Not Ham, Bacon, Or Sausage — The Flavorful Deli Meat That Belongs In Your Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what's just as important is the meat you add to your plate. Bacon, sausage, ham, or even steak are commonly paired with eggs, whether they're served on top of a sandwich or chopped up in a country-style omelet. While these options are all great, there's one deli meat you may not have thought to add to your spread that will transform your meal: pastrami.

Sometimes, the best breakfast meat is an unlikely one, and pastrami, which is typically made from beef brisket or navel, offers a bold, smoky, and salty flavor. Although pastrami looks similar to corned beef, it has a much richer taste and a tender texture. It's commonly used on sandwiches, but the salty, savory flavors of the beef complement the mild taste of the eggs, making it a seamless swap for bacon or sausage in the morning.

The best part about breakfast meat is that it's often incredibly versatile, and pastrami is no exception. It makes for a great topping on a breakfast sandwich, especially paired with Swiss cheese and an English muffin. Or, you can create a pastrami breakfast casserole with eggs, bits of rye bread, banana peppers, hot sauce, and mozzarella cheese, and pop it in the oven until it's golden and sizzling. 

While steak and eggs are an iconic breakfast pairing, if you're looking for something simple, you can add some pastrami to a pan with scrambled eggs, and top it off with seasonings of your choice. The deli meat is especially tasty fried in a pan for a few minutes until it's nice and crispy, but whether you want it crunchy like a piece of bacon or tender like sausage, it's easy to get creative with.