57 Vegetarian Breakfasts to Power You Through Your Morning

Cilantro and Kale Pesto Toast with a Fried Egg Recipe

Sliced bread is the perfect blank canvas, ready to be loaded up with virtuous ingredients. Here is a toast recipe from the Instagram queen of the genre, Diana Ngo (@diningwithdiana), a cook and mom in the Seattle area who is working on her RD.

Southwestern Sweet Potato and Egg Hash Recipe

Hashes are a great way to incorporate vegetables into the first meal of the day. Here we’ve added a Southwestern spin with chili powder and cumin. Give the potatoes a head start by microwaving them until just shy of tender, then finish them off in the skillet for that coveted crispy texture. Use the leftover black beans to boost protein and fiber in salads, soups, or grain bowls.

Mushroom Frittata Recipe

A frittata is a baked, open-faced omelet with Mediterranean flair. This omelet features fresh mushrooms and arugula tossed over the top to invoke a savory and warm start to your day.

Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel Recipe

Don’t even think about spending Christmas morning flipping pancakes. Instead, turn them into a bread pudding-like casserole. Prepare the recipe at least eight hours ahead so the pancakes absorb the egg-and cream-mixture.

Mini Breakfast Pizzas Recipe

This mini breakfast pizza is glorious: A pizza and salad combo that makes for a delicious weekend breakfast or brunch but also works nicely as a dinner. You can buy whole-wheat pizza dough in the freezer section of your grocery store, or from your favorite local pizza shop, or get a mix from Amazon. We like to par-bake the dough a bit first so it comes out perfectly crispy without overcooking the egg. If you don’t like runny yolks, cook each pizza for an additional couple of minutes.

Waffle Iron Hash Browns Recipe

For hash browns that are crisp on the outside and buttery on the inside, look no further than your multifaceted waffle iron. These iconic breakfast spuds are similar to latkes, but we’ve streamlined the process to make them fail-proof. Since the waffle iron cooks the hash browns simultaneously on both sides, you get to skip the fuss of flipping while still achieving perfectly golden crusts on each side. Try a dollop of Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of chives on top, or serve them with a fried egg and a dash of hot sauce for the ultimate breakfast or brunch.

Overnight Oats with Kefir, Berries, and Toasted Coconut Recipe

This oatmeal bowl is a great on-the-go breakfast and is also made probiotic-rich with the addition of kefir.  This bowl is best enjoyed cold becuase the active cultures in kefir are sensitive to heat. Resist the urge to microwave the oats, keeping it chilled for maximum benefits.

Poached Egg Power Bowls Recipe

This 10-minute dinner features the power trio of protein-packed legumes, seeds, and crisp greens. Quinoa is one of the few plant-based sources of complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids. The runny, nutrient-rich egg yolk doubles as a silky dressing in this vegetarian main.

Avocado Egg-in-a-Hole Is the Breakfast Frankensandwich You Deserve Recipe

First came the egg-in-a-hole; second came a baked egg in avocado. Now, there’s the avocado-egg-in-a-hole, a mishmash of both creations. When making an egg-in-a-hole sandwich, you would usually use a cookie cutter or a knife to punch a hole out of a really thick slice of white or whole wheat bread. Then, you’d crack an egg right into the hole. This time around, with an avocado boat included in the mix, the sunny egg is nestled in an avocado half that fills the hole at the center of your sliced bread. Boom. It’s the same healthy baked egg avocado boat you dearly love—just with the best part of any breakfast sandwich: BREAD. 

Avocado Egg-in-a-Hole

Directions

Get your toast ready. Grab a thick slice of white, or whole wheat, country bread. Using a circular cookie cutter or a knife, cut out a hole at the center of your bread and butter each side generously.

Prep the rest. Halve, pit, and peel an avocado. Scoop some meat out of the middle to make more room for your egg. Set aside. Crack an egg into an individual ramekin or a small cup, and set aside.

Heat the pan. Melt a tablespoon of butter in a cast-iron skillet, or any other oven-proof pan, over medium heat. Add the bread to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes, or until slightly brown. Flip the slice of toast, place the avocado boat in the hole at the center, and carefully pour the egg into the hole of the avocado. Sprinkle salt and pepper over top. After 1 minute of cooking, remove it from the stovetop and slide the skillet into the oven.

Put that bad boy to broil. Sprinkle a handful of shredded cheese all over your avocado egg-in-a-hole and broil on HIGH for 5 minutes, or until the whites are set and the yolks are still runny. 

Dress it up. Add more toppings like hot sauce or red pepper flakes, and herbs like cilantro, parsley, or scallions. Serve immediately while the egg is still runny.

Chocolate Buckwheat Waffles with Juicy Berries Recipe

I've remade the typical syrup-doused waffle breakfast into a lower-sugar, fruit-forward, gluten-free, whole-grain plate with 273 fewer calories. In place of refined all-purpose flour, I go with gluten-free buckwheat flour, which adds 2.4g filling fiber per serving; strawberries add another 2.4g. Barely sweetened berries and yogurt replace maple syrup, slashing 18g added sugar per serving.

5 Spot Banana Pancakes Recipe

Notes: If desired, sprinkle about 1 teaspoon chopped pecans on each pancake after adding banana slices. Serve pancakes with butter and warm maple syrup or a dusting of cinnamon-sugar.

Baked Eggs with Leeks and Mushrooms Recipe

Enjoy this dish hot from the oven, with crusty bread to soak up the runny yolks. For firmer yolks and whites, leave the eggs on the rimmed baking sheet for 4 to 5 minutes before serving.

How to Make Granola Waffles with Strawberry Compote Recipe

Granola is a familiar go-to for “healthy” breakfasts, but isn’t it kind of boring to throw the same granola into the same yogurt every day? So if you also know how to make waffles, then the answer is simple: Turn granola into waffle batter and get out your waffle maker. This granola waffle recipe will help you switch up your morning routine. The crispy exterior of the granola waffles leads to the sweet and almost gooey, strawberry-riddled softer interior. The strawberry compote topping is the perfect excuse to sweeten it up even more if you want to skip the maple syrup (though we can’t wittingly recommend that). Plus it’s still fruit… so, you know, no guilt there.

Granola Waffles with Strawberry Compote 

Ingredients

Slab Quiche with Spinach, Goat Cheese, and Caramelized Onions Recipe

My favorite way to entertain is to invite a bunch of friends over and lay everything out on the dining table: vegetables, pasta, quiche, breads, grains—you name it. I put out plates and forks and decorate the table with candles and cute seasonal vegetables—baby pumpkins and bouquets of sage in the fall, bunches of mint and carrots in the spring, bowlfuls of citrus fruit in the winter, and little fairytale eggplant or bright red cherry tomatoes in the summer. It’s casual and fun, and encourages everyone to eat, drink, and socialize at will. Quiche is an ideal player for this kind of setup—it can be served warm or at room temperature and is just as happy on a brunch spread as it is at dinner or in the afternoon with tea.

Slab Quiche with Spinach, Goat Cheese, and Caramelized Onions

Excerpted from Sheet Pan Suppers Meatless by Raquel Pelzel (Workman Publishing). Copyright © 2017.

Creamy Kale Caesar Salad with Soft-Boiled Eggs Recipe

We leave out the anchovies for a kid-friendly take on classic Caesar salad. Instead of romaine, we use dark, bumpy lacinato kale leaves; a quick massage makes them perfectly tender. And instead of adding raw egg to the dressing, we add a soft-boiled egg to each serving so the yolk can run over all. A grill pan is a worthy addition to your kitchen for getting quick, chargrilled flavor without having to cook outdoors. Use it to toast the baguette slices and mellow the fresh red onion wedges.

Fresh Corn and Chèvre Grits Recipe

Buttermilk adds a subtle, creamy tang to the grits.

Egg-in-a-Nest Breakfast Pizza Is Perfect for Picky Eaters Recipe

Katie Sullivan Morford, author ofRise and Shine, shares a little breakfast pizza that’s a knockout—both for its magazine-cover good looks and its savory flavor. Plus this kid-friendly recipe is such a breeze to make. Use pre-grated cheese and prewashed arugula, and you can get this baby bubbling in the oven in a matter of minutes before you have to rush out the door. The result of this minimal effort is a crispy, pita-like crust with flavorful toppings—including an oozy, runny egg—for a perfect work and school-day breakfast. This breakfast pizza recipe won all three of Sullivan Morford’s children over at first bite.

Egg-in-a-Nest Pesto Pizza

Adapt It

Use 2 tablespoons of tomato sauce in place of the pesto.

Excerpted from Rise and Shine by Katie Sullivan Morford, © 2016 by Katie Sullivan Morford. Reprinted by arrangement with Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boulder, CO.

Three-Ingredient Pancakes for When You Literally Can't Even Recipe

If you’ve ever tossed a brown banana, apologize right now. Spotty bananas past their prime can transform breads, muffins, smoothies, and these Three-Ingredient Pancakes. Store the next batch languishing on your kitchen counter in the fridge until you’re ready for a quick, 10-minute protein-packed breakfast. The mushier the banana, the sweeter the flavor. Live alone? Great—these are perfectly-portioned for one and reduce food waste. If you’re cooking for a crowd, this recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve more. 

3-Ingredient Pancakes

Boom! That’s it. So simple.

Make Loaded Breakfast Nachos Out of Pancakes Recipe

Who says nachos have to be savory? Our favorite finger food is just as popular in a sweeter version—plus, this one has pancakes, and we just can’t say that about classic nachos. These breakfast nachos mashes up everything we love about a fat stack of pancakes with a bit of culinary magic—also known as frying—to transform the pancakes into triangular “chips.” Classic pancake toppings (fresh berries, chocolate syrup, whipped cream) are re-envisioned as nacho adornments, and we can’t say we’re mad about that.

The key to a crispy pancake chip is the secondary fry. Cook a batch of large pancakes as you normally would (store-bought frozen pancakes work just fine if you’re in a pinch!), roll them flat, then slice each cake into wedges. Fry the pancake wedges in vegetable oil, and presto: crispy, crunchy chips!

Sweet Breakfast Nachos

Eggs Poached in Tomato Sauce with Garlic Cheese Toasts Recipe

We really liked this dish with the fruity heat of Turkish Aleppo pepper, but you can substitute crushed red pepper.

Egg-in-a-WHAT?! How to Make Egg-in-a-Bagel and Egg-in-a-Doughnut Recipe

Egg-in-a-hole, -basket, or -frame—whatever you call it, an egg fried in the center of a carb-y vessel is a glorious thing to wake up to. Let’s be real, not everyone has the energy to roll out of bed and play Betty Crocker with cookie cutters and slices of toast. If you prefer this method for egg-in-a-hole, you go, Glen Coco. For the sleepier folks, this is America, land of the free and home of the brave, where bagels and doughnuts are sold in every corner store and supermarket. Save the toast for tomorrow’s avocado mash and embrace the sweet or savory egg-in-a-whatever-you-call-it.

For Egg-in-a-Bagel:

For Egg-in-a-Doughnut:

Directions

The same steps apply here—just switch out the bagel halves for doughnuts.

Smoky Egg and Cheese Tostada Recipe

Your go-to weeknight dinner cheat just arrived. You can make a tostada out of basically any ingredients as long as you start with a crisped tortilla. Start with 6-inch whole-grain corn tortillas instead of flour, and you'll save about 30 calories and 200mg sodium. Then just top with this fun flavor combo, and crunch. They're the perfect build-your-own superfast fare--so healthy and delicious, you'll want two.

Pomegranate-Farro Breakfast Salad with Honey Ricotta Recipe

For a tangier citrus flavor, go with lemon; for more floral, sweet notes, try tangerine. To keep prep simple, use purchased pomegranate arils from the produce section, or pre-prep a fresh pomegranate the night before.

Instant Pot Breakfast Ratatouille Recipe

Why don’t we make ratatouille for breakfast more often? Winter breakfasts tend to slant sweet and warm—gooey cinnamon rolls, thick porridge smeared with jam, chocolate babka—but what about the savory? Specifically, what about the vegetables? Ratatouille proves that vegetables can be used in the morning outside of an omelet. This vegetable dish is so strong it can actually stand on its own if you don’t eat eggs. Of course our recipe calls for a dozen, but if you’re opting out, just toss in a can of cooked chickpeas for some protein.

The Instant Pot brings this sweet and briny dish to life. Tomatoes, eggplant, and zucchini get cozy in an olive oil bath with onion and garlic. Aside from the magic that is how quickly the Instant Pot cooks vegetables, the best part of breakfast ratatouille is that you can make massive batches of the meal and freeze individual portions. 

Instant Pot Ratatouille

How to Make Sheet Tray Pancakes Recipe

If you’ve ever tried to make pancakes for more people than, well, yourself, you know it’s quite a commitment. You’re glued to the stove, pouring and flipping, while your friends sit at the table and eat. Then, by the time it’s your turn for breakfast, the only pancakes left are cold or burnt. You don’t have to take this anymore. You need to make sheet tray pancakes. Make an extra-large batch of your favorite pancake batter—you’ve got a lot of real estate to cover—the dump the entire batch onto a sheet tray. Cover it with toppings, and be creative (sliced fruit! chocolate chips! bacon bits!) then bake the whole thing in one fell swoop. Slice the warm pancakes into pieces, then serve as you would were they round.

Sheet Tray Pancakes

Salsa-Roasted Potatoes Recipe

Yep. With Salsa. You won't believe how good they taste.

Fried Egg and Avocado Toasts Recipe

Sunny-side-up eggs, fresh sprouts, and salsa amp up avocado toast for a fast, no-fuss meal. It's a sure winner at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Steel-Cut Oatmeal with Apples Recipe

Mornings can be so hectic. We know that. Let your slow cooker relieve the pressure of cooking breakfast with this overnight Instant Pot recipe. While you sleep, your slow cooker is making your breakfast—what could be better? 

Breakfast Bowl with Tomato, Avocado, and Egg Recipe

This is the kind of breakfast that's worth waking up for--and enjoying again for lunch or dinner. If you want a starchy component, add precooked farro or quinoa.

Wilted Spinach and Fried Egg Wheat Berry Bowl Recipe

Start this hearty breakfast bowl with a batch of perfect wheat berries, and then add a tangy twist and some probiotics with kimchi. Round it out with spinach, peanuts, and an egg. Sprinkle with chile flakes for extra heat. 

Brown Sugar-Cinnamon Waffles Recipe

The combination of brown sugar and cinnamon is a classic dessert flavor profile, so why not bring it into your waffle batter? Serve with maple syrup, or, if you're feeling particularly opulent, whipped cream and salted caramel sauce. 

Make-Ahead Shakshuka Recipe

To make ahead, complete step 1; then follow instructions below. Be sure to pierce the yolks (without breaking them) so they won't burst when microwaved.

Egg-Topped Quinoa Bowl with Kale Recipe

Here, the yolk of the fried egg serves as a dressing (without you having to do anything extra) to coat nutrient-dense quinoa. Pancetta adds a snap of savory satisfaction to earthy kale, while all-season cherry tomatoes, meaning you can make it whenever, lend a fresh pop of bright flavor. Sub steel-cut oats, bulgur, or leftover brown rice for quinoa. The hot sauce gives this simple dish a kick in the pants.

Brown Rice Cereal with Vanilla Cream and Berries Recipe

Mornings can be so hectic. We know that. Let your pressure cooker relieve the pressure of cooking breakfast with this quick and easy Instant Pot recipe. Serve hot, at room temperature, or cold. To make ahead for a breakfast on the go, store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Eggs Florentine over Seared Polenta Recipe

For an elegant weekend brunch, try a twist on classic eggs benedict. 

Chilaquiles and Eggs Recipe

Do you sometimes forget to chip-clip your bag of tortilla chips after snacking? Yes? Then you'll love our chilaquiles! Chilaquiles is a delicious Mexican dish that usually includes tortillas. We use stale tortilla chips instead--that way, you can say you left that bag open on purpose. A tip: If you're making this for dinner, use shredded chicken instead of eggs. Save a little extra tomato for more color in the garnish.

Toasted Almond and Apple Quinoa Recipe

Mornings can be so hectic. We know that. Let your pressure cooker relieve the pressure of cooking breakfast with this quick and easy Instant Pot recipe. Jump-start your morning with a bowl of warm quinoa cereal. It's loaded with protein and fiber, which will keep you satisfied throughout the morning.

Shallow-Poached Eggs Recipe

This approach is more about timing than finesse or technique. The key is to slip the cracked eggs into the simmering water at 30-second intervals, then after each has poached for 3 minutes, remove them in the same order in 30-second intervals. As you add more eggs to the pan, the water temperature will dip—adjust the heat accordingly to maintain a gentle simmer throughout. As with swirl-poaching, a little vinegar in the water keeps the whites close to the yolk. You can shallow-poach up to 8 eggs at a time with a large skillet—just put another 30 seconds on the timer for each additional egg.

Instant Pot Whole-Milk Yogurt Recipe

Making your own batch of versatile, nutritious, probiotic-rich yogurt has never been easier. We all know the Instant Pot is awesome acting as both a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, but if you’ve ever wondered about the other claim on the box—Wait, can I really make yogurt in my Instant Pot?—trust us, we tried it out and it’s actually super simple using the Instant Pot’s “Yogurt” setting. All you need is whole milk and a few tablespoons of plain yogurt (you need just a little bit that’s already made to act as a “starter” for your yogurt). Once you’ve made your first batch, be sure to save a few tablespoons of yogurt to start your next batch when your supply is low. Use your homemade yogurt for nutrient-rich smoothies, as a tangy topper for soups and tacos, to make rich sauces and dips, and more. If you want to simply enjoy a bowl for breakfast, top your yogurt as desired with fresh fruit, honey, granola, chopped nuts, etc. You can also stir in a little vanilla extract to taste in order to make vanilla yogurt. 

Huevos Rancheros Recipe

Brunch just got so much better! Green onion and a squeeze of lime add color and zing to the meatless breakfast classic.

Quinoa Bowls with Avocado and Egg Recipe

This quick, satisfying breakfast is loaded with anti-inflammatory foods: extra-virgin olive oil, avocado, tomatoes, quinoa, and omega-3 eggs. For even more anti-inflammatory benefit, serve with an orange or grapefruit.

Quinoa Breakfast Bowl with 6-Minute Egg Recipe

Embrace breakfast’s savory side with this whole-grain bowl. This simple one-dish meal is crowned with a soft-boiled egg; the nutrient-rich yolk creates its own creamy sauce. New research shows that eating eggs with raw vegetables like tomatoes increases your absorption of carotenoids—antioxidants that may protect against heart disease.

Cinnamon-Apple Dutch Baby Recipe

This sheet pan Dutch baby is a perfect dish to whip up for a group brunch, but can easily be transformed into dessert when served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. 

Ground Corn Breakfast Bowls Recipe

Mornings can be so hectic. We know that. Let your pressure cooker relieve the pressure of cooking breakfast with this quick and easy Instant Pot recipe. Try this "no-stir" method for making creamy grits. Serve with eggs and bacon for a heartier meal.

Slow Cooker Eggs in Purgatory Recipe

We're not entirely certain about the history of this classic recipe's name, but perhaps it has something to do with the spicy kick of the sauce. Our version is a shakshuka-like dish in which fiery harissa paste and heady spices slowly infuse a rich tomato sauce where eggs gently poach. Look for jars of harissa with the Middle Eastern foods in your supermarket; you can substitute a half to full teaspoon of crushed red pepper in a pinch. The cook time for the eggs depends on the specific heat of your slow cooker. We offer a range of 15 to 20 minutes, so start checking at 15 minutes (or a couple minutes earlier) to ensure the eggs get done to your liking. Serve with warm whole-wheat pita.

Eggs in Purgatory

This story originally appeared on Cookinglight.com.

Eggs Simmered in Tomato Sauce Recipe

This fragrant, meatless dish is inspired by Middle Eastern shakshuka. Make sure to keep plenty of crusty bread around to mop up the spiced tomato sauce.

Asparagus, Ricotta, and Egg Pizza Recipe

Arranging the dough on a hot pizza stone or skillet will get the crust nice and crisp. Keep an eye on the pizza after you add the eggs so they don't overcook.

Frizzled Sunny-Side Up Eggs Recipe

These are really fun to make, if a little messy. A splatter screen would be a worthwhile investment if this is your egg style of choice. We use plenty of oil here. You don’t eat it all, but an abundance of hot oil gives the whites those delicious crisp, brown edges. Also, at higher temps, whole butter could scorch, making the eggs bitter. You’ll get slightly better results from a cast-iron pan than a nonstick pan, but as long as the pan and oil are hot enough, either will cook the eggs beautifully.

Savory Chickpea Waffles Recipe

We swap sugary pancake syrup for a poached egg and use chickpea flour in place of refined for an extra punch of protein. Enjoy for a quick breakfast or dinner.

Eggs in Jail Recipe

Outerlands restaurant in San Francisco serves this take-off on the classic eggs-in-a-frame. We borrowed the idea for camp. You'll need to pack a bread knife and a 1 1/2-in. round cutter or a tricked-out Swiss Army knife.

Cheese Grits with Poached Eggs Recipe

Grits and eggs are a great canvas for any flavor variation, such as this Tex-Mex take.

Blueberry and Maple-Pecan Granola Parfaits Recipe

This simple parfait requires just a few ingredients: yogurt, blueberries, and a luscious granola layered in between the yogurt. Don't have blueberries? No problem. Substitute your favorite in-season fruit. Because these great parfaits are so easy to assemble, they're great for kids who want to help out in the kitchen.

Eggs with Chickpeas, Spinach, and Tomato Recipe

If you can find them, use farm-fresh eggs to make this quick one-skillet ­supper really shine.

Instagram-Worthy Soft-Boiled Eggs with Cheesy Toast Recipe

Sick of spending $12 on avocado toast? Livid when your Instagram feed is just hundreds of photos of the infamous green mush after Sunday brunch? We totally feel you. Instead of avocado, smash soft-boiled eggs onto a crispy, cheesy piece of toast for a darn delicious treat. Boil eggs until they’re set on the outside but still runny in the center. While the eggs are boiling, plop a mountain of your favorite cheese onto a slice of toast and broil until it’s oozy and golden. Peel the eggs and smash them over the toast. Easy, cheap, and no avocados involved.

Soft-Boiled Eggs with Cheesy Toast

Marinara Poached Eggs Recipe

Switch up your regular breakfast routine with Marinara Poached Egg. Poaching eggs in marinara is easy since the sauce is quite thick. The sauce gives so much more flavor to the eggs compared to the normal water-poaching method. Keep some toasted Italian or French bread handy – you will want to dip.

Banana-Stuffed French Toast Recipe

Huevos Rancheros Tacos Recipe

This is more of a knife-and-fork taco. The soft egg yolk oozes and coats the filling.