Do you eat breakfast? If so, you are not alone. About 15% of Americans skip breakfast most every day.
Not me. Heckins no.
I love my breakfast. Every day. I have the same thing over and over again. Eggs over easy. Ham. Grits. And an English Muffin. I eat a large breakfast each day. I love my eggs.
It made me wonder what the most popular breakfasts might be.
Well, I did a little rooting around and here is what I found.
Here’s a list of people’s favorite breakfasts, ranked, in the U.S. This is based on repeated national food surveys, restaurant sales, and consumer preference polls.
– Pancakes
– Eggs & Bacon
– Cereal
– Bagels (with cream cheese)
– Waffles
– Breakfast Sandwiches (Egg, cheese, sausage, or bacon on a roll or English muffin.)
– Oatmeal
– Toast (with butter or jam)
– Yogurt & Parfaits
– Breakfast Burritos
Some of the notable near-misses: French toast, donuts, muffins, smoothies, and avocado toast all ranked high. But they fell just outside the top ten.
These favorites have changed over time.
Here is how they ranked in each decade. These choices were shaped by what was going on in the world at the time. Things like economics and health trends. So here they are. By decade.
1930s. Practical. Filling
• Eggs and toast
• Oatmeal or porridge
• Fried potatoes
• Coffee
Hard times meant hearty, inexpensive, no-waste breakfasts.
1940s. Wartime Simplicity
• Toast with margarine
• Scrambled eggs (when available)
• Hot cereals
• Leftovers repurposed
Rationing influenced what ended up on the plate.
🥓 1950s. The Golden Age of Breakfast
• Eggs, bacon, sausage
• Pancakes and waffles
• Orange juice
• Cold cereal explosion
This decade defined the “classic American breakfast.”
📺 1960s. Convenience Creeps In.
• Cold cereal
• Toast and jam
• Eggs (still strong)
• Coffee & juice
TV culture and advertising reshaped morning routines.
🥑 1970s. Health-Curious.
• Granola
• Yogurt
• Whole-grain toast
• Fruit plates
The start of health consciousness—and some very beige food.
🧃 1980s. Fast & Sugary.
• Sugary cereals
• Pop-Tarts
• Breakfast bars
• Orange juice (lots of it)
Speed mattered. Nutrition? Not so much.
🥯 1990s. On-the-Go Fuel.
• Bagels with cream cheese
• Breakfast sandwiches
• Muffins
• Coffee drinks
Morning meals became portable and caffeinated.
☕ 2000s. Coffeehouse Era.
• Muffins & scones
• Yogurt parfaits
• Breakfast sandwiches
• Lattes as meals
Starbucks culture changed what “breakfast” meant.
🥑 2010s. Instagram & Wellness.
• Avocado toast
• Smoothie bowls
• Overnight oats
• Egg whites & “clean eating.”
Looks mattered almost as much as taste.
🥣 2020s. Comfort + Control
• Oatmeal (again, always oatmeal)
• Protein-focused breakfasts
• Home-cooked eggs & toast
• Coffee is still king.
The pandemic habits stuck. It all turned cozy and personal.
So there it is. The breakfast breakdown.
The bottom line?
I’m in.
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“Morning comes whether you set the alarm or not.”
— Ursula K. Le Guin
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“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.”
— Doug Larson
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“Food is our common ground, a universal experience.”
— James Beard
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