April 10, 2023

35+ Greek Yogurt Toppings and Breakfast Bowl Ideas

Name: Greek Yogurt Bowl with 35+ Toppings Ideas
Prep time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Greek yogurt; Strawberries; Bananas; Blueberries; Figs; Peaches; Dates; Cherries; Pineapple; Mangoes; Raspberries; Kiwis; Blackberries; Nectarines; Pomegranate; Goji berries; Apples; Sliced almonds; Walnuts; Pecans; Hazelnuts; Granola; Chia seeds; Flax seeds; Hemp seeds; Oats; Chocolate chips; Cinnamon; Cardamom; Dried coconut

Yogurt can feel boring or bland if you don’t mix it up with delicious yogurt toppings. But once you know how to build a tasty yogurt bowl, it will become your go-to high protein snack.

Not all brands of Greek yogurt have the same taste or texture, so make sure to experiment with different brands to find your favorite. While I often opt for the store brand, Fage is my favorite brand name Greek yogurt because of it’s creamy taste and silky texture.

The Benefits of Greek Yogurt

One of the reasons I love Greek yogurt is because it’s high in protein — it has about 15 grams per serving! It’s relatively low in calories (about 90-100 per serving), low in carbs (about 5 grams per serving), and low in fat. The amount of fat can vary depending on the type of yogurt you choose, but I typically get 0% milkfat. Even better, plain Greek yogurt only has about 5 grams of sugar compared to the 15+ grams regular yogurt typically has.

Greek yogurt is also rich in probiotics and calcium. I like to mix protein powder into my yogurt bowl for a post workout snack, or top it with berries for a mid-morning pick me up.

If you’re still on the “yogurt is boring, but healthy” train, try some of these yogurt topping ideas and see if they change your mind!

How to Make Greek Yogurt Bowls

It’s as easy as one, two, three, literally.

Add a serving of yogurt to your bowl. I usually measure out half a cup to a cup.
Choose your toppings. Arrange them on top of the yogurt.
Eat up!

While making the bowl itself may be easy, knowing how to keep your yogurt toppings fresh may not be as intuitive. Here are a few ways I like to keep it interesting:

Cook your fruit. Sometimes a warm topping is just what’s needed. I like to saute apples or peaches with spices. Pro tip: You can freeze apples if they’re about to go bad and make a compote-like topping later.
Make a sauce. To create a low sugar sauce, simmer berries with a few spoonfuls of water until they become soft. Add in lemon or orange zest for extra flavor.
Freeze your fruit. Cold fruit on a summer’s day is always refreshing. Depending on the texture fruit, you can either thaw slightly or top your yogurt with fruit straight from the freezer. Plus, it’s a good way to keep from wasting food. I throw my fresh berries in the freezer right before they’re about to go bad. My favorite yogurt topping is frozen cherries!
Add more protein. For a high-protein (and delicious) snack, I like to mix one scoop of protein powder into my yogurt. If you don’t use protein powder, you can add a spoonful of cocoa powder for a chocolatey boost.
Limit dried fruit and added sugar. Dried fruit and toppings like granola can be high in sugar. Use in moderation if you’re trying to limit your sugar intake.

Yogurt Topping Ideas

Keep it simple with one to two yogurt toppings, or get fancy and choose from each category! You can drizzle sweetener on top, but it’s not always necessary if you pick naturally sweet fruit.

Fruit

Strawberries (1/4 cup): 12 calories, 0.3 grams protein, 2.9 grams carbs, 0.1 grams fat
Banana slices (1/2 banana): 53 calories, 0.6 grams protein, 13.5 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat
Blueberries (1/4 cup): 21 calories, 0.3 grams protein, 5.4 grams protein, 0.1 grams fat
Figs (1 small fig): 30 calories, 0.3 grams protein, 7.7 grams carbs, 0.1 grams fat
Peach slices (1/2 peach): 29 calories, 0.7 grams protein, 7.2 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat
Medjool dates (3 dates): 199 calories, 1.3 grams protein, 54 grams carbs, 0.1 grams fat
Cherries (10 cherries): 52 calories, 0.9 grams protein, 13.1 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat
Pineapple (1/4 cup): 21 calories, 0.2 grams protein, 5.4 grams carbs, 0.0 grams fat
Mangoes (1/4 cup): 25 calories, 0.3 grams protein, 6.2 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat
Raspberries (1/4 cup): 16 calories, 0.4 grams protein, 3.7 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat
Kiwi slices (1/2 kiwi): 16 calories, 0.4 grams protein, 3.7 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat
Blackberries (1/4 cup): 15 calories, 0.5 grams protein, 3.5 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat
Nectarine slices (1/2 nectarine): 31 calories, 0.8 grams protein, 7.5 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat
Pomegranate seeds (1/4 cup): 25 calories, 0.5 grams protein, 5.7 grams carbs, 0.4 grams fat
Goji berries (1/4 cup): 45 calories, 1.8 grams protein, 8.9 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat
Apple slices (1/2 apple): 47 calories, 0.2 grams protein, 12.6 grams carbs, 0.2 grams fat

Nuts, Grains, and Seeds

bowls of nuts and seeds: pecans, chia seeds, sliced almonds, walnuts

Sliced almonds (1/4 cup): 170 calories, 6.0 grams protein, 6 grams carbs, 15 grams fat
Walnut halves (1/4 cup): 163 calories, 3.8 grams protein, 3.4 grams carbs, 16.3 grams fat
Chopped pecans (1/4 cup): 188 calories, 2.5 grams protein, 3.8 grams carbs, 19.6 grams fat
Hazelnuts (1/4 cup): 212 calories, 5.0 grams protein, 5.6 grams carbs, 20.5 grams fat
Granola (1/4 cup): 130 calories, 2.9 grams protein, 16.5 grams carbs, 6.4 grams fat
Chia seeds (2 Tbsp): 97 calories, 3.3 grams protein, 8.4 grams carbs, 6.1 grams fat
Flax seeds (2 Tbsp): 75 calories, 2.6 grams protein, 4.0 grams carbs, 5.9 grams fat
Hemp seeds (2 Tbsp): 111 calories, 6.3 grams protein, 1.7 grams carbs, 9.7 grams fat
Oats (1/4 cup): 77 calories, 2.7 grams protein, 13.7 grams carbs, 1.3 grams fat

Other

bowls of dried coconut, cinnamon, puffed rice

Almond butter (2 Tbsp): 192 calories, 6.6 grams protein, 5.9 grams carbs, 17.3 grams fat
Chocolate chips (1/4 cup): 218 calories, 1.9 grams protein, 29.1 grams carbs, 13.6 grams fat
Dash of cinnamon
Dash of cardamom
Dried coconut, unsweetened (1/4 cup): 132 calories, 1.4 grams protein, 4.7 grams carbs, 12.9 grams fat
Peanut butter (2 Tbsp): 193 calories, 7.2 grams protein, 7.2 grams carbs, 16.6 grams fat
Crushed graham cracker (1 cracker): 60 calories, 0.9 grams protein, 10.9 grams carbs, 1.5 grams fat
Orange or lemon zest
Puffed rice (1/4 cup): 15 calories, 0.3 grams protein, 3.2 grams carbs, 0.1 grams fat

Sweeteners

maple syrup bottle, honey jar, chocolate chips

Honey (2 Tbsp): 129 calories, 0.1 grams protein, 34.9 grams carbs, 0.0 grams fat
Jam (2 Tbsp): 111 calories, 0.1 grams protein, 27.5 grams carbs, 0.0 grams fat
Maple syrup (2 Tbsp): 102 calories, 0.0 grams protein, 26.4 grams carbs, 0.0 grams fat
Melted chocolate: you can melt chocolate chips (see nutritional information above)

Yogurt Breakfast (or Snack) Bowl Ideas

Now it’s time to put it all together! These are some of my favorite yogurt bowl combinations. Depending on how many toppings you choose, you may want to use more or less than the amount recommended above.

Very Berry bowl: Greek yogurt with strawberries, blueberries, toasted sliced almonds and honey

Very Berry: Keep it classic with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, toasted almonds, and a drizzle of honey.

Pina Colada: Transport yourself to an island getaway by topping your yogurt with pineapple chunks and coconut flakes.

Peanut Butter Banana: Reminiscent of a favorite childhood sandwich, add sliced banana, crushed peanuts, and peanut butter drizzle. Pro tip: heat up the peanut butter before drizzling it on for a sauce-like texture.

Chocolate Banana: Mix a scoop of chocolate protein powder or cocoa powder into your yogurt. You may want to add a dash of milk or water to help it mix more easily. Top with sliced bananas and chocolate chunks.