Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Healthy Meals Vegan 21 High-Protein Vegan Breakfast Ideas to Keep You Full We share delicious, easy vegan breakfast options for anyone following a plant-based diet. By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 4, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Erin Scott If you're looking for high-protein vegan breakfast ideas, look no further. Whether experimenting with veganism or simply wishing to eat less meat and animal products, finding a vegan breakfast recipe that tastes good and keeps you full until your next meal can be challenging. (The first meal of the day is often dominated by ingredients like eggs and bacon—far from vegan-friendly.) While vegan breakfasts full of protein may be tricky to find, it's not impossible. Read on to learn why protein is essential, and find various plant-based breakfast recipes that taste delicious, pack on protein, and are easy to make. Why Is Protein Important? Protein is a crucial component of one's overall health and is responsible for producing antibodies, enzymes, blood, connective tissue, hormones, and more. If you're omitting meat, eggs, and dairy from your diet, you need to make sure you're still consuming enough protein. Protein is also critical for muscle repair and growth, which is why eating a protein-rich meal shortly before or after a workout is important. Easy High-Protein Vegan Breakfast Ideas From breakfast burritos to breakfast smoothies and everything in between, we gathered 21 vegan breakfast recipes to add to your mornings. 01 of 21 Vegan Breakfast Burrito With Tofu Scramble Jennifer Causey As any longtime vegan will tell you, tofu is an excellent source of plant-based protein. In this breakfast burrito recipe, the tofu resembles scrambled eggs and is flavored with ground turmeric, cumin, and nutritional yeast—giving it a bold and slightly cheesy taste. The sliced avocado and jarred salsa also contribute a substantial amount of protein, as do the whole-wheat tortillas. get the recipe 02 of 21 Overnight Oats With Strawberries and Toasted Almonds Jen Causey Old-fashioned rolled oats are given the no-cook overnight treatment and served cold. Prepare them with water or plant-based milk to keep this recipe vegan (and skip the honey or use a plant-based alternative, like agave). Pair your overnight oats with the ingredients of your choice. This particular recipe calls for fresh strawberries and sliced almonds, but feel free to use any of your favorite high-protein toppings, such as chopped almonds and banana slices. get the recipe 03 of 21 Nutty Superfood Breakfast Bites Grace Elkus If you can't seem to make time in the morning to sit down and enjoy breakfast, make a batch of these no-bake bars over the weekend and grab one or two before running out the door. The protein from the almonds, quinoa, and pistachios will keep you full all morning, while the goji berries and blueberries are loaded with antioxidants. This recipe calls for honey, which isn't technically vegan, but feel free to use vegan honey alternatives like agave nectar or date syrup instead. Store the bars between layers of parchment paper to keep them from sticking. They'll keep for one week at room temperature and two weeks in the fridge. get the recipe 04 of 21 Creamy Coconut Yogurt Getty Images While vegan yogurt used to be hard to find, you can now pick some up at most grocery stores. However, if you prefer to make your own, give this recipe for creamy coconut yogurt a whirl. It's made with a combination of coconut and nut milk and gets its yogurt-like thickness courtesy of cornstarch. Eat it solo as a snack, or use it in a tasty parfait with fresh fruit and nuts for a quick and easy protein-filled breakfast. get the recipe 05 of 21 Avocado Toast Danny Kim It doesn't get much easier or tastier than avocado toast. In its simplest form, this trendy breakfast food is naturally vegan, and it's a great source of protein—thanks to the avocado. Top your toast with sliced tomatoes, sesame seeds, or seasoned tempeh to kick the protein content up a notch while keeping this meal plant-based. Swapping your usual bread with sprouted grain bread is also a great way to start your day with more protein. get the recipe 06 of 21 Tropical Creamsicle Smoothie Greg Dupree This refreshing beverage takes just five minutes to make, is super healthy, and is just the kind of homemade meal that deserves a spot on your socials. Mango, carrots, and coconut milk are good protein sources, while apple cider vinegar delivers just the right amount of tang (with added health benefits for your gut). Keep this recipe completely vegan by omitting the honey or using a plant-based alternative. get the recipe 07 of 21 Tofu Scramble Wraps With Spinach and Spiced Sunflower Seeds Erin Scott Who needs scrambled eggs when you can have scrambled tofu? This recipe from Jane Goodall (yes, that Jane Goodall) transforms normally-bland tofu into a protein-packed flavor bomb by adding chickpea flour and turmeric to the mix. Sunflower seeds, fresh spinach, and whole-wheat tortillas also provide a sizeable protein boost. get the recipe 08 of 21 Creamy Date Shakes Greg DuPree Start your day on a sweet note by sipping on one of these creamy date shakes. While Medjool dates are a solid source of protein with an irresistible butterscotch-like taste, you'll get most of the protein in this drink from almond milk and hemp seeds (one of the healthiest seeds). Add a tablespoon of peanut or almond butter to the mix to take the protein content to the next level. get the recipe 09 of 21 Raspberry Smoothie Bowl Christopher Testani Forget drinking your smoothie—try a smoothie bowl for breakfast that's full of protein. It's thick enough for toppings and eating with a spoon. Simply blend your smoothie ingredients, pour into a bowl, and top with fresh fruit, nuts, granola, and seeds. This specific recipe uses honey, which you can replace with agave nectar to keep it vegan. get the recipe 10 of 21 Pomegranate-Almond Toast Caitlin Bensel Whole grain toast is topped with almond butter, pomegranate arils (seeds), and pumpkin seeds (aka pepitas). Protein comes mainly from the almond butter and pepitas. It's a unique and simple breakfast idea you can make in just five minutes. Plus, customize the toppings to your liking—use sunflower seeds instead or substitute fresh berries for the pomegranate. get the recipe 11 of 21 Pink Dragon Smoothie Caitlin Bensel Fiber-rich dragon fruit blends with raspberries and a cooked beet for a vibrant-colored breakfast smoothie. This recipe uses soy milk and yogurt, both high in protein. To keep this a vegan breakfast option, use vegan yogurt and agave instead of honey. get the recipe 12 of 21 Maple, Pear, and Pecan Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oats Brie Passano A comforting breakfast staple, these oats are slow-cooked (perhaps the night before), full of protein, and topped with pecans and sliced pears. Feel free to play with the toppings—apples, walnuts, or almonds also work. When serving, replace the milk with dairy-free milk for a wholesome vegan breakfast. get the recipe 13 of 21 Good Morning Green Smoothie Caitlin Bensel This healthy green smoothie blends two types of vegetables (including protein-rich spinach) with apple and pineapple. It's a great on-the-go breakfast option that's ready in just five minutes. Hemp seeds provide added protein, as does soy milk. get the recipe 14 of 21 Vanilla-Cinnamon Chia Pudding Heather Meldrom Chia seeds combine with almond milk for a delicious, protein-filled chia pudding. Though it takes a couple of hours to set in the fridge, you could prep this creamy dessert-like breakfast ahead of time to save time. For added flavor, top your pudding with toasted coconut, nuts, and fresh fruit. get the recipe 15 of 21 Berry Matcha Smoothie Getty Images Here, we have another protein-filled smoothie recipe—this time, blending blueberries and spinach with matcha powder and coconut milk. Done in only five minutes, it's perfect for busy mornings. Keep it vegan by using plant-based yogurt instead of traditional yogurt. Top with chia or hemp seeds for added protein. get the recipe 16 of 21 Easy Toss-and Bake Granola Jonny Valiant Make this easy granola recipe on the weekend and store it in an airtight container for up to three weeks. Then, use it for breakfast, topping your vegan yogurt and oats or crunching on it as-is. This vegan granola combines oats with almonds, both high in protein. get the recipe 17 of 21 Banana-Cashew Smoothie Image Studios/Getty Images With simple ingredients like cashews and bananas, this four-ingredient smoothie gets its protein from the cashews. Simple and quick to make, you can add soy milk and chia seeds for added protein. Top with fresh banana slices or toasted coconut for a truly delicious breakfast. get the recipe 18 of 21 Savory Oatmeal With Spinach Greg DuPree Try savory oatmeal for a twist on breakfast oats. This recipe cooks the oats with onions before simmering, creating a risotto-like texture. Topped with baby spinach for even more protein, you'll want to skip the poached egg and Parmesan cheese mentioned in the recipe for a comforting, warm vegan breakfast. get the recipe 19 of 21 Coffee-Tahini Smoothie Caitlin Bensel Try this creamy and protein-filled coffee smoothie for a caffeine boost in the morning. Protein comes from the avocado and oat milk, and tahini adds a unique flavor. It's the perfect breakfast for coffee lovers and busy folks. get the recipe 20 of 21 Spicy Peanut and Banana Chia Bars Heather Meldrom A quick option for breakfast, these homemade granola bars pack protein from rolled oats, chia seeds, and peanut butter. Make them ahead of time and keep them for a few days (wrapped in parchment paper) for a simple grab-and-go breakfast option. Though the recipe calls for honey and butter, to keep these granola bars vegan, replace each with plant-based varieties like agave nectar and vegan butter. get the recipe 21 of 21 Creamy Mango Smoothie Gorchittza2012/Getty Images Blending frozen mango chunks with plant-based milk of your choice and vegan yogurt provides a protein-rich smoothie that's creamy and delicious. Top with toasted coconut, fresh pineapple chunks, or seeds for added flavor. You'll feel like you're on an island vacation and get a fresh start to your day. get the recipe These 13 Delicious Plant-Based Products Make Vegan Eating Incredibly Easy Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit