How to Make Oatmeal {4 Flavor Variations}

Here’s the best way to make the proper bowl of oatmeal on the stovetop, plus 4 easy taste variations. It’s heart-healthy, simple to make and so scrumptious.

Over the years I’ve shared so many oatmeal recipes and even at the moment it’s nonetheless considered one of my all-time favourite breakfasts! It’s wholesome, heat, comforting and really easy to whip up. Plus, it may be custom-made with so many alternative mix-ins and toppings. I like mixing in fruit, nut butter and a wide range of textures to take my oatmeal to the subsequent degree. No extra boring bowls of oats over right here!

Today I’m sharing the best way to make oatmeal on the stovetop with 4 totally different taste variations which can be so scrumptious… maple brown sugar, apple cinnamon, banana nut and berry almond.

I do know it may be tempting to buy the little packages of prompt oatmeal out of comfort, however you need to skip them. They typically have a whole lot of sugar in them, they’re dearer and so they actually don’t style nearly as good as rolled oats cooked on the range. So, that mentioned, it’s greatest to simply make your individual!

Ingredients Needed

Rolled oats, milk or water and salt are actually all it is advisable make oatmeal, however I like including a bit cinnamon and vanilla to my base recipe. The oats end up completely scrumptious and have the proper consistency.

• old long-established rolled oats – rolled oats make for such a creamy bowl of oats. Instant, quick-cooking and metal minimize oats don’t work as a result of they don’t take in the liquid in the identical approach that rolled oats do.
• water or milk – water works nice, however you should utilize milk if desired. I normally do a 1:2 ratio of oats to liquid. I sometimes use water for the liquid, however typically I’ll do half water and half unsweetened almond milk for creamier oats. 
• salt – only a pinch to assist deliver out the nutty flavors of the oats.
• floor cinnamon – that is elective, however I like including it for a warming spice.
• vanilla extract – one other elective ingredient, however vanilla provides a beautiful taste.
• toppings – that is the place the magic occurs! The key to creating actually good oatmeal is the mix-ins and toppings. I share numerous concepts under.

Different Types of Oats Explained

There are just a few totally different oat choices on the retailer (metal minimize, old long-established/rolled and fast oats) and so they all have roughly the identical quantity of fiber, protein, energy, and different vitamins, however there are some variations in processing and cooking.

Steel minimize oats: these are the least processed kind of oats. The oat groat (the total oat “grain”) is just minimize into two or three components to get metal minimize oats. Because they’re much less processed, they take in extra liquid and take longer to prepare dinner. Here’s my go-to cooking technique for metal minimize oatmeal.

Old long-established rolled oats: for this kind of oat, the oat groats have been steamed after which rolled. This little bit of processing hurries up the prepare dinner time for all of us at home. Rolled oats make for a brilliant creamy bowl of oatmeal and are my private favourite!

Quick or prompt oats: these are essentially the most processed of all of the oat varieties. They are pre-cooked, dried, and rolled and pressed barely thinner than rolled oats. They prepare dinner sooner than metal minimize or rolled oats, however additionally they lose a little bit of texture within the cooking course of so that they are typically mushy and fewer voluminous.

How To Make Stovetop Oatmeal

I like all kinds of oatmeal, however this basic stovetop oatmeal recipe may simply be my favourite technique of getting ready oats. It’s simple to make and ends in a heat, cozy bowl of oats that I can customise with totally different toppings. Here’s the best way to make it:

Step 1: Add rolled oats, water or milk and a touch of salt to a pot and warmth over medium/excessive warmth. 

Step 2: Bring the combination to a boil, scale back warmth and prepare dinner for about 5-7 minutes, stirring often. It’s prepared when the oats have soaked up a lot of the liquid and are good and creamy. Transfer oats to a bowl and add your favourite toppings. 

How to Cook Oatmeal within the Microwave

I want to prepare dinner my oatmeal on the stovetop, however you may as well microwave it!

Just add ½ cup rolled oats with 1 cup water or milk and a touch of salt right into a microwave secure bowl with loads of room for the oats to bubble up. Microwave for 1 minute, stir after which microwave at 30 seconds increments, stirring between each.

Cook till the oatmeal is the consistency you want – I sometimes prepare dinner mine for about 3 minutes however you’ll understand it’s prepared when a lot of the liquid is absorbed and the oats are sizzling.

Oatmeal Variations

Once you’ve mastered the bottom recipe, it’s time to get artistic with variations! Here are 4 scrumptious concepts to get you began:

Apple Cinnamon

Top your oatmeal with 1/2 cup of chopped apples and a sprinkle of additional cinnamon. You also can add some chopped apples to the oats whereas they’re cooking for much more apple taste or make cooked cinnamon apples like I do for my apple in a single day oats. 

Maple Brown Sugar

Top oats with 1/2 tablespoon of maple syrup and 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar. Stir into the oats and add splash of milk if you happen to’d like. 

Banana Nut

Top oats with banana slices, 2 tablespoons of toasted walnuts, 1/2 tablespoon of peanut butter and 1/4 teaspoon chia seeds. You also can add the banana slices in the course of the cooking course of. The banana will add a ton of taste to the oatmeal and a little bit of sweetness. I exploit this technique for my banana chia oatmeal and my child oatmeal recipe.

Berry Almond

Top cooked oatmeal with 1/4 cup recent berries, 2 tablespoons of chopped roasted almonds and 1 tablespoon of chocolate chips. You also can add berries to the oats whereas they’re cooking if you happen to’d like!

Oatmeal Toppings

I like the flavors I shared above, however the taste choices for oatmeal is virtually countless. Here are some extra concepts you might attempt:

• Fresh fruit – you may’t go flawed with bananas and berries, however almost any fruit will work. I personally love my strawberries and cream and blueberry oatmeal.
• Dried fruit – add raisins, cranberries, dried cherries or dates to your bowl of oats. You may additionally attempt my cinnamon raisin oatmeal.
• Veggies – for a dietary increase attempt including veggies to your bowl of oats with this cauliflower oatmeal or zucchini bread oatmeal.
• Caramel – make this salted caramel oatmeal with my 4-ingredient date caramel sauce. It provides a scrumptious candy and salty taste to the oats.
• Greek yogurt – attempt a dollop on high or my Greek yogurt oatmeal.
• Nuts and seeds – add almonds, pecans, walnuts, sunflower seeds, chia seeds and/or flaxseed to your oats for some crunch and a contact of protein.
• Nut or seed butter – high your oats with almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter. sunflower seed butter or tahini. You may additionally make this peanut butter banana chia oatmeal, which is my favourite combo ever!
• Chia jam – swirl in my strawberry chia jam to your heat bowl of oats.
• Granola – I like including a handful of granola to my oats for some crunch!
• Maple syrup or honey – for a bit sweetness.

Oatmeal FAQ’s

More Oatmeal Recipes

Check out the entire oatmeal recipes in addition to the total assortment of breakfast recipes on EBF!