17 French Toast Side Dishes

The beauty of French toast is its savory versatility.

Cheesy scrambled eggs are a healthy protein partner, and I use farm-fresh or organic eggs for my brunch menu.

They deliver flavor missing from mass-produced eggs. Add a dollop of creme fraiche to put them over the top.

I’m a massive fan of French toast and fresh fruit salad.

Fresh fruit salad adds fiber to your diet and fills that craving for something sweet.

Fruit salad has endless options. Blending a summer berry mix with tropical fruit is divine–think ripe mango, pineapple, banana, blueberry, and mandarin fruits.

Serving smoked salmon with French toast will impress your guests whether you smoke your own hot-smoke salmon or purchase top-quality smoke salmon at your local supermarket.

If you’re considering hot-smoking your salmon, it takes more prep time, but it’s worth it.

If you’re like me and have a sweet tooth, adding creamy Greek-style yogurt with fresh strawberries turns French toast into a heavenly breakfast that satisfies your sugar cravings and promotes good gut health.

Allow the strawberries or other fruit to sweeten the yogurt naturally to avoid that unhealthy sugar rush.

Hmm, bacon. If you have your version of Homer who likes pocket bacon, surprise them with homemade bacon and French toast.

After all, bacon goes with everything.  Homemade bacon takes effort, savvy know-how, and planning, but it’s so yummy that even Michel Roux will be impressed.

Nothing says breakfast tradition like sausage links; making your own is fun for the family. After all, it’s better to control what goes into our food.

Sausage links only take a handful of ingredients but don’t skimp on the pork belly and season to taste. Spice them up with a dash of fennel.

Sausage links freeze well too. This standard is also a dinner fav at my house.

Scrambled eggs are a family favorite. Fluffy and moist, start with organic free-range eggs to get that authentic flavor profile we all associate with this comfort food.

I whisk my eggs for added fluff and heat the pan to medium. Take off the heat when still slightly wet to avoid overcooking.

Have you seen the price of granola at the store? That’s why I make my own.

Granola is a great companion for French toast and adds the crunchy-chewy element I crave.

By making granola, I control what goes in, which is my favorite nuts and seeds. I sweeten it with natural honey.

I used to believe that grilling peaches was sacrilege.

However, once you try grilling firm peaches over medium heat in a pan or grill, you’ll understand why everyone goes crazy for French toast with grilled peach halves during the peach season.

Grilled peaches also add pizzazz to your presentation. So decadent!

If you want to see clean plates, add savory prosciutto and melon to your stacks of French toast.

Prosciutto complements any sweet juicy fruit, or is it the other way around? Prosciutto is a fancy way of saying cured ham, but it perks up French toast.

This is so sophisticated you’ll impress everyone.

Well, whenever someone mentions Quiche Lorraine, my mouth waters. I enjoy quiche for lunch or dinner.

That is, until I added it to my French toast brunch menu. Whether you make a family-sized pie or miniature, these delicious egg, bacon, and cheese delicacies are a triumph.

Miniature quiche also travels well on a picnic and tastes great chilled.

Cream Parfait sounds fancy and looks impressive, but it’s a simple way to revitalize a French toast, and after all, Crème Parfait is its cousin and another French classic.

However, it’s technically a Roman invention. It’s perfect for serving on a hot summer day with seasonal fruit.

If you have leftover potatoes, this is the way to jazz them up and create a one-dish masterpiece.

Egg hash with skillet potatoes is a great way to feed everyone on those mornings when you need a hearty breakfast and are pressed for time—season with fresh chives and add a sprinkle of cheddar cheese.

I can’t imagine eating French toast without a banana.

Caramelized bananas are gooey, sticky, and so delicious that the kids will gobble them up. The pan can get messy, but caramelized bananas instantly turn cinnamon French toast into a sophisticated dessert.

Try adding ice cream or whipped cream.

Not hard to make and so worth the effort to pair your French toast with.

I use the bacon grease to add another element of flavor and Russet potatoes because they crisp up. I season liberally with fresh chives and don’t skimp on the butter.

Remember to dry your shredded potatoes.

Caramelized pears are a sophisticated fruit option that pair (no pun intended) well with a classic like French toast.

The caramelization develops the delicate flavor of pears, and the cinnamon in the toast fuses it into a delectable dish that works as a dessert served with ice cream and topped with brandy.

This is for a grown-up brunch menu and my family and friends who are more health-conscious and don’t want all that sugar (weird, I know).

Arugula and avocado are light but satisfying breakfast starters that help balance the savory side of the salmon and French toast. It’s exquisite.