37 Vegan Breakfast Ideas for Bright-Eyed, Plant-Based Mornings
Breakfast—especially vegan breakfast—is often on my mind. I like to joke that I am not a morning person, but I am decidedly a breakfast person. I go to bed dreaming of the morning meals I’ll whip up the next day: tofu scrambles, avocado toast, hearty breakfast bowls—anything that will keep me satiated until lunch (which I start thinking about as soon as breakfast is over).
Sure, you could rip open a cup of nondairy yogurt or spread a slice of toast with peanut butter and call it a morning. But sometimes, it’s worth taking an extra minute to cook an easy vegan breakfast recipe that’s totally satisfying. Think overnight oats, crunchy granola, refreshing smoothies, and even chewy bagels. You’ll even find recipes here that double as snacks and desserts, like a 3-ingredient granola peach crisp and an eye-opening lemon-pistachio loaf. Come with me down the plant-based path, won’t you?
Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo1/37Stovetop Skillet Granola
For a quick vegan breakfast, skip the oven method and make granola on the stovetop instead. This guide from my former colleague Lauren Joseph is extremely riffable: Toast your oats in olive oil, coconut oil, or vegan butter, and mix in all the fruit and nuts your heart desires.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich2/37
Vegan Sweet Potato Date Muffins
Studded with juicy dates and rolled oats, these hearty muffins are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast. Sweet potato purée and mashed bananas bind the ingredients and add earthy sweetness to the batter.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks3/37
Tempeh “Bacon”
Marinate thinly sliced tempeh in soy sauce, smoked paprika, and rich maple syrup, then pan-fry until golden brown, and serve with your favorite tofu scramble or atop avocado toast.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Molly Baz4/37
3-Ingredient Peach Crisp With Granola Topping
Who says fruit crisp has to be reserved for dessert? Last I checked, cooked fruit and oats were a perfectly acceptable breakfast combo. Thanks to store-bought granola, this sweet breakfast option comes together in no time at all—a scoop or dollop of plant-based dairy is purely optional.
- Photo by Candice Kumai5/37
Avocado-Miso-Mushroom Bowl
Everything that goes into this savory grain bowl gets tossed in an irresistible miso-tahini dressing. To really take it into breakfast territory, add on some scrambled tofu or slices of tempeh.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Bill Clark6/37
Vegan Corn Muffins With Whipped Sweet Corn
To make these tender, fluffy cornbread muffins, you don't need butter or eggs—creamy whipped corn and flaxseeds take their place (and do a really good job of it, too).
- Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova7/37
Breakfast Sweet Potatoes
Roast or microwave a sweet potato and then top it with anything you like. Go sweet with maple syrup, toasted coconut, and a pour of oat, soy, or almond milk—or go savory with your favorite nut butter plus hot sauce and dairy-free cheese.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Anna Stockwell8/37
Super Green Smoothie Bowl with Matcha and Ginger
Soak oats and chia seeds in coconut milk for 10 minutes, then blitz the mix with avocado, ginger, mango, spinach, almond butter, and matcha. Complete your smoothie bowl with a topping of fresh fruit and granola, and enjoy with a spoon.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell9/37
Slow-Cooker Oatmeal With Apples and Ginger
Knowing you have a bubbling hot breakfast waiting for you on a chilly morning makes getting out of bed so much easier.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou10/37
Strawberry-Granola Crisp
This crisp is a delicious vegan dessert, but also perfectly suitable for breakfast or brunch. Stir olive oil and maple syrup with oats, almonds, shredded coconut, and flour, then scatter the crumble over fresh strawberries. Want to make this dish in the middle of winter? Frozen berries work just fine.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell11/37
Coconut-Apple-Ginger Dal
Eating this velvety lentil stew, brightened with shredded apple and fresh ginger, is like getting a warm hug on a chilly fall morning.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich12/37
Power Butter
Stash a jar of this seedy almond butter–based powerhouse in your pantry or desk drawer to slather on toast or gluten-free rice cakes for an instant breakfast.
- Photo by Peden & Munk13/37
Banana, Coffee, Cashew, and Cocoa Smoothie
For a caffeine-filled breakfast smoothie that comes together in a jiffy, soak your oats and cashews overnight, then blend with bananas, pitted Medjool dates, cold-brew coffee, and a touch of cocoa powder.
- Photo by Con Poulos14/37
Seed and Nut Bread
Chia seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, quinoa, almonds, and maple syrup make this a nutritious addition to any morning meal. Use it to make avocado toast, serve it with a breakfast hash, or top slices with nut butter.
- Photo by Alex Lau15/37
Blood Orange–Chia Pudding
Give chia pudding a burst of vibrant color with blood orange juice. While this recipe calls for plain yogurt and honey, it works just as well with your favorite plant-based yogurt and vegan sweetener, like agave or brown rice syrup.
- Photo by Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott16/37
Lemon-Pistachio Loaf
A combination of vegetable oil and olive oil keeps this brunchy pistachio loaf moist, while lemon zest adds brightness. Be sure to cool this cake completely before lifting it out of the baking pan, as its delicate crumb needs time to set.
- Photo by Colin Price17/37
Watermelon Chia Smoothie
This vegan smoothie has watermelon, strawberries, mint, chia seeds, and cauliflower—yes, cauliflower! Make it with coconut water, herbal tea, or your favorite dairy-free milk for a cooling breakfast to beat the summer heat.
- Photo by Peden & Munk18/37
Tropical Carrot, Turmeric, and Ginger Smoothie
A pinch of salt brings out the sweetness of mangoes, carrots, and oranges in this somewhat savory breakfast smoothie. If you can't find fresh turmeric or ginger, substitute with dried.
- Photo by Alex Lau19/37
Mango Toast with Hazelnut-Pepita Butter
Tired of avocado toast? Try sweet-and-savory fruit toast instead. Slather slices of sourdough with nut butter, then top them with mango or other fresh fruits like sliced apples and melons.
- 20/37
The Best Vegan Breakfast Sandwich
For the ultimate savory breakfast, layer umami-rich vegan scrambled eggs with crispy cassava bacon and dairy-free cheese on English muffins. (Then bookmark that egg recipe for your next vegan breakfast burrito.)
- Photo by Cara Howe21/37
Steel-Cut Oats With Squash and Tahini
Meal prep early in the week by making a big batch of steel-cut oats. Top your daily portion with something different each day, like peanut-butter-banana, last night's roasted squash, or fresh berries and toasted pecans.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou22/37
Spicy Braised Tofu
This quicker-than-quick soy-braised tofu makes an excellent vegan brunch dish. The gochugaru-spiced sauce is eye opening in the best way.
- Photo by Angelica Mari23/37
Coconut-Lime Energy Bites
These energy bites not only hit the spot for something sweet, they’re also nutrient-dense, thanks to macadamia nuts, cashews, oats, chia seeds, and hemp seeds. Keep a few with you for an on-the-go breakfast option or easy snack.
- Christina Holmes24/37
Skillet Hash Browns
A few simple ingredients—potatoes, salt, pepper, vegetable oil, and scallions—are all you need to make this easy breakfast. Pro-tip: Keep portioned slices in your freezer, and reheat in the oven or microwave for easy hash browns anytime.
- Photo by Aubrie Pick25/37
Super-Simple Overnight Porridge
Soak rice overnight in vegetable broth so that this morning meal, which is fragrant with ginger and scallions, cooks in less time than it would otherwise.
- Leo Gong26/37
Bagels
The secret to the best bagels? A long, slow, and cold fermentation. Make a big batch and use them for breakfast sandwiches or as a base for tofu scrambles.
- Photo by Gentl & Hyers, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski27/37
Coconut-Date Power Breakfast Bars
To make this easy vegan recipe, spread a paste of Medjool dates and lime juice over an almond-y base made with whole wheat flour and oats, then top with coconut (both shredded and flaked) and chopped nuts.
- Photo & Food Styling by Joseph De Leo28/37
Kong Jaban (Korean Sweet Black Beans)
These sweet-and-savory black beans are often served as a side dish in Korean households, but we also love them for a savory-sweet breakfast. Serve over plain rice or add to a grain bowl.
- Photo by Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn29/37
Toasted Coconut Chia Pudding
Chia seeds thicken this dairy-free pudding. Top it with whatever fresh fruit is in season and sweeten with maple syrup (or your favorite vegan sweetener) as desired.
- Zoe Singer30/37
Moby's Vegan Blueberry Pancakes
This hearty vegan pancake recipe come from Moby (yes, that Moby). It's made with creamy-tasting spelt flour and nutrient-rich oat bran and wheat bran. No blueberries? Swap in sliced bananas for banana pancakes. Weekending? Go ahead and toss some vegan chocolate chips on there, too.
- Photo by Kyle Fidel31/37
Quick Breakfast Quinoa
Protein-rich quinoa makes this a filling and satisfying breakfast. Simmer quinoa in water until tender, then add a splash of almond milk and a handful of dried and fresh fruit towards the end.
- Photo by Lauren Toyota32/37
Cassava Bacon
Serve this meatless bacon as part of a brunch feast, or pile onto English muffins with a tofu scramble and toppings for a delicious savory vegan breakfast.
- Photo by Alex Lau33/37
Coconut and Crispy Chickpea Trail Mix
This trail mix is great for an on-the-go snacky breakfast. It's sweetened ever so slightly with maple syrup, and a touch of cayenne pepper brings a little heat.
- Photo by Tara Donne, food and prop styling by Ali Nardi34/37
Avocado Toast with Tomato-Corn Salsa
Is it even a vegan breakfast recipe round up without avocado toast? Here, classic avocado toast gets a twist with a fresh tomato and corn salsa.
- Photo by Eva Kolenko35/37
Almond, Kale, and Banana Smoothie
This smoothie is former food director Carla Lalli Music's saving grace. “No matter what kind of madness is waiting for me at work,” she says, "at least I can start the day right. The sweetness of the bananas and dates balances out a big handful of virtuous kale."
- 36/37
Breakfast Cookies
Cookies for breakfast? We say absolutely. With all the good stuff in here (dried fruit, flax, coconut, and more) I may even take two.
- Photo by Nicole Franzen37/37
Grain Bowl With Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Spiced Chickpeas, and Chard
Don't forget about grain bowls when brainstorming vegan breakfast ideas. The lunchtime staple also makes for a versatile breakfast. Use quinoa, brown rice, or farro as your base, then top with whatever sweet or savory ingredients you have on hand.
Tiffany Hopkins
Genevieve Yam