Toast is great, but the toppings for toast is the real fun! Not only are toast toppings a great way to add more flavors and textures, but it's a great way to add some nutrition to make your toast part of a more nutritionally balanced, healthy snack or meal.
Toppings for Toast
There are so many potential toppings for toast! This list, while quite comprehensive, isn't even all encompassing, so I'd highly recommend getting creative and having fun with it!
Spreads
- Avocado
- Guacamole
- Cream cheese (or whipped or Neufchatel)
- Peanut butter
- Almond butter
- Seed butter (like pumpkin seed butter)
- Nutella
- Hummus
- Baba ganoush
- Romesco sauce
- Tomato sauce
- Pesto
- Jam
- Chia jam
- Spinach artichoke dip
Proteins
- Smoked salmon
- Egg (fried, poached, scrambled)
- Salmon spread
- Tuna salad
- Egg salad
- Chicken salad
- Smashed beans
- Refried beans
- Chickpea salad
- Crispy tofu
- Ham
- Chicken
- Deli meat
- Bacon
- Prosciutto (try crispy prosciutto!)
- Buffalo chicken dip
Dairy
- Ricotta
- Cottage cheese
- Greek yogurt
- Cheddar cheese
- Colby Jack cheese
- Pepper Jack cheese
- Shredded mozzarella
- Fresh mozzarella
- Pimento cheese
- Blue cheese
- Goat cheese
- Feta cheese (try whipped feta!)
Fruits
- Banana (mashed or slices)
- Strawberries
- Blueberries (like my blueberry toast!)
- Blackberries
- Raspberries
- Gooseberries
- Mulberries
- Peaches
- Fresh pear
- Baked pears
- Mango
- Diced pineapple
- Apple slices
- Stewed apples
- Dried cranberries
- Freeze dried fruits
- Raisins
- Dried apricots
- Figs
- Chopped dates
Vegetables
- Cucumber slices
- Carrot ribbons
- Thinly sliced red bell pepper
- Pico de gallo
- Sundried tomatoes
- Roasted bell peppers
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Asparagus
- Radish slices
- Caramelized onions
- Pickles
- Finely chopped celery
- Arugula
- Kale chips
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Sliced tomatoes
- Blistered tomatoes
Crunchy Texture
- Crunchy nut butter
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Hemp hearts
- Chopped walnuts
- Chopped pecans
- Slivered almonds
- Crushed peanuts
- Chili crunch seasoning
- Granola
Flavor Additions
- Everything but the bagel seasoning
- Lemon zest
- Orange zest
- Honey (or hot honey)
- Maple syrup
- Mini chocolate chips
- Cinnamon sugar
- Balsamic reduction or glaze
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Green onion
- Chives
- Rosemary
- Oregano
- Lavender
- Squeeze of fresh citrus juice
- Hot sauce
- Siracha
Best Types of Bread for Toast
The best type of bread for toast is the type of bread you like to eat! Different types of bread lend better for different types of toasts and toppings, so some tips for choosing a quality bread toast are:
- Choose a bread that is sturdy enough to hold up to the toppings you want to use.
- Longer slices of toast make a great base for lots of toppings, but you may need to find other ways to toast it if it won't fit in your toaster (see below).
- Don't go for thin-sliced bread, unless you're not going crazy with toppings. Some simple butter, peanut butter, or jam may work better for thin sliced!
In general, some popular breads to toast include:
- Sourdough
- Whole wheat
- Whole grain
- Homemade bread
- No knead bread
- Ciabatta bread
- French bread
- Italian bread
- Rye bread
- Pumpernickle bread
- Gluten-free bread
- English muffins
- Bagels
Ways to Make Toast
Of course toasting bread in the toaster is the classic way to go. But if your toaster is on the fritz or your bread doesn't fit in the toaster, try these alternative methods:
- How to Make Air Fryer Toast
- Toasting Bread in the Oven (the best option if you need to make a lot of toast at once!)
- Pan Toast (just heat a little butter or oil in a pan over medium-high heat and toast bread on each side until crisp!)
Healthy Toast Toppings
As a registered dietitian, I'm obviously a huge fan and proponent of nutrition and the science of food and what nourishes our bodies.
So since I've gotten this question a few times, I've actually written an article that looks into the actual science and research - Is Toast Healthy?
But *spoiler alert* the short of it is, YES, toast itself can be healthy. And beyond that, I'm a huge proponent of balance. Absolutely any food you enjoy can be part of an overall healthy diet!
When it comes to toast, most folks are better off if they learn to incorporate toast as part of a balanced meal or snack - and toppings can be a great way to help with that.
I teach my clients that this means eating enough food period, making sure the food is satisfying for you, and to include a variety of protein, fat, and fiber-rich carbs and plants. Here are some of my favorite healthy toast topping combinations:
Classic Avocado Toast with Egg
Sourdough toast (carb) topped with avocado (fat) mashed with salt and lemon (flavor), poached eggs (protein), green onion and everything but the bagel seasoning (flavor)
Blueberry Toast
Whole grain toast (fiber-rich carb) topped with greek yogurt (protein), blueberries (fiber-rich carb/ plants), hemp hearts (fat, protein), lemon zest and honey (flavor).
Almond Butter & Jelly Toast
Whole wheat toast (fiber-rich carb) topped with almond butter (fat), raspberry chia jam (fiber-rich carbs/ plants, fat), cinnamon (flavor) with greek yogurt (protein) on the side.
Southwestern Toast
Whole grain toast (fiber-rich carb) topped with black beans (fiber-rich carb, protein) mashed with lime juice, sliced chicken (protein), melted pepper jack cheese (fat, protein), hot sauce (flavor) and pico de gallo (flavor, little veg).
Raspberry Chocolate Chip Toast
Sourdough toast (carb) topped with whipped cream cheese (fat), fresh raspberries (fiber-rich carb), mini chocolate chips and honey (flavor and fun). Serve with something like a chocolate protein shake on the side to take it more from a snack to a meal.
Still reading? Well go make some toast! Then come find me on Instagram and let me know how you got creative and enjoyed some of these 109 toppings for toast!
Leave a Reply