When we’re sleep-addled and hungry for something that we can’t put our finger on, sometimes, a mason jar of overnight oats or a green smoothie just don’t cut it. There are times when store-bought breakfast staples are our go-to. They reliably offer nutrients, comfort, and satiety on any given morning. Here are the best vegan breakfast foods to stock up on.
What do vegans eat for breakfast?
Breakfast is hailed as one of the most important meals of the day. Along with a big cup of coffee, breakfast gives us the energy to coast through the morning. If you’re plant-curious, it’s also one of the easiest meals to make vegan.
Instead of scrambled eggs, omelets, and quiches, there’s tofu scramble, chickpea omelets, and tofu quiche. There’s vegan bacon, meatless breakfast sausage, and even frozen breakfast burritos.
Additionally, plant-based milk can be used the same way that you would use the dairy version. Cereal may seem vegan at first, but watch out for animal-derived ingredients such as milk, whey, honey, and vitamin D3, a lanolin-derived vitamin used by many manufacturers. If you’re a toast-lover, you’ll find that a lot of bread is vegan: just watch out for milk, eggs, butter, and honey.
26 vegan breakfast foods to start your day with
There are so many vegan options for breakfast beyond just smoothies and cold-pressed juice. Consistently busy mornings can turn skipping breakfast into a habit, so these convenient options will help you start your day off with ease.
Vegan cereal
Grab your favorite plant-based milk and dig in. You’ll want to snack on these vegan cereals even when it’s not breakfast.
Catalina Crunch
1 Catalina Crunch
This cereal tastes like “kid” cereal but for adults. It’s sturdy and stands up to any plant milk you use, so while you may have to rush out the door, you don’t have to worry about scarfing down your cereal for fear of it getting soggy. The dark chocolate flavor is a staple in our cupboards. Bonus: just a half cup contains 11 grams of plant-based protein.
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Purely Elizabeth
2 Purely Elizabeth Granola
Embrace the vegan hippie stereotype and pour yourself a satisfying bowl of granola. Any brand will do, but before you buy, check the ingredients to ensure the mix is honey-free. We love Purely Elizabeth’s Blueberry Hemp flavor over vegan yogurt or straight from the bag.
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Nature’s Path
3 Nature’s Path
Finding vegan-friendly cereal can be difficult sometimes, but luckily, the Nature’s Path website makes it easy. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, and/or Kosher, you can easily filter your search by dietary preference. Plant-based offerings include Maple Pecan Crunch, Raisin Bran, and Sunrise Crunchy Cinnamon. For more kid-friendly cereals, reach for the brand’s EnviroKidz line, which includes flavors such as Koala Crisp, Panda Puffs, and Frosted Amazon Flakes.
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These are just a few of our favorite, go-to brands. For even more cereal options, check out our full guide here.
Vegan cream cheese and yogurt
There’s nothing like vegan yogurt with granola or a lightly-toasted everything bagel with a schmear for breakfast. Here are some of our favorites:
Forager
4 Forager
Former Yoplait lovers, check out Forager’s flavored cashew milk yogurts. The blueberry flavor is outstanding, with vanilla bean not far behind. The brand also offers high-protein and drinkable yogurts.
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Silk
5 Silk
The dairy-free giant has mastered the art of yogurt. Choose between soy-, coconut-, and almond-based varieties as you endure back-to-back morning Zoom calls. Top with honey-free granola and your favorite fruit for a quick and easy breakfast. Flavors include peach, strawberry, vanilla, and more.
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Kite Hill
6 Kite Hill
Greek yogurt enthusiasts, meet the vegan counterpart. Kite Hill’s decadently thick and creamy, almond milk-based Greek yogurt deserves a spot in your fridge. Both the plain and vanilla varieties are unsweetened—providing a tart canvas for berries, granola, or a drizzle of maple syrup.
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7 Philadelphia
Say it with us: going vegan doesn’t mean having to give up your favorite foods. While dairy-free cream cheese has long been available, in 2023, Philadelphia launched its very first vegan flavors. Choose between original, strawberry, and chive and onion.
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Miyoko’s Creamery
8 Miyoko’s Creamery
Created from a base of cultured cashew milk, Miyoko’s cream cheese collection features four flavors sure to satisfy your sweet and salty cravings. For a sweet morning, reach for cinnamon raisin. For a touch of saltiness, you can’t go wrong with Everything and Savory Scallion, and for a classic bagel, reach for Classic Plain.
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9 Tofutti
Tofutti is a vegan OG. This velvety smooth cream cheese is perfect for bagels and crackers. And, as an added bonus for nut allergy sufferers, this product is not just dairy-free, but it’s nut-free, too.
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For even more dairy-free yogurt and cream cheese options, check out our respective guides here and here.
Vegan ready-made breakfasts
From waffles to overnight oats these ready-made breakfasts are most excellent time-savers.
Eat Just
10 Folded Just Egg
These mung bean-based egg patties are a game-changer. Use them to top toast, sandwich between a bagel, or cover with sliced avocado and salsa for a filling yet minimal-effort morning meal.
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Alpha Foods
11 Alpha Foods
There’s something primally satisfying about a microwave breakfast burrito. Both the Original Breakfast and Veggie Breakfast options scratch this itch. But if you’re more in the mood for a breakfast sandwich, Alpha’s got you covered with meatless sausage, meatless spicy chorizo, and Chik’n and Maple Waffle.
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Van’s Foods
12 Van’s Waffles
Not all of Van’s products are vegan, but we can’t get enough of the ones that are. The original, blueberry, and gluten-free apple cinnamon frozen waffles have satiated us on many lazy Sunday mornings (especially when topped with nut butter and banana slices).
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Mush
13 Mush
Yes, overnight oats are easy to make, but they involve a level of preparation that doesn’t always happen. These packaged overnight oats are a go-to simply because they can be found in a plethora of coffee shops and cafés. It’s comforting to know that you don’t have to settle for a slightly stale plain bagel if you’re famished and on the go.
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Vegan pancake and waffle mixes
Fun fact: many pancake and waffle mixes are vegan by default, so get your maple syrup and dairy-free butter ready.
Partake Foods
14 Partake Breakfast Mixes
Whether you’re in the mood for fluffy waffles or confetti-sprinkled pancakes on a gloomy Sunday morning, these gluten-free pancake mixes are exactly what you need. Keep a bag on hand and just add water for near-instant joy. Pro tip: you can make muffins from the mix, too!
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Bisquick
15 Bisquick Original Pancake & Baking Mix
Before intentionally vegan baking mixes existed, there was Bisquick Original. It still reminds us of childhood sleepovers and tastes of nostalgia.
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Vegan baked goods
Enjoy these muffins and pastries with a cup of coffee, tea, or canned latte.
Abe’s Muffins
16 Abe’s Muffins
Fair warning: these allergen-free, vegan mini muffins can be addictive. They’re sweet, moist, and come in a variety of flavors from basic blueberry to sinful Devil’s Food. Pop a few before you dash out the door.
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Whole Foods
17 Whole Foods Vegan Croissants
Find these flaky, buttery pastries in Whole Foods’ prepared frozen section. While we’re still spending much of our time at home, we love to heat one of these up in the oven, brew a strong cup of coffee, and pretend we’re sitting outside our favorite vegan-friendly café.
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Zen Bakery
18 Zen Bakery
We’re not sure how these Costco-sized muffins weigh in at under 300 calories each, but we’re thankful for them. These minimal-ingredient muffins are lightly sweetened with white grape juice and made with whole wheat flour, but the taste is anything but “healthy.” Favorite flavors include carrot cake and banana nut.
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19 Dave’s Killer Bread Epic Everything Organic Bagels
Nothing beats a hearty bagel in the morning (especially when it’s loaded with cream cheese!). These Epic Everything Bagels from Dave’s Killer Bread are not just delicious, they’re also packed with 13 grams of protein and omega 3, too.
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Morning drinks
Pop & Bottle
20 Pop & Bottle Almond Latte
When you’re dealing with a busy morning, it’s good to have a pre-made latte on hand. And you can’t go wrong with this creamy, plant-powered option from Pop & Bottle.
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21 Naked Green Machine Juice
Struggling to eat your greens? Drink them instead. This nutritious and delicious juice drink from Naked contains chlorella, spirulina, spinach powder, and a whole host of fruit extracts, too.
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Vegan meat
Who says vegans can’t have bacon? Or breakfast sausage for that matter? These meatless options taste divine.
22 Beyond Meat Breakfast Links
Sometimes, only a hearty, meaty breakfast sandwich will do. Stock up on Beyond Meat’s plant-based links so you’re ready for the next time a craving hits.
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Impossible Foods
23 Impossible Foods Breakfast Sausage
The perfect breakfast muffin isn’t complete without a sausage patty, and the good news is, that there are plenty of vegan breakfast sausage products on the market to choose from now, including this protein-packed option from Impossible Foods.
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24 Lightlife Smart Bacon
The next time someone says “But what about bacon?,” get them to try this crispy, tasty, vegan Smart Bacon from Lightlife. Just make sure to serve with plenty of ketchup.
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Breakfast potatoes
No breakfast is complete without a side of potatoes. Here are our favorite morning hash browns.
25 Strong Roots cauliflower hash browns
These cauliflower-potato hash browns from Strong Roots offer all the crispy deliciousness of a regular hashbrown, but with lower levels of saturated fat, especially when they’re cooked in an air fryer.
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26 Kroger hash brown patties
If cauliflower for breakfast just isn’t your jam, check out these crispy potato patties from Kroger. They’re simple and delicious, especially when served with a breakfast muffin.
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For more on vegan breakfast, read:
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Tanya Flink is a Digital Editor at VegNews as well as a writer and runner living in Orange County, CA.
Here at VegNews, we live and breathe the plant-based lifestyle, and only recommend products we feel make our lives amazing. Occasionally, articles may include shopping links where we might earn a small commission, but in no way does this effect the editorial integrity of VegNews.
