In short: Try matcha in a smoothie bowl, Eggs Benedict, waffles, chia pudding, granola, pancakes or overnight oats. The recipes are written out below, except overnight oats, which links to Zen's complete recipe. Pick by time, batch size or whether you want to prepare breakfast ahead.
A note on the numbers: Treat the amounts, times and yields below as practical kitchen starting points reviewed by Erin, then adjust for your taste and equipment. The smoothie serving count is an estimate.
Jump straight to a recipe:
- Matcha smoothie bowl
- Matcha Eggs Benedict
- Matcha waffles with blueberries
- Matcha chia pudding
- Matcha granola
- Matcha pancakes
- Matcha overnight oats (full recipe on its own page)
Want ideas beyond breakfast? Browse the full matcha recipe collection.
Which Matcha Breakfast Recipe Fits Your Morning?
Use the table to compare time, matcha amount, make-ahead suitability and yield, then head to the recipe that suits your morning.
| Recipe | Matcha amount | Total / active time | Make-ahead | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smoothie bowl | 1 tsp | 5 min total; 5 min active | No; blend and serve | About 2 servings (estimate) |
| Eggs Benedict | 1 tsp | 25 min total; 15 min active | Best fresh | 2 servings |
| Waffles | 2 tsp | 35 min total; 10 min active | Batch option; serve fresh | 10 waffles |
| Chia pudding | 2 tsp | 8 h 10 min including set; 10 min active | Yes; about 8 h overnight | 2 servings |
| Granola | 1 tbsp | 1 h 40 min total; 10 min active | Yes; batch recipe | 8 servings |
| Pancakes | 1.5 tsp | 45 min total; 10 min active | Best fresh | 16 pancakes |
| Overnight oats (summary) | 1 tsp | 5 min active; overnight set | Yes; overnight | 1 bowl |
The amounts, times and yields in the table use the same kitchen guides as the recipes below; the smoothie yield remains an estimate.
Which Ideas Work Best for Weekdays or Make-Ahead Breakfasts?
For a quick weekday breakfast, the no-cook smoothie bowl comes first at about 5 minutes. Overnight oats take about 5 minutes of active preparation, then an overnight set.
Chia pudding needs about 8 hours to set and about 8 hours 10 minutes in total. Granola takes about 1 hour 40 minutes including baking and cooling, but it gives you a larger batch. Save the waffles, pancakes or Eggs Benedict for a more relaxed morning, when a little extra time at the stove is part of the pleasure.
How Do You Make a Matcha Smoothie Bowl?
The smoothie bowl is the quickest idea here: blend, pour, top, eat. It is a no-cook breakfast.
What do you need for a matcha smoothie bowl?
For the smoothie, gather 2 bananas, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 avocado, honey to taste and, if you like, fruit and nuts for the top. The smoothie uses 1 teaspoon of matcha per batch.
How do you make it step by step?
- Blend everything until smooth, pour into bowls, then finish with fruit or nuts if you like.
- Allow about 5 minutes from start to finish.
- Treat the yield as an estimate of 2 servings, depending on the size of your bowls.
How Do You Make Matcha Eggs Benedict?
This is the savoury option: poached eggs on toasted muffins under a matcha-tinted yoghurt sauce. It is best served straight away.
What do you need for matcha Eggs Benedict?
For the 2-serving Eggs Benedict recipe, use 1 cup Greek yoghurt, 1/2 cup butter, 2 tbsp lemon juice, salt, 1/4 tsp garlic, 5 tbsp water, 6 eggs, 2 tbsp vinegar and 3 English muffins. The sauce uses 1 teaspoon of matcha.
How do you make it step by step?
- Toast the muffins, mix the yoghurt, butter, lemon, matcha, salt and garlic into a sauce, loosen it with water, then poach the eggs in vinegar water and assemble.
- Allow about 3 minutes for poaching.
- Allow about 15 minutes of active preparation and 25 minutes in total for 2 servings.
How Do You Make Matcha Waffles with Blueberries?
Matcha waffles are a weekend batch topped with blueberries and grapes. Cook to a golden finish rather than a fixed clock time.
What do you need for matcha waffles?
For the 10-waffle recipe, use 1.5 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda, 1/4 cup coconut oil and 1/5 cup coconut milk. The toppings are 2 tbsp maple syrup, 3/4 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup grapes and, if you like, 30 g chocolate. The batter uses 2 teaspoons of matcha.
How do you make them step by step?
- Mix or blend the batter, then preheat and grease the waffle iron; cook each portion until golden and add the toppings to serve.
- Allow about 3 to 5 minutes per waffle-iron batch, but trust your iron's indicator and the colour rather than the clock alone.
- Allow about 10 minutes of active preparation and roughly 35 minutes in total, depending on your waffle iron, for 10 waffles.
How Do You Make Matcha Chia Pudding Overnight?
Stir chia pudding together at night, then refrigerate it while you sleep. Dissolve the matcha first so it can be mixed through the pudding.
What do you need for matcha chia pudding?
For the 2-serving chia pudding, use 1/2 cup chia seeds, 1.5 cups milk, 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey, 1/2 tsp vanilla, a pinch of salt and any toppings you enjoy. The batch uses 2 teaspoons of matcha.
How do you make it step by step?
- Stir together the chia, milk, sweetener, vanilla and salt; dissolve the matcha in a little hot water, mix it in, then cover and refrigerate overnight before adding your toppings.
- Give the pudding about 8 hours to set.
- Allow about 10 minutes of active preparation and about 8 hours 10 minutes in total, including the overnight set.
- The yield is 2 servings.
How Do You Make Matcha Granola?
Granola is the larger make-ahead batch. Let it cool completely before adding the matcha and berries.
What do you need for matcha granola?
For the 8-serving granola batch, use 3 cups oats, 1.5 cups nuts, 1/2 cup flax or chia seeds, 2 tbsp oil, 4 tbsp maple syrup, 2 tsp vanilla, salt and 1 cup berries. The recipe adds 1 tablespoon of matcha after the granola has cooled.
How do you make it step by step?
- Combine the oats, nuts, seeds, oil, maple syrup, vanilla and salt; bake, stirring during cooking, then cool completely before tossing through the matcha and berries.
- Bake it at 260 F, approximately 127 C, for about 60 minutes, with stirring.
- Allow about 30 minutes for cooling before the matcha goes in.
- Allow about 10 minutes of active preparation and 1 hour 40 minutes in total, including baking and cooling.
- The yield is 8 servings.
For the matcha in these recipes, see Zen's Premium Grade Matcha Tea Powder.
How Do You Make Matcha Pancakes?
Mix the matcha through the batter before it reaches the pan.
What do you need for matcha pancakes?
For the 16-pancake recipe, use 2 eggs, 1.75 cups milk, 1 tsp vanilla, 2 cups self-raising flour and 1/3 cup sugar. The recipe adds 1.5 teaspoons of matcha to the batter.
How do you make them step by step?
- Mix the batter, then spoon 1/4 cup per pancake into a heated pan, cooking two at a time; flip once and serve warm.
- Cook each pancake for about 2 minutes on the first side and 1 to 2 minutes on the second.
- Allow about 10 minutes of active preparation and 45 minutes in total for all 16 pancakes cooked two at a time.
A whisk disperses matcha more evenly than a spoon when you mix it into a little hot water before adding it to a batter or sauce. If you are starting out, see Zen's Matcha Tea Set.
Where Can You Find Zen's Full Matcha Overnight Oats Recipe?
One bowl uses 1 teaspoon of matcha and takes about 5 minutes of active preparation. The recipe then sets overnight, ready for the morning.
Follow Zen's complete matcha overnight oats recipe for the full ingredient list and method.
Matcha Breakfast Recipes FAQ
How much matcha should you use in each breakfast recipe? Use the amount for the whole batch, not each serving. Use 1 teaspoon in the smoothie bowl and 1 teaspoon in the Eggs Benedict sauce; 2 teaspoons in the waffles and 2 teaspoons in the chia pudding; 1 tablespoon in the granola; 1.5 teaspoons in the pancakes; and 1 teaspoon in one bowl of overnight oats.
Can you make matcha breakfast recipes ahead of time? Yes. Chia pudding needs about 8 hours to set and roughly 8 hours 10 minutes in total. Overnight oats take about 5 minutes of active preparation before the overnight set. Granola takes about 1 hour 40 minutes in total and gives you the larger batch option.
Where can I find the full matcha overnight oats recipe? Follow Zen's complete matcha overnight oats recipe for the full ingredient list and method.
How do you make matcha chia pudding? Stir the chia, milk, sweetener, vanilla and salt together, dissolve the matcha in a little hot water, then combine. The recipe uses 2 teaspoons of matcha for a batch serving 2, then refrigerates overnight for about 8 hours.
Who Created These Matcha Breakfast Recipes?
Written and reviewed for accuracy by Erin Young, founder of Zen Green Tea, sourcing matcha directly from Japanese farms since 2012.
Erin checked the amounts, times and yields together as practical starting points for each recipe. The smoothie serving count is an estimate because bowl size varies.