The Easiest Pumpkin Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups

These Pumpkin Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups are baby- and toddler-approved, but great for the whole family! Make them in advance and stick them in the freezer to have a healthy, nutritious breakfast ready to go on busy mornings.

A cooling rack of freshly baked Pumpkin Apple Oatmeal Cups.

I don’t know about you, but our toddler always wakes up hungry and ready to eat. It seems like we can barely get a clean diaper on her before she’s begging “Food! Food!” Breakfast also so happens to be her favorite meal of the day, and she eats far more in the morning than she does for lunch and dinner, so we always try to have healthy, quick options on hand for her.

We’ve been big fans of baked oatmeal in our household for a while now. I love that it’s jam-packed with nutrients (especially with the right mix-ins) and that it’s handheld, resulting in much less of a mess than classic or even overnight oats make. While traditional baked oatmeals (in baking pans or dishes) are great, turning your baked oatmeal into single-serving cups ups the convenience factor and makes it really easy to only defrost what you need.

Here’s how this easy and tasty recipe is done!

What You Need

The good news is – not much! Most of the ingredients you’ll be using you’ll already have on hand, especially if you’re making this in the fall.

Rolled oats

I love getting the big bags from Trader Joe’s (these ones also happen to be gluten-free if you need that.)

Pumpkin purée

Buy the can OR make your own with this super simple homemade pumpkin purée recipe!

An apple
Milk

Any kind!

An egg
Maple syrup

And pantry staples like…

Baking powder, salt, vanilla extract and pumpkin pie spice

As far as equipment, you’ll just need a cupcake pan (we love these silicone ones *affiliate link*), a couple of bowls, a couple of measuring cups, and a whisk!

An overhead shot of Pumpkin Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups cooling on a rack.

How to Make Baked Oatmeal Cups

Once you get the basic process of these Pumpkin Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups down, you’ll be able to create tons of different variations.

Simply whisk together the dry ingredients, whisk together the wet ingredients, combine the two, and bake. Easy as that!

Other ideas for flavor combinations might be:

Banana and chocolate chip
Sweet potato and orange
Zucchini and raisin
Peanut butter and apple
Cinnamon and berry
Vanilla and peach

The possibilities are endless.

A straight-on look at a freshly baked batch of Pumpkin Apple Oatmeal Cups.

How to Store Baked Oatmeal Cups

Once the cups are baked and cooled, place them in a gallon-size Ziploc and freeze for up to three months.

When you’re ready to serve, simply microwave however many you need for 30 seconds to a minute (maybe more if you’re defrosting a bunch at once.)

Just like my Super Simple Pumpkin Carrot Muffins or my Peanut Butter and Banana Breakfast Cookies, these cups are a great on-the-go option for busy mornings, or even a great travel snack when you’re on the road. 

Read on for the recipe and, if you want to learn more of my tips and tricks for feeding toddlers, be sure you’re signed up for my weekly newsletter!

A stack of Pumpkin Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups leaning against a pitcher of milk.

A cooling rack of freshly baked Pumpkin Apple Oatmeal Cups.
Print
Pumpkin Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

These Pumpkin Apple Baked Oatmeal Cups are baby- and toddler-approved, but great for the whole family! Make them in advance and stick them in the freezer to have a healthy, nutritious breakfast ready to go on busy mornings.

Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: after-school, apple, baby-friendly, baby-led weaning, breakfast, freezer-friendly, meal prep, oatmeal, pumpkin, toddler
Servings: 12 people
Calories: 114 kcal
Author: CaliGirl Cooking
Ingredients
  • 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 1/2 cups milk of your choice (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
  • 1 cup pumpkin purée (Use canned or follow the link in the Recipe Notes to make your own)
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup diced apple
Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray cupcake pan with cooking spray and set aside.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together oats, baking powder, salt and pumpkin pie spice.

  3. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together milk, pumpkin purée, maple syrup, egg and vanilla.

  4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and whisk to combine. Whisk in diced apple.

  5. Using your 1/4 cup measure, scoop mixture into prepared cupcake pan.

  6. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes, or until oatmeal is set.

  7. Let cool at least 10 minutes before removing from pan. Let cool completely before transferring to Ziploc for freezer storage.

Recipe Notes

Here's the recipe for homemade pumpkin purée!

How to Make Your Own Pumpkin Purée

Forget the canned stuff, learn how to make your own homemade pumpkin purée from scratch. It takes just one simple ingredient and less than an hour to make!

Homemade pumpkin puree in a glass dish surrounded by a black spoon, black and white checked napkin and a small bowl of ground cinnamon.

The recent pumpkin spice-everything craze has made it hard to ignore the rows and rows of canned pumpkin that pop up on grocery store shelves once summer starts coming to a close. I’ll be the first to admit that I love pumpkin so much I’ve been known to stock up on it right after the holidays to get me through the better part of a year.

But what if you could easily make your own and store it in the freezer to have ready to go at a moment’s notice? It’s easier than you think, and today I’m going to tell you all about it!

Health Benefits of Pumpkin

Since I’ve become a mom, having some pumpkin purée on hand has become even more important as I love using it as a way of sneaking some extra nutrients into my little one’s diet. It’s super easy to mix into baked goods like pancakes, donuts, muffins and breads to up the healthiness factor. Not only does pumpkin have loads of Vitamin A, it’s also rich in antioxidants and can boost immunity – and it’s tasty to boot!

Pumpkin’s sweeter flavor is often appreciated by tiny eaters so if you have kids, take advantage of it and add some pumpkin to their diet. I’ll give you some great recipe ideas below.

An overhead shot of a glass bowl of pumpkin puree surrounded by a black and white checked napkin, a spoon, cinnamon sticks and a bowl of ground cinnamon.

What You Need to Make Pumpkin Purée

Perhaps the most exciting thing about making your own pumpkin purée (besides having it on hand to use whenever you want) is that you need next to nothing to make it. We’re talking one ingredient and a couple of common kitchen appliances/utensils. That’s my kind of recipe!

Here’s what you’re going to want to gather up before you start cooking:

A baking pumpkin
A knife and cutting board
A jelly roll pan
Aluminum foil
A food processor

That’s it! Well, you’re also going to need an oven, but I’m hoping you’ve already got one of those on hand 😉

How to Make It

The first step in making the perfect homemade pumpkin purée is to cook your pumpkin. To make the process go a bit faster, you’ll go ahead and cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds, and wrap each half in aluminum foil to really seal in some steam from the oven.

After just 30 minutes baking away (and a little bit of cooling time) your cooked pumpkin will be scooped into the food processor – sans skin – and puréed until smooth. I mean, could it be any simpler?? No oil, no butter, no liquid, no nothing. Just good ol’ pumpkin to make all your fall baking dreams come true.

An overhead shot of homemade pumpkin puree in a food processor.

How to Use Homemade Pumpkin Purée

Oh let me count the ways! There are so many great uses for homemade pumpkin purée. Here are just a few ideas:

In some super-simple muffins…

In a twist on Shepherd’s Pie…

In an adults-only latté…

In a healthy smoothie…

Or a cozy coffee cake…

To add some extra sweetness to marinara sauce…

Or in ooey-gooey cinnamon rolls.

Even in a spicy curry!

The possibilities are endless.

Get the easy recipe for homemade pumpkin purée below. For more pumpkin inspiration, be sure to check out my Fall Foodie Ideas board on Pinterest (so many delicious recipes I’m dying to try) or sign up for my weekly newsletter where I’ll be sending out all the fun fall content in the coming weeks!

Homemade pumpkin puree in a glass dish surrounded by a black spoon, black and white checked napkin and a small bowl of ground cinnamon.
Print
Homemade Pumpkin Purée
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 

Forget the canned stuff, learn how to make your own homemade pumpkin purée from scratch. It takes just one simple ingredient and less than an hour to make!

Course: Condiment, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: baking, condiment, fall, homemade, pumpkin
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 12 kcal
Author: CaliGirl Cooking
Ingredients
  • 1 baking pumpkin May also be called a Sugar Pie pumpkin
Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. Cut the pumpkin in half horizontally and scoop out all the seeds.

  3. Tear two pieces of aluminum foil that are each large enough to wrap around one half of the pumpkin. Wrap each pumpkin half, sealing the aluminum foil as much as possible.

  4. Place wrapped pumpkin halves on the jelly roll pan.

  5. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 30 minutes, or until you can easily squeeze the pumpkin halves with tongs. You want the pumpkin to be soft enough that you can scoop it out of the skin.

  6. Let pumpkin halves cool for at least 10 minutes, or until they are cool enough to touch.

  7. Scoop the inside of the pumpkin into the food processor, discard the skin and foil.

  8. Turn the food processor on and process until smooth.

Recipe Notes

Purée can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Use as a substitute in any recipe that calls for canned pumpkin.

28 High-Protein Vegetarian Recipes for Toddlers

Many toddlers are picky when it comes to eating meat, even if they’re not on a vegetarian diet. Here is an ultimate roundup of high-protein vegetarian recipes for toddlers, featuring quinoa, beans and lentils as primary ingredients.

When it comes to toddlers’ picky eating habits, one of the food groups I hear most about is meat. Meat can be tricky – it needs to be prepared a certain way that makes it easy for little ones to eat, and the texture can sometimes be offputting. While it’s important to continually expose your child to animal proteins (if your toddler isn’t on a vegetarian diet), there are tons of other ways to ensure your babe is getting this vital nutrient.

Here’s a roundup of 28 fantastic high-protein vegetarian recipes for toddlers, broken down by meal. Seriously, though, there is so much inspiration here! And if you want more tips on how to deal with a picky eater, check out these 9 Easy Ways to Combat Picky Eating in Toddlers.

Without further ado…

BREAKFAST

1. PB&J Quinoa Bowl

Just hold the crunchy almond slivers!

Two PB&J Quinoa Breakfast Bowls complete with toppings, sitting atop striped dish towels.
by CaliGirl Cooking
2. quinoa berry breakfast bowl instant pot
An overhead shot of two Quinoa Berry Breakfast Bowls.
by Green Scheme
3. quinoa blender pancakes
by The Saucy Fig
4. 5 Ingredient eggy quinoa cups
A pan of 5-Ingredient Eggy Quinoa Cups.
by Kidgredients
5. crispy vegan waffles with lentil protein
A plate of Crispy Vegan Waffles with Lentil Protein topped with berries and powdered sugar.
by My Pure Plants

LUNCH

6. baked zucchini, feta and Quinoa Bites
A board full of quinoa bites.
by Whole Food Bellies
7. broccoli cheddar quinoa bars
A stack of two broccoli cheddar quinoa bars.
by Served From Scratch
8. lentil falafel with lime yogurt
A cast iron pan of lentil falafel with lime yogurt dip.
by Greedy Gourmet
9. Veggie Bean Burger
A close-up shot of a veggie burger.
by Spice Cravings
10. easy 15-minute quinoa bites with peas
A stack of 5-ingredient quinoa bites.
by Bite-Sized Kitchen
11. black bean salad with avocado
A bowl of Black Bean Salad with Avocado.
by Dancing Through the Rain

SNACKS

12. roasted cauliflower hummus with rosemary and garlic
Roasted Cauliflower Hummus with Rosemary & Garlic | CaliGirl Cooking
by CaliGirl Cooking
13. easy basil lentil dip
A close-up shot of a bowl of Easy Basil Lentil Dip surrounded by chips.
by The Missing Lokness
14. lemon tahini lentil hummus
An overhead shot of a bowl of Lemon Tahini Lentil Hummus surrounded by fresh rosemary and lemons.
by Bucket List Tummy
15. 5-Minute pumpkin curry hummus
This 5-Minute Pumpkin Curry Hummus takes your average Mediterranean dip and kicks it up a notch with a ton of added flavor. The perfect appetizer or side dish for your next dinner party!
by CaliGirl Cooking
16. kid-friendly quinoa fritters
An overhead shot of a bowl of quinoa fritters with a bowl of marinara dipping sauce.
by Wendy Polisi

DINNER

17. goat cheese quinoa and broccoli casserole in the instant pot
An overhead shot of a bowl of Goat Cheese, Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole.
by Whole Food Bellies
18. vegan white bean mac-and-cheese
A bowl of Vegan White Bean Mac and Cheese with fresh vegetables.
by Rhian’s Recipes
19. pasta e fagioli
A spoonful of pasta e fagioli.
by Christina’s Cucina
20. Instant Pot Lentil Stroganoff
An overhead shot of Instant Pot Lentil Stroganoff.
by Nourish Nutrition Co.
21. enchilada quinoa casserole
A finished dish of Enchilada Quinoa Casserole.
by My Kitchen Love
22. cheesy lentil bake
A finished pan of Cheesy Lentil Bake.
by Love In My Oven
23. one-pot black-eyed peas and spinach rice in instant pot
A bowl full of Black-Eyed Peas and Spinach Rice.
by Piping Pot Curry
24. 15-minute lentil sloppy joe stuffed sweet potatoes
A Lentil Sloppy Joe stuffed sweet potato ready to be devoured.
by Lemons and Zest
25. lentil pizza crust
A sliced pizza featuring Lentil Pizza Crust.
by This Healthy Kitchen
26. lentil tacos
A plate full of Mexican Lentil Tacos.
by Recipes From a Pantry

TREATS

27. Healthy quinoa almond date truffles
A plate of Quinoa Almond Date Truffles.
by Ministry of Curry
28. oatmeal quinoa chocolate chip cookies
A gooey quinoa chocolate chip cookie broken in half.
by Served From Scratch

If you have or come across any other great high-protein vegetarian recipes for toddlers, please let me know about them in the comments below! xo

Coconut Passion Fruit Chia Pudding Parfait

This Coconut Passion Fruit Chia Pudding Parfait is just as suitable as a healthy dessert as it is as a wholesome breakfast. Coconut milk chia pudding, thick passion fruit puree and homemade haupia all come together in a single dish. You won’t be able to stop eating this tasty treat!

Two dishes of Coconut Passion Fruit Chia Pudding Parfait topped with pink flowers.

One of my favorite parts about traveling is finding new foods and dishes that inspire me to get in the kitchen and create my own special version of them. On any typical vacation, I’ll probably come home with at least two ideas of recipes I want to recreate on my own. It’s one of the reasons I love traveling so much – there’s nothing like it to broaden my imagination and get my home-cooking skills flowing again as soon as I get home.

If you’ve been following me on Instagram, chances are you noticed we took a little trip to visit my cousin and her new baby in Kauai at the end of July. While the great majority of our vacation was spent hanging out in our beautiful vacation rental and lounging by the pool with our babes, we did manage to get out for a few tasty treats.

There’s a small local market close to where we stay in Poipu that, while not fancy, is perhaps best known for the shave ice “wagon” that parks out front of it or the sushi bar inside of it. We stopped in for some Spam musubi one day on our way home from the beach, and my cousin came out with a Mason jar full of what looked to me like the dreamiest (and tastiest) chia pudding concoction I’d ever seen in my life:

A Mason jar of coconut chia pudding layered with haupia and passion fruit puree.

Coconut chia pudding was layered in between passion fruit puree and creamy haupia, and as soon as I tasted a bite of it I casually informed her that she better eat however much of it that she wanted FAST, because otherwise I would 😉

Lucky for me (and for little Raia, who couldn’t get enough of it!) she was more than generous with sharing and I was able to savor each bite just enough so I’d remember how to make my own at home. Lucky for you, I’m sharing that homemade recipe with you today!

There are a few things that go into this Coconut Passion Fruit Chia Pudding Parfait, but no step is too difficult. Just remember that you’ll want to start the process a day before you want to serve it, as both the haupia and the chia pudding need to set up in the fridge overnight. It’s also good to give the passion fruit puree some time to set up in the fridge since you’ll be heating it thicken it up.

Here’s how the process goes:

Step 1: Make the haupia.

Full disclosure, this was the first time I’d made haupia from scratch, and I was blown away by how easy it was! I used this recipe from Tasting Table, which involves just four ingredients:

Cornstarch
Water
Coconut milk
Sugar

It’s a quick and easy process, just boil everything together, pour it into a baking dish and refrigerate overnight. No baking or fancy temperature taking required. You can also find haupia mix packets in Asian grocery stores (or on Amazon [*affiliate link]), but after making this from-scratch recipe, I’ll tell you I never feel the need to buy the packets again!

Looking down on a dish of Coconut Passion Fruit Chia Pudding topped with coconut chips and a pink flower.

Step 2: Make the chia pudding.

If you’ve never made chia pudding before, prepare to meet your new favorite make-ahead breakfast. All it takes is some chia seeds, coconut beverage (or milk of your choice) and some vanilla and honey. Pour everything into a Mason jar, shake and seal, then place this in your refrigerator overnight as well. Are we seeing how easy this is yet?

Step 3: Thicken up (and sweeten) some passion fruit puree.

I know, I know, you’re probably wondering where in the heck you’re going to find some passion fruit puree. But I’ve made it easy for you! You can order it on Amazon [*affiliate link], and it’s even on Prime so it will be at your doorstep in just a couple of days.

We were lucky enough to have some passion fruit puree in our freezer from a family friend that grows them, so I simply thawed that but then thickened it up on the stove with some cornstarch and a little extra sugar for sweetness. I highly recommend giving whatever puree you end up getting a taste before doing this, and only adding sugar as needed.

Step 4: Assemble, top with toasted coconut flakes and enjoy!

The next morning, your parfaits will be ready in seconds. Simply take your serving vessel (I like small Mason jars or clear parfait dishes) and start layering:

First goes the coconut chia pudding,
Then goes the passion fruit puree,
Followed by cubes of your homemade haupia,
All topped with roasted coconut strips to add the perfect crunch.

An overhead shot of a wooden spoon resting in a dish of coconut chia pudding.

If you’re looking for a special kid-friendly breakfast treat that still packs a ton of nutrition, this Coconut Passion Fruit Chia Pudding Parfait is the answer.

And if coconut and/or passion fruit aren’t your thing, check out some of my other tasty chia pudding recipes like this Tropical Matcha Chia Pudding, this Coconut-Vanilla Chia Pudding Parfait, and this baby-friendly Oat Milk Chia Pudding with Blueberry Orange Compote!

Two dishes of Coconut Passion Fruit Chia Pudding Parfait topped with pink flowers.
Print
Coconut Passion Fruit Chia Pudding Parfait
Prep Time
30 mins
Refrigerator Time
8 hrs
Total Time
8 hrs 30 mins
 

This Coconut Passion Fruit Chia Pudding Parfait is just as suitable as a healthy dessert as it is as a wholesome breakfast. Coconut milk chia pudding, thick passion fruit puree and homemade haupia all come together in a single dish. You won’t be able to stop eating this tasty treat!

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: Hawaiian
Keyword: breakfast, chia, coconut, dairy-free, dessert, Hawaiian, healthy, kid-friendly, passion fruit, snack
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 570 kcal
Author: CaliGirl Cooking
Ingredients
  • 2 cups diced haupia pudding Link to recipe in Notes
  • 1/2 cup chia seeds
  • 2 cups unsweetened vanilla coconut beverage
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups passion fruit puree Link to purchase in Notes
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 6 tablespoons water
  • Sugar, as needed to sweeten
  • Roasted coconut chips, for topping
Instructions

  1. The night before you plan to serve the parfaits, prepare the haupia according to directions and allow to set up in the refrigerator overnight.

  2. The same night, combine chia seeds, coconut beverage and vanilla in a glass bowl with a lid and place in the refrigerator. If you can, give the bowl a shake a few times before bed to make sure the seeds are well incorporated with the coconut beverage. 

  3. You’ll also want to prepare the passion fruit puree the night before. Place the puree in a saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer. In a small, separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water, then whisk into the passion fruit puree. Continuously whisk as you add however much sugar you need, probably a few tablespoons but taste as you go. Remove puree from heat and let cool before transferring to a Mason jar or other container and refrigerating overnight.

  4. In the morning, scoop chia pudding into your serving vessels, then top with passion fruit puree, then the diced haupia. Top with toasted coconut chips and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Dish Density: Medium

Haupia pudding recipe from Tasting Table.

Passion fruit puree link to purchase [*affiliate]

“Feed a Crowd” Make-Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas

These Make-Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas are the perfect breakfast to feed a crowd with less than 30 minutes of prep time the morning of. They’re loaded with eggs, shredded meat and vegetables and topped with the easiest homemade red enchilada sauce.

A finished dish full of Make-Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas.

If you haven’t yet discovered the beauty of make-ahead enchiladas, you’ve really been missing out! They’re a great meal prep dish for weeknights, as they can be composed well in advance and then just popped in the oven right before you’re ready to serve them. They’re also incredibly freezer-friendly once they’re cooked, making them a great option to make for friends and family who have just had a baby, experienced an illness or death in the family, etc., etc.

And what do I love most, in particular, about these Make-Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas? The fact that I can prep them and just pop them in the refrigerator the night before I need to serve a crowd in a hurry.

I don’t know about you, but our little one does NOT have the patience to sit around and wait hours for her first meal of the day, so these have been a fantastic option for us in the mornings when we have family visiting and need to get something on the table fast.

So let’s get into the details about how to make the only crowd-pleasing breakfast you’ll want to serve from now on:

How to Master Enchilada Prep

The first thing you’ll want to do is make your enchilada sauce. Sure, you can use store-bought [*affiliate link], but let me tell you, this was the first time I’d ventured into making enchilada sauce on my own and it was soooo easy. You should totally do it because you’ll never turn back. And most of the ingredients are things you’ll already have on hand in your pantry.

A dish of breakfast enchiladas being prepared, covered with homemade red enchilada sauce.

There are three other ingredients you’ll need to prepare before assembling your enchiladas:

  1. Shredded meat of your choice (I love buying the Trader Joe’s carnitas or making up a quick batch of my favorite Instant Pot Shredded Chicken.)
  2. Sautéed onions and peppers.
  3. Scrambled eggs.

Once you have the sauce and these three essential components ready to go, you’ll want to set up a big assembly line for all of your tortillas. The more space you have to spread out multiple tortillas, the faster the assembly process will go.

Now line up your tortillas and assemble away!

Tortillas lined up and filled with eggs, vegetables and shredded meat to make breakfast enchiladas.

Fill your choice of corn or flour tortillas with the shredded meat, vegetables and scrambled eggs. Roll each one up tight and line them all up in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

Before tucking the enchiladas away in the refrigerator for the night (or into the freezer if you plan on serving them more than a day later), top them with your homemade enchilada sauce and plenty of shredded cheese.

Then cover, refrigerate (or freeze) and tuck them away until you’re ready to serve!

A dish of make-ahead breakfast enchiladas all prepped and ready to be refrigerated or frozen until serving.

How to Feed a Crowd

The morning you’re ready to serve these yummy enchiladas, simply uncover the dish and pop it into a 350-degree oven for 15-20 minutes (more if the enchiladas have been frozen.) If you want to get the cheese on top extra brown and bubbly, turn on the broiler for the last five minutes or so.

Finally, you can’t forget the toppings! Be sure to top your breakfast enchiladas with plenty of fresh cilantro and avocado before dishing them out to your hungry crew.

This is the perfect breakfast for any time of year: summer mornings when you want to get outside first thing, busy school days when you have lots of hungry mouths to feed, or special holidays when your house is brimming with family and friends.

A single serving of delicious make-ahead breakfast enchiladas.

A finished dish full of Make-Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas.
Print
Make-Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas
Prep Time
1 hr
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 30 mins
 

These Make-Ahead Breakfast Enchiladas are the perfect breakfast to feed a crowd with less than 30 minutes of prep time the morning of. They’re loaded with eggs, shredded meat and vegetables and topped with the easiest homemade red enchilada sauce.

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: breakfast, enchiladas, freezer-friendly, kid-friendly, make-ahead, meal prep, Mexican
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 446 kcal
Author: CaliGirl Cooking
Ingredients
For the sauce:
  • 3 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  • 2 tablespoons olive or avocado oil
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
All other ingredients:
  • 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 medium onion, diced
  • 8 eggs
  • 8 medium tortillas (corn or flour)
  • 12 ounces shredded meat (carnitas, beef or shredded chicken)
  • 5 ounces shredded cheese (I used a mix of cheddar, fontina and jack)
  • Cilantro, for topping
  • Sliced avocado, for topping
Instructions

  1. First, make the sauce. Place tomato paste and broth in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

  2. In a small bowl, mix together the oil and flour with a fork, then add it to the saucepan with the tomato paste and broth. This will help thicken it.

  3. Add the remaining ingredients to the saucepan mixture and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle simmer, cooking until sauce thickens slightly, then turn down the heat to low to keep warm while you make the rest of the enchilada components.

  4. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

  5. If you are planning on serving the enchiladas right away, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  6. Place a medium saute pan over medium heat on the stove and add 1 tablespoon oil. Once oil is warm, add bell peppers and onions. Saute until onions are translucent and fragrant, then move the mixture to a separate mixing bowl.

  7. Using the same saute pan, scramble the eggs using the leftover oils and juices from the vegetables. Once eggs are cooked, remove to your other mixing bowl.

  8. Lay tortillas out onto a large prep space so you can assemble them all at once. Divide the vegetables, shredded meat and eggs evenly among the 8 tortillas.

  9. Roll each one up and tuck it into the prepared baking dish. It’s okay if they’re a bit snug.

  10. Once all of the tortillas are tucked into the baking dish, top them with the enchilada sauce, then with the shredded cheese.

  11. At this point, you can cover and freeze or refrigerate the enchiladas until you are ready to serve them OR you can bake them right away.

  12. When you’re ready to bake, place the enchiladas on a rimmed baking sheet (to catch any drips) and pop them into a 350-degree oven for 15-20 minutes. If your enchiladas are frozen, you may need closer to 30-35 minutes. To make the cheese on top extra-bubbly and brown, turn the broiler on for the last 5 minutes or so of baking.

  13. Once enchiladas are warmed through, remove from the oven and top with fresh cilantro and sliced avocado before serving.

Recipe Notes

DISH DENSITY: High