5 High Protein Low Carb Breakfast Ideas

You’ve heard it before: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

It’s especially important to make sure what you put into your body at the beginning of the day is good for you. A healthy breakfast kick-starts your metabolism and keeps you focused and energized until lunchtime. And research has shown that eating a high protein breakfast keeps people fuller for longer, making it less likely you overeat later in the day. 1 Protein also stimulates the metabolism. 2

Finding high protein, low carb breakfast recipes may seem daunting. Fortunately, there are dozens of healthy breakfast options that are delicious and easy to make. The right kind of calories—protein, healthy fat, and plenty of fiber—can make a major difference in the success of your weight loss program. Try the following low carb breakfast ideas to start your day off on the right foot:

1. Eggs

Eggs are a power breakfast food for a reason. They’re packed with protein and are versatile. Whether you scramble, hard boil, poach, fry, or bake them into quiches and muffins, eggs are a quick low carb breakfast to start your day.

Try This: Eggs & Spinach

For an easy breakfast idea with 2.9g of net carbs, sauté spinach in extra virgin olive oil in a skillet until wilted, then scramble together with eggs. Get the egg and spinach recipe here.

2. Yogurt

Yogurt is a sweet and healthy breakfast option that doesn’t require any cooking. Greek yogurt varieties are lower in carbohydrates, rich sources of calcium, can contribute to good digestive health, and are high in protein.

Try This: Greek Yogurt with Berries & Almonds

Mix a serving of Greek yogurt with your favorite seasonal berries and top with slivered almonds for a filling, delicious, and fast low carb breakfast. These same ingredients are found in our Blueberry Greek Yogurt Bars, which are a great breakfast option when you’re on the go!

3. Smoothies

Another way to incorporate yogurt into your breakfast is to blend it into a smoothie. Smoothies are a great way to get a full serving of fruit, along with a healthy serving of protein if you use yogurt. For even more nutritional value, add vegetables like spinach or kale. The endless smoothie combinations make for several easy low carb breakfast ideas!

Try This: Chocolate & Strawberry Smoothie

With 20.9g of protein, try this chocolate and strawberry smoothie recipe for a high protein low carb breakfast that tastes like dessert. Blend the frozen strawberries, milk of choice, protein powder, cocoa powder, and stevia (to taste) in a blender until smooth.

4. Proteins

While eggs and yogurt are healthy ways to integrate protein into a vegetarian diet, meat-lovers have several other options for low carb breakfast recipes that are high in protein. Choose protein-packed meats such as chicken, turkey sausage, and turkey bacon to pair with scrambled eggs or a breakfast wrap on a low carb tortilla.

Try This: Sausage & Egg Muffin Cups

Another delicious way to eat meat for a low carb breakfast on the go is to bake ham, nitrate free bacon, or sausage and eggs in muffin tins for high protein grab-and-go bites. With a whopping 31.3g of protein and only 1.6g of net carbs per serving, prep this sausage and egg muffin cups recipe on the weekend to enjoy throughout the week for a fast, high protein and low carb breakfast.

5. Lower Carb Protein Bars & Shakes

Sometimes on extra busy mornings, there’s simply no time to make breakfast. On days when you’re running out the door, grab a lower carb protein bar or low carb shake to get something healthy in your system as you start the day. These lower carb breakfast options will help keep you full and kick-start your metabolism.

Try This: Atkins Plus Chocolate Protein & Fiber Shake

Enjoy a delicious, creamy milk chocolate shake to start your day with 20 vitamins and minerals. The Atkins Plus Protein & Fiber Chocolate Shake is packed with 30g of high quality dairy protein, 7g of fiber, and 2g of net carbs. It will surely keep your appetite satisfied until lunch.

Choosing a low carb, high protein breakfast will get your day off to a good start and keep your body energized. Get started with Atkins today for even more great ideas and recipes to start your day strong.

Evidence Based
PubMed Central, National Library of Medicine,
2018: Effect of milk protein intake and casein-to-whey ratio in breakfast meals on postprandial glucose, satiety ratings, and subsequent meal intake

Whey and casein proteins differentially affect postprandial blood glucose and satiety mechanisms, with relevance for type 2 diabetes and obesity. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of the casein-to-whey protein ratio and total protein concentration of milks consumed with cereal on postprandial blood glucose…

Evidence Based
PubMed Central, National Library of Medicine,
2004: Diet induced thermogenesis

Daily energy expenditure consists of three components: basal metabolic rate, diet-induced thermogenesis and the energy cost of physical activity. Here, data on diet-induced thermogenesis are reviewed in relation to measuring conditions and characteristics of the diet…

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