When it comes to vegetarian breakfasts, there's a common misconception that they're either pretty boring or simply won't fill you up. But we know that being a vegetarian (or simply adding more veggies to your diet) doesn't mean starting the day with just a bowl of lettuce. We're here to bring the pizzazz, the sparkle, and the shine to the most important meal of your day — vegetarian-style.
Here are 10 breakfast ideas that are nutritious, hearty, yummy, and totally free from meat.
1. Avocado Toast, 5 Ways
Image: Love & Lemons
There's avocado toast, and then there's avocado toast. And these five different toast options will take your morning breakfast sandwich to the next level.
Whether it's a Vietnamese-inspired avo toast mixed in with banh mi pickles or a vegan breakfast using mashed avocado, carrots, and capers, you'll never look at bread and this creamy green fruit the same way again.
Pro tip: Opt for whole-grain bread as it contains more fiber, which is great for your digestive health. For an extra pop of flavor, use the cut side of a halved garlic clove to lightly rub each bread slice as soon as it comes out of the toaster.
2. Breakfast Egg Muffins
Image: Show Me the Yummy
If you're looking for a low-carb, high-protein vegetarian breakfast recipe, you’ll want to give these delicious egg muffins a try. Why is a high-protein breakfast a good idea? Because it plays a vital role in helping you feel full — and stay full.
And you don't need to get your protein just from meat — at 13 grams of protein each, eggs are one of the best sources of vegetarian protein (and they're delicious too).
We like this recipe because it's the perfect way to amp up your veggie intake. This recipe uses bell peppers, onions, and baby spinach, but you can add any of your favorite vegetables. Try a kale, corn, and tomato combo, or asparagus, peas, and sweet potatoes.
3. Blueberry Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
Image: Shane and Simple
A vegetarian breakfast isn't synonymous with boring granola (which you might want to avoid anyway since it can be pretty high in sugar). Instead, get ready to grab your phone cam to 'gram this beautiful breakfast choice. Bonus: It isn't just a vegetarian recipe, it's also a yummy vegan breakfast idea.
With just four ingredients, this hearty quinoa bowl recipe is simple and takes less than 20 minutes to cook. Thanks to the quinoa, this healthy breakfast is high in protein, fiber, iron, and other vitamins and minerals to keep your body happy and strong. Serve with fresh fruit, maple syrup, or chopped nuts for a delish morning meal.
4. Vegan French Toast
Image: A Virtual Vegan
You won't believe there's not a single egg or pat of butter in this vegan French toast recipe. To create the brunch of your dreams, all you need is a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes to cook this treat to golden perfection.
Better still, this recipe gives you the perfect excuse to use your stale, crusty bread for soaking up the custard. (It works better than fresh bread, trust us.) Thanks to the tofu hidden in the custard (don’t worry, you won't taste the tofu), there's 10 grams of protein in each slice of French toast, so you’ll feel full until lunchtime.
5. Chickpea Flour Pancakes
Image: Hurry the Food Up
If you're ready to take your flapjacks to the next level, you have to try these Indian-inspired savory pancakes made from chickpea flour.
Ghee is ideal for this recipe, thanks to its high smoke point and buttery taste, but you can also use olive oil instead to make this a vegan breakfast recipe. Cook with any veggies you like, but be sure to dice them finely. Enjoy with pickles and chutney, yogurt and cream, hummus, or guacamole.
6. Vegetarian Breakfast Tacos
Image: A Beautiful Plate
Get ready to exclaim "Olé" once you get a taste of this hearty vegetarian Mexican taco breakfast. You’ll load cheesy soft scrambled eggs into charred corn tortillas, then top with scallions, black beans, cabbage, avocado, and salsa. We won't blame you if you decide to have this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
If you want a vegan alternative, simply swap the scrambled eggs for a tofu scramble — it'll be just as delicious. You could also use larger tortillas and make a breakfast burrito instead. Don't forget the hot sauce!
7. The Cereal School
Speaking of having something for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and maybe even a snack), we reckon The Cereal School is a pretty good option. After all, when it comes to cereal, we just can't get enough.
And while cereal has gotten a pretty bad rap for its high sugar content, we're confident you'll agree that ours is one of the healthiest cereals around — and it’s perfect as a vegetarian breakfast.
To start, there's zero sugar in our crunchy cereal, just one gram of carbs, and a whopping 16 grams of protein per serving.
We only use natural, non-GMO ingredients, with no preservatives, and Cereal School is also gluten-free and grain-free. Even better, there’s no prep time for this breakfast.
8. Double Chocolate Chip Strawberry Oat Waffles
Image: Vegetarian Gastronomy
This breakfast sounds so decadent and delicious that you'd be forgiven for wondering if we've lost all sense of what makes a healthy vegetarian breakfast. But trust us, with just 261 calories per serving, this scrumptious waffle recipe is made with ingredients that won't leave you feeling yucky.
It also uses whole-wheat pastry flour (as well as flaxseeds and oats) to up your fiber intake, and is sweetened mainly by bananas, not added sugar. Use dairy-free milk and vegan chocolate chips to enjoy this as a vegan recipe.
9. No-Bake Peanut Butter Chia Healthy Granola Bars
Image: Well Plated by Erin
If breakfast on-the-go is more your thing, we’ve got you covered with this no-bake recipe. Now, normally, we might not recommend granola bars because of their high added sugar content, but this homemade granola bar recipe is different.
It's a no-bake, one-bowl, freezer-friendly, and ultra-versatile vegetarian breakfast. While the base is peanut butter, oatmeal, and honey, you can pretty much customize these bars to your preference.
This particular recipe uses nuts for protein, chia seeds for fiber, and millet for crunch. Leftover bars can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to two months.
10. Enchilada Breakfast Casserole
Image: High Vibe Lifestyle
Using tofu scramble instead of eggs, corn tortillas, enchilada sauce, vegan cheddar cheese, pinto beans, corn, and zucchini, this is a deeply satisfying and surprisingly easy savory breakfast to make.
Deep skillet, Dutch oven, or a baking dish — no matter your choice of cookware, one thing is for sure: this recipe is convenient because you'll only need one pan. Top it all off with crispy, shredded lettuce and some vegan sour cream. And no, we won't judge if you decide to have it for lunch or dinner too.
It’s Easy Going Meatless With These Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas
There you have it, a perfect 10 list of hearty vegetarian breakfasts that proves a meat-free, healthy breakfast can fill your belly and tantalize your taste buds. Sweet or savory, simple or extravagant, there is a vegetarian breakfast to suit your taste and lifestyle.
And as you can see, not all vegetarian breakfasts require you to consult a cookbook for inspiration. Case in point: The Cereal School. All it takes to enjoy these little balls of crunchy goodness is ripping open the packet. Eat it straight from the bag,with or without milk, we won’t judge. Although we wouldn't recommend having it with water — that's just lawless.
