We’ve assembled our favorite time-saving brunch tips and essentials so you can spend more time with family and friends and less time in the kitchen. This guide has everything you need, from savory egg dishes like Goat Cheese and Leek Quiche and a hearty Mushroom and Fontina Frittata to favorites like Sonoma Chicken Salad and Sesame and Herb Spiral Ham. Don’t forget classic cinnamon rolls to round out the feast!
Easter Brunch Staples
Ham with Buttermilk-Chive Biscuits
Use leftover spiral-sliced ham or any favorite ham to fill these little biscuits.
Classic French Toast
French toast is a brunch classic for good reason and using a rich bread, such as brioche or challah, makes this variation even more irresistible. Drizzle with honey instead of maple syrup, if you like.
Sonoma Chicken Salad
This chicken salad is one of our classic Whole Foods Market dishes. The tender chicken breast, crunchy pecans and sweet grapes in each bite are hard to top. Instead of mayonnaise, try substituting plain Greek yogurt for a lower-fat version, or try a combination of both.
Spring Rotisserie Chicken Sandwiches
These elegant open-face sandwiches are a hit for brunch, and rotisserie chicken is the shortcut tip of the year. But all rotisserie chickens are not created equal; ours are animal welfare certified and raised with no antibiotics ever.
Tip #1
Set up a deviled egg bar for an easy, stress-free Easter brunch. Let your guests dress their eggs with delish toppings so you have more time to enjoy the celebration.
Dazzle your guests with a deviled egg bar.
Plan for a platter of deviled eggs or create a deviled egg bar with toppings, from bacon to smoked salmon and beyond. Oh — and skip boiling the eggs. Buy hard-cooked eggs and you’ve just saved yourself some time.
Goat Cheese and Leek Quiche
Goat cheese lends a creamy, zippiness to this classic breakfast quiche. Serve with a fruit or lettuce salad on the side. Be sure to wash the leeks thoroughly — swirling the sliced pieces in a large bowl of water works well.
Spinach Quiche with Pine Nuts
Fresh, tender spinach combines with red potato, mozzarella and parmesan cheese in this satisfying, flavorful pie. A perfect make-ahead dish for entertaining, this quiche can be made up to three days before serving.
Mushroom and Gruyère Quiche
A robust mix of mushrooms serves as the filling in this rich quiche. Serve with a salad of seasonal greens for a memorable brunch.
Tip #2
Master this brunch favorite make-ahead recipe so you can customize your frittata to your guests’ tastes.
Learn how to cook a frittata
A frittata is the savvy cook’s solution for leftovers, including vegetables, Easter ham, Passover brisket, roasted chicken, salmon or pasta. It’s also a perfect party appetizer since it’s equally delicious served warm, at room temperature or cold.
Pasta Frittata with Chard, Bacon and Goat Cheese
With all of the familiar carbonara flavors of bacon, rich cheese and pasta, this frittata is irresistible. Try shoulder-cut bacon in this recipe — it's a lean, readily available alternative to traditional bacon.
Get the recipe: Pasta Frittata with Chard, Bacon and Goat Cheese
Ham, Mushroom and Fontina Frittata
This frittata can be thrown together with minimal cleanup. Experiment with different kinds of mushrooms — they all pair well with salty ham. Savory and delicious either hot or at room temperature, this frittata works well for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
More Amazing Frittatas
Casseroles and Gratins
Portobello and Asparagus Egg Strata
Prep this elegant breakfast dish the night before for an extra easy morning. This recipe easily adapts to other vegetables or cheese — try broccoli rabe and sharp cheddar or artichoke hearts with fontina.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
This crowd-pleasing casserole features peppers roasted with chicken breasts and layered between corn tortillas. Homemade cashew cream stands in for cream of chicken soup yielding delicious results. For a nondairy version, replace the cheddar with vegan cheese.
Butternut Squash Gratin with Le Gruyère
Gruyère melts up smooth and creamy, not stringy or gooey, making it a perfect cheese to use in gratins. Here it’s paired with sweet butternut squash for a rich and very flavorful side dish.
Kale Gratin Dauphinois
This rich vegetarian dish adds kale to a classic French potato gratin, making a delicious side. Serve it with a few breakfast sausages for an out-of-this-world brunch. A mandoline is the easiest way to get thin, uniform potato slices.
Brunch-Friendly Proteins
Sesame and Herb Spiral Ham
This super simple glazed ham recipe brings a tangy apricot flavor brightened with sesame seeds and fresh herbs.
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
A brunch classic. Serve in a large bowl on a bed of ice accompanied by spring salad greens, tender bread or crispy crackers. Another great way to serve this salad is on a round slice of focaccia or inside a fresh bell pepper.
Beer Braised Mussels
Beer creates a flavorful broth for these simple mussels. Make sure to have some crusty bread on hand to soak up the broth.
Roasted Salmon Stuffed with Spinach, Feta and Ricotta
Salmon stuffed with spinach, creamy cheeses and fresh herbs makes for a scrumptious holiday meal and impressive presentation. For seafood lovers, this savory roast promises to be the start of a new seasonal tradition.
Get the recipe: Roasted Salmon Stuffed with Spinach, Feta and Ricotta
Bread and Rolls
Easy Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
These “no need to knead” rolls are simple to prepare and have a delightful rustic flavor. If desired, brush a bit of beaten egg over the dough before baking for a rich golden brown color.
Buttermilk Rolls
These rich and fluffy rolls make a great accompaniment to any dinner and are the perfect easy bread for beginner bakers. Make large pull-apart rolls or individual cloverleaf rolls with the same dough.
Whole Wheat and Flaxseed Parker House Rolls
This riff on the beloved rolls at Boston’s Omni Parker House Hotel doesn’t use nearly as much butter as the original and uses whole wheat flour and flaxseed meal, but the results are still yeasty and decadent.
Tip #3
Pick up fresh bread instead of baking it yourself. It’s an easy way to save time and ensure bakery-quality bread at your Easter brunch!
Purchase premade breads and pastries.
It’s all about presentation (and taste). Thankfully, you can earn big points without spending much energy or time by setting up a heaping platter of pastries and breads. Our Bakery offers a delicious selection of ready-to-enjoy breakfast goods like bagels, muffins, scones, croissants and more. Don’t forget organic butter and fruit preserves.
Sweet Treats and Desserts
Cinnamon Sweet Rolls with Dates and Walnuts
These sweet rolls are perfect to serve when you have company since you can easily make them the day before. Bake the rolls first thing in the morning and your guests and family will arrive to the sweet scents of cinnamon, walnuts and dates.
Berry Waffle Breakfast Sandwich
This tasty brunch treat is equally wonderful whether eaten off a plate at home or individually wrapped in parchment paper.
Coconut Crumb Cake
Coconut oil and toasted shredded coconut add a subtle flavor to this snack cake spiced with cardamom and cinnamon. It’s perfect for morning brunch or an afternoon snack.
Cinnamon-Raisin Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is a wonderful dessert to make when you only have staples on hand. Here we use cinnamon raisin bread, but you can use any bread you have available.
Buttermilk Chess Pie
This classic Southern pie is a treat with seasonal berries or stone fruits on top. Using a premade pie shell and blender makes it a snap to prepare.
Lemon Blueberry Cake
Lemon and blueberry are a classic flavor combination, and this cake can be enjoyed as dessert or as a great addition to your brunch spread. Dust the cake with powdered sugar before serving, if you like.
Tip #4
Skip the stress and order dessert instead. Save time, enjoy a sweet treat and focus on making memories this Easter.
Get the only dessert you need.
It’s easy: Serve a cake that always impresses — Berry Chantilly Cake. Enough said.
Easter Beverages
Elderflower Wine Spritzer*
This spritzer has a bit of a choose-your-own-adventure twist to it — use your favorite bitters and a sparkling wine of your choice.
Blueberry-Herb Lemonade Punch
Make this refreshing and simple summer punch with tangy prepared lemonade or limeade and a mixture of crushed blueberries and fresh herbs. Personalize with your favorite flavors — we love raspberries and a sprig of fresh rosemary too.
Strawberry-Lemon Soda
Make this fruity soda an adults-only cocktail by substituting a bottle of sparkling wine for the sparkling water!*
Tip #5
Don’t forget to stock up on drinks and cocktail ingredients.
Have festive drinks on hand.*
In addition to the essentials — coffee and OJ — have a few bottles of sparkling Italian soda and sparkling wine for your own signature mocktails and cocktails.
Tip #6
Skip the store! Save time for prepping, cooking and celebrating by ordering your groceries for delivery.
Get brunch essentials delivered.
Realize you’re missing something at the last minute? That’s what convenient delivery from Whole Foods Market for Prime members is for (available in select ZIP codes). It’s for last-minute guests with last-minute requests, last-minute menu additions and last-minute inspiration (pancakes or bacon, anyone?).
Be a Thoughtful Guest
Not hosting? When heading to an Easter brunch, bring something that makes hosting easier. Ice, drinks or a bottle of wine* are always welcome, but you can also offer fresh fruit, a bakery item, flowers for the table or even extra serving utensils. Check in with your host and see what you can bring to help out. A thoughtful contribution goes a long way!
*Must be 21. Please drink responsibly.
