We’re often asked “What do you have for breakfast as a vegan?” Well, plant based breakfasts are so much easier, filling and delicious than you think. Many people have been used to having eggs and want a great vegan egg substitute (we’ve got all the egg substitutes covered in another blog post), or maybe have been eating sugary cereals for years and want a healthy plant based replacement. So here are our Best Vegan & Plant Based Breakfasts, plus some plant based tips for your morning meal. Most are gluten-free too!
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What people often miss in breakfast is having one or some of; filling vegan protein (we’ve listed the best vegan protein sources and recipes in this post), complex carbohydrates, fibre and good fats. But of course, if you want to keep things very simple, the below are still vegan breakfasts.
- Vegan cereal with vegan milk
- Bowl of fresh fruit
- Smoothie; I use Hemp Protein Powder (affiliate link) in mine and some avocado for good filling vegan fats!
Tofu Scramble (or even a full vegan fry up)
Many of us will have eaten scrambled eggs on multiple occasions. It’s easily veganised with tofu (best made with silken tofu – affiliate link). It’s a quick and easy breakfast, and packed full of vegan protein. You can even add extra spices for some fun flavours, like smoked paprika and cumin for a Mexican-themed vegan breakfast.
If you want to go mad, there’s nothing to stop you doing a full fry up (in the UK this would be called a Vegan Full English Breakfast) by adding baked beans, fake vegan meats like vegan sausages, vegan bacon and even hash brown. These ingredients will be in most supermarkets or in any healthfood shop.
Superfood High Protein Powerbowl
I literally swear by this Vegan High Protein Powerbowl, and eat it as my plant based breakfast most weekdays. It’s packed full of vegan protein from the chia seeds (affiliate link), nut butter, quinoa and seeds. It has lots of filling good fats from the nuts and nut butter, tones of fibre and natural sweetness from the fruit. It’s jammed with flavour whether you choose to add cacao, cinnamon, maca or anything else.
I batch cook enough of the base mix to last me a month, and store in my freezer in separate containers. So each day I just top with a bit with fruit, yoghurt and nut butter. Keeps me full for hours!
Vegan Frittatas
Back on the plant based egg substitutes! Frittata is a delicious savoury, gluten free vegan breakfast (but also great for picnics and other meals – so versatile). Made with a base of silken tofu and gram / chickpea flour, it firms up nicely in the oven (we love Clearspring silken tofu). You can mix with whatever vegetables you have available e.g. sun-dried tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, so they’re great for reducing food waste.
Make them in muffin tins for mini frittatas like these Mini Eggless Bites, or do one big one like this Courgette and Leek Vegan Frittata.
Savoury Pancakes
Perfect for the weekends or entertaining, plant based pancakes are an easy breakfast treat! One of our favourites for Autumn / Fall (but suitable anytime of year as you can just use tinned pumpkin puree) are these fluffy & flavourful Vegan Pumpkin Pancakes with Facon and Maple Syrup (which are also gluten free). Topped with facon, or vegan bacon, and maple syrup; they are the ultimate North American flavour contrast.
Either buy facon (there are some incredible brands out there) or make your own – Louise’s Tofu Facon is divine!
Sweet Pancakes
Just as good as their savoury counterparts, sweet pancakes are perfect for fun and indulgent breakfasts! Also very easily made gluten free with a gluten free flour like our Vegan Tahini Buckwheat Pancakes with White Chocolate Sauce. If you want to indulge even more on the sauce side, drizzle with our 4 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Salted Caramel Sauce!
Quick and simple Avocado on Toast
Don’t trust anyone who says they don’t love avocado on toast! I often eat avocado on toast with my vegan tofu scramble for breakfast but it’s also great on its own. We all have our own ways of making avocado on toast – it’s a plant based staple we can jazz up. I love it topped with pomegrante, but it’s also delicious with some homemade vegan crunchy parmesan on top, or some chopped spring onions. For extra protein top with Louise’s tofu facon. YUM!
Vegan Fritters
Vegan fritters are great for a bit of plant-based breakfast variety and are great for that food waste reduction as you can just use up what you have in your fridge. A bright vegan breakfast to make any Sunday morning are these vegan Corn Fritters with Roasted Tomatoes. If you don’t have those ingredients, you can make these fritters which use up any vegetables from the bottom of the fridge.
Vegan Omelette
One of my greatest plant based breakfast finds! Vegan omelette is easy, gluten free and soy free, made mostly of gram / chickpea flour (affiliate link). I often just made a basic omelette then fill it with whatever takes my fancy on the day like sauteed mushrooms or our Smoked ‘Bacon’, Apple, Thyme & Vegan Cheese Omelette.
Savoury Vegan Breakfast Muffins
I love these Easy Vegan Savoury Spinach Muffins which even work as a vegan breakfast on the go! You make 12 so you can eat them all week (if they last that long!). They will also freeze well and are great for vegan picnics. Indulge even more and get in more vegan protein and those good fats by spreading one with nut butter. If you know me, you’ll know I am a nut butter addict, so I reviewed my favourite brands – check out the post.
Enjoy these our Best Vegan & Plant Based Breakfasts, and start getting excited about your food-filled mornings!
Easy Vegan Rhubarb Cake
