Vegan avocado toast is a quick and tasty breakfast that’s ready to eat in just 5 minutes. It’s topped with pickled red onions for crunch and tang, salt, and a sprinkling of nutritional yeast flakes for cheesiness.
I'm nothing if not a creature of habit. I’ve been eating avocado toast for breakfast for about a decade.
What can I say? Warm, crispy bread topped with creamy avocado always sounds delicious. It’s so quick & simple to make. It’s ready in just minutes.
And while avocado plus bread is enough on its own, it’s easy to jazz it up with delicious toppings. My go-to toppings these days are homemade pickled red onions, a pinch of salt, and nutritional yeast flakes.
But the sky’s the limit!
In the summer, I’ve been known to add thickly-sliced tomato, fresh herbs from the CSA, or a variety of pickled veggies. (I offer loads of topping ideas below to get your wheels turning.)
Not only is avocado toast terrific on its own, it also pairs well with eggy tofu or chickpea scramble on the side for a breakfast that has protein, fat, and fiber to keep you full until lunchtime.
And remember, it’s not just for breakfast! Vegan avocado toast also makes a very convenient afternoon or late night snack.
In this post:
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need to make this recipe.
Bread: A hearty whole wheat or multigrain bread is my preference for avocado toast. Silver Hills Sprouted Bread, Dave's Killer Bread, and Alvarado St. Bakery all have good vegan options. For a milder flavored bread, toasted sourdough bread works nicely.
To make it gluten-free, choose a gluten-free bread.
Avocado: For this recipe, a small, ripe avocado is just the right size for two slices of toast.
Salt: A pinch of salt makes the flavors pop.
Nutritional yeast flakes: This inactive yeast adds a cheesy flavor. Look for it in the health food section of the grocery store or near the flours.
For more information on "nooch," check out this post that highlights everything you need to know about nutritional yeast.
Pickled red onions: They add so much tang, color, and crunch. I always have a batch of homemade pickled red onions in the refrigerator. But if you’re short on time, you can also find packaged ones sold in jars near other pickled items.
Step by step instructions
This section shows how to make this recipe at a glance with process photos of the steps. For complete ingredient amounts & instructions, keep scrolling to the recipe card below.
1. To make this vegan avocado toast recipe, start by toasting two slices of bread in the toaster.
2. Top each piece with sliced avocado, and smash it with a fork.
3. Add a sprinkling of salt and nutritional yeast.
4. Finish with pickled red onions.
5. Dig in right away while the toast is still warm.
Tip: I don’t recommend making this breakfast ahead of time. Avocados are prone to browning, and the bread will lose its crispiness. It’s best to eat while fresh.
Make it your own
The best thing about avocado toast is that you can really adjust it to suit your palate, what’s in the fridge, and what’s in season. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Vary the bread or toasting method
For the base, try whole grain bread, multigrain, sourdough, or any sturdy bread that you enjoy. For a gluten-free option, opt for gluten-free bread.
Use a toaster to toast the bread. Or lightly oil the bread with vegan butter or eggless mayo and toast it in a skillet.
Vary the amount of avocado
For this recipe, I use a small avocado, because it’s the perfect amount for two slices of bread. However, if you only have a large avocado, you can either use half the amount or really pile on the avocado.
Vary the seasonings
Instead of or in addition to plain salt and nutritional yeast, add a sprinkling of any of the following seasonings:
- Everything But the Bagel seasoning
- Granulated garlic
- Granulated onion or onion flakes
- Cayenne
- Red pepper flakes
- Smoked paprika
- Black pepper
- Fresh herbs like cilantro, dill, parsley, or basil
- A squeeze of lime juice or lemon juice
- A drizzle of balsamic glaze
Vary the toppings
If you like, replace or add to pickled red onions with any of the following:
- Sliced tomato
- Zucchini ribbons
- Thinly sliced radishes
- Sprouts
- Microgreens
- Arugula
- Baby spinach
- Scallions or chives
- Sauerkraut or vegan kimchi
- Quick pickled shallots
- Pickled green garlic (shown above)
- Baked tofu slices
- Roasted chickpeas
- Vegan feta crumbles
- Sliced Castelvetrano or kalamata olives
- Toasted sunflower seeds, pepitas, hemp seeds, or sesame seeds
- Add some heat with a dash of hot sauce or pickled jalapenos
- Add sweetness with a dollop of pineapple salsa or sliced fresh mango
- A drizzling of cilantro basil pesto, chimichurri, or tahini dressing
Serving ideas
Vegan avocado toast is wonderful on its own for a quick & easy breakfast or filling snack. But you can also round it out with other dishes.
Serve it alongside any of these protein-rich brunch dishes:
If you try this recipe and love it, let me know! Leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the comment section below. It truly makes my day and is such a help!
📖 Recipe
Vegan avocado toast with pickled onions & nutritional yeast
Ingredients
- 2 slices bread
- 1 small avocado sliced with pit removed
- Pinch of salt
- ¼ teaspoon nutritional yeast flakes divided
- 2 Tablespoons pickled red onions
Instructions
- Toast two slices of bread in the toaster.
- Once the bread is toasted, top each piece of toast with half an avocado. Use a fork to smash it onto the bread.
- Sprinkle a pinch of salt onto each piece of toast.
- Sprinkle nutritional yeast onto each piece of toast. (⅛ teaspoon per slice or to taste.)
- Finish with sliced pickled red onions on each piece of toast. (1 Tablespoon of pickled onions per slice or to taste.)
- Enjoy right away while the bread is still warm.
Nutrition
Photos, recipe, and content updated March 6, 2025. Originally posted February 6, 2018.
m kearley
We have avocado toast every day. This looks like a great addition. Thanks.
And our cat thanks you too.
Cadry
How nice that you have avocado toast every day! Any day is better with avocado, I always say. And I’m so glad that your cat is getting in on some nutritional yeast too.
Susan
I love the idea of adding tofu to avocado toast.
Alas, none of my cats have ever had any interest in nutritional yeast.
Cadry
Tofu really amps avocado toast up into a hearty breakfast! That’s too bad that none of your cats have had an interest in nutritional yeast. Mine have a Pavlovian response whenever they hear the jar opening. 😀
Shell
You and David are the best kitty photographers! I love it.
I also love simple, fast and yummy breakfast ideas!
Cadry
Thank you! Avon is really good with the camera. That’s what happens when you train them early! Ha!
Becky Striepe
Ooh I need to start keeping baked tofu around. This sounds like my ideal breakfast – it has my two favorite foods in it!
Cadry
Yes, sometimes you really need a quick, grab and go meal. Since you’re an avocado & tofu fan, you will love this! Keep it in mind for your next busy day.
David
That’s one happy-looking kitty! Oh, and the toast looks good, too. 🙂
Cadry
No one is more appreciative of a treat than Avon!