These delicious oatmeal recipes go beyond boring bowls, from overnight oats to baked variations. Each one is a healthy breakfast idea packed with plant-based protein and fiber to keep you energized all day!
Here’s one way you can’t go wrong when it comes to breakfast ideas: oatmeal! A lot of people tell me, “But I just don’t like oatmeal!” Allow me to change your mind.
Oatmeal is one of the healthiest breakfast ideas out there: this whole grain is full of plant-based protein, fiber, and can keep you full all morning. As a cookbook author and Mediterranean diet recipe expert, I eat these oatmeal recipes every day (for real!). Once I learned how to cook oats properly and play around with toppings, everything changed for me.
Why oatmeal should be your breakfast MVP
Before I get to the recipes, here’s why oatmeal deserves a spot in your breakfast rotation. Oats are naturally high in plant-based protein (11 grams per cup of raw oats) and packed with fiber that keeps you satisfied for hours. Unlike sugary cereals that leave you hungry an hour later, a bowl of oatmeal actually sticks with you.
There are a few basic types of oats: rolled oats and steel cut oats. Rolled oats are flattened in rollers, and they include three types: Old Fashioned, quick cooking, and instant oats (I typically use Old Fashioned). Steel cut oats are the whole grain cut into nubs; they’re more like rice and take longer to cook. Then there are a myriad of ways to serve oatmeal:
- Basic cooking methods: You can cook oatmeal on the stovetop to make a creamy bowl, or in a pressure cooker. You can also make baked oatmeal, overnight oats, or even cook them the microwave.
- Creative ways to eat oatmeal: You can also turn oatmeal into pancakes, waffles, or muffins: these are fan favorite recipes I’ve developed over the years that readers love.
My top oatmeal recipes to try
This is my master recipe: the one I've perfected after making oatmeal literally hundreds of times. This creamy, hearty bowl takes just 7 minutes and has the perfect chewy texture that never veers into gloppy territory. You can also make it in the microwave (which I do daily).
There's something magical about stirring peanut butter into warm oats: it creates this naturally sweet, protein-packed breakfast that keeps me full until lunch. Try it once and you'll understand why it's my daily breakfast.
This microwave version of oatmeal saves me every day! I used to think microwaved oats would be inferior to stovetop, but I was wrong. This method makes the same creamy texture in a fraction of the time. Skip those instant packets and make real oatmeal in 2 minutes.
When I have a little more time I like making a pot of steel cut oats. These chewy oats feel like the ultimate healthy breakfast. I make a big batch and the leftovers reheat well all week long. Just add a splash of milk when warming them up.
This is one of my favorite ways to use up those overripe bananas sitting on my counter. With warm cinnamon and vanilla, it tastes like banana bread in a bowl. Perfect for rotating into your weekly breakfast schedule!
The first time I made this, I was shocked by the color! Fresh or frozen blueberries burst open while cooking, them with sweet berry flavor and a purple color. The combination of cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla makes it taste irresistibly fresh.
Mix rolled oats with milk in a jar, put it in the fridge overnight, and wake up to breakfast: no cooking required! The oats soften into a creamy consistency. I eat mine cold topped with berries and nut butter, and they're absolutely fantastic. This has been trendy for years now, and you really need to try it.
There’s something so cozy about the words maple brown sugar oatmeal, and this bowl is like wrapping yourself in a warm blanket on a chilly morning. This recipe is my homemade copycat for the packaged instant oatmeal of the same name.
This technique changed my relationship with oatmeal. By toasting the oats in a dry pan before adding liquid, you unlock this incredible nutty, almost caramelized flavor. It's vegan, packed with plant-based protein, and topped with peanut butter and strawberry jam, it tastes truly special.
Who can say no to pink oatmeal? My strawberry oatmeal has a sweet berry flavor and is topped with fresh berries and a drizzle of maple syrup and a hint of cream. It's so tasty!
These apple cinnamon overnight oats are a delicious whole grain healthy breakfast! I love this easy make-ahead recipe that combines sweet tart apples, warm cinnamon, and chewy oats for the perfect morning meal.
Here's a unique breakfast that proves oatmeal doesn't need syrup: savory oatmeal! These toasted oats topped with a fried egg and garlicky sautéed kale create a veggie-filled satisfying healthy breakfast idea.
Baked oatmeal changed the game for me. I bake one pan and it's great for parties and meal prep. Bake it on Sunday, cut it into squares, and grab one each morning. The cinnamon-allspice-maple combination is magical. Use any fruit mix-ins you like!
Do the words apple cinnamon oatmeal make you first think of a packet of instant oatmeal? My homemade version of this oatmeal recipe is cozy and comforting, made with real fresh fruit and seasoned with brown sugar, cinnamon and a hint of allspice.
This easy peaches and cream oatmeal is a cozy, comforting breakfast that tastes like pie! It’s one of my favorite easy breakfast ideas when peaches are in season, made with fresh or frozen peaches, maple, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Here’s an easy, healthy breakfast recipe for weekdays or entertaining guests: Instant Pot oatmeal! If you’ve got a pressure cooker, oatmeal is even easier to make. The oats are toasted in butter until fragrant, then mixed with milk and cooked for just 3 minutes.
My healthy banana baked oatmea is wholesome and filling, and it’s made with good-for-you ingredients: mostly oats and bananas. It happens to be a vegan baked oatmeal that's become a reader favorite! Make up a big pan and eat off of it all week.
My homemade instant oatmeal recipe is so simple I wish I would have thought of it ages ago! Instead of standing over the stove in the morning, this instant oatmeal can be made in just 2 minutes in the microwave.
This carrot cake baked oatmeal really does taste like cake! It’s a breakfast version of the real thing that’s deliciously sweet and cozy, topped with Greek yogurt “frosting.” Welcome to your new favorite healthy breakfast!
This pumpkin baked oatmeal is the ideal fall breakfast: cozy spiced and full of healthy oats! Bake up a pan and eat off of it all week.
Here’s our very favorite way to eat apples for breakfast: this Baked Apple Oatmeal! It’s easy to make with ingredients you might already have on hand. And the flavor of tender, sweet apples paired with maple syrup, cinnamon and allspice…well, you’ll want to make it every day! It works as a brunch recipe for entertaining, or you can make a big pan and eat off of it for breakfasts all week.
These tiramisu overnight oats are a bit of a treat: they taste like dessert for breakfast with rich cocoa, espresso, and creamy Greek yogurt topping! This is such an easy make-ahead recipe with no cooking required.
These oatmeal muffins are the perfect easy and healthy snack—made without any refined flour or sugar! Ready in just 5 minutes of prep thanks to your blender, they’re naturally sweetened and packed with whole grain goodness.
These healthy banana oatmeal pancakes are flourless and made in a blender for quick and easy breakfasts! Enjoy fluffy, satisfying pancakes packed with wholesome oats and natural sweetness.
These oatmeal waffles have become my go-to weekend breakfast. Made entirely with rolled oats instead of flour, they’re not only deliciously satisfying but they’ll actually keep you full until lunchtime!
A few more oatmeal based treats: Try our Oatmeal Bars, Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars or Oatmeal Energy Balls.
The nutritional power of oats
The best reason to start the day with oatmeal? There’s no real argument here: oats are part of a healthy diet. They’re filling and full of nutrients. Here are a few of the main nutritional benefits of oats (source):
- High in Plant-Based Protein: One cup of raw oats contains 11 grams of protein, which is approximately 20% of your daily requirement. That’s impressive for a whole grain!
- Fiber-Rich: That same cup has 8 grams of fiber, which is about 30% of your daily needs. This is why oatmeal keeps you satisfied for so much longer than other breakfast options.
- Appetite Control: The fiber in oats is particularly good at keeping you full. I’ve noticed that when I eat oatmeal for breakfast, I don’t get mid-morning snack cravings.
My Best Oatmeal Recipe
Pin Recipe
Print RecipeHere’s the best oatmeal recipe! This master recipe makes rolled oats with the best chewy texture, or perfectly creamy steel cut oatmeal.
- Prep Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 3
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salted butter (olive oil or coconut oil for vegan)
- 2 cups Old Fashioned rolled oats (do not use instant oats or steel cut oats)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk, plus more for serving (non-dairy milk for vegan)
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the oats and toast for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant. Add the salt and cinnamon. Turn the heat to low and carefully pour in the water or milk, stirring.
- Cover and cook for 5 minutes until tender, then remove from the heat. Serve immediately for a chunky texture, or stir in another ½ cup milk for a creamier body. The texture is intentionally chewy (not gloppy or soggy!). Top with desired toppings and serve. Store refrigerated for up to 2 week.
Notes
For steel cut oats, go to my Steel Cut Oats Recipe.
For overnight oats, go to my favorite Overnight Oats Recipe.
Other breakfast ideas you might enjoy
Looking for more healthy ways to start the day? Here are a few breakfast recipes to try:
- These these our top 50 breakfast recipes!
- Make easy breakfast ideas to start the morning with little effort.
- Try these healthy breakfast recipes, our top go-for-you ideas for healthy mornings.
- Opt for gluten free breakfast ideas or vegan breakfast ideas.
- Mix up a breakfast vegetable scramble!
from A Couple Cooks https://ift.tt/fzHQvDF
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