Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, hands down. I sometimes will go to sleep excited to wake up in the morning, simply because I’m looking forward to what I’m going to eat. (Is that sad?)

These vegan-friendly breakfast ideas are meant to inspire people to branch out and start their day with a super simple recipe they may not have thought to try otherwise!

(And, just to back track a bit, what is a plant-based breakfast one might ask? Plant-based meals are dishes that are made without using any animal products whatsoever– no meat, dairy, eggs, or even honey.)

I also want to leave no room for excuses as to why you’re just having coffee for breakfast or skipping the meal entirely. Let’s face it, this is a self-loving, body-positive space, so that restrictive mindset will just not suffice here.

Remember, food is fuel. Nourish your bodies today; you absolutely deserve it!

Table of Contents:

Loaded Protein Oatmeal

If you follow me over on Instagram (and if you don’t, you should!) you probably already know about my undying love for oatmeal. Stovetop oatmeal not only is an insanely quick and easy breakfast to make when you’re half-asleep in the morning, but it’s also really filling if you load it up!

My current favorite recipe is:

  • 1/2 c. quick oats
  • 1 c. plant-based milk
  • one scoop of chocolate or vanilla protein powder (I will forever favor the brand Orgain)
  • one spoonful of ground flax seeds

Then, here comes the fun part. To make these oats even tastier, I load them with toppings galore:

  • chopped walnuts
  • one spoonful of creamy, natural nut butter
  • sliced fruit (banana, strawberries, blueberries, etc.)
  • chia seeds
  • whole flax seeds
  • some sort of cereal (Chex or Cheerios, to name a few)

Let me just say, I used to hate oatmeal, but now I crave it on the daily!

Overnight Oats

Believe it or not, overnight oats are even easier to make than regular oatmeal. I like to eat this meal whenever I know I have a busy day coming up and want to quickly prepare something the night before.

I already posted a fool-proof recipe of these overnight oats here on my blog, but here’s another simple recipe that’s a new favorite of mine:

  • 1/2 c. quick or old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 c. plant-based milk
  • 1 scoop of chocolate or vanilla protein powder
  • 1 tbsp. nut butter *
  • Optional:
    • 1 tsp. cinnamon
    • 1 tsp. cacao powder
    • 1 tbsp. chia seeds
    • 1 tsp. flax seeds

Mix all of these ingredients in an air-tight container and store in the fridge overnight. In the morning, top them with sliced fruit, chopped nuts, maybe even chocolate chips, and enjoy!

*If you just finished a jar of nut butter, use that as your container instead of mixing the butter in! This will still allow for the flavor to be present, without dirtying extra dishes.

Chia Seed Pudding

Similar to overnight oats, chia seed pudding is something really quick to whip up in preparation for breakfast the next day.

This is also yet another recipe that I have posted on my Instagram as well:

  • 4 tbsp. chia seeds
  • 1 c. plant-based milk
  • 1 scoop of chocolate or vanilla protein powder
  • Optional:
    • 1 spoonful of nut butter (or mix everything in the nut butter jar, like I mentioned for overnight oats)
    • 1 tsp. cacao powder

Simple as that! Mix everything together in a mason jar or another air-tight container, and leave in the fridge overnight.

Banana Oat Pancakes

These pancakes are so beyond tasty and loaded with protein, that I already have an entire blog post dedicated to the recipe.

Click here to check it out!

(To make it completely vegan, you can replace the egg with a flax egg– mix 1 tbsp. of ground flax seed with 3 tbsp. water and let sit for five minutes to thicken.)

Tofu Scramble

(Ft. a yummy veggie sausage)

You can spice up tofu scramble many different ways, but here’s what I like to do:

  1. Heat 1 tbsp. of olive oil over medium heat in a skillet.
  2. Crumble tofu (as little or as much as you want) into the pan.
  3. Add in leaves of spinach.
  4. Cook until spinach is wilted and glossy.
  5. Season with turmeric, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
  6. Enjoy!

Smoothie Bowls

Like the banana oat pancakes, I also have an entire blog post already dedicated to making the perfect smoothie bowl right in the comfort of your own home.

Click here to check it out!

Avocado Toast (with a twist)

This photo may not look extremely appetizing, but believe me when I tell you that this will step up your avocado toast game.

Instead of just spreading avocado on a plain piece of toast, I like to: toast a plain or everything bagel, spread it with fresh avocado, add drained/rinsed white beans on top, and season with everything bagel seasoning and chili powder. Don’t knock it ’til you try it!

Vegetable Skillets

This is one of the easiest breakfasts to make if you’re looking to load on the veggies. Vegetable skillets can make for a nice side dish, or can even be your main meal. Rinse, chop, and sauté your vegetables on a frying pan with olive oil over medium heat.

Some suggestions for veggies to cook up are:

  • spinach
  • onions
  • mushrooms
  • squash
  • sweet potatoes
  • bell peppers

Although this may not be your “typical” breakfast dish, it’s a great way to change up your morning routine and diversify your microbiome!

Smoky Tempeh Strips

Obviously, the meal pictured is not entirely plant-based, but I wanted to put an emphasis on my favorite breakfast side dish– smoky tempeh strips. Although these will not suffice for an entire breakfast on their own, they are a fantastic additive to your main meal.

I eat these multiple times a week, and have found different ways to incorporate them into my breakfasts, such as using them in a bagel sandwich or even making my own vegan BLT. You simply lay them in a skillet over medium/low heat, add a bit of oil or water, and cook until your desired texture!

These are especially great if you’ve just recently transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle, or are trying to cut out more meats, but still miss the good-ole bacon sensation.

I like to buy the premade Lightlife brand, but you can try out other brands or even make some from scratch yourself!

And, there you have it! Hopefully this has inspired you to incorporate some new plant-based dishes into your morning routine. Happy cooking, friends!