The Best Ways to Enjoy Breakfast for Dinner

Breakfast offers a variety of delicious foods that many people look forward to eating regularly. Eggs, protein pancakes, potatoes, smoked salmon on toast, and yes, breakfast pastries for a sweet indulgence—the list goes on.

And while you eat breakfast just once a day, you can technically eat it twice if you create a breakfast-style dinner that uses the same staples you’d eat in the AM. You will get that breakfast feel but at an evening hour to help recover after an afternoon or evening workout and to keep your belly satiated and fueled until the next morning when you wake up.

What’s more, there’s nutritional value in eating a few key ingredients, such as high-protein eggs, heart-healthy avocado, hearty, fibrous oatmeal and thick, high-fiber, high-fat chia seed pudding that’ll keep the munchies away throughout the night.

Plus, switching up your dinner routine and go-tos helps keep your healthy diet in check, since you’re more likely to stick to a wholesome eating plan when there’s versatility within your meals to beat any potential “rut’ or boredom.

Here are a few ideas for “breakfast for dinner” that are healthy, easy to make and can shake things up in the week.

Veggie Egg Dish With a Protein

Add a medley of bright colored veggies, like bell peppers, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, broccoli and sweet potatoes, to a frittata, omelet, or scramble for a protein-packed egg dish that’s also high in heart-healthy antioxidants and fiber.

While the eggs offer sufficient protein alone, you can boost intake by including another protein source, like avocado, cheese, or meat. Think: diced lean grilled chicken or turkey, or feta, goat cheese or mozzarella.

Feel free to make a big batch of roasted potatoes to keep on hand during the week as a side dish. Season it with spices like paprika and cayenne for heat or herbs like rosemary and thyme for a milder, aromatic taste. Save the rest for leftovers for actual breakfast—you can enjoy the eggs over greens or stuff into a whole wheat or low carb tortilla for a breakfast wrap.

Protein Pancakes With Greek Yogurt and Fruit

If you tend to get a sweet tooth at night, a sweet and decadent stack of chocolate protein pancakes with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and fresh berries will surely hit the spot. And you’ll not only satisfy that craving but also get in a hearty dose of protein from the protein powder.

Protein is needed to repair damaged muscles while you sleep, and it’s even more important after a training day, especially if you trained only an hour or two prior.

Find a powder that has high quality protein and is low in sugar to avoid blood sugar spikes before you go to sleep. Whey or plant-based protein powders fulfill your protein need and then you can play around with toppings for added fiber and flavor. Think: berries and fresh mint or sliced banana with drizzled peanut butter. Yum!

A “Breakfast” Salad

While this is generally seen as the other way around, you can use breakfast foods to create a salad for dinnertime that resembles breakfast. Take a bed of greens, such as arugula, kale or spinach (or a mix!) and then top with an egg that’s over easy, fried or hardboiled and sliced.

Include creamy avocado, fruit and nuts, such as blueberries or citrus with almonds or pistachios. You can even toss the salad on whole grain or whole wheat toast—then you’re getting some extra fiber too.

Eggs or Tofu “Lox”

Whip up an egg or tofu based scramble (tofu is a good plant-based swap for eggs if you’re vegan) that has smoked salmon or “lox” mixed in as a high-protein breakfast idea for dinner that also contains anti-inflammatory, heart-healthy fats.

Smoked salmon is a great source of these fats. It is salty too, so this would be a good option if you had an evening workout and need to replenish electrolytes lost through sweat. Eggs and tofu both have protein to speed muscle recovery and fill you up.

You can enjoy it over greens, on hearty or low-carb bread, in a wrap, or just simply on its own. Add a dollop of plain Greek yogurt and chives for gut-healthy probiotics and a cooling, creamy element.