17 Vegetarian 5 Ingredient Meals Perfect for Brunch

Ugh, brunch. I love it, you love it, we all love it. But sometimes, the mere thought of juggling a dozen ingredients, three different cooking pans, and a mountain of dishes while still half-asleep is enough to make you just reach for a sad, lonely piece of toast. Am I right?

What if I told you that brunch glory is not only possible but downright easy? We’re talking about recipes so simple you can practically make them with your eyes closed, all while maintaining that coveted “host with the most” vibe. The secret? Just five ingredients. And no, I’m not counting salt, pepper, or water—that would just be cruel.

So, grab your favorite mug of coffee or tea, and let’s get into these 17 ridiculously easy, wildly delicious vegetarian 5-ingredient meals that will transform your brunch game forever. Your future well-fed, relaxed self thanks you.

The “Why Didn’t I Think of That?” Foundation

Before we get to the good stuff, let’s talk strategy. The beauty of a 5-ingredient recipe is its elegance, but it demands a little forethought. You want each ingredient to pull its weight.

My golden rules for 5-ingredient success:

• Choose flavor powerhouses: Think sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, feta cheese, or fresh herbs. One tablespoon can do the work of five bland ingredients.
• Embrace the multi-tasker: An avocado can be sliced, mashed, or blended. Eggs can be scrambled, fried, or baked. Get creative with a single ingredient’s forms.
• Quality matters: With so few components, the quality of each one shines through. A great block of cheese or a loaf of decent bread makes all the difference. IMO, it’s worth the tiny splurge.

Ready? Let’s cook.

The Savory Squad: For When Sweet Just Won’t Cut It

1. The Ultimate 5-Ingredient Frittata

Look, frittatas are the superheroes of brunch. They feel fancy but are secretly the easiest thing in the world. This is my go-to when I have friends over.

• Ingredients: Eggs, baby spinach, crumbled feta cheese, milk (or your favorite plant-based version), cherry tomatoes.
• Method: Whisk 8 eggs with a splash of milk. Stir in a few big handfuls of spinach, most of your feta, and some halved tomatoes. Pour it all into a greased oven-safe skillet and cook on the stovetop for 5 minutes before transferring to a 375°F (190°C) oven for 15-20 minutes, until puffed and set. Top with the remaining feta. Boom. Done.

2. “Everything Bagel” Avocado Toast Upgrade

Avocado toast is a classic for a reason, but let’s kick it up a notch. This version is so good it might just start charging you rent.

• Ingredients: Sourdough bread, ripe avocado, everything bagel seasoning, red onion (thinly sliced), lemon.
• Method: Toast your bread until it’s gloriously crispy. Mash the avocado onto it, squeeze a generous amount of lemon juice over the top, sprinkle on a heavy dose of everything bagel seasoning, and finish with those sharp red onion slices. It’s a flavor explosion, trust me.

3. Crispy Hash Brown Breakfast Bowls

Why go to a diner when you can make this at home in your pajamas?

• Ingredients: Frozen shredded hash browns, eggs, cheddar cheese (shredded), avocado, salsa.
• Method: Cook the hash browns according to the package directions in a skillet until they’re super crispy. Fry or scramble your eggs. Now, assemble your bowl: a pile of hash browns, your cooked eggs, a handful of shredded cheddar, sliced avocado, and a big dollop of salsa. Mix it all together and try not to inhale it in three seconds flat.

4. Shakshuka for the Lazy

Traditional shakshuka has more ingredients, but this simplified version captures all the cozy, comforting essence with a fraction of the effort.

• Ingredients: Canned crushed tomatoes, eggs, feta cheese, onion, harissa paste (or red pepper flakes).
• Method: Sauté a chopped onion in a skillet until soft. Add a big can of crushed tomatoes and a spoonful of harissa paste (this is your flavor secret weapon!). Let it simmer for 10 minutes to thicken. Make little wells in the sauce and crack in your eggs. Cover the pan and cook until the egg whites are set. Crumble feta over the top. Serve with bread for dipping. You’re welcome.

5. Pesto & Mozzarella Breakfast Quesadillas

Quesadillas for brunch? Absolutely. They’re fast, cheesy, and infinitely customizable.

• Ingredients: Large flour tortillas, pesto, mozzarella cheese (shredded), eggs, butter.
• Method: Scramble a couple of eggs. Spread a generous layer of pesto on one half of a tortilla. Top with the scrambled eggs and a mountain of shredded mozzarella. Fold the other half over and cook in a buttered skillet over medium heat until golden brown and deliciously melted on both sides. Slice into wedges and try to share.

The Sweet Tooth Section: Because Sometimes You Need Pancakes

6. One-Bowl Banana Pancakes

No one, and I mean no one, has time for a sink full of bowls first thing in the morning. These pancakes use one bowl and come together in minutes.

• Ingredients: Very ripe bananas, eggs, self-rising flour, milk, vanilla extract.
• Method: In one bowl, mash 2 bananas. Whisk in 2 eggs, 1 cup of self-rising flour, ½ cup of milk, and a glug of vanilla extract. Mix until just combined (a few lumps are fine, I promise). Cook on a buttered griddle until bubbly, then flip. Serve with maple syrup and the other half of that banana, sliced.

7. 5-Minute Cinnamon Yogurt Parfaits

For those mornings when turning on the stove feels like a Herculean task. This is assembly, not cooking, and it’s a lifesaver.

• Ingredients: Greek yogurt, granola, honey, mixed berries (fresh or frozen), cinnamon.
• Method: In a glass, layer a big spoonful of yogurt, a sprinkle of cinnamon, a handful of berries, and a layer of granola. Drizzle with honey. Repeat. Feel instantly put-together and healthy. 🙂

8. “Fancy” French Toast Sticks

This is just French toast, but cutting it into sticks makes it 100% more fun to eat. Don’t question the logic, just embrace it.

• Ingredients: Thick-sliced bread (like brioche or challah), eggs, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon.
• Method: Whisk together 3 eggs, a big splash of milk, a tablespoon of maple syrup, and a heavy dash of cinnamon. Cut your bread into 1-inch sticks. Soak them in the egg mixture, then cook on a buttered griddle until golden on all sides. Serve with extra maple syrup for dipping. Kid-approved and adult-adored.

9. Berry & Almond Butter Toast

This is the ultimate “I have zero time but still want something amazing” meal.

• Ingredients: Good whole-grain bread, almond butter (or any nut/seed butter), mixed berries, chia seeds, honey.
• Method: Toast your bread. Slather it with a thick layer of almond butter. Pile high with fresh berries, sprinkle with chia seeds for a little crunch, and finish with a drizzle of honey. It’s satisfying, healthy, and ready in 3 minutes. FYI, it also pairs perfectly with that second cup of coffee.

The “A Little Bit Extra” Category: For Impressing Guests (or Just Yourself)

10. Baked Brie with Jam & Thyme

This is the ultimate “look at me, I’m a culinary genius” dish that requires almost no skill. The bubbling, melted brie is pure magic.

• Ingredients: A small wheel of brie, your favorite fruit jam (fig or raspberry are killer), fresh thyme, crackers or baguette.
• Method: Place the whole brie wheel in a small baking dish. Top it with a few generous spoonfuls of jam and a few sprigs of thyme. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is gooey and melted inside. Serve immediately with crackers for dipping. Prepare for applause.

11. Caprese Skewers with Balsamic Glaze

These are no-cook, elegant, and everyone goes crazy for them. They’re the perfect brunch appetizer.

• Ingredients: Cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine), fresh basil leaves, balsamic glaze, toothpicks.
• Method: Skewer one tomato, one basil leaf (fold it up), and one mozzarella ball onto a toothpick. Repeat until you have a platter full. Drizzle the whole thing with that gorgeous, syrupy balsamic glaze right before serving. It’s a 5-minute masterpiece.

12. Smashed Potato & Avocado Bites

A fun, shareable alternative to avocado toast. These little crispy potato cups are the perfect vessel.

• Ingredients: Small baby potatoes, avocado, everything bagel seasoning, lime, olive oil.
• Method: Toss the potatoes in olive oil and roast at 425°F (220°C) for 25-30 minutes until tender. Gently smash each one with a glass or mug. Drizzle with more oil and roast for another 15-20 minutes until crispy. Top each crispy potato with a slice of avocado, a squeeze of lime, and a sprinkle of seasoning.

The Drinkable Brunch: Because It Counts!

13. The Simplest Fruit Smoothie

Smoothies can have a million ingredients, but sometimes simple is best. This trio is a classic for a reason.

• Ingredients: Frozen mango, orange juice, Greek yogurt.
• Method: Blend 1 cup of frozen mango, ½ cup of Greek yogurt, and enough orange juice to get it to your desired consistency. It’s creamy, tangy, sweet, and packed with protein. The perfect brunch sidekick.

14. Iced Vanilla Almond Coffee

If your brunch is late, you might be ready for an iced coffee. This is way better than anything from a coffee shop.

• Ingredients: Strong brewed coffee, vanilla extract, almond milk, ice.
• Method: Brew your coffee and let it cool slightly. Fill a glass with ice. Pour the coffee over, add a splash of vanilla extract, and top up with almond milk. Give it a stir. So refreshing.

The Grand Finale: Can’t-Forget Sides & Extras

15. 3-Ingredient Drop Biscuits

Yes, you read that right. Three ingredients. They are fluffy, buttery, and impossible to mess up.

• Ingredients: Self-rising flour, heavy cream, sugar.
• Method: Mix 2 cups of self-rising flour with 1 ½ cups of heavy cream and 2 tablespoons of sugar until a shaggy dough forms. Drop big spoonfuls onto a baking sheet and bake at 450°F (230°C) for 10-12 minutes until golden. Serve with jam and butter. Mind. Blown.

16. Sautéed Garlic Cherry Tomatoes

This takes 5 minutes and elevates any egg dish from “nice” to “restaurant-quality.”

• Ingredients: Cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, fresh basil (if you have it, but it’s fine without!).
• Method: Sauté a couple of minced garlic cloves in olive oil for 30 seconds. Add a whole pint of cherry tomatoes and a pinch of salt. Cook, shaking the pan, until the tomatoes start to blister and burst, creating a quick sauce. Tear some basil over the top. Serve alongside your frittata or scrambled eggs.

17. Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips

Got a few extra tortillas? Turn them into a sweet, crunchy treat in under 10 minutes.

• Ingredients: Flour tortillas, butter, cinnamon, sugar.
• Method: Brush tortillas (cut into wedges) with melted butter. Mix equal parts sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle it liberally over the top. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes until crisp. Perfect for dipping in your yogurt parfait or just eating by the handful.

Your New Brunch Blueprint

See? Brunch doesn’t have to be a complicated affair that ruins your entire morning. With a handful of smart ingredients and a relaxed attitude, you can create something truly delicious that lets you actually enjoy your company (or your own peace and quiet).

The next time you’re staring into the abyss of your fridge on a sleepy weekend morning, just pick one of these 17 ideas. I bet you have most of the ingredients already. So go on, be the brunch hero you were always meant to be—without breaking a sweat.

Which one are you trying first? 😊