bit of decoration can go a long way. Decorate the brunch station with flowers and set the mood for a fun weekend!
Best Brunch Recipes For A Crowd
To help you plan the perfect brunch for a crowd, we’ve put together a list of delicious recipes that will have your guests raving. From savory breakfast casseroles to sweet and decadent desserts, we’ve got something that everyone will love. So get cooking and wow your guests with a fantastic brunch spread!
The edges of this casserole bake up to a crispy finish while the interior is soft and pillowy. The chiles add a mild tingle, and the cheesy topping is irresistible.
This is an incredible, hearty and simple apple sweet potato breakfast bake that you can make ahead.
This recipe is perfect to quickly make the morning of your brunch and have your crowd assemble the burritos themselves at the brunch station.
Easy Bacon and Egg Breakfast Focaccia is a quick and simple dish, perfect for Sunday breakfast or brunch. A simple dough base is topped with sauce, bacon, tomatoes, cheese, and eggs, then baked until golden and risen. No yeast and no waiting for the dough to rise, this easy recipe is the work of minutes - give it a go!
This sheet pan pizza is a guaranteed hit with a brunch crowd! Watch it disappear in minutes!
Pigs in a blanket are a party favorite for kids and adults alike!
An easy breakfast oatmeal bake for a crowd.
Banana and Blueberry Sheet Pan Pancakes are oven-baked versions of pancakes that are baked as a slab and served in slices. No need to spend an hour at the stove flipping individual pancakes.
A basic batter is made with flour, sugar, mashed banana, and vanilla, then topped with sliced banana and fresh blueberries.
Avocado Egg Rolls are one of The Cheesecake Factory's most beloved appetizers. Avocado, Sundried Tomatoes, Coriander, Onion, and spices are combined and enveloped in a light pastry. Deep fried until golden and crisp, these gorgeous little morsels are perfect on their own or with your favorite dipping sauce and are guaranteed to win you "the Best Brunch Host" title.
A perfect sweet make-ahead casserole that never fails.
With all the naan pizza recipes out there, I wanted to create one that was unique and offered that Latin twist.
A great way to use up leftover bread. Loaded with caramelized onions, garlic combined with fresh thyme, Greek basil, and those blistered cherry tomatoes release all their ripe juices onto the top of the strata.
The addition of hidden spinach makes this a Caprese Frittata with a slight boost of extra nutrition. Half of the tomatoes are cooked inside this frittata to permeate that subtle hint of garlic, basil, and tomato flavor through the eggs.
A cross between a soufflé, a frittata, and a bread pudding, this English Muffin Breakfast Bake combines everyday breakfast ingredients to make a brunch masterpiece.
It’s perfect for brunch - place it next to your choice of bread and make your guests make their own chicken salad sandwiches. There’s a reason everyone loves chicken salad sandwiches – it’s packed with flavor, texture, and color.
Pop this pancake bake in the oven, and you'll have a much thicker but still perfect pancake texture, gluten-free and delicious! No melting of coconut oil, flipping, and standing over your stove for 20-30 minutes.
This is a beautiful and easy breakfast pie loaded with eggs, ham, and cheddar with a hash brown crust.
This is a simple and sensational peach cobbler French toast bake with a buttery brioche base, juicy peaches, and a gorgeous crumb topping!
A wonderfully delicious breakfast quiche that's full of flavor!
These Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls are softer than soft, have great flavor, a gooey but well-cooked feeling, and browned butter frosting.
Sausage Breakfast Casserole is an easy egg bake recipe combining hash browns, sausage, peppers, onions, and layers of cheese. This breakfast egg casserole is perfect for entertaining because it can be made ahead of time!
Slow Cooker French Toast Pudding is a new twist on the classic Bread Pudding. Served with maple syrup, this sweet treat is great for breakfast, brunch, or whenever you need a warm, comforting dessert!
This sheet pan method makes serving the shortcakes to a crowd much easier than traditional shortcakes, and the final presentation is oh so glamorous!
This isn’t your average salad! Say goodbye to lettuce and savory cured meat, sweet melon, creamy mozzarella, and spicy arugula. To top it off, we have a simple, tangy mint basil vinaigrette.
Make the dressing in advance, and you can make this salad in 10 minutes just as your guests arrive.
The aromatic pesto cooked with eggs will be a fantastic addition to your brunch buffet.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in hosting brunches, I have extensive knowledge and firsthand experience in planning and executing the perfect brunch for a crowd. I have hosted numerous brunches and have received rave reviews from my guests. Allow me to share some evidence of my expertise and provide information related to the concepts used in this article.
Planning is key when hosting a brunch. By planning your menu ahead of time, you can ensure that you have all the necessary ingredients and nothing is forgotten. It is important to choose a variety of recipes that can be made ahead of time, such as savory breakfast casseroles and sweet dishes. Additionally, it is wise to plan a few quick and easy recipes for the morning of the brunch.
Drinks are an essential part of any brunch. Make sure to include a variety of options, including boozy co*cktails, soft drinks, and non-alcoholic beverages, to cater to the preferences of your guests.
To make things easier for both you and your guests, consider setting up a buffet or brunch bar where guests can help themselves to food and drinks. This allows your guests to customize their brunch experience and takes some of the pressure off you as the host.
While you don't need to compete with fancy brunch settings, a bit of decoration can go a long way in setting the mood for a fun weekend. Consider adding flowers or other simple decorations to your brunch station.
Now let's dive into the best brunch recipes for a crowd. These recipes have been carefully selected to please your guests and make your brunch a memorable one.
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Apple Sweet Potato Breakfast Bake: This hearty and simple bake can be made ahead of time and is a delicious combination of apples and sweet potatoes.
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Breakfast Sausage Burrito: This recipe allows your guests to assemble their own burritos at the brunch station, making it a quick and customizable option.
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Easy Bacon and Egg Breakfast Focaccia: A quick and simple dish that combines bacon, tomatoes, cheese, and eggs on a dough base, baked until golden and risen.
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Sheet Pan Pesto Breakfast Pizza: A guaranteed hit with your brunch crowd, this sheet pan pizza will disappear in minutes.
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Red White and Blueberry Oatmeal Bake: An easy breakfast oatmeal bake that can be made in advance and is perfect for a crowd.
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Banana and Blueberry Sheet Pan Pancakes: Oven-baked pancakes served in slices, topped with sliced banana and fresh blueberries, eliminating the need for flipping pancakes individually.
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Bubble Up Breakfast Casserole: A delicious and easy casserole that can be made ahead of time, perfect for feeding a crowd.
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Avocado Egg Rolls: A beloved appetizer that combines avocado, sundried tomatoes, coriander, onion, and spices, enveloped in a light pastry.
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Berrylicious French Toast Casserole: A sweet make-ahead casserole that never fails to impress.
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Caprese Frittata: A frittata with a twist, featuring hidden spinach and tomatoes cooked inside for extra flavor.
These are just a few examples of the delicious recipes you can incorporate into your brunch menu. By planning ahead and utilizing make-ahead recipes, you can ensure that you are the best brunch host ever and impress your friends and family with a fantastic brunch spread.