Easy French toast side dish ideas, from fried bacon to cream cheese, and breakfast hash to Eggs Benedict. Discover what to serve with French toast today.
Whether served traditionally as the first meal of the day or included as a sweet and savory component of lunch or dinner, a plate of French toast is a crowd-pleaser for folks of all ages.
When it comes to deciding what to serve alongside these egg-coated slices of grilled bread, there is a wide range of options that can complement its unmistakable flavor without overpowering the delicate texture and aroma of the toast and toppings. The following recipes are sure to be popular regardless of who is sitting down for a plate of French toast.
Fried Bacon & Cream Cheese
It might not be a surprise to see bacon on the list of items to be served alongside French toast, but this is a unique spin on the commonplace salty meat.
All it takes is a few minutes and a handful of ingredients to create memorable bites of rich, complex goodness. Combine cream cheese and bacon into small balls, and refrigerate them for a few minutes before dipping them in egg batter and bread crumbs and gently frying in oil for an excellent companion dish to any stack of French toast.
Fresh Fruit Salad
Sometimes simplicity is the key to a well-balanced meal, which is the case when preparing a fresh fruit salad to serve with French toast.
Mix some ripe strawberries, kiwi, grapes, blueberries, pineapple, or whatever fruits look delicious into a bowl. After preparing a dressing from fruit juice, honey, and a pinch of salt, it is time to mix everything together for a great combination of sweet flavor that is delicious on the side or as a topping for the main entree.
Mixed Berry Compote
For anyone in the mood for a fruit dish with a bit more depth, here’s an intriguing option to pair with French toast. Despite its complex flavors, there are only four main ingredients necessary to perfect a mixed berry compote.
Start with a simple syrup made of sugar dissolved in heated water then stir in a selection of fresh berries and pinch of salt. A bit of whipped cream can add another layer of sweet flavor to this delicious dish.
Dried Fruit & Nut Quinoa Bowl
Fans around the world love the versatility and subtle flavor of quinoa, but this is one preparation that puts an interesting twist on the ubiquitous grain.
After boiling the quinoa until tender, drain it and pour it into a large bowl before mixing in some toasted nuts and raisins, craisins, or dried apricots. After adding vinegar, oil, citrus, and herbs such as cilantro, it will be ready to serve alongside a stack of French toast after it sits at room temperature to allow all of the flavors to combine.
Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce
The salty, rich, and complex flavors of this classic dish make it an excellent companion to the sweet notes found in French toast.
Some home cooks might be intimidated by the recipe, but it is simple to poach the eggs and slice the Canadian bacon that creates the base for its flavors. As for the Hollandaise, all it takes is egg yolks, cream, butter, lime juice, and a few basic spices to build the unique taste of this timeless sauce.
Sausage & Egg Casserole
Few breakfast staples go together as perfectly as eggs and sausage, and combining them into a freshly baked casserole is one of the tastiest ways to enjoy these ingredients.
A mixture of eggs, sausage, onions, bell peppers, and cheese is all it takes to create this simple yet robust side dish. While the meat is cooking, combine everything else in a pan and bake until it starts to firm up, at which point everything can come together for a slice of goodness that will complement any plate of French toast.
Egg & Sweet Potato Hash
A combination of sweet and savory makes this complex dish the perfect addition to a hearty stack of French toast.
In addition to the potatoes and eggs, a home cook can add a variety of other ingredients before pan frying for about 10 minutes uncovered and adding a lid to finish it off for a few more minutes. Some of the most popular flavors to mix into the hash include bacon, peppers, onion, and spices.
Quiche Lorraine
Another excellent egg-based dish to serve with French toast is this timeless tart.
Start with a pie crust and fill it with a delectable egg custard that will hold a range of other ingredients. Add some meat, onions, cheese, and whatever other fillings seem fresh and flavorful in the moment before baking it to a perfect consistency.
Fried Tomato Frittata
With just a few simple ingredients, anyone sitting down for a plate of French toast will be pleasantly surprised by the rich taste and complex texture of this exquisite side dish.
All it takes is a few eggs, ripe tomatoes, oil, garlic, cheese, and some seasoning to create the foundation for a tasty frittata. The lightly beaten eggs go into the skillet first to be topped with the other ingredients and cooked over medium-high heat before being transferred to the oven to finish everything off to perfection.
Yogurt Parfait
Here’s an option that might seem deceptively simple but will offer a great new dimension to the typical spread of French toast.
Simply layer yogurt, granola, and fresh fruit into a tall glass to create a visually appealing and delicious side dish. In order to ensure that the granola remains crunchy throughout the meal, assemble the parfait just before serving.
Caramelized Bananas
Bananas can be a great topping for French toast, but this preparation adds some additional flavor to the versatile fruit.
The only necessary ingredients include bananas and sugar. After rolling the sliced bananas in the sugar, simply cook them over medium-high heat in a greased nonstick pan until they achieve a beautiful light brown color.
