• Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition
  • |
  • About
  • Work With Me
    • Brand partnerships
    • Nutrition Coaching
savory oatmeal with egg in a bowl with mushrooms and avocado
April 8, 2020

Healthy Oatmeal Recipes: How to Up Your Breakfast Game

Breakfast + Brunch Oatmeal
11 comments
share this post:
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Mushy, boring oatmeal is a thing of the past, my friends. Today, I’m sharing all my favorite delicious, healthy oatmeal recipes to up your breakfast game and keep you full longer!

Not only is oatmeal nutritious, but it’s also quick and easy to make. Plus, it’s actually a super versatile breakfast – more so than you might realize!

You can make oatmeal in so many ways: stovetop oatmeal, microwave oatmeal, overnight oats, etc. I’m a fan of them all! (And I’ll go over how to make each type in this post.)

No matter how you make it, it’s super quick, too. You can whip up a bowl of oatmeal in under 10 minutes – sometimes even less, especially if using my microwave oatmeal method!

And the topping options are endless. Nut butter, berries, nuts, seeds, banana… you can even make protein-packed oatmeal with eggs – either savory or sweet! Read on for some of my favorite oatmeal recipe variations.

healthy oatmeal recipes

Healthy Oatmeal Recipes

One thing I recommend for all oatmeal recipes: try to make it with milk (or a non-dairy alternative), not water. It’s much creamier and more filling that way, too!

Now, when it comes to flavor, there are two main types of oatmeal: sweet or savory.

I’m sure you’ve heard of the former: usually, it involves fruit like berries or bananas, and maybe a sweetener like honey or maple syrup.

(Feel free to try out my pumpkin pie oatmeal recipe if you’re craving something on the sweeter side, although it doesn’t actually include sugar, just banana!)

But what about savory oatmeal? My go-to savory oatmeal recipe combines avocado, roasted mushrooms, and sautéed greens for a big ole bowl of deliciousness. I also love adding a poached or fried egg on top for a boost of protein. (Plus, it’s SO tasty – the runny egg yolk is a must!)

savory oatmeal with egg in a bowl with mushrooms and avocado

Feel free to add your own favorite veggies to your oatmeal bowl, or to use leftover roasted veggies you already have on hand – sweet potatoes, asparagus, and roasted bell peppers would all make great additions.

Looking for more inspiration? Here are some of my favorite quick & healthy breakfast ideas.

Healthy & Tasty Toppings for Oatmeal

The fact that oatmeal is so versatile means you can basically put anything on it. I love experimenting with different toppings and flavors!

Here are some oatmeal topping ideas to get you started:

  • Fruit: berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.), bananas, peaches, cherries, pineapple, mango, kiwi – I love mashing banana into my oatmeal and then topping it with another fruit for an extra awesome oatmeal that’s sweet without needing sugar
  • Nuts: almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, cashews
  • Nut Butter: peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter
  • Seeds: chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, ground flaxseed
  • Natural Sweeteners: honey, vanilla extract, maple syrup, cocoa powder
  • Spices: cinnamon, nutmeg
  • Veggies: sweet potatoes, asparagus, mushrooms, avocado, cooked spinach, bell pepper, arugula
  • Protein: poached eggs, pancetta/bacon, chicken/turkey sausage, crumbled tofu
  • Other deliciousness: shredded coconut, chocolate chips

By the way, here’s my favorite (& the absolute best) way to slice bananas for oatmeal!

healthy oatmeal recipe toppings: nuts, chia seeds, shredded coconut, peanut butter

How to Make Stovetop Oatmeal

Making oatmeal on the stovetop is super simple.

Just mix rolled oats and milk together in a saucepan and cook over medium-high heat. Add any additional seeds, spices, and pre-cooked veggies at this time too. As I mentioned I love cooking my oatmeal with mashed banana because it makes it extra yummy, but you do you!

Cook, stirring frequently, until mixture reaches normal oatmeal consistency. This should only take a few minutes. Then, pour into a bowl and add additional toppings as desired.

One of my favorite stovetop oatmeal recipes is my High Protein Oatmeal. The main difference in this recipe is cracking 2 eggs into the oatmeal mixture – in addition to adding some ground flaxseed, cinnamon, and a mashed banana – and cooking for a little longer (until eggs are no longer runny). You can’t taste the eggs at all, and they add a nice protein boost.

Here’s another stovetop oatmeal recipe you might enjoy: apple cinnamon oatmeal!

stovetop oatmeal in a saucepan with eggs, banana, cinnamon, and flaxseed

How to Make Oatmeal in the Microwave

You can make oatmeal cook time even faster by popping it in the microwave! The only catch is that unless you have a very large microwave safe bowl, you’ll want to make microwave oatmeal one serving at a time (vs. stovetop where you can easily make a larger batch in a larger pot)!

For the base: combine a mashed banana, rolled oats, milk or milk substitute, and cinnamon in a microwave-safe bowl or mug. (The riper the banana, the better – it’s sweeter that way!).

Microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes. If applicable, stir in any frozen berries at the halfway point. Fresh fruit and other toppings can be added once the oatmeal is finished cooking.

Here’s the full Perfect Microwave Banana Oatmeal recipe. Feel free to also try my Microwaveable Tart Cherry Oatmeal recipe!

How to Make Overnight Oats

Overnight oats totally changed my breakfast game. It’s a super easy way to make breakfast the night before, so you can just wake up, grab your jar of oats, and go. All it takes is a few minutes of prep time the night before.

Essentially, you mix together your oatmeal base (rolled oats, ground flaxseed, and milk – dairy or nondairy) in a jar and shake. Or, stir together in a bowl.

Then, add optional flavor to your base. I love cocoa powder, honey, maple syrup, vanilla, peanut butter, and/or cinnamon, but feel free to get creative with spices or extracts!

After that, toss in additional toppings like nuts or berries. One caveat: if you’re adding banana, wait until the morning to slice it and throw it in (otherwise, it might get brown and that’s yuck).

Lastly, place a cover on your jar or bowl, and put in the refrigerator. Let it sit overnight (or at least 3-4 hours), then enjoy!

Check out this post: overnight oats recipe variations for 6 delicious recipe ideas. (Here are a few of my favorites: Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats with Banana, Almond Milk Overnight Oats with Berries, and Cherry Chocolate Overnight Oats. These Coconut Milk Carrot Cake Overnight Oats are amazing, too!)

healthy overnight oats in jars with fruit and toppings

Baked Oatmeal

Baking oatmeal is another great way to switch up your oatmeal breakfasts. You just put all the ingredients into a baking dish and let the oven do the work.

Here’s my simple baked oatmeal recipe. Because it makes a lot at once, it’s perfect for a crowd or to make ahead a week’s worth of servings. Enjoy plain or topped with yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts, seeds, or extra fresh fruit!

I also love this Baked Banana Oatmeal recipe from a fellow blogger. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed these healthy oatmeal recipes and cooking tips. If you want more, check out my post on how to make oatmeal taste better & keep you full longer for even more tips and ideas!

What’s your favorite way to make oatmeal? I’d love to hear your go-to oatmeal flavor combinations!

- anne
share this post:
  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

join the list

Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

you might also like:

Hitting the Road Again

The Art of the Egg Scramble + How to Dice an Onion in 15 Seconds

Things I’m Loving Lately: Weekend Edition

Chocolate Cherry Espresso Smoothie

leave a comment

Cancel reply

11 comments
  • Ana April 8, 2020 · 10:36AM:
    Not much of an oatmeal fan (have never liked the slimy/gooey texture) but I think the baked oatmeal sounds good! I'll have to try that.
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 8, 2020 · 1:21PM:
      Yes, definitely give the baked oatmeal a try in that case! Very different texture :)
      Reply
  • kori
    April 8, 2020 · 2:17PM:
    This is a stellar post!! I so love oatmeal, and honestly, savory has become my favorite. But I will always love and cravy fruit, nut butter, and other sweet toppings. I'm thankful that oatmeal no longer is just associated with small packets of instant that aren't filling. I love to use them as a base if I want to start with a certain flavor. I actually soaked Bakery on Main's strawberry shortcake oatmeal with local buttermilk overnight before blending with a banana on Monday morning. Kath calls them "doughboy smoothies" because they become so soft and thick.
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 8, 2020 · 2:18PM:
      That sounds delicious - I will have to try that!
      Reply
      • kori
        April 8, 2020 · 2:42PM:
        I hope you enjoy it!
        Reply
  • Roadrunner April 8, 2020 · 8:36PM:
    We all clearly have to up our game when it comes to oatmeal! I was proud of just adding brown sugar and raisins, but not my eyes have been opened. I have to try the savory with the egg! Thanks for a great post!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 9, 2020 · 9:07AM:
      Let me know what you think of the egg variation!
      Reply
  • Courtney Wilton April 9, 2020 · 8:23PM:
    Hi Ann! I love oats especially made with egg whites to make them super creamy/marshmallowy! I usually make it with chia seeds as well then whip the egg whites in and either eat it hot or leave it overnight and have it the nest morning with some almond butter. So good!
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 10, 2020 · 7:33AM:
      Yum, sounds so good. Love the almond butter nest :)
      Reply
  • Jenny
    April 10, 2020 · 2:41PM:
    Thank you for these ideas! Grace and I love oatmeal and always looking for ways to change it up.
    Reply
    • Anne
      April 10, 2020 · 3:26PM:
      Thanks Jenny! Let me know which combinations end up being your favorites. :)
      Reply
- next post
previous post -

about Anne

anne mauney fannetastic food
Hi, I’m Anne! I'm a Washington D.C. based Registered Dietitian, mother, runner, and lover of travel, adventure, and the great outdoors. I've been blogging since 2009, sharing a mix of lifestyle content, recipes, and fitness tips. Come for the recipes – stay for the fun!
Learn more

fannetastic reads

Top Posts
01

My Top 9 Most Popular Recipes + Posts

02

Why I Don’t Recommend Whole30

03

What Causes Sugar Cravings (+ How to Stop Them!)

04

How I Make Money As a Blogger

05

Blog Recipes We Make Again and Again

06

What to Eat Before and After a Long Run

07

What to Eat During Long Runs

08

7 Common Nutrition Myths

09

How to Love Veggies

connect with Anne

Email me
anne mauney

I’m Anne, a Registered Dietitian and mother. I've been blogging since 2009 and love showing others that eating nutritious foods and staying active can actually be fun rather than overwhelming!

When I’m not writing or cooking for fannetastic food, you can find me running, coaching nutrition clients, or on an adventure with my family. Feel free to reach out - I'd love to hear from you!

follow anne:

join the list

Sign up for my e-newsletter and I'll send you a meal plan packed with a week's worth of healthy meals, snacks and a shopping list. Happy eating!

back to top
  • About
  • Contact
  • Recent Posts
  • Privacy Policy
  • FAQ

© copyright fannetastic food - site by kc - exclusive member of mediavine