This quick and easy Vegan Quinoa Breakfast Bowl recipe is absolutely delicious and full of amazing health benefits. It offers a complete source of plant-based protein, healthy fats and dietary fiber. It's a cozy, nutritious and filling breakfast and a protein-rich alternative to oatmeal.
If you are looking to switch up your oatmeal bowl routine, this is another cozy and delicious breakfast option. It's quick and easy to make on busy mornings and just so satisfying and delicious.
This 5-minute recipe provides over 15 grams of protein and over 9 grams of dietary fiber - and that's without the toppings (hemp seeds, nut or seed butter and fresh fruit)! Whenever I eat this savory bowl I'm perfectly full and energized.
How to Make a Vegan Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
To start, you'll need the following simple ingredients (see recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities):
- Pre-cooked quinoa
- Non-dairy milk such as oat milk or almond milk
- Almond butter (or any other nut or seed butter)
- Maple syrup
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
Once you've gathered the ingredients, all you have to do is warm and stir everything together in a small saucepan on medium heat for 3-5 minutes.
Serve in a large bowl and top with raw creamy almond butter, hemp seeds and blueberries (or any other fresh fruit). Enjoy while hot!
Toppings for Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
Use whatever toppings you would typically put on a bowl of oatmeal. You can really customize your quinoa bowls and make them your own.
I like to top with hemp seeds for its mild nutty flavor and for another complete source of plant-based protein. Hemp seeds also provide fiber, essential fatty acids, vitamin E, potassium, iron and calcium.
I also like to top with almond butter which is high in protein and fiber and provides iron, calcium, and vitamin E.
And finally, I typically add a handful of blueberries. They pair great with the almond butter and cinnamon vanilla flavor.
Other topping ideas:
- Banana slices
- Fresh berries (such as strawberries, raspberries or blackberries)
- Chia seeds
- Creamy avocado
- Sweet potatoes (if meal-prepped in advance)
How to Store this Healthy Breakfast Bowl
Once fully cooled, store any of the leftover quinoa bowl (separate from the toppings) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
Why Is Breakfast Important?
I often get asked why breakfast is so important. Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism and gives your body energy to think more clearly while preventing overeating later in the day. Plus, it provides an excellent opportunity to consume foods high in vitamins, minerals, disease-fighting antioxidants and heart-healthy fiber.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, breakfast helps with brain function, attention span, concentration and memory. It can also reduce irritability and tiredness. A complete breakfast packed with the nutrients your body needs is so important.
I love this quinoa breakfast recipe because it contains:
- Plant-based protein (ideally a complete source of plant-based protein such as quinoa, amaranth and/or hemp seeds) to help you stay full longer and prevent overeating later in the day.
- Fiber for lasting energy.
- Antioxidant-packed produce to increase your daily fruit and veggie intake. For produce, opt for seasonal varieties.
- Healthy fats in each meal throughout the day.
Easy Breakfast Ideas:
Here are some of my favorite easy, nutritious and savory breakfasts. All of these recipes make for quick meals and are vegan, gluten-free and refined sugar-free.
And if you love smoothies, be sure to check out my smoothie recipe round-up here. It contains over 40 plant-based smoothies. I also rounded up my best breakfast recipes that are kid-friendly here.
Health Benefits of Quinoa
One of my main pantry staples is quinoa. It's inexpensive, easy to store and prepare, and since it absorbs flavor wonderfully, it's also really versatile. It also adds a great, fluffy texture to many of my favorite dishes.
Quinoa is filling and nutritious; it's loaded with fiber (over five grams in one serving!) and is considered a complete protein with all nine essential amino acids. It actually has more protein than any other grain, which is so important for vegans! Quinoa is also a good source of folate, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, and many phytochemicals in addition to containing calcium, potassium, copper, and zinc.
For a complete guide on quinoa, see my post on Quinoa Benefits for Vegans (+ Recipes).
How to Cook Quinoa
I love making a big batch of quinoa and using throughout the week! It really is a great way to meal prep as it can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
By using pre-cooked quinoa for this recipe, all you have to do is throw all the ingredients in the saucepan for 5 minutes to warm and flavor.
I typically have cooked quinoa on hand from my weekly meal prep. If you don't know how to make quinoa, see my blog post on How to Make Perfectly Cooked Quinoa on the Stovetop or How to Make Perfectly Cooked Quinoa in the Instant Pot. Both methods are easy and produce light and fluffy quinoa that is never burnt or soggy.
More Quinoa Recipes:
- No-Bake Fudgy Quinoa-Chia Bites
- One-Pot Sweet & Spiced Quinoa Lentil Salad
- Vegan Mexican Quinoa Casserole with Black Beans (Gluten-Free)
- Quinoa Tabbouleh
- Moroccan Quinoa Salad
- Easy Vegan Mexican Quinoa Salad
- Vegan Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
- Vegan Sweet Potato Quinoa Tots
- Quinoa Minestrone Soup (vegan + gluten-free)
- Grillable Quinoa Black Bean Veggie Burger
Now, let’s get to making this delicious Quinoa Breakfast Bowl recipe!
This Breakfast Quinoa Bowl offers plant-based protein and a variety of nutrients, it's easy to make, and is absolutely the best way to start your day!
And the best part... it's vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free and peanut-free, doesn't contain any refined sugars and there is a nut-free option as well. This makes it a great option for those with dietary restrictions to enjoy any day of the week.
I hope you make it, and if you do, please tag me on Instagram so I can see! You can also leave a review on this post, which helps me out SO much as I continue to develop and share recipes.
You can watch me make it in a quick video here.
Print
Vegan Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This quick and easy Vegan Quinoa Breakfast Bowl recipe is absolutely delicious and full of amazing health benefits. It offers a complete source of plant-based protein, healthy fats and dietary fiber. It's a cozy, nutritious and filling breakfast and a protein-rich alternative to oatmeal.
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked quinoa [Instant Pot method or Stovetop method]
- ½ cup unsweetened plain non-dairy milk [such as homemade oat milk, almond milk, hemp milk or cashew milk]
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened, unsalted creamy nut or seed butter (I love raw creamy almond butter from Trader Joe's)
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch of fine salt
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm and stir together everything on a small saucepan on medium heat for 3-5 minutes, then top with raw creamy almond butter, hemp seeds and blueberries (or any fruit such as bananas). Enjoy while hot.
- Store leftovers (separate from toppings) once fully cooled in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 1
- Cook Time: 4
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
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