An extensive guide to the best breakfast foods you could have in Spain.
In Spain, having a delicious breakfast every morning is common to ensure you get the energy you need to start your day.
This post is aimed to provide the best Spanish breakfast ideas to make the most of your morning.
Some of the recipes you have here can be quickly prepared, which is ideal to prepare on busy days, and others are ideal to elaborate on your free weekends.
Now let’s dive into the list of Spanish breakfast foods list which might help you choose your favorite dish for your next trip to Spain.
Feel free to use our Spain breakfast recipes!
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Pssst…??!! You can’t get enough Spanish food? Have a look at my other posts:
Best Spanish Breakfast Foods – Savory Breakfast
1.Tortilla de Patatas
One of the most popular Spanish breakfast foods is the tortilla de patatas.
To prepare this delicious Spanish recipe, you should have quite a lot of time because you will need to peel, cut, and fry some potatoes.
Then, you must beat some eggs, mix them with the fried potatoes, stir the mixture, and cook it in the frying pan with just a little bit of olive oil.
Onion is also an ingredient that could be added to the tortilla to make it tastier.
If you do not have enough time, you can make a tortilla francesa, which is the same but without having to fry the potatoes.
Get the recipe: Tortilla de Patatas – Spanish Omelette Recipe
2. Empanadas
Simple Spanish breakfast foods that are enjoyed in Spain are empanadas.
These salty and nutritious snacks will provide you with everything you need to face a hard working day or a busy traveling journey.
You can find them in local bakeries and they can be filled with lamb, pork, chicken, and seafood.
It doesn’t matter which one you choose because all of them are delicious.
Get the recipes:
- Spanish Chicken Empanada Recipe
- Spanish Beef Empanadas Recipe
- Fruit empanada
- Cheesy Cheese empanada
- Best shrimp empanada recipe
3. Spanish Tomato Toast
One of my top 10 breakfast foods in Spanish is Pan con tomate, or toasted bread with tomatoes and olive oil.
These Hispanic breakfast foods are served in almost all bars and they usually offer the option to top them with some regional cheese or cured ham.
The tomato toast is a simple and fast way to prepare a Spanish breakfast, and even though it isn’t an elaborate dish, the flavors are on point.
Get the recipe: Easy Spanish Tomato Toast [Pan con Tomate]
4. Bocadillos (Sandwiches)
Another typical Spanish breakfast is bocadillo. They are usually prepared with a baguette, or Spanish bread, pitufo – a mini bread bum.
The great thing about bocadillos is that you can choose the filling you like the most.
Fill them with calamari rings, tortilla de patatas, Jamon and cheese. Or make a serranito with pork loin steak and Jamon.
Add some mayonnaise to it or your favorite sauce and it will be delicious. As it is a big sandwich, you can have it as lunch.
Get the recipe: Easy Spanish Sandwich Recipe [El Serranito]
5. Pan-fried eggs with Potatoes
If you are looking for some breakfast egg recipes, you should definitely prepare pan-fried eggs with potatoes.
This Spanish breakfast dish may be a little time-consuming, but the result will never disappoint you.
As with most Spanish breakfast foods, you just need to use some excellent olive oil to fry the ingredients all together and make the most of each bite.
6. Migas
Migas were one of the most widespread Spanish breakfast foods among peasants in the past. The main reason is that its ingredients were cheap and easy for them to get.
Migas are fried pieces of wet bread that can be cooked with some meat, like for example, chorizo.
Nowadays, it is eaten throughout Spain, and it has become increasingly popular because of its exquisite taste.
Get the recipe: Traditional Spanish Migas Recipe
7. Patatas a lo Pobre
A typical Spanish breakfast to get tons of energy is patatas a lo Pobre.
This is one of the easy Spanish breakfast recipes to make using potatoes, green pepper, garlic, and, of course, onion.
You just need to fry the potato slices, green pepper, garlic, and onion in a pan with olive oil.
To get the perfect texture, you must fry them slowly because you don’t want burnt onion or potatoes in this dish. It is very caloric but delicious also.
Get the recipe: Patatas a lo Pobre – “Poor Man’s Potatoes” Recipe
8. The Mediterraneo Breakfast
Complete breakfast in Spain is called the Mediterraneo and is one of the most popular breakfast food in Spain, especially among locals.
It combines a hot drink such as coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, a natural orange juice, toast with olive oil and tomato, cold cuts, fruit, and yogurt.
The idea behind this Spanish style breakfast is to add food that is from the Mediterranean diet, so basically, you can put together whatever you like as long as they are Mediterranean.
Get the recipe:
9. Pitufo with different fillings
A pitufo is a small bread very popular in Málaga and it can be translated as smurf bread.
In fact, it is just called pitufo in this region of Spain, so you shouldn’t be surprised if you order it somewhere else and they don’t understand what you are asking for.
They are filled with cheese and ham, fried eggs, or sausages, and it definitely makes a difference if the pitufo is fresh.
Get the recipe: Easy Spanish Bread Recipe [Pitufo Bread from Malaga]
10. Vegan Spanish Omelet Recipe
Tortilla española vegana is one of the healthiest Spanish breakfast recipes that can be considered a savory plant-based alternative to the usual Spanish omelet, which is usually cooked with eggs and potatoes.
Vegan Spanish omelets are a delicious substitute for people who have a plant-based diet or want to consume less animal products.
They provide a tasty and cruelty-free choice for everyone to enjoy while capturing the flavor of the classic Spanish omelet.
If we want to prepare it at home, we just need to prepare a mixture of chickpea flour and water that will resemble beaten eggs and sauté the vegetables we most like.
Get the recipe: Vegan Spanish Omelette Recipe
La Paella: Deliciously Authentic Rice Dishes from Spain’s Mediterranean CoastCarbon Steel Paella PanPaella Seasoning from SpainSpanish AioliOrganic Extra Virgin Olive OilForum – Spanish Cabranet Sauvignon Red Wine Vinegar – 500 mL
11. Huevos a la Flamenca Recipe
Huevos a la Flamenca is a tasty baked meal made with eggs, various vegetables, and some meat or fish.
In Spain, eggs a la flamenca are commonly eaten during brunch or lunch; nevertheless, small servings of this dish may also be offered as a tapa.
Spanish breakfast recipes or Spanish brunch recipes like these seem connected to Andalusia, the region where flamenco was born.
In fact, the name huevos a la flamenca, which can be translated as ‘flamenco-style eggs’, may be a tribute to the local culture.
Get the recipe: Huevos a la Flamenca
12. Spanish Omelette with Chorizo Recipe
A delightful variant of the traditional tortilla española that integrates the flavors of chorizo is the Spanish omelet with chorizo.
Adding chorizo to the classic tortilla gives a savory and spicy twist to this common meal, and it can be eaten hot or cold.
Omelets are one of the easiest and quickest Spanish breakfast recipes to prepare at home.
If we want to impress our guests with this peculiar tortilla, we should just sauté some diced chorizo, and while these are getting cooked, we need to beat some eggs.
Then, we have to pour the chorizo into the beaten eggs and pour all the ingredients together into the frying pan again.
Get the recipe: Spanish Omelette with Chorizo
13. Spanish Potatoes and Eggs Recipe
Spanish potatoes and eggs is a common regional dish called huevos rotos.
The translation of the Spanish name is ‘broken eggs,’ and it makes sense because it consists of fried sliced potatoes and eggs that should be cut to allow the yolk to spread on the potatoes.
It is one of the easiest Spanish breakfast recipes we will ever read because to have it ready, we need to fry sliced potatoes and eggs.
The fresher the Spanish breakfast items or ingredients you get, the better the dish will taste.
Get the recipe: Spanish Potatoes and Eggs
Best Spanish Breakfast Foods – Sweet Breakfast
14. Churros con Chocolate
A very popular sweet Spanish breakfast recipe is churros con chocolate.
Churros are sweet fried pastries that are usually eaten as breakfast or as an afternoon snack.
You should bear in mind that churros con chocolate is commonly eaten in winter because it helps you get warmed when walking around the city looking for some Christmas presents.
In Spain, hot chocolates are quite thick, and you will need just a few churros to fill your tummy.
Get the recipe: Authentic Churros Recipe from Spain
15. Spanish Pastries
Some traditional Spanish breakfast foods are varied pastries, which are usually loved by those who enjoy having tea in the morning.
Each region of Spain has different kinds of Spanish breakfast sweets, but everywhere you go, you will find delicious pastries.
In Winter, locals love to have some ginger or cinnamon pastries, whereas in Summer, pastries like napolitanas are the best fit for your coffee.
Get the recipes:
- Irresistible Mantecados from Spain
- Easy Spanish Pumpkin Fritters
- Delicious Pestiños Recipe
- Best Alfajores Recipe Ever!
- Roscos de Vino Recipe
- Spanish Polvoron Recipe
16. Torrijas
Torrijas are one of the most typical breakfast examples of Easter. This Spanish breakfast dish was traditionally prepared to avoid wasting bread.
This sweet breakfast recipe consists of soaking some slices of hard bread in milk warmed with some lemon peel and a vanilla stick.
After that, you must coat them with sugar and cinnamon and fry them. A healthier version of the traditional torrijas can be made by cooking them in the oven.
Get the recipe: Delicious Torrijas Recipe (Spanish French Toast)
17. Spanish Crepes
When looking for some easy and yummy Spanish breakfast recipes, you may want to try to prepare some crepes at home.
You just need to blend some flour, eggs, milk, and sugar to prepare the mixture.
After that, pour the batter into a pan and wait for 30 seconds to get the consistency that allows you to flip it.
The great thing about crepes is that you can fill them with sweet or savory ingredients.
Although the most popular ones are chocolate crepes, you can also have them with cheese and ham.
Get the recipe: Best Spanish Crepes – Tasty Recipe from a Local
18. Toast with Butter and Jam
As mentioned above, toasted bread with tomato and olive oil is a typical breakfast in Spain.
However, you can easily get a toast with butter and jam if you feel like eating something sweet early in the morning. Apricot and strawberry ham are the most popular among locals.
To make this toast even more Spanish, prepare some dulce de membrillo (quince paste) in autumn and put some slices on your buttered toast.
It’s one of the Spanish breakfast meals you should try at least once!
19. Spanish Muffins (Magdalenas)
A delicious and easy Spanish breakfast is a magdalenas. These Spanish breakfast foods are very similar to American muffins; however, they are usually smaller.
The main difference between Spanish magdalenas and American muffins is that magdalenas are like a small portion of a sponge cake.
They are just a mixture of flour, eggs, and sugar that is baked in a cupcake tray.
Spanish magdalenas do not contain chocolate chips or fruit jams, but if you want, you can add them. They won’t be the authentic Spanish ones but your kids will love them.
Get the recipe: Best Ever Spanish Magdalenas Recipe
20. Bizocho (Spanish Sponge Cake)
Sweet Spanish breakfast foods like bizcochos are very popular to have with coffee and tea.
A bizcocho is a sponge cake and might differ for each part of Spain.
You can get a fruity bizcocho, flavored with some orange or lemon peel, a chocolate one, or you may prefer one with nuts.
Nevertheless, the plain Spanish sponge cake is made with flour, eggs, sugar, baking powder, and vanilla.
Get the recipe: Best Spanish Sponge Cake for Breakfast
21. Ensaimada
Your list of Spanish breakfast foods should definitely contain the ensaimada. Ensaimadas are a traditional sweet pastry from Mallorca.
It consists of baked dough made with flour, sugar, baking powder, and pork fat.
The kind of pork fat that is used to prepare it is known as saim, and ensaimada literally means ‘with saim.’
Ensaimadas can be plain, filled with sweet ingredients, or topped with cream, apricots, or sobrasada (Mallorcan sausage).
They are delicious, so you should never miss the opportunity to try them.
Get the recipe: Soft Ensaymada Recipe from Spain
22. Spanish Almond Cake
A typical dessert that can also be eaten as breakfast is the Spanish almond cake. In Mallorca, there is a regional almond cake called gató.
To prepare it, you will need to get some crushed almonds, flour, eggs, sugar, and baking powder.
You will need to mix all the ingredients inside a blender and bake the mixture in your oven at 180ªC for approximately 30 minutes.
Once it’s cooled down, dust it with powdered sugar or your favorite frosting and serve with next to a cup of coffee.
Get the recipe: Spanish Almond Cake
23. Apple Empanada
Apple pies or apple empanadas are also one of the favorite Spanish breakfasts among locals.
To prepare them at home, you can buy some empanada dough and apples to make a compote.
The compote can be made by heating small apple cubes in the microwave and adding sugar and cinnamon.
Cut the dough into rounded shapes, fill it with the apple compote, and give them an egg wash in order to have a golden color once they’re baked.
Get the recipe: Delicious Apple Empanada from Spain
24. Spanish Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is one of the most popular Spanish breakfast recipes, and it is a simple but delicious sweet delicacy prepared with stale bread, milk, eggs, and sugar.
Spanish bread pudding is a tasty dessert that can be prepared in several different ways by using regional ingredients and flavors.
This dessert is pretty simple to make at home; all we need to do is soak some crusty bread in milk and make a custard with eggs, sugar, vanilla essence, and lemon zest.
Place all of these ingredients in a baking dish and bake them for 40 minutes with a water bath.
Get the recipe: Spanish Bread Pudding
25. Pan de Leche Recipe
Pan de leche, or Spanish milk bread, is a soft, lightly sweet bread that is popular among Spaniards because it is perfect for breakfast or as a snack.
It is usually consumed plain but we can also have it with some butter, chocolate, or jam.
To make Spanish breakfast recipes like these at home, we just need to combine milk, yeast, flour, sugar, and salt to make a dough.
The dough will then be divided into small spherical rolls and baked for 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Pan de Leche Recipe
26. Spanish Rice Pudding Recipe (Arroz con Leche)
Arroz con leche, a classic Spanish rice pudding, is often cherished as a comforting and satisfying breakfast option.
Made with simple yet wholesome ingredients such as rice, milk, sugar, and a touch of cinnamon, the dish has a creamy consistency that provides a hearty start to the day.
Served either warm or cold, arroz con leche embodies the essence of a comforting breakfast that combines the heartiness of rice with the sweetness of milk.
It makes it a beloved morning choice in Spain.
Get the recipe: Arroz con leche
La Paella: Deliciously Authentic Rice Dishes from Spain’s Mediterranean CoastCarbon Steel Paella PanPaella Seasoning from SpainSpanish AioliOrganic Extra Virgin Olive OilForum – Spanish Cabranet Sauvignon Red Wine Vinegar – 500 mL
Best Spanish Breakfast Foods – Tasty Drinks
27. Cafe con Leche
Café con leche, or coffee with milk, is considered one of the best breakfast beverages in Spain for its simple yet essential role in the morning routine.
It’s typically included in a Spanish breakfast menu in restaurants or cafes.
The rich and robust flavor of Spanish coffee is balanced perfectly with the creamy texture of warm milk, creating a comforting and invigorating start to the day.
Spaniards appreciate the ritual of enjoying café con leche, either on its own or paired with traditional breakfast items like tostadas or pastries.
28. Horchata
Horchata is a popular and refreshing beverage in Spain, often enjoyed with breakfast due to its light and invigorating qualities.
Made primarily from ground tiger nuts, water, sugar, and sometimes a hint of cinnamon, this plant-based drink offers a subtly sweet and nutty flavor.
The drink’s natural sweetness and cooling effect make it a delightful choice to complement the variety of flavors found in a traditional breakfast in spain.
Get the recipe: Best Spanish Horchata Recipe by a Local
29. Fresh Orange Juice
Fresh-squeezed orange juice holds a special place in Spanish breakfast culture due to its vibrant flavor, nutritional benefits, and refreshing qualities.
Made from locally grown, ripe oranges, this simple yet invigorating beverage is a symbol of freshness and authenticity.
Packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, fresh-squeezed orange juice is not only a delicious complement to various breakfast options but also provides a healthful and energizing start to the day.
30. Spanish Hot Chocolate
Spanish hot chocolate is celebrated as a decadent and indulgent breakfast option in Spain, renowned for its rich and velvety texture.
It is made with high-quality dark chocolate, milk, sugar, and sometimes a hint of cornstarch for thickness.
This luxurious beverage offers a delightful balance of sweetness and intense chocolate flavor offering an indulgent and satisfying morning experience.
Get the recipe: Spanish Hot Chocolate
31. Carajillo – The Spanish Coffee
Carajillo, a popular Spanish coffee cocktail, is esteemed as an invigorating and flavorful choice for breakfast.
Made with a base of strong black coffee, the addition of Spanish brandy or rum provides a spirited kick, while sugar is added to sweeten the mix.
The combination of caffeine and alcohol offers a bold and uplifting start to the day, providing both warmth and energy.
It is often enjoyed alongside a leisurely breakfast or brunch, contributing to its popularity as a morning indulgence.
Get the recipe: Carajillo Recipe
Short FAQ about the Best Spanish Breakfast Foods
What do Spanish people eat for breakfast?
Spanish people often enjoy a variety of breakfast foods in Spanish, including items like tostadas (toasted bread with toppings), churros with hot chocolate, bocadillos (sandwiches), and traditional Spanish omelettes.
What time is breakfast in Spain?
Spanish breakfast foods are usually eaten from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
If you have breakfast later than that, it is considered brunch.
What bread do they eat in Spain?
A typical Spanish breakfast is toast, and the bread that is typical of Spain is the pan moreno.
This kind of bread is not as processed as white bread, and it contains more nutrients and fiber.
What do Spanish eat for breakfast?
Spain breakfast foods options include tostadas, bocadillos, tortilla española, and café con leche. Additionally, some may opt for pastries, fresh fruit, or yogurt as part of their morning meal.
What is a Spanish cheese?
Bread in Spain is usually accompanied by some regional cheese.
In fact, most breakfast examples in which toast is involved also include typical cheeses like queso manchego.
What are breakfast dishes in Spain?
Common breakfast foods in Spain encompass a variety of options, such as pan-fried eggs with potatoes, migas, patatas a lo pobre, empanadas, tomato toast, pitufo, and even omelet, offering a diverse and flavorful start to the day.
Hola, I’m Paulina! Together with my team, we are passionate about Southern Spain. Here we share all you need to know for great times in Southern Spain with the best places to visit, stay and, of course, the best food to eat.
Let’s dive in and explore Southern Spain’s outdoors, food and culture con pasión!