Who says you can’t have breakfast for dinner?
Thankfully, you’re an adult, so you get to decide. Whether it’s a lazy Saturday and you stayed in PJs all day, or breakfast food is simply your favorite food and you want to enjoy it day and night, breakfast for dinner is always a great way to treat yourself.
And what better way to elevate your late breakfast than with a perfectly paired glass of wine?
Use this guide to help you find wine pairings for all of your favorite breakfast for dinner recipes.
Hot Tips
First, let’s talk about eggs. Eggs can be tricky to pair with wine because the yolk can coat the palate. When choosing a wine, it’s best to go with a light-bodied wine with enough acidity to cut through the creaminess of the eggs. Generally, a light-bodied sparkling wine or a white wine with zippy acidity is a good call.
Next, if you’re planning on enjoying both savory and sweet dishes, start with the savory ones. This way, you can start with a dry wine before moving to a sweeter wine.
In a wine tasting, a sommelier would instruct you to sip dry wines before sweet wines. If you started with a sweet wine, the tartness of the dry wine would be exaggerated. By sipping dry to sweet, you’re giving each wine a chance to taste its best on your palate.
Savory…
Scrambles, Omelettes, and Eggs Benedict
Whether you like your eggs scrambled, sunny side up, or in a creamy hollandaise sauce, go with a light sparkling wine like Cava or zippy white wine like Sauvignon Blanc.
When veggies bring the dominant flavors to your dish, use the veggies to help you pick a wine. A classic Denver omelette with ham, mushroom, and bell pepper pairs well with a dry rosé. Veggie quiche pairs well with a light-bodied white wine like Pinot Grigio or Assyrtiko.
For a tater tot casserole with cheesy eggs, go with a light-bodied white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or light-bodied red like Pinot Noir.
Huevos Rancheros
If you like your eggs with a kick of spice, go with a light- to medium-bodied earthy red wine. Beaujolais or Tempranillo pair well with the spicy salsa and chorizo in huevos rancheros.
Avocado Toast
You don’t have to go out to brunch to enjoy this trendy dish. Pair avocado toast with a light-bodied white wine with a savory streak like Sauvignon Blanc or Grüner Veltliner. You could also try Grillo, a light-bodied Sicilian wine with tropical fruit flavors.
Shrimp and Grits
For a flavorful southern-style breakfast like bacon shrimp and cheddar grits, you have a couple of options. You can match the creaminess of this dish with a creamy medium-bodied white wine like Chardonnay or Viognier. Alternatively, you can go with a light and zippy white wine like Albariño to cut through the creaminess of the grits.
Breakfast Burger
Yes, we know that burgers aren’t your typical breakfast fare, but if you’re making breakfast for dinner, you can certainly give your burgers a little breakfast flair. While you may think that beef burgers only go with full-bodied red wines, a breakfast burger with bacon, cheddar, and a fried egg needs a wine with enough acidity to cut through the egg and cheese. Pair your breakfast burger with Grenache or even Beaujolais – a light red wine with medium acidity.
Bagels & Cream Cheese
Generally speaking, you’ll want to consider the kind of schmear you like when choosing a wine. A plain or sesame bagel with scallion or veggie cream cheese pairs well with crisp white wine like Riesling.
If you prefer your bagel topped with lox and capers, go with a dry rosé to cleanse the palate between bites.
For a pumpernickel bagel with earthy, malty flavors, you’ll want to go with a red wine like Zinfandel. The rich notes in this jammy red wine bring out the sweetness of this dark bread.
...and Sweet
Pancakes and Crepes
For pancakes with fruit, you’ll want to go with a slightly-sweet wine. A sparkling wine like Prosecco or semi-sparkling Moscato d’Asti pair well with blueberry pancakes. You could also go with an off-dry Riesling.
If you like your pancakes with fresh strawberries (or if this recipe for strawberry ricotta crepes speaks to you), go with a sparkling rosé or a sweet fizzy red wine like Lambrusco or Brachetto d’Acqui.
Chocolate pancakes pair well with a sweet red wine like Banyuls or a fruit-forward red like Zinfandel.
Waffles
Pair sweet and fruity Belgian waffles with a sweet sparkling wine like Prosecco or demi-sec Champagne.
Even though chicken and waffles have a savory component, you’ll still want a slightly sweet wine to go with the honey or syrup. A sparkling wine like Proscecco is a great choice, because it has a touch of sweetness and because bubbly pairs well with fried chicken.
French Toast
Pair traditional French toast with a dry Riesling to balance out the sweetness. If you prefer a sweeter take on French toast, like jelly-filled French toast or cinnamon apple French toast, go with an off-dry Riesling or sweet fizzy wine like Moscato d'Asti.
If you’re all about recreating specialty French toast at home, look to the main flavors to help you pick a wine. For instance, Nutella French toast pairs well with Banyuls or a fruit-forward red like Merlot. Pair chai tea French toast with Madeira or a sparkling wine like Prosecco.
In Vino Finito
Did we miss your favorite breakfast for dinner dish? Email us and we can help you find the right wine to pair with it!
