Things Midwesterners Always Have On Their Breakfast Table

Nothing gets your day going quite like a hearty breakfast, and people from the Midwest know this well. While you might envision a Midwestern breakfast as one of only bacon and eggs, the truth is this region of the United States has its fair share of distinctive dishes, including many regional pastries and plenty of different breakfast casseroles.

Anyone who knows anything about Midwestern cooking knows that this region has the best casserole recipes. No holiday or weekday morning is complete without a cheesy, eggy and meaty hotdish.

For the Make-Ahead Eggs Benedict Casserole recipe, click here.

A close cousin of the breakfast casserole, a breakfast skillet has all the deliciousness and convenience of a casserole with one added benefit: it's one of those recipes that only needs one pan. Mix your greens, eggs and veggies all together and cook. 

For the Eggs and Greens Breakfast Skillet recipe, click here.

There's no denying that French toast is delicious, but it can be a hassle to make on a busy morning. This casserole dish uses just six simple ingredients and can be prepared in advance, making it one of the easiest dishes you can make.

For the Cinnamon Raisin French Toast Casserole recipe, click here.

Fried mush is exactly what its name implies — it's fried cornmeal mush. Made of just cornmeal, water and salt, this dish can be found across the Midwest, especially in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. It may sound odd, but it's just one of those regional breakfast foods you've never heard of.

For the Fried Mush recipe, click here.

Cheese, potatoes and casseroles are all integral parts of a Midwestern diet. Of all the amazing ways to cook potatoes for breakfast, this hash brown recipe is the best.

For the Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole recipe, click here.

Known as "hash" in most of the country, hoppel poppel (sometimes spelled hopple popple) is a nostalgic breakfast dish that's basically everything you could ever want for your first meal of the day cooked in one skillet and served in one bowl.

For the Sweet Potato and Egg Hash recipe, click here.

An easy pastry made from convenient products is a must-have for busyMidwesterners. Coffee cake is a classic quick breakfast, and this particular recipe is just one of the many dishes that have won the Pillsbury Bake-Off.

For the Country Apple Coffee Cake recipe, click here.

Originating in Eastern Europe, the kolache found its way to the Midwest via immigrants. This semi-sweet pastry with a fruit filling is so beloved in the Midwest that cities in Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin all have food festivals in honor of this breakfast food.

For the Kolache recipe, click here.

Another regional pastry, the kringle originated in Scandinavia before becoming a favorite of Wisconsinites. This oval-shaped specialty is surprisingly easy to replicate at home, no baking hacks needed.

For the Easy Danish Kringle recipe, click here.

While you will find plenty of casseroles, kringles and fried mush across the Midwest, you're more likely to find the standards: bacon, eggs and carbs. Like a proper Midwestern meal, the best recipes combine all these together, like in a breakfast skillet. But if that doesn't satisfy your need for true Midwestern cooking, don't worry; these recipes will have you cooking like a true Midwesterner.

For the Sausage, Peppers, and Eggs Skillet recipe, click here.

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