Lisa is a recipe writer at Blue Apron. She was formerly an editor with Better Homes and Gardens branded food magazines. She is an alumna of The Culinary Institute of America and The University of Missouri. She lives in Brooklyn.
updated May 1, 2019
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There’s no denying that gluten-free products are popping up everywhere in the grocery store. You can find replacements for almost everything including bread, pasta, waffles, pancakes, baked goods, and more. But what if you didn’t have to buy a replacement? There are lots of naturally gluten-free products out there as well. Here are seven ways to eat breakfast sandwiches without bread.
1. Lettuce or Collard Green Wrap
Crisp, refreshing lettuce is a great alternative to sandwich bread. You still get the crisp texture you were looking for in the bread, but none of the same carbs. Try it with butter lettuce, cabbage, kale, or collard greens. Just remember to remove the stem from the kale or collards before you wrap it.
2. Corn Tortillas
Breakfast tacos! You can choose soft or hard shell here. If you want soft tacos, warm them in the oven for just a few minutes until they are soft and pliable. If you’d rather go for breakfast tostadas, brush them with a small amount of olive oil and bake until crisp. While corn tortillas are made of corn, you do want to be careful here. If the package doesn’t say gluten-free, then it’s possible they could’ve interacted with flour at some point.
Get a Recipe: Breakfast Tacos
3. Portobello Mushrooms
Large, earthy portobello mushrooms are perfect for holding any of your go-to breakfast sandwich fillings. Remove the stem and use a spoon to scrape out the gills. Grill it or cook it on the stovetop for a few minutes to soften, then layer in the fillings. For melty cheese, put it back in the pan and cook on each side for a few minutes.
4. Thinly Sliced Eggplant or Zucchini
When eggplant is in season, you’ll want to use it as much as possible. For breakfast, cooked thin slices can hold together any ingredients just as bread would. If you have a particularly narrow eggplant or even zucchini, you can treat it like a roll-up instead of bread. Who can say no to cute pinwheels filled with breakfast sandwich ingredients?
5. Zucchini Fritters (or Vegetable Fritters in General)
Ah, the fritter. It might not be the healthiest option, but it certainly could be the tastiest. Shredded zucchini is added to a batter and fried to golden-brown. The end result leaves you with fritters that are crisp on the outside and slightly soft on the inside, just waiting for breakfast sandwich fare.
Get a Recipe: Savory Carrot & Zucchini Pancakes
6. Bell Peppers
It might not be a surprise to see stuffed peppers show up on the dinner table, so why not use them for breakfast too? If you’d rather have a soft pepper, bake them in a baking dish with a thin layer of water. However, you can keep them crisp and raw as well. Cut out and discard the stem, ribs, and seeds. Cut it in half or four planks that stay relatively flat for the easiest assembly.
7. Deli Meat
Flip the sandwich inside out and use the meat or eggs as the wrap. Deli ham might be the first thing to come to mind, but you can really use any kind of meat at the deli with a large slice. A thin egg omelet can also serve as the wrap for nearly any filling your desire.
