Looking for a healthy, protein-packed way to start your day? Discover our tasty selection of protein-rich breakfast ideas and then check out our easy breakfast recipes. For more healthy ideas, check out our gut healthy breakfasts, keto-friendly breakfasts, healthy oat recipes, low-carb breakfasts and high-fibre breakfasts.

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Why is protein important at breakfast?

Consuming protein at breakfast has a plethora of benefits, including supporting satiety, energy and a balanced mood. Studies also show that including protein at breakfast can aid weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight by helping you to feel satisfied for longer. All of our chosen recipes provide at least 20 per cent of their calories as protein.


1. Protein porridge

Boost your protein levels in the morning with this simple protein porridge, loaded with toppings such as granola, banana, chocolate chips and seeds.

Upgrade your breakfast with our quick and easy porridge toppers.

A bowl of porridge topped with banana, granola and chocolate chips, next to a coffee

2. Corned beef hash

This classic comfort-food dish, with crispy potatoes and corned beef, will never go out of style. Top with a fried egg and finish with a dollop of brown sauce.

More like this

Next time, go for our bubble and squeak.

Two white plates of golden fried potatoes topped with fried egg on a white wooden surface with a knife and fork and pot of brown sauce

3. Chorizo brunch eggs

Prepare this comforting chorizo and tomato dish and top with zesty avocado salsa and soft boiled eggs for a vibrant brunch.

For dinner, serve up our spicy chorizo risotto.

Chorizo Baked Eggs with Chopped Avocado in a Bowl

4. Healthy banana pancakes

Looking for a high protein breakfast which still feels like a treat? Try these fluffy banana pancakes, drizzled with maple syrup and topped with banana slices.

Bake a batch of healthy muffins.

Plate of pancakes with syrup and bananas

5. Vegan tofu scramble

Check out this low-calorie vegan breakfast recipe made with smoked tofu, punchy chilli and pan-fried courgette.

See all our low-calorie vegetarian meals.

Tofu Scramble with Avocado on a Plate

6. Healthy spinach omelette

This healthy omelette is a satisfying vegetarian breakfast, topped with creamed spinach and juicy cherry tomatoes – we've lowered the fat by replacing cream with light soft cheese and milk.

Check out our best omelettes for a keto breakfast.

Omelette Stuffed with Spinach with Tomatoes on the Side

7. Rhubarb breakfast pots

Check out these rhubarb pots for a colourful low-cal breakfast. These nourishing breakfast pots are super-simple to pull together and are high in protein making them the ideal fuel to start your day.

Enjoy rhubarb while it's in season with our pretty pink ideas.

Rhubarb breakfast pots with granola topping served on a tray

8. Scrambled eggs

Make the perfect scrambled eggs every time, using our recipe to achieve a soft, creamy texture – they're delicious served over buttered toast for a quick and easy protein-rich breakfast.

We've got plenty more egg recipes.

Scrambled eggs on toast, topped with parsley leaves

9. Avocado and smoked salmon toasts

If you're looking for a healthy breakfast that feels like an indulgence, try our avocado and smoked salmon toast recipe. It also comes in at under 300 calories.

If you love avo like us, you could also try our best avocado on toast recipes.

Avocado Toast Recipe With Smoked Salmon

10. PBJ breakfast parfait

Peanut butter is a breakfast staple and, as this fruity, tangy, crunchy creation proves, its potential goes far beyond simply topping toast.

For a nutty afternoon treat, it's got to be these peanut butter flapjacks.

Peanut Butter Dessert Recipe

11. Vegetable omelette

Jazz your omelette up with plenty of grated courgette, kale, peas and chilli flakes, then serve alongside cherry tomatoes dressed simply with white wine vinegar.

Feeling a bit uninspired? See our healthy work from home lunch ideas.

Omelette Filled with Green Vegetables on a Plate with Tomatoes

12. Beetroot borani and halloumi breakfast bowls

Our vibrant breakfast bowl is made by topping salty pan-fried halloumi and creamy beetroot borani with crunchy dukkah and fresh herbs. This wholesome recipe comes from food writer John Gregory-Smith.

We've got lots more brilliant, colourful and nourishing bowl food recipes.

Halloumi, eggi and salad bowl on a bed of pureed beetroot borani yogurt

13. Omelette with garlic mushrooms and taleggio

Cheesy, earthy and filling – this simple grilled omelette with garlicky mushrooms and soft, melted taleggio is ready in just 20 minutes.

Eat more mushrooms with our hearty recipes.

Easy Omelette Recipe with Mushroom and Cheese

14. Protein pancakes

Start your day with these protein pancakes, made with bananas, wholemeal spelt flour and yogurt.

All our pancake recipes are flippin' marvellous.

A stack of protein pancakes topped with slices of banana and honey on a white plate

15. Spicy fried breakfast rice

For something a little different, try our simple rice bowl with spicy red chillis, salty-sweet bacon jam and soft boiled eggs. This low-calorie recipe is quick, easy and ready in 20 minutes.

Make perfect egg fried rice.

Breakfast Fried Rice

16. Healthy breakfast muffins

These easy, healthy muffins are made with wholemeal flour and packed with bananas, dried fruit and seeds. Pack one for work as a breakfast snack – they'll provide you with loads of slow-release energy to get you through to lunchtime.

Balance is important when it comes to your health, so whip up a batch of chocolate muffins next time.

Breakfast muffins

17. Breakfast tacos

Looking for a fun new brunch recipe? Try our super easy breakfast tacos. Use eggs with deep yellow yolks, like Burford Browns, so you get a nice colour contrast with the beans and chorizo.

You'll love our our fish tacos for dinner.

A tray of breakfast tacos holding scrambled egg, chorizo and beans

18. Kale smoothie

Try our health editor's vegan, four-ingredient green smoothie, packed with vitamins and nutrients including vitamin C.

Sip yourself healthy with our best smoothie recipes.

A glass filled with green kale smoothie with a metal straw on an orange and pink background

19. Sweet and sour lentil shakshuka

Mix up your weekend brunch and make this veggie shakshuka with lentils and punchy spice. This simple egg recipe is not only easy to make, it’s low in calories, too.

Read up on the best vegan protein sources.

Baked Eggs Shakshuka with Lentils

20. Healthy granola

Combining protein-rich walnuts, sesame seeds and bran, you can add more protein to this delicious breakfast with the addition of yogurt.

Chia pudding is another breakfast that's packed with protein.

A bowl of granola next to a jar of granola and a glass of orange juice

21. Smoked haddock and spinach rye toasts

One for anyone who prefers a savoury breakfast, this quick and easy breakfast is high in protein and full of delicious smoked haddock, pecorino and garlic oil.

Smoked haddock fans will love these cheesy stuffed jacket potato skins.

Smoked haddock and spinach rye toasts

22. Spring greens shakshuka

If you want a healthy weekend brunch, try this shakshuka. Made with eggs and green vegetables, this dish is perfect for anyone wanting a nutritious and filling breakfast.

We also have a surprising vegan shakshuka.

Green shakshuka in a white pan

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Tracey Raye is health editor for olive and BBC Good Food. Tracey, MSc, is a registered nutritionist, holding a master’s degree in personalised nutrition. She is passionate about harnessing the power of all things health and well-being, in a way that enhances, rather than limits our lives. She curates our nourishing recipes and collections, and stays abreast of the latest health and lifestyle trends in order to bring you the tools and inspiration you need to find what health means for you.

Authors

Tracey Raye - Health Editor & NutritionistHealth Editor & Nutritionist

Tracey Raye is the Health Editor for Olive and BBC Good Food. She oversees all health, nutrition and fitness related content across the brands, including the bi-annual Healthy Diet Plan, monthly Health Edit newsletter and health column in the magazine.

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