Grab and Go Breakfast in the Car Ideas
Easy recipes for breakfast in the car will help you grab and go that first meal of the day. Perfect for your next family road trip if you have an early start or even for using at home during your weekly work and school commute.
Every single morning, I drive my teenage daughter to school in the wee hours of the morning.
As most sleepy teens do, she loves to wake up just minutes before we have to run out the door.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve perfected our breakfast in the car routine with a list of easy to grab breakfasts that won’t slow us down as we head out the door.
If you’re planning a family vacation that requires an early start, you could package up several servings of these easy breakfasts.
And for those of you who have a daily morning commute like we do, they obviously work great for eating on the way to school or work!
Tips for Eating in the Car
- Choose One-Handed Foods: Everything on the list below could be eaten with one hand if you need to.
- Pre-Pack Your Food: You can pack your breakfast into individual bags or containers in one session over the weekend or before your trip. Then you can hand out a portion to everyone in the car even easier.
- Use a Paper or Melamine Plate: These picnic supplies are great for eating on the run.
- Don’t Forget Napkins: Before you get moving, be sure you have everything you need to eat your breakfast in place, including a napkin in case you have a spill.
14 Easy Ideas for Breakfast in the Car
Heading out early for a family road trip? Need some new ideas for eating breakfast in the car on the way to work? Either way, these delicious recipes are perfect for a quick grab and go as you run out the door to your next adventure.
The #1 most popular and delicious idea for breakfast in the car is this make-ahead breakfast burrito filled with sausage, eggs, and tater tots. Prep them in one big batch and freeze them individually. Pop one in the microwave just before you run out the door!
My kids get super excited when these protein-heavy peanut butter granola bars appear on the breakfast menu. They are easy to make ahead and will last all week long in an airtight container. Slice them ahead of time so they are easy to grab and go.
Make an easy batch of hardboiled eggs in your Instant Pot over the weekend and keep them in a basket in the fridge for the easiest on the go breakfast ever.
You could pair them with your favorite toast or a baggie of raw veggies. I especially love cherry tomatoes.
Make homemade granola and then prep it in individual baggies for easy breakfast on the run. If you know you'll be eating it in the car, simply break the granola into nice large chunks so they are easy to eat while driving.
Grab a banana or a baggie of fresh strawberries or even a yogurt pouch for sipping along with your granola.
This hearty banana zucchini bread would be a delicious way to start your day. Cut a nice thick slice and eat it on a paper plate or carry it along in a baggie for the car.
To add a little protein, chopped walnuts or pecans in the mix would be especially tasty.
Prep one of the three trial mix recipes from this article and keep them in individual baggies for easy grabbing.
I love the mix of dried fruits and cereals for custom trail mix blends each family member will love.
Regular smoothies are so delicious but these delicious protein smoothies will stick with you so much longer. There are 3 easy recipes to choose from, including one without bananas just in case.
If you're more a coffee and pastry type person, these homemade blueberry scones are freezer-friendly and could be prepped ahead. Just thaw one in the fridge overnight. For the kids, just add a to-go milk!
You can bake a batch of these yummy monte cristo pinwheels in advance and keep them in a plastic baggie in the fridge for several days. Just heat up what you need for breakfast and take them to the car on a paper plate. The bite-sized pinwheels are perfect for eating in the car.
These hearty pumpkin pecan waffles are thick and crispy and totally delicious even without syrup. We toast them in the toaster to get crispy edges and then just eat them as-is when we're in a rush to get to the car.
Load them with chopped pecans and butterscotch chips if you want something a little more sweet.
Egg salad isn't just for lunch, it would actually make a perfect make-ahead breakfast sandwich. You could prep it on your favorite bread or tuck it inside a pita pocket, sliced croissant, or even a tortilla.
Sometimes it is nice to have a breakfast in the car that you can nibble on for a longer drive. In those cases, pack fresh apple slices and a container of this creamy peanut butter dip. You could even add a baggie of salted pretzles.
If you're more a savory breakfast person, these spicy sausage pinwheels have a hint of mustard in the mix, too. Bake them up in one big batch and keep them in the fridge for the week. Just heat up what you need for breakfast on the run.
This sweet Chex Mix recipe is loaded with dried apples and yogurt covered raisins. It's the perfect breakfast Chex Mix for easy snacking in the car. You could even add salted pecans or walnuts to the mix if you wanted a little more protein for your breakfast.
More Easy Travel Recipes
The best way to save money on a family trip is to be mindful of your food budget and pack a few things from home.
As much as we love to dine out for our trip, often breakfast, lunch, or snacks, is a place I’m willing to put in the work to bring something from home.
Here are a few of my favorite ideas:
