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High Protein Breakfast Burrito
Burritos typically have an unhealthy connotation, full of refined carbohydrates and high-fat ingredients like sour cream or bacon.
But they don’t have to be lacking in nutrition—in fact, burritos can be a healthy addition to your diet if done right.
With 30 grams of protein and 26 grams of carbs per serving, this high-protein breakfast burrito will keep you satiated all morning long without causing the all-too-common post-burrito sluggishness that makes you want to lay on the couch all morning long.
How to Make a High-Protein Breakfast Burrito
Many taco shop breakfast burritos rival the weight of a newborn baby, clocking in at upwards of 1,000 calories.
Although they are certainly delicious, we don’t always want to start our day off with such a hefty, carb-loaded meal.
Rather, swapping out some of the typical breakfast burrito ingredients—like the large white flour tortilla, sour cream, excess cheese, and pork bacon—for healthier options can set you up for a more nutritious day.
Our breakfast burrito only has 340 calories and 26 grams of carbs—much fewer than you’ll find at any taco shop or restaurant.
Plus, eating protein at breakfast—the magic number seems to be 30 grams—is an excellent way to manage your weight, build muscle, balance your blood sugar, and stay full until lunch.
In this high-protein breakfast burrito, we hit that magic number by adding extra egg whites and a couple of slices of turkey bacon, which have 5 grams of protein per slice—let’s take a closer look at the ingredients we used.
High-Protein Breakfast Burrito Ingredients
Turkey Bacon
Turkey bacon is considered a healthier option than regular, pork-based bacon because it has fewer calories and fat.
Compared to pork bacon, turkey bacon has about 50 fewer calories and 8 fewer grams of fat per serving. We love the Applegate Natural Hickory Smoked Uncured Turkey Bacon, which has 5 grams of protein per slice.
Eggs and Egg Whites
Eggs are a pretty necessary component of a breakfast burrito (although you could try a tofu scramble if you can’t have eggs), and we used a combination of eggs and egg whites to boost the protein content.
As one egg only has 6 grams of protein (and the majority of it is in the white), adding two extra egg whites increases the protein in this breakfast burrito by about 8 grams.
If you don’t want to waste the yolks, save them for a dessert recipe (like custard or lemon curd) or purchase a carton of liquid egg whites. Typically, ¼ cup of liquid egg whites equals the whites from two large eggs.
Veggies
This is where you are free to customize your high-protein breakfast burrito, as you can add whichever vegetables you prefer. However, we do not recommend skipping the veggies altogether, as they add fiber, antioxidants, and a different texture to the burrito.
In this recipe, we used diced red onion, yellow bell pepper, and spinach, but you can use any vegetable you like. Some veggies take much longer to cook (like potatoes and sweet potatoes), so keep that in mind when you choose. Pro tip: Dicing the vegetables smaller and the same size will help them cook faster and more evenly.
About ½ cup of diced veggies is the right amount in this recipe, as any more might give you trouble when it comes to successfully wrapping the burrito.
Lavash Bread
Some may say that a burrito is not a burrito unless it’s wrapped in a tortilla (and they’re probably right), but we are putting a Middle Eastern twist on the classic by using lavash bread.
Commonly consumed in countries like Armenia and Turkey, lavash is a flexible, thin flatbread that typically comes in a large rectangular shape, which is great for making wraps.
Although the nutrition facts of lavash bread can vary widely, you might expect one sheet to contain 120 calories, 6 grams of protein, and 20-22 grams of carbohydrates.
Low-carb lavash bread, like this one by Joseph’s that contains 16 grams of carbs per sheet, is also an option.
Cheese
While cheese is not necessary in this recipe, we definitely love the flavor and gooey texture that it adds. But if you are dairy-free, simply skipping this step won’t change the outcome too much.
We used mozzarella cheese because it melts great, but feel free to use any shredded cheese you like (Monterey Jack or cheddar would be tasty options). Adding ¼ cup of shredded cheese will add approximately 6-7 grams of protein to your burrito.
High Protein Breakfast Burrito Recipe
A delicious high-protein breakfast burrito with eggs, turkey bacon, and veggies, all wrapped in lavash bread.
Ingredients
- ½ cup of cut veggies (like red onion, yellow bell pepper, and spinach)
- 2 strips of turkey bacon, cooked according to package instructions
- 1 lavash bread
- 1 tsp butter
- Salt and pepper
Optional
- ¼ cup of shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- salsa
- hot sauce or 1 Tbsp non-fat Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Add veggies to a pan and cook on medium until softened.
- Add butter, egg, egg whites, salt, and pepper, cooking until desired texture.
- Place cooked eggs and veggies on lavash bread and add mozzarella (or other cheese choice) on top.
- Add cooked turkey bacon strips on top of the eggs.
- Roll into a burrito and place the wrap back on the pan to heat the outside and melt the cheese.
- Remove, cut in half, and enjoy!
- Serve with optional toppings, like salsa, hot sauce, or Greek yogurt (as a sour cream replacement).
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 340kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 30gFat: 13g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
High Protein Breakfast Burrito FAQs
Are Breakfast Burritos Good for Protein?
Breakfast burritos typically contain eggs, cheese, and some meat, making them a good source of protein. You can make breakfast burritos higher in protein by adding additional egg whites, using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, and including turkey bacon, regular bacon, or another meat.Â
How Do You Add Protein to a Breakfast Burrito?
In this recipe, we made a high-protein breakfast burrito by including one egg with two egg whites, cheese, and turkey bacon, which comes out to 30 grams of protein. You can also include other types of meat, Greek yogurt (as a sour cream replacement), or extra cheese to boost the protein content.
How Much Protein Is in an Egg and Bacon Breakfast Burrito?
It depends. This high-protein breakfast burrito contains 30 grams of protein, but the protein content of a breakfast burrito can vary widely depending on the ingredients. On average, a taco shop or restaurant breakfast burrito with eggs and bacon might contain 20 to 30 grams of protein, depending on the size and how much of each ingredient is used.
