The 10 Best Plant-Based Brunch Recipes

Brunch food has no boundaries; a stack of pancakes and a mug of coffee is no more appropriate than a panini and a flute of Champagne. So the next time you’re cooking a plant-based brunch for friends/family, use the meal as an opportunity to flex your creative culinary muscles.

We know what you’re thinking: Doesn’t brunch include a lot of egg-forward dishes? Yes and no. Nowadays it’s pretty easy to recreate the look, taste, and texture of eggs using packaged egg alternatives or ingredients like tofu. And then there’s the question of breakfast meats…well, if you’re subscribed to our Meatless Monday newsletter, you’ll know all the ways you can make animal-free alternatives to everything from chicken and beef to pork and bacon.

The brunch recipes below are meant to spark your imagination and remind you that you can recreate any meal of the day using only plant-based ingredients. And if you come up with some incredible brunch creation that is worthy of your social media channel, please give Meatless Monday a tag (@meatlessmonday) for an opportunity for a repost. Happy brunching!

Dragon Fruit Agua Fresca

An agua fresca is a refreshing drink popular throughout Mexico typically made with a mixture of fruit, water, sugar, and a splash of lime juice. You can use any fruit, but using the visually appealing dragon fruit (pitahaya) is an excellent way to add a little flare to the brunch table.

For the Dragon Fruit Agua Fresca recipe, click here.

Fluffy Vegan Pancakes

We could all use a quick-and-easy pancake recipe in our repertoire, and this one is a sure-fire way to please the crowd. The key to achieving that pillowy fluffiness is letting the batter rest 6-7 minutes — so don’t cut corners on this step. Start to finish, you can have a mountain of griddled pancakes in less than 15 minutes.

For the Fluffy Vegan Pancakes recipe, click here.

Fried Sweet Plantains

Sweet plantains, known as plátanos, are an important addition to many Central American and Caribbean breakfast plates. A plantain looks like a big banana: some are sweet (these are yellow and look somewhat bruised), and others are starchy and good for frying (these are green and look like an unripe banana). Sweet plantains are simple to prepare and just require a quick rinse under water and fry in a shallow pan with some oil. What puts this particular recipe over the top is the cashew crema, which is slightly tangy but pairs beautifully with the sugary plantain.

For the Fried Sweet Plantains recipe, click here.

Mango, Apple, and Pineapple Crumble

A bright, sweet, and refreshing way to end the meal, this tropical crumble hits all the right notes. You can keep this recipe straightforward and stick with using only fruits and brown sugar, or you can spice it up with ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and dried oats. The combination of fruit and warm seasonings is sure to rock your tastebuds.

For the Mango, Apple, and Pineapple Crumble recipe, click here.

Smoky Grits and Greens

Grits (ground cornmeal) are a staple in the southern United States, but they deserve a place at any brunch table because they’re so easy to prepare and take well to different seasonings and toppings. These grits are cooked with vegetable broth, oat milk, and smoke paprika and are served with a side of garlicky greens.

For the Smoky Grits and Greens recipe, click here.

Streusel Blueberry Muffins

These are not your ordinary muffins, but why are they so special? These vegan muffins come complete with a soft, satisfyingly-crumbly streusel topping that goes splendidly with the tart pop of fresh blueberries. Just remember that when you’re making the streusel topping that the vegan butter needs to be ICE cold.

For the Streusel Blueberry Muffins recipe, click here.

Vegan Breakfast Quesadilla with Southwest Tofu Scramble

Sure, brunch is on the earlier side of the day, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for unseasoned foods and muted flavors. This vegan quesadilla packs a punch thanks to a package of soyrizo (soy chorizo), fresh jalapeños, bell peppers, chile powder, and smoked paprika. It’s also loaded with a good amount of protein courtesy of the tofu scramble. To assemble the quesadillas takes a few minutes, but it’s well worth the effort.

For the Vegan Breakfast Quesadilla with Southwest Tofu Scramble, click here.

Vegan Jalapeño Cheddar Biscuits

This recipe from our friend Brian Watson, aka @thee_burger_dude, is a thing of beauty that will rival any breakfast sandwich found on the local over-priced brunch menu. The biscuits themselves are loaded with garlic, jalapeño, and vegan Cheddar, and you can add any egg-, cheese, and meat-alternative for a complete brunch sandwich bonanza.

For the Vegan Jalapeño Cheddar Biscuits recipe, click here.

Tempeh Bacon

Yes, you can have your bacon and eat it too, even if you’re cooking only plant-based foods. Some creative cooks have developed a number of ways to recreate the texture and flavor bacon using no animal products at all. Mushrooms, rice paper, and eggplant are all good, but this recipe for tempeh bacon is a nice and easy option that’s sweet, smoky, and spicy.

For the Tempeh Bacon recipe, click here.

Tofu and Basil Pesto Panini

If you’re looking for something a bit more lunch-y to even out your brunch table, a light sandwich or panini is a good way to go. This recipe calls for thinly sliced slabs of seasoned tofu that are fried till the texture is similar to a breaded cutlet. Then, all you need to do is assemble the sandwich with vegan cheese and basil pesto (store-bought jars may have cheese) on some slices of whole grain bread. Note: these sandwiches go surprisingly well with a side of pancakes and a glass of Champagne.

For the Tofu and Basil Pesto Panini recipe, click here.