By If you struggle to get 30 grams of protein at breakfast, you're not alone. This high-protein pesto breakfast bowl solves that problem and doubles as meal prep! It only takes 20 minutes to put together, and with a few tips, it'll taste like you just made it even after reheating.
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You might not think of pesto as a breakfast staple, but eggs are! And when you combine the two, it's heavenly! Because pesto is blended with herbs, garlic, and lemon juice, it's a great way to add flavor to your scrambled eggs without a bunch of ingredients.
I'm sooo into these bowls and I know you will be too because they are...
- Crunchy and delicious: With crispy hashbrown patties and soft scrambled eggs, these bowls taste like something you'd get at a restaurant!
- Quick: They only take 20 minutes to make and still pack in over 30 grams of protein! It's one of our favorite low-calorie high-protein breakfast recipes!
- Gluten-free & dairy-free: Just be sure to use certified gluten-free hashbrowns and vegan pesto! If you don't eat dairy, be sure to check out our full list of dairy-free protein recipes.
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make leftovers taste just as good on day two!
Here's the deal, I don't like most leftovers. I get bored with them, or they just taste meh. But the trick to making your leftovers or meal prep taste just as good as fresh, is to separate the warm ingredients from the cold ones. Heat the hash browns, eggs, and sausage up together, and then add your greens, avocado, and sauce right before eating!
key ingredients & swaps: customize your bowl
This is just an overview. See the recipe card for quantities and full list.
- Pesto: I used a vegan one because it's dairy-free, but any store-bought or homemade pesto will work.
- Chicken sausage: We grabbed the roasted garlic ones from Trader Joe's, but found that any Italian-esque flavor will work. This could be caramelized onion, Italian, basil, sun-dried tomato, etc. The only ones that were weird were sweet breakfast sausage, so I wouldn't recommend that.
- Eggs: The combo of whole eggs and egg whites keeps the bowls high in protein, filling but not heavy, and dairy-free! Of course, you can swap the egg whites for just more whole eggs.
- Hashbrowns: The frozen patties are the best for a quick breakfast! But in this case, you could easily swap for a slice of toasted sourdough, English muffin, or bagel half.
- Flavor toppers: Ok, the toppings for this bowl are flexible, but the two things you really need are Calabrian chilies (or red pepper flakes) and balsamic glaze (not vinegar). Otherwise, any greens will work. I love microgreens, basil, and avocado
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
high protein ingredient spotlight: egg whites
Egg whites can get a bad reputation as a weight loss food, but the reality is that they add protein without bulk. This is incredibly helpful for someone who is dairy-free but doesn't want a super heavy or filling meal. This is why I like mixing whole eggs for richness with egg whites for more protein.
step by step: tips to nail this recipe every time
- Air frying: The key to this is to slice the chicken sausage lengthwise so it stays flat and gets crispy all over.
- Scrambling your eggs: Two things with this, don't over-whisk the eggs because this puts too many air bubbles in, and cook them low and slow so they don't get stringy. I struggle with taking my time, but Dan is great at it, so maybe have someone else cook the eggs if you're impatient like me.
- Toppings: Taste the chilies first to see how spicy they are! People are always amazed at how spicy Calabrian chilies are, but also how delicious they are.
quick recipe video
add a grain
If you want to bulk up this bowl with some more protein and fiber, serve it with a grain. We love lentils, quinoa, basmati rice, or farro. Full disclosure, farro tastes the best, but lentils add the most protein and fiber.
how to store & meal prep it
I feel very strongly about meal prepping this bowl with these steps to make sure it tastes just as good on days 2, 3, and 4!
- Fridge: Store the eggs, hashbrowns, and chicken sausage in individually sized portions. Don't cut up the avocado yet. Keep the glaze and chilies in their jars, and keep the microgreens and basil in their containers. Everything will keep for four days in the fridge this way.
- Reheating: Warm up the warm ingredients (eggs, etc) in the microwave or air fryer. Then top with your fresh ingredients for a bowl that's just as tasty the next day!
Recipe
High protein breakfast pesto bowl
Ingredients
- 4 frozen hashbrown patties
- 4 savory chicken sausages (flavored sausage such as Italian, garlic, basil, onion, etc)
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup egg whites
- 2 tablespoon pesto (I used vegan but any will work)
- 1 teaspoon calabrian chillies
- 4 teaspoon balsamic glaze
- 1 cup microgreens (or sprouts)
- ¼ cup basil (chopped)
- 1 avocado
Before you start!
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Instructions
- Slice your 4 savory chicken sausages lengthwise so they lie flat. Place these on your airfrer tray alongside the 4 frozen hashbrown patties. Cook for 10-15 minutes at 375 degrees or until hashbrowns are golden brown. To make these in the oven, place everything on a sheet tray and bake for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees or until golden brown. Lightly spray the hashbrowns with oil to get them nice and crispy.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the 8 eggs, 1 cup egg whites, and 2 tablespoon pesto. Scramble these on a stovetop, as you normally would. The key to great scrambled eggs is to cook them low and slow! Just keep slowly stirring while cooking on low.
- Assemble your bowls! If eating right away, plate up your hashbrown, 1 chicken sausage (I like to slice them smaller once cooked), and some eggs, then top with some microgreens, Calabrian chilies (can omit if you don't like spicy), basil, ¼ of an avocado, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.If storing for meal prep, put the eggs, chicken sausage, and hashbrowns in airtight containers. When ready to eat, reheat in the microwave or air fryer and then top with microgreens, Calabrian chilies, basil, ¼ of an avocado, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.Optional to top with feta or parmesan if not dairy free!
Video
Notes
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
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