Brunch Dishes That Will Make Your Mouth Water

Brunch, like pretty much everything else in the past year, has suffered a hit, with the New York Times even publishing an opinion piece in March of 2020 titled "Please, Don't Go Out to Brunch Today." And, indeed, if dining out for any meal still seems a little risky right now, meeting up with friends for something as, err, invented as brunch certainly lands on the low end of the not-really-necessary bar. So, since it might be a few more months until you can meet up with your brunch buds for Benedicts and Bloodies, here is some breakfast-meets-lunch eye candy to tide you over (or probably just make you miss it even more).

Related: 25 Indulgent Brunch Recipes for a Weekend Feast at Home

Julia Child once said: "Everything can have drama if it's done right. Even a pancake." We think this photo proves that.

Related: 45 Best Homemade Pancake Recipes

There is perhaps no more iconic brunch offering than eggs Benedict: poached eggs, English muffins, ham, and a creamy Hollandaise sauce. 

Related: Hollandaise Sauce and Other Condiment Recipes to Liven up Multiple Meals

An array of mouth-watering bite-sized Belgian Liege waffles. What makes a waffle Belgian? A lighter batter plus larger and deeper square-shaped syrup receptacles. And liege waffles are typically sweeter and chewier than regular ones.

Related: 25 Places to Find Amazing Waffles Across the Country

The humble potato is a welcome addition to any brunch meal, and here it is paired with eggs, ham, and a smattering of fresh green onions.

Related: Skillets, Casseroles, and Other Cheap and Easy One-Pot Meals

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Carbs and caffeine — need we say more? 

Related: How to Satisfy Your $5 Starbucks Habit at Home

Nothing makes brunch more brunch than the presence of cocktails like mimosas, bellinis, and bloody marys.

Related: Spirits and Mixers Every Home Bar Should Have

Somehow, the French toast we make at home never quite comes out looking as good as it does at our favorite brunch spot. Here, it's served with fresh fruit and a splash of vanilla cream. 

Ahh, tacos — they really are adaptable to any meal, right? Here are some fresh, warm tortillas packed full of scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, and peppers.

Related: 30 Cheap, Delicious Ways to Fill Your Tacos

No brunch is complete without a well-stocked bloody mary bar that lets diners customize their mid-day cocktail with things like peppers, bacon, shrimp, celery stalks, and other flavor-packed accouterments.

Related: 25 Over-the-Top Bloody Marys Across America

A classic open-faced BLT amped up by the presence of fried soda bread, fresh avocado, and a fried egg. 

Related: The Greatest Breakfast Sandwich In Every State

This iconic, stick-to-your-ribs Southern brunch dish originated in the coastal Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia. 

Another brunch dish with a heavy Southern influence, this chicken and waffles dish is given a punch of extra flavor with gravy and bits of bacon.

Related: Best Fried Chicken in Every State

Bagels, cream cheese, salmon, and a sprinkling of capers? Yes, please.

A relatively recent entry into brunch ubiquity, this avocado toast is packed with basil leaves for maximum flavor.

Related: 30 Cheap, Easy Breakfast Ideas to Start the Day Right

If this shot of Southern-style biscuits sandwiching sausage gravy and fresh thyme doesn't get your mouth watering for brunch, we don't know what will. 

It might not be the most-ordered item on the brunch menu, but there's no denying that a hot bowl of oatmeal — especially one crammed with nuts, fruits, brown sugar, and more — will fill up a hungry bruncher.

Related: 20 Ways to Jazz Up Your Oatmeal