Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bowls

Breakfast at a Glance

• Prep Time: <5 Minutes
• Planning Ahead: None
• Morning Effort: Just throw it all together
• Protein: ~31g (depending on toppings and mix-ins)
• Fiber: ~8g (depending on toppings and mix-ins)

Nessy's Notes

I love Greek yogurt- like eat-it-plain, straight-from-the-container kind of love. It’s been a breakfast staple of mine for years (especially in yogurt overnight oats), but it's hard to beat the simplicity of a Greek yogurt breakfast bowl.

While it is one of those "not-really-a-recipe recipes", I wanted to create a go-to guide for building a bowl that’s not just delicious but balanced and satisfying for your busy morning.

So whether you’re new to yogurt bowls or just want some fresh inspiration, you’ll find everything you need right here.

Yogurt Bowl Ingredients

• Greek Yogurt- I recommend 2% or whole milk Greek yogurt for the best flavor and texture. Nonfat works too but tends to be less creamy.
  • Tip: Check the ingredient list- it should just include milk, maybe cream and live cultures. If you see added thickeners (like starch or pectin), you’re likely getting less protein and more fillers.
  • Substitution: You can essentially use any yogurt for a yogurt breakfast bowl. I typically opt for Skyr or Greek as they tend to be higher protein and typically use plain so that I can add the flavorings on my own, but choose what works best for you.
• Flavorings + Mix-Ins (Optional): Stirring ingredients directly into the yogurt before adding toppings can be a good way to add flavor as well as nutrients. This could include things like nut butter, vanilla, protein powder or a touch of sweetener. (See below for ideas!)
• Toppings: The fun part! You could have a yogurt bowl for breakfast daily and it never be quite the same thanks to the toppings (check out the Toppings section below for a complete list).

Greek Yogurt Bowl Toppings and Mix Ins

Mix Ins

These are stirred directly into the yogurt before toppings to add sweetness, flavor and protein. Amounts given are just a suggested starting point and based on ~¾ to 1 cup of yogurt.

• Sweeteners- If you find yogurt too tangy or your add ins are bitter (looking at you, cocoa), you can add about ~½–1 tablespoon per bowl, or to taste:
  • Honey
  • Maple syrup
  • Fruit jam
• Flavor Boosters:
  • Vanilla extract (¼-1/2 teaspoon)
  • Cinnamon, cardamom, pumpkin pie spice (⅛-1/4 teaspoon)
  • Cocoa or cacao powder (1 tablespoon)
  • Matcha powder (½ teaspoon)- or check out this Matcha Yogurt
  • Instant espresso powder (¼ teaspoon)
  • Lemon zest
  • Pesto (~ 1 tablespoon)- Savory Yogurt Bowls are so underrated!
• Nut or Seed Butters (~1 tbsp):
  • Peanut butter
  • Almond butter
  • Cashew butter
  • Pepita butter
• Protein Powder (~2 tbsp):
  • Any variety or flavor that you like works- whey, pea, collagen, etc.
  • Tip: Add it to the bowl before the yogurt to keep it from puffing out during mixing. You may also need to add a splash of milk or water to adjust the consistency.
• Veggie and Fruit-Based Mix-Ins:
  • Mashed ripe banana
  • Applesauce
  • Pumpkin purée (and incorporate some veggies into breakfast)
  • Sweet potato
  • Defrosted frozen berries (and their juice)

Toppings

Almost anything goes when it comes to a yogurt bowl! But if you need a little inspo for what to top yours with, here are some ideas:

• Fruits (natural sweetness + fiber), such as:
  • Fresh or frozen berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries)
  • Sliced banana
  • Diced pear
  • Chopped kiwi, mango, pineapple
  • Stewed apple
  • Chopped dates
  • Cherry Tomatoes (if you're going savory)
• Nuts (for crunch + some healthy fats, protein and fiber), like:
  • Chopped almonds
  • Walnuts
  • Pecans
  • Pistachios
  • Hazelnuts
• Seeds (for more texture + fiber, healthy fats and a bit of protein), try:
  • Chia seeds
  • Ground flaxseed
  • Hemp hearts
  • Pepitas
  • Sunflower seeds
• Grains (for more texture + carbs for energy)
  • Granola (this maple granola is my all time favourite!)
  • Puffed grains
  • Crumbled rice cakes
• Sauces (to drizzle on top and bring it all together)
  • Nut Butter
  • Seed butter
  • Drizzle of honey or maple syrup
• Fun (to make it a breakfast worth getting out of bed for!)
  • Dark chocolate chips or shavings
  • Coconut flakes (toasted or raw)
  • Cacao nibs
  • A sprinkle of cinnamon

How to Make a Yogurt Bowl

Now that you’ve seen all the mix-in and topping options (and that’s just a starting point!), let’s walk through how to actually build a Greek yogurt breakfast bowl.

Like I talk about in my post on building a balanced breakfast, it is helpful to include a mix of nutrients- especially protein, fiber, healthy fats and energizing carbs- to meet your individual needs and fuel your morning.

Here’s how I build mine:

1. Start with the flavor. Decide what kind of bowl you’re in the mood for (like a matcha yogurt bowl). Then mix flavorings (like matcha) and sweetener into your yogurt to get that base to your liking.

2. Decide on your nutrition toppings. I always aim for at least ¾ cup of fruit or vegetables and around 3 tablespoons of nuts or seeds. And if I need a protein boost in my breakfast, I’ll mix in protein powder or top with extras like hemp hearts or nut butter.

3. Finish with fun toppers. Give your bowl some satisfying finishing touches like a drizzle of peanut butter or a few chocolate chips.

4. Enjoy!

Make Ahead and Meal Prep

While yogurt bowls are a quick recipe to pull together on a busy morning, to help yourself out, you can do a bit of prep ahead. You have two options:

• Prep the toppings only:
  • Wash and portion fruit, toast nuts or seeds and measure out your toppings and mix-ins ahead of time.
  • Store them in small containers so that in the morning, all you have to do is scoop some yogurt into a bowl, add your flavorings and layer on the toppings.
• Assemble full bowls in jars:
  • Think of it like a breakfast version of a mason jar salad. Add your Greek yogurt to the bottom of a jar, mix in any sweeteners or flavorings (like honey, vanilla or protein powder), then layer in wet toppings like berries or nut butter.
  • Keep crunchy toppings (like nuts, seeds or granola) either on top if you don't mind them a little soggy or packed separately to stir in just before eating.

My Tips for the Best Breakfast Yogurt Bowl

• Don't overthink it. There is a reason I call this a "non-recipe recipe". If you've got yogurt and maybe some fruit, seeds or nuts, you find it filling and fueling plus you enjoy it, then you have made a perfect yogurt bowl!
• Prep ahead smartly. Prep and portion mix-ins and toppings ahead of time to make the morning prep even quicker.
• Keep ingredients on hand. Along the same lines as prepping ahead, give future-busy-morning-you a helping hand by keeping easy yogurt bowl staples on hand like yogurt (obviously), frozen berries (convenient for making berry chia overnight oats at the last minute too!) and nuts or seeds in your pantry.
• Make it nourishing + fun. Use Greek yogurt for protein and add fiber with things like fruits and seeds but don't overlook toppings and mix-ins that make it enjoyable and sustainable as well.

More Yogurt Bowl Ideas...

• Matcha Yogurt Bowl
• Kiwi Yogurt Bowl
• Savory Pesto Yogurt Bowl