If you're a breakfast person, do yourself a favor and skip the bagels, muffins, and cereal — all those refined carbs will just leave you hungry an hour later. Fuel up with some protein and your body can say, "Take that, hunger!" If you're trying to lose weight, registered dietitians Stephanie Clarke, RD, and Willow Jarosh, RD, of C&J Nutrition told POPSUGAR they recommend getting between 13 and 20 grams of protein for breakfast. Here are over 35 delicious recipes offering at least 18 grams of protein.
With this recipe for chocolate chia protein pudding, you can get your chocolate fix and still get a ton of protein — almost 24 grams — making this a great breakfast if you're looking to lose weight.
Calories: 408 Protein: 20.6 grams
Get the recipe: chocolate protein chia pudding
This tofu scramble is bursting with an addictive savory-sweet flavor, and since it's made with tofu, kale, and sweet potatoes, you can feel good reaching for seconds.
Calories: 264
Protein: 18.8 grams
Get the recipe: tofu scramble with sweet potatoes and kale
Here's a recipe that has about half the carbs of a basic smoothie recipe, at just under 22 grams, with only seven grams of sugar.
Calories: 312
Protein: 34.9 grams
Get the recipe: raspberry vanilla protein smoothie
The only thing better than the maple-pecan-vanilla flavor is the fact that this recipe follows the nutritionist-designed breakfast formula for weight loss.
Calories: 366
Protein: 20.5 grams
Get the recipe: maple vanilla overnight oats
This smoothie follows the perfect breakfast formula for weight loss complete with healthy fats and fiber to keep you full for hours. It tastes a little like melted coffee ice cream, so yeah, it's pretty amazing.
Calories: 309
Protein: 22.1
Get the recipe: iced coffee protein smoothie
Scrambled egg, a sprinkle of diced bacon, and a drop of ghee (clarified butter) all bake right into a tiny tomato "ramekin" for a savory Paleo breakfast treat with just the right hint of sweetness. With more than 20 grams of protein, this tomato frittata is the perfect way to fuel your body after a tough morning workout.
Calories: 328 (two servings)
Protein: 20.4 grams
Get the recipe: tomato frittata
Although snacking on a couple of juicy clementines is the absolute best way to enjoy them, this creamy smoothie is a close second.
Calories: 336
Protein: 27.3 grams
Get the recipe: creamy citrus smoothie
Made with plant-based protein powder, these protein balls are vegan, and they can also be made gluten-free if you use gluten-free oats.
Calories: 376 (eight balls)
Protein: 21.6 grams
Get the recipe: three-ingredient protein balls
You want cookies for breakfast. We get it — we want them, too. So make this breakfast cookie!
Calories: 328
Protein: 20.8 grams
Get the recipe: chewy, cinnamony breakfast cookie
Chocolate for breakfast? Why not! Skip the chocolate pastries to avoid that midmorning sugar crash by whipping up this creamy smoothie instead.
Calories: 342
Protein: 25.1 grams
Get the recipe: nutty chocolate strawberry banana smoothie
This breakfast bowl tastes perfect on its own, but adding a little crunchy texture with some chopped salted cashews makes it even more delicious.
Calories: 317
Protein: 18.2 grams
Get the recipe: sweet potato, tofu, and avocado bowl
This sweet strawberry milkshake smoothie is only made with six ingredients so it's easy to whip up and tastes like melted strawberry ice cream.
Calories: 397
Protein: 26.8 grams
Get the recipe: strawberry milkshake smoothie
Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, this low-carb breakfast takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and feels like you've treated yourself to a beautiful brunch at a neighborhood hot spot.
Calories: 335
Protein:22.7 grams
Get the recipe: Paleo breakfast bowl
These gluten-free turkey sausage muffins are smarter than any fast-food egg option you'll find before work.
Calories: 300 (two muffins)
Protein: 24.6 grams
Get the recipe: turkey sausage muffins
Made with just four ingredients, this smoothie comes together in less than five minutes.
Calories: 335
Protein: 20.3 grams
Get the recipe: banana milkshake smoothie
Maybe eating half a pan of brownies for breakfast isn't the best of ideas since you'll feel pretty crappy afterward, but this oatmeal? Yes. Yes, you can and totally should inhale this chocolate overnight oatmeal. It's so perfectly creamy and chocolaty — kind of like brownie batter.
Calories: 361
Protein: 19 grams
Get the recipe: chocolate overnight oatmeal
These bars are totally vegan and made with just five ingredients (plus salt and cinnamon for flavor), and you can whip them up in less than 20 minutes.
Calories: 332 (two bars)
Protein: 25.6 grams
Get the recipe: chocolate almond protein bars
If you're watching your carbs or trying to cut back on your sugar intake — even natural sugars — grab your blender and whip up this subtly sweet and creamy smoothie.
Calories: 303
Protein: 22.3 grams
Get the recipe: berry smoothie
This recipe has your busy morning's back. Make it the night before, and you've got breakfast for the week. Combine one chewy, nutty bar with this 150-calorie chocolate protein smoothie, and you've got yourself a protein-rich breakfast.
Calories: 326
Protein: 24 grams
Get the recipe: oatmeal protein bars
Banana and peanut butter get a protein upgrade with this quick breakfast.
Calories: 316 for (servings; one whole banana)
Protein: 27.2 grams
Get the recipe: banana and PB
This simple, sweet, and creamy berry smoothie is loaded with tons of easy-to-digest ingredients to help improve your improve digestion.
Calories: 341
Protein: 21 grams
Get the recipe: flat-belly, high-protein smoothie
These lemon protein balls are made with just five ingredients: raw almonds, vanilla protein powder, juicy dates, lemon juice, and unsweetened coconut. How simple is that?
Calories: 392 (eight balls)
Protein: 19.2 grams
Get the recipe: lemon coconut protein balls
This savory-sweet breakfast includes all the essentials you need for weight loss: protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, and fiber. But who cares?! It tastes amazing!
Calories: 419
Protein: 34 grams
Get the recipe: roasted tofu, sweet potato, and pepper sheet-pan meal
This invigorating, dairy-free smoothie offers tons of fiber, protein, and healthy fats, perfect to keep you full all morning long and help you lose weight.
Calories: 353
Protein: 36.4 grams
Get the recipe: 350-calorie smoothie
Zoats? Sounds like a new slang word all the young kids are saying, but it's not. It's breakfast. And it's good. So, so good. It's a basic idea, really, just oatmeal combined with fresh zucchini.
Calories: 386
Protein: 23.7 grams
Get the recipe: banana cinnamon zoats
Gluten-free, protein-rich, and under 400 calories, this Mexican breakfast casserole is the perfect slow-cooked, low-carb recipe to cook up on Sunday afternoon, slice up, and enjoy all week long.
Calories: 386
Protein: 24.7 grams
Get the recipe: Mexican breakfast casserole
With a quick whir of the blender, here's a smoothie recipe loaded with metabolism-boosting ingredients.
Calories: 343
Protein: 30.4 grams
Get the recipe: metabolism-boosting smoothie
Cup your hands around this bowl of toasty warm oatmeal that offers way more protein than a regular bowl — over 18 grams!
Calories: 308
Protein: 18.4 grams
Get the recipe: high-protein oatmeal
Think chocolate is off-limits when you're trying to lose weight? Think again!
Calories: 354
Protein: 22.1 grams
Get the recipe: chocolate milkshake smoothie
This low-calorie frittata is quick enough to come together on a weekday morning but elegant enough to serve to friends at a special weekend brunch.
Calories: 300
Protein: 21.6 grams
Get the recipe: egg white frittata
The roasted butternut squash and parsnips are soft and sweet, and the tofu is firm and slightly salty — all the textures and flavors just go perfectly together and scream Fall.
Calories: 467
Protein: 34.6
Get the recipe: cinnamon date roasted butternut squash, parsnips, and tofu
You're an old pro at adding greens like kale to your smoothies, and you've even tried recipes using celery and cucumber. But have you ever tried broccoli?
Calories: 332
Protein: 22.8 grams
Get the recipe: broccoli banana peanut butter smoothie
If you have an obsession with all things chewy, and you also have a love affair with chocolate, then allow me to introduce you to your soulmate: these coconut-covered chocolate almond protein balls.
Calories: 371 (seven balls)
Protein: 18.2 grams
Get the recipe: chocolate almond coconut protein balls
If you're craving a strawberry milkshake, swap the ice cream drink for this smoothie — it's cool, creamy, and fruity with tons of nutrition from whole ingredients.
Calories: 302
Protein: 33.8 grams
Get the recipe: strawberries 'n' cream smoothie
Since this recipe makes five servings, it's a great dish to whip up on a Sunday to have lunch made for the week.
Calories: 368
Protein: 36.5 grams
Get the recipe: tofu, broccoli, and cauliflower sheet-pan meal
This apple smoothie has the perfect amount of sweetness, and the tiny addition of cinnamon gives it a spicy kick.
Calories: 368
Protein: 23.7 grams
Get the recipe: apple banana cinnamon smoothie
The creamy combination of almond milk and Greek yogurt makes these overnight oats taste just like cookie dough.
Calories: 368
Protein: 22.3 grams
Get the recipe: cookie dough overnight oats
Another savory egg dish, this play on the traditional Middle Eastern dish shakshuka incorporates both eggs and chickpeas to offer 20.1 grams of protein for 339 calories.
Calories: 339
Protein: 20.1 grams
Get the recipe: egg dish
Pop in a batch of these protein-heavy eggs in ham shells when you wake up, and enjoy a hot, hearty, and quick breakfast before you leave for work.
Calories: 327 (three cups)
Protein: 30.4 grams
Get the recipe: eggs in ham shells
With flavors like cumin, coriander, onion, pepper, and cilantro mingling together, you get a surprise in every bite.
Calories: 270 (two servings)
Protein: 22.8 grams
Get the recipe: Southwestern tofu scramble
If you have a sweet tooth but you're on a weight-loss journey, this banana bread breakfast smoothie is the answer to your prayers.
Calories: 412
Protein: 34.5 grams
Get the recipe: banana bread protein smoothie