hand holding blueberry muffin with muffins on baking rack

Stuck in a breakfast rut? Let me help you blast it with these 14 delicious AND nutritious plant-based breakfast ideas. You could try a new recipe each day for two weeks! As a dietitian, I’m all about easy plant-based recipes that make breakfast as delicious as it is energizing.

What do vegans eat for breakfast?

If you’re new to a plant-based diet, figuring out new recipes can feel exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. My advice? Start by figuring out vegan versions of the meals you already know and love. Test out 2-3 versions as there is such a wide variety of tastes and approaches out there.

Always eat scrambled eggs? Go for a tofu or chickpea scramble (both are below!). Love a smoothie? Well, they’re the easiest thing in the world to veganize! Just make sure you’re getting a dose of plant-based protein and including high fiber plant foods so you feel full and satisfied with your sipper.

Explore different smoothie recipes or use my DIY smoothie guide to make sure your smoothie is super balanced. If you live for your morning latte, be sure to explore a wide variety of plant-based milk alternatives until you find one with the taste and texture you love.

If you’re new to vegan or plant-based living and feel like you need some guidance, I have a simple step-by-step guide to going vegan, and our dietitians are always here if you need one-on-one advice. My plant-based cookbook, Eat More Plants, also has great advice for staying nourished and energized on a plant-based diet along with a ton of plant-based breakfast ideas that run the gamut of busy morning ready to brunch.

What does a healthy vegan breakfast look like?

I am a BIG breakfast person…while it’s changed a bit as I get older, I used to wake up ravenous every morning and couldn’t imagine how people skipped breakfast! If you’re here, I am guessing you might be the same. When it comes to my morning meal, I need it to be filling and to stay with me for more than 30 minutes…which means ensuring that it is a well-balanced meal with all of the core plant foods:

  • whole grains: whole grains offer filling fibre, a small amount of protein and energizing slow-burn carbs
  • fruits and vegetables: I always try (operative word: try) to make half my plate fruits and vegetables for their nutrient-density. Plenty of vitamins, minerals, anti-inflammatory phytochemicals and fibre for your gut microbiome
  • plant-based proteins: along with fibre, protein helps to slow down the rate at which blood sugars rise, keeping your blood sugar levels – as well as your appetite and energy levels! – on a more even keel.
  • healthy fats: don’t fear fat! Fat is critical for making your breakfast more flavourful, more filling and even helping you absorb fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin A as well as some phytochemicals (lycopene in tomatoes for example). Avocados are great, but don’t forget about omega 3-rich seeds to get your daily dose: hemp hearts, chia seeds and flax seeds.

And remember, not everything you eat has to be ‘optimized’ for nutrition. Sometimes, you’re gonna just want a vegan donut. Which is totally cool. A healthy life isn’t about eating only ‘healthy’ foods. It’s about building up your body with nutrient-dense whole foods so it can thrive, leaving plenty of room for the occasional potato chip, chocolate bar or pizza.

20 Plant based Breakfast Ideas

Whether you love a sweet or a savoury breakfast, you’ve got a few minutes to spare, you want to meal prep or you need a 5 minute meal, there is something for everyone in this list of easy plant based breakfast recipes.

Plant-based Breakfast Burritos

vegan black bean burrito

Healthy Vegan Black Bean Breakfast Burritos

5 from 2 ratings
This vegan breakfast burrito recipe is the perfect way to start your day! Think black beans, sweet potatoes, spinach and more, for plenty of fibre and protein to set you up for success. A terrific plant-based breakfast, these breakfast burritos are made without tofu, and take just 30 minutes to make. Recipe yields 6 breakfast burritos, and they freeze wonderfully!
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Plant-based Oatmeal and Overnight Oats Recipes

apple pie oatmeal in bowl with spoon

15-Minute Vegan Apple Pie Oatmeal

4.93 from 13 ratings
These might just be the most delicious oats you’ll ever make! This vegan apple pie oatmeal is topped with cinnamon and swirled with a five-ingredient tahini caramel sauce that is so delicious your head might explode. Seriously. It’s a hot, satisfying and decadent breakfast that comes together in less than fifteen minutes
Get the recipe
tiramisu overnight oats in jars

5 Minute Tiramisu Overnight Oats

5 from 3 ratings
The most delicious tiramisu overnight oats you'll ever make! Made with instant coffee for a richer flavour. Blood sugar friendly, protein rich! Vegan, Low FODMAP too.
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blueberry overnight oats in glasses with cashews

5 Minute Blueberry-Chia Overnight Oats (vegan)

These blueberry overnight oats are made with rolled oats and chia seeds and are a delicious, nourishing on-the-go vegan breakfast. Just pop them into the fridge before you go to bed and breakfast is ready when you wake up! The addition of vegan Greek-style yogurt adds extra protein to keep you going but you can totally substitute whatever plant-based yogurt you have on  hand.
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Vegan Scrambles + “Egg” Recipes

Chickpea Scramble with Toast and Avocado on Plate

Easy Protein-Packed Chickpea Scramble

4.62 from 21 ratings
This filling, fibre and protein-packed chickpea scramble takes less than ten minutes to make and will keep you energized all morning long. Brunch it up by serving with roasted potatoes, fresh fruit and all the fixings!
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bagel with chickpea egg, spinach and avocado

Vegan Breakfast Sandwich with Chickpea Flour Eggs

5 from 5 ratings
This vegan breakfast sandwich is packed with healthy, nourishing ingredients. Made with chickpea flour “eggs,” vegan cheese, spinach, sprouted grain bread, and more, this is an amazing savory plant-based breakfast. It’s quick and easy to make too — you just need 20 minutes!
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tofu scramble in white bowl with glasses

Spinach + Feta Tofu Scramble

5 from 1 rating
Looking for a high protein vegan breakfast that will really satisfy? This quick and easy spinach + feta tofu scramble is vegan, gluten free, low FODMAP and only takes about 15 minutes to make.
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Vegan Waffles and Pancakes

waffles with pear and peanut butter on white plate

Homemade Sweet Potato Waffles

4.84 from 6 ratings
I never met a waffle I didn't like…but these vegan, gluten free sweet potato waffles are definitely my new fave. Moist and tender inside and lightly sweet, they are delicious with any sweet or savoury topping you can add! Be sure to make a double batch so you can freeze them for later.
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Plant-based Smoothies

turmeric green smoothie in glass

5 Minute Turmeric Ginger Smoothie with Greens

4.73 from 18 ratings
Packed with an anti-inflammatory trio of ground turmeric, fresh ginger and greens (baby spinach or kale) this 5-minute breakfast smoothie is the energizing start your need to your day. It’s quick to make, refreshing, and nutritious—another terrific trio!
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Blushing Beet Smoothie Bowl

5 from 1 rating
This beet smoothie bowl is bursting with flavour! Fresh raspberries, creamy banana, protein powder and omega 3 rich flax make this a nourishing and well-balanced breakfast!
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peanut butter on spoon with banana, cocoa and hemp hearts

Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie (Vegan)

5 from 5 ratings
This decadently healthy chocolate peanut butter smoothie is a filling and satisfying way to start the day thanks to protein + healthy fat from omega-3 rich hemp hearts and peanut butter. Great with a shot of espresso too for a breakfast on the go!
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Homemade Nut Butters

homemade nut butter in glass jar with spoon

Healthy Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Nut Butter

5 from 2 ratings
This rich and creamy cashew + pecan butter, inspired by Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal takes just 6 ingredients and 15 minutes to make! Low in sugar, with a satisfying crunch, this healthy homemade nut butter will make you fall in love with mornings again.
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hand holding jar of homemade peanut butter

Easy Homemade Peanut Butter

5 from 1 rating
Prepare to be shocked at how easy it is to make delicious homemade peanut butter! One ingredient. Five minutes. And a creamy, nutrient-dense peanut butter to slather all over toast or use in your favourite recipes.
Get the recipe
hand holding blueberry muffin with muffins on baking rack

20 Nutritious Plant-Based Breakfast Recipes: Vegan Blueberry Muffins

Packed with plump blueberries and plenty of plant-based protein and healthy fats, these healthy vegan blueberry muffins are easy to prepare, loaded with anti-inflammatory ingredients and SO tasty!
4.50 from 4 ratings
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Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 cup almond meal
  • ¾ cup gluten free all purpose flour
  • ½ cup rolled oats, (learn about the benefits of oats!)
  • zest of half a lemon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, vanilla is nice here!
  • 1 small ripe banana, mashed
  • ¼ cup ground flax
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons cane sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen

Equipment

  • muffin tin

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375° Fahrenheit (190°C) and line a muffin tin with paper or silicone muffin liners.
  • In a small bowl, mix ground flax with 1/4 cup hot tap water. Stir and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the almond meal, flour, oats, lemon zest, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond milk, banana, gelled flax, olive oil, maple syrup, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla.
  • Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and whisk until combined. Then gently fold in blueberries.
  • Use a ¼ cup measure to scoop batter into muffin cups. Bake for 23-25 minutes until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
  • Let muffins cool for at least 10 minutes in the muffin tin before removing muffins to cool fully on a cooling rack.

Notes

If using frozen blueberries, I prefer to add my blueberries to the batter completely frozen as it saves the step of thawing them. They bleed a little colour but I don’t mind.
Want to save time and minimize bleed? Add blueberries to the dry ingredients and gently toss together BEFORE adding the wet ingredients. Soooo against the baking rules, but it totally works 🙂
Also, as with many vegan and gluten free recipes….
A) substitutions don’t always work. better to follow recipe as written
B) ensure that muffins are 100% cool before handling! GF recipes tend to firm up as they cool