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19 ways to eat like a king on a budget at your weekend brunch

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By Renee Gardner

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Looking to host a weekend brunch that impresses without emptying your wallet? These 19 recipes are designed to add a touch of luxury to your table. They use ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen. Each recipe is simple to prepare, which is perfect for any host. The focus is on creating dishes that are both delightful and economical. These brunch options promise to make your gathering a memorable feast. The experience feels far more lavish than its cost would suggest, allowing you to entertain like royalty on a budget.

A slice of casserole topped with avocado and sour cream on a black plate.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Banana Bread Muffins

A muffin sitting on a napkin next to a glass of milk.
Banana Bread Muffins. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Banana Bread Muffins offer an affordable luxury with the comforting flavors of ripe bananas and sweet spices. Ready in about 30 minutes, these muffins use simple ingredients like mashed bananas, flour, and cinnamon to deliver a moist and fluffy treat. They are an economical way to add a sweet and homey taste to your brunch table.
Get the Recipe: Banana Bread Muffins

Easy Pavlova Recipe

A pavlova topped with berries and figs.
Easy Pavlova Recipe. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

An Easy Pavlova Recipe makes elegance accessible, using inexpensive ingredients like eggs and sugar to create a light, airy dessert. Ready in about 1.5 hours, including cooling time, it’s topped with whipped cream and fresh fruits. This dish serves up a crisp, fruity treat that tastes much more luxurious than it costs.
Get the Recipe: Easy Pavlova Recipe

Wild Blackberry Muffins

Blackberry muffins drizzled with lemon glaze sitting on a gray cooling rack on a dark background.
Wild Blackberry Muffins. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Wild Blackberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze incorporate affordable seasonal berries into a 35-minute recipe. Combining flour, eggs, and fresh blackberries, this recipe offers a tangy-sweet flavor and a soft, juicy texture. It’s a cost-effective way to bring a burst of flavor to your brunch.
Get the Recipe: Wild Blackberry Muffins

Homemade Cinnamon Twists

Freshly homemade cinnamon twists in a white cup with more on a cooling rack in the background.
Homemade Cinnamon Twists. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Homemade Cinnamon Twists transform simple pantry staples like dough, cinnamon, and sugar into a 45-minute decadent treat. These twists bake up golden and crispy, offering the indulgence of a sweet, buttery pastry that is surprisingly frugal. Their warm cinnamon flavor pairs perfectly with coffee.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Cinnamon Twists

Homemade Banana Waffles

A plate of banana waffles with bananas and blueberries.
Homemade Banana Waffles. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Homemade Banana Waffles are a budget-friendly brunch star, turning overripe bananas and basic baking ingredients into a special meal in just 25 minutes. They’re golden, fluffy, and crisply sweet with a hint of banana—a deliciously economical choice.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Banana Waffles

Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter

Freshly baked biscuits cooling on a wire rack with a ramekin of honey butter.
Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter are quick to make in 20 minutes and use simple ingredients for a luxurious result. The biscuits are warm and fluffy, perfect for the rich, citrusy sweet butter, balancing cost with a zestful taste.
Get the Recipe: Drop Biscuits with Orange Honey Butter

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Two servings of strawberry shortcake on a blue background.
Homemade Strawberry Shortcake. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Homemade Strawberry Shortcake utilizes inexpensive ingredients like flour, cream, and fresh strawberries to craft a luxurious dessert in 30 minutes. The combination of juicy berries and soft cream with buttery shortcakes offers a high-end taste at a low-end expense.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Strawberry Shortcake

Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

A stack of three lemon bars on a plate with more lemon bars in the background.
Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust deliver a gourmet experience using budget-friendly items like lemons and flour in just 50 minutes. These bars offer a sharp, sweet taste with a crisp texture, proving that luxurious treats don’t have to break the bank.
Get the Recipe: Easy Lemon Bars with Shortbread Crust

Lemon Crème Brûlée

Glass bowl of crème brûlée garnished with a lemon slice, served with a spoon on the side.
Lemon Crème Brûlée. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Lemon Crème Brûlée fuses the affordable ingredients of cream and lemons into a luxurious dessert in about 55 minutes. The crisp caramelized top and zesty, creamy base provide a rich flavor that belies its modest cost.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Crème Brûlée

Croissant Breakfast Casserole

Overhead view of a croissant breakfast casserole in a skillet ready to be baked.
Croissant Breakfast Casserole. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Croissant Breakfast Casserole repurposes yesterday’s croissants into a sumptuous dish that’s ready in 50 minutes. This savory, buttery casserole with eggs and cheese is an affordable way to dine richly at your brunch.
Get the Recipe: Croissant Breakfast Casserole

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

A serving of shaved brussels sprouts salad next to the serving bowl of shaved brussels sprouts salad with salad servers in the middle.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad is a quick, 15-minute recipe that turns a modest vegetable into a gourmet side. The crunchy, tangy salad dressed with lemon and parmesan is an inexpensive way to add refined flavors to your brunch.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Crispy Baked Zucchini in Oven

Crispy Baked Zucchini served on a white plate.
Crispy Baked Zucchini in Oven. Photo credit: Low Carb – No Carb.

Crispy Baked Zucchini in Oven showcases how a simple vegetable can become a highlight in just 30 minutes. This recipe uses cheap ingredients like zucchini and breadcrumbs for a crispy, tender dish that’s both tasty and economical.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Baked Zucchini in Oven

Apricot Prosciutto Puff Pastry Braid

A plate containing sliced stuffed pastry with apricots and asparagus on the side.
Apricot Prosciutto Puff Pastry Braid. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Apricot Prosciutto Puff Pastry Braid blends the affordability of puff pastry with apricot preserves and prosciutto for a strikingly luxurious dish in 35 minutes. The sweet and salty flavors wrapped in flaky pastry offer opulence without the high cost.
Get the Recipe: Apricot Prosciutto Puff Pastry Braid

Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry muffins in a basket, wrapped in a white and blue towel.
Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins make use of basic and inexpensive ingredients to create a 30-minute treat. The juicy blueberries and buttery streusel provide a sweet, textured experience that’s economically savvy.
Get the Recipe: Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins

Veggie Omelet

A veggie omelet on a white plate topped with fresh avocado.
Veggie Omelet. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

A Veggie Omelet is not only quick to prepare in 15 minutes but also makes use of budget-friendly eggs and whatever vegetables are on hand. This fluffy, savory dish is a simple, nutritious way to enjoy a royal breakfast without the expense.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Omelet

Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns

An overhead shot of breakfast casserole next to a single serving and a toppings bar.
Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns turns simple ingredients into a luxurious meal over the course of an hour’s baking. Prep it the night before for a rich and savory start to your day that’s cost-effective and filling.
Get the Recipe: Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Hash Browns

Perfect Oven Bacon

Crispy bacon strips on a round plate with a red and white napkin in the background.
Perfect Oven Bacon. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Perfect Oven Bacon showcases a hands-off approach to achieving perfectly crispy bacon in about 20 minutes using just one ingredient. It’s a straightforward and inexpensive way to add a touch of indulgence to your brunch spread.
Get the Recipe: Perfect Oven Bacon

Vanilla French Toast

A serving of vanilla french toast next to a serving plate and bowls of candied pecans, blueberries, powdered sugar, and a banana.
Vanilla French Toast. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Vanilla French Toast in just 20 minutes transforms day-old bread and a few basic ingredients into a sumptuous breakfast. The rich, sugary aroma of vanilla elevates this simple dish into a feast fit for royalty on a budget.
Get the Recipe: Vanilla French Toast

Cheddar Sausage Guinness Beer Bread

An overhead shot of a loaf of cheddar sausage Guinness beer bread.
Cheddar Sausage Guinness Beer Bread. Photo credit: Renee Nicole’s Kitchen.

Cheddar Sausage Guinness Beer Bread combines hearty ingredients in a robust, flavorful loaf ready in about 1 hour. This bread is a delicious and economical way to bring a gourmet touch to your brunch, blending flavors that are both luxurious and affordable.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Sausage Guinness Beer Bread

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