Mastering Oatmeal: 31 Ways to Savor and Customize Your Bowl
Explore the versatility of oatmeal, a nutritious breakfast option that's often overshadowed by its fluffy pancake and biscuit counterparts. With our guide on how to make oatmeal in 31 unique ways, plus tips on cooking oats to perfection, you'll discover the rich flavors and textures that a fiber-packed bowl can offer. Whether you're looking for a quick grab-and-go breakfast or a cozy stove-top meal, we've got you covered. Dive into our easy overnight oats, microwave-friendly recipes, and even slow cooker options to enjoy oatmeal any time of the day.
Types of Oats for Oatmeal
Choose the right oats for your time and desired consistency to make the perfect bowl of oatmeal.
Types of Oats for Oatmeal
When selecting your oats, consider the type that suits your time constraints and desired texture.
- Quick-cooking rolled oats: These oats are cut into pieces and rolled thinner, allowing them to cook in about one minute on the stove top.
- Rolled oats: Also known as old-fashioned oats, they are flattened into flakes with large rollers, taking about five minutes to cook on the stove top.
- Steel-cut oats: Cut into several pieces and steamed but not rolled, these oats offer a chewier texture and take about 25 minutes to cook on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
How to Make Oatmeal
Now that you've selected your oats, learn how to cook oatmeal perfectly every time.
How to Make Oatmeal with Quick-Cooking Oats
Perfect for weekday mornings, this quick oats recipe is ideal for those rushed mornings.
- Stove top quick-cooking oatmeal directions: For four servings, in a medium saucepan, bring 3½ cups water and ¼ teaspoon salt to boiling. Stir in two cups quick-cooking oats. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for one minute, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat. If desired, cover and let stand about 30 seconds before serving.
- Microwave quick-cooking oatmeal directions: For one serving, in a medium microwave-safe bowl combine one cup water, one half cup quick-cooking oats, and a dash of salt. Microwave on 100 percent power (high) for 1½ to two minutes. Stir before serving.
How to Make Oatmeal with Rolled Oats
If you have a little more time to work with, consider these oatmeal cooking instructions for larger, flat rolled oats.
How to Make Oatmeal with Steel-Cut Oats
Compared to rolled or quick, steel-cut oats have a lower glycemic index since the less-processed flake format is more challenging for the body to break down. All oats offer a similar amount of nutrition.
- Stove top steel-cut oatmeal directions: For six servings (⅔ cup each), in a large saucepan bring four cups water and ½ teaspoon salt to boiling. Stir in 1⅓ cups steel-cut oats. Cover and simmer 25 to 30 minutes or until the oats are just tender and the liquid is nearly absorbed.
- Make-ahead steel-cut oatmeal directions: Prepare as above. Place cooked oatmeal in an airtight container and refrigerate up to three days. Place ⅔ cup chilled cooked oatmeal in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, covered with waxed paper, on 100 percent power (high) for 50 to 60 seconds or until heated, stirring once.
- Slow cooker steel-cut oatmeal directions: In a 3½- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine six cups of water, two cups of steel-cut oats, and one teaspoon of salt. Cover and cook on a low-heat setting for six to seven hours or on a high-heat setting for three to 3½ hours.
Oatmeal Toppers
Perfect for everything from weekday breakfasts to breakfast for dinner, oatmeal tastes incredible whether sweet or savory. After following the oatmeal cooking instructions above, try one of these recipes or topping combos to keep things fresh every day of the month.
- ½ teaspoon maple extract + ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup applesauce + ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ chopped apple + ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- One slice crumbled cooked bacon + one fried egg
- Ginger-Sesame Oats with Mushrooms and Charred Green Onions
- One tablespoon no-added-sugar preserves + two tablespoons Greek yogurt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract + one tablespoon apple butter
- ¼ avocado, sliced + two tablespoons cotija cheese
- Swiss Oatmeal
- Two tablespoons dark chocolate chips + ½ cup chopped fresh cherries
- One poached egg + ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ banana, sliced + two tablespoons chopped walnuts
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract + 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- One tablespoon maple syrup + ¼ cup canned pumpkin
- One tablespoon brown sugar + two tablespoons chopped pecans
- Oatmeal with Goat Cheese, Dates, Walnuts, and Honey
- ½ cup blueberries + two tablespoons chopped almonds
- ½ teaspoon orange zest + ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ tablespoon everything bagel seasoning + one ounce of cream cheese, cubed
- ½ cup frozen mixed berries + one tablespoon nut butter
- Baked Oatmeal
- One ounce Parmesan cheese + ¼ cup chopped sweet pepper
- ½ cup diced pineapple + one tablespoon toasted coconut flakes
- One jammy egg + ½ teaspoon white miso
- One tablespoon honey + two sliced fresh figs
- ½ sliced peach + ¼ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
- ½ cup raspberries + two tablespoons white chocolate chips
- ½ banana, sliced + one tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ cup strawberries, sliced + ¼ cup granola
- ¼ teaspoon instant espresso coffee powder + two tablespoons cocoa powder
- ½ tablespoon chia seeds + ¼ cup crushed pineapple
Now that you know how to make oatmeal and have 31 different ideas for how to make it your own, you'll be adding oatmeal to almost every grocery list.
