20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas That Are Ultra-Satisfying, from Keto Recipes to Flavor-Packed Egg Dishes

Fill up on flavor, not carbohydrates

20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas
Ottolenghi Simple: A Cookbook

Bagels, waffles, hashes, pancakes…breakfastpresents an excellent opportunity for loading up on carbs. And if you’re trying to do the opposite, it might feel like you have no choice but to grab a piece of fruit and wait untillunchtime.不要害怕:我们发现一大堆美味totally satisfying low carb breakfast ideas (green shakshuka,keto everything bagelsandbacon-wrapped eggs, to name a few), so you can start your day off on the right foot.

How Many Carbs Should You Aim for in a Day?

Per the currentDietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, folks who are not on a doctor-approved dietary plan should get 45 to 65 percent of their daily calories from carbs, which translates to somewhere between 225 and 325 grams of carbohydrates per day if you’re on a 2,000 calorie diet. Reasons for cutting carbs include diabetes—researchshows that modest carbohydrate reduction can improve glycemic control and insulin sensitivity—and weight loss. And yes,medical expertsdo confirm that cutting carbs can help with weight loss for some (at least in the short term).

However, if weight loss is your aim, you’d be wise to proceed with caution becausehealthy carbohydrates, specifically the complex kind, are a valuable source of energy and nutrients that your body needs to thrive. Unless you have consulted a doctor, your goal should be to consume carbs according to the above guidelines and not let your love of bread lead to an unbalanced diet. With that in mind, you can try one of these healthful, low carb breakfast ideas instead of your morning muffin, so you have more freedom to meet your body’s carbohydrate needs at other points in the day.

70 Low-Carb Dinners That Don’t Suck, From Juicy Meatballs to Lightning-Fast Stir Fries


Baked Eggs in Avocado 20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas
Eric Wolfinger/The Mexican Keto Cookbook

1.Baked Eggs in Avocado(9g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:25 minutes
  • Why We Love It:crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes

Everyone knows creamy avocado is practically the perfect food…add a jammy baked egg and a sprinkle of extra salty cotija cheese for seasoning and you have an easy breakfast worth dreaming about at night.

Quiche with Gluten Free Sweet Potato Crust 20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas
Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2.Quiche with Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Crust(15g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:1 hour 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It:crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, vegetarian

This modern twist on a classic quiche, featuring agluten-freesweet potato crust, is decadent, cheesy and just dying to be in your regular fall rotation.

One-Pan Eggs with Asparagus and Tomato 20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas
Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

3.One-Pan Eggs with Asparagus and Tomato(13g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:30 minutes
  • Why We Love It:<10 ingredients, <500 calories, one pan, vegetarian

Sop up wonderfully runny egg yolk with seasonal veggies (i.e., asparagus and ripe cherry tomatoes) and we promise you a healthy breakfast so satisfying you won’t even miss the toast.

Bacon-Wrapped Eggs
Erin McDowell

4.Bacon-Wrapped Eggs(2g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:45 minutes
  • Why We Love It:special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients, high protein

Buttered toast might be off-limits, butbaconcertainly is not. Here, everyone’s favorite breakfast meat makes a basket for a simple baked egg. The result is an oh-so savory low carb breakfast idea that’s sure to impress your guests at brunch.

Kale Quiche with a Cheddar-Rice Crust
Eric Moran/Styling: Erin McDowell

5.Kale Quiche with a Cheddar-Rice Crust(19g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:1 hour 20 minutes
  • Why We Love It:crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients

Another excellent way to get a serving of greens at breakfast—this kale quiche is full of eggy goodness and the cheesy gluten-free crust is more flavorful and easier to make than a traditional one, too.

Eggs Baked in Tomatoes
Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

6.Eggs Baked in Tomatoes(12g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:45 minutes
  • Why We Love It:special occasion-worthy, <500 calories, <10 ingredients

You baked an egg in an avocadoand it blew your mind. Now try the same thing with a juicy, ripe tomato for a sweet and subtly acidic boost that tastes like summer.

Sheet Pan Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Dill 20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas
Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7.Sheet Pan Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Dill(2g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:30 minutes
  • Why We Love It:crowd-pleaser, <500 calories, <10 ingredients

Thisone panegg dish boasts a winning combination of ingredients and is far less fussy than, say, sweating over the stove trying to soft scramble enough eggs to feed a crowd.

Keto Granola Cereal 20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas
Wholesome Yum

8.Keto Granola Cereal(2g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:25 minutes
  • Why We Love It:low sugar, keto, <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser

Here, a blend of crunchy nuts and seeds come together with monk fruit sweetener and vanilla to make a low sugar, low carb granola that will satisfy your sweet tooth and do your body right. Psst: Be sure to pack some to-go, ‘cause it’s also an excellent snack.

Green Shakshuka 20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas
Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

9.Green Shakshuka(10g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:55 minutes
  • Why We Love It:special occasion-worthy, <500 calories, vegetarian

Spinach takes the place of tomato sauce in this updated shakshuka, but these greens are anything but snoozy, thanks to a kicky combination of jalapeno, harissa and spices.

Vegan Keto Everything Bagels
Helene DuJardin/The Essential Vegan Keto Cookbook

10.Vegan Keto Everything Bagels(1g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:1 hour
  • Why We Love It:<500 calories, crowd-pleaser, vegan, keto

Needless to say,everything bagel seasoningdoes the heavy lifting in the flavor department, but the big surprise is that this low-carb take on a breakfast staple boasts a texture that’s totally on point.

Breakfast Caprese with Soft-Boiled Eggs
Healthyish

11.Breakfast Caprese with Soft-Boiled Eggs(7g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:15 minutes
  • Why We Love It:<30 minutes, <10 ingredients, <500 calories, vegetarian

Here, a simple low carb breakfast idea that features the wonderful flavor combo of creamy egg yolk and ripe tomato and takes practically no time to put together.

Mozzarella Meatball Frittata 20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas
Secrets of Great Second Meals

12.Mozzarella Meatball Frittata(4g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:20 minutes
  • Why We Love It:<10 ingredients, <30 minutes, high protein, one pan

Leftover meatballs are put to good use in this hearty and oh-so cheesyfrittatathat’s good for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Keto Pancakes Recipe
Low Carb Africa

13.Keto Pancakes Recipe(9g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:10 minutes
  • Why We Love It:crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, keto

这个想法是为所有carb-c低碳水化合物早餐onscious folks secretly pining for a pancake breakfast. (Good news: the keto alternative does not disappoint.)

Skillet Eggs and Chorizo 20 Low Carb Breakfast Ideas
Kristin Perers/Round Ours

14.Skillet Eggs and Chorizo(13g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:30 minutes
  • Why We Love It:<500 calories, high protein, special occasion-worthy, one pan

Spicy Mexican chorizo, diced tomato, jalapeno, chipotle seasoning…if you’re looking for a low carb breakfast idea with flavor so bold it will knock your socks off, this one fits the bill.

Low Carb Keto Protein Shake
Wholesome Yum

15.Low Carb Keto Protein Shake(12g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:5 minutes
  • Why We Love It:<10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, vegetarian

Go ahead and hit that snooze button one more time—this berry-packed smoothie with protein powder and creamy coconut milk is a swoon-worthyblender breakfastthat you can whip up in five minutes flat.

Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

16.Mexican Street Corn Deviled Eggs(2g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:40 minutes
  • Why We Love It:crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, <500 calories

Everyone’s favorite party food just married everyone’s favorite Mexican street food and breakfast will never be the same.

Yotam Ottolenghi's Braised Eggs with Leeks and Za'atar
Ottolenghi Simple: A Cookbook

17.Yotam Ottolenghi's Braised Eggs with Leeks and Za'atar(9g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:20 minutes
  • Why We Love It:crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, <500 calories, vegetarian

Creamy braised leeks mingle with cumin and za’atar-spiked spinach in this elegant and brunch-worthy skillet egg dish.

Keto Peanut Butter Chia Pudding
Low Carb Africa

18.Keto Peanut Butter Chia Pudding(18g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:6 hours 5 minutes
  • Why We Love It:make-ahead, keto, <10 ingredients, <500 calories, high fiber

We recommend experimenting with blending the chia seeds and/or swapping the almond milk for full fat coconut milk to achieve the consistency you desire. Either way, if you make this one the night before, you’ll be rewarded with a creamy and rich breakfast pudding that’s packed with fiber and tastes like dessert.

Keto Cabbage Hash Browns
Low Carb Yum

19.Keto Cabbage Hash Browns(4g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:25 minutes
  • Why We Love It:crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, keto

Crispy, salty and full of garlic-onion flavor—serve these cabbage hash browns with a couple fried eggs and we promise you won’t be missing potatoes.

Easy Keto Chaffles
Low Carb Yum

20.Easy Keto Chaffles(3g Carbs)

  • Time Commitment:10 minutes
  • Why We Love It:gluten-free, kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, keto

What is a chaffle, you ask? It’s a breakfast vision of mozzarella cheese and egg that comes together in a waffle maker, looks like the real thing and tastes even better.


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Emma Singer

Freelance PureWow Editor

Emma Singer is a freelance contributing editor and writer at PureWow who has over 7 years of professional proofreading, copyediting and writing experience. At PureWow, she covers...
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