20 Ways to Jazz Up Your Oatmeal

Oat-Side the Box

Oatmeal is the ultimate budget-friendly breakfast, and it's packed with nutrients. When you can't stock up on other breakfast options because the coronavirus pandemic has put a crimp in your shopping, it's a great staple to have on hand. But eating the same kind of oatmeal every day can get old. Whether you prefer to cook oats in the morning or chill them overnight, bake them, or drink them, here are 20 ways to add flavor and flair.

Branch Out

First, try a different oat. Steel-cut, instant, and rolled oats are processed differently, so they have different textures. In steel-cut oats, sometimes called Irish or Scottish oats, the kernel (called the groat) is cut instead of flattened and has the chewiest texture. They also take the longest to cook. Instant oats are pressed smaller and cook the fastest but also have a mushier texture. Rolled oats, also called old-fashioned oats, are a middle ground in consistency and cooking time. They look like discs because the groat has been steamed and rolled.

Quick-Cooking Oats — ff-photo/shutterstock

DIY Oatmeal Packets

Instead of buying store-bought packages in different flavors, make custom packets with your own favorite fixings. A few suggested flavor combinations include cranberry pistachio, apricot hazelnut, and apple ginger.

Recipe: Oh My Veggies

Sweet Potato Oatmeal — OksanaKiian/istockphoto

Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal With Sweet Potato

This recipe conjures memories of fall. It calls for milk, salt, cooked sweet potato, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup, and chopped almonds.

Recipe: Foodie Crush

Strawberry Peanut Butter With Mashed Banana

This mashup is a treat for banana lovers. It uses a smashed, overripe banana to add natural sweetness. The banana is puréed and added to the water as gluten-free oats cook. Cinnamon spices up this oatmeal.

Recipe: Veggie Inspired Journey

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Tropical Oatmeal — nata_vkusidey/istockphoto

Tropical Flavors

Your bowl of oatmeal can taste like the tropics with this recipe that uses flaked coconut, chopped mango, cashews, and brown sugar.

Recipe: Real Simple

010917_creative_oatmeal_ideas_slide_6_fs — Brent Hofacker/shutterstock

Arugula and Avocado

This dish brings veggies to the breakfast table. Along with steel-cut oats, the recipe calls for garlic, onions, mushrooms, olive oil, avocado, arugula, and a runny fried egg.

Recipe: Fannetastic Food

Spinach

Spinach and Parmesan pair well with steel-cut oats. Those who would rather not start the day with leafy greens can add pumpkin purée and protein powder, or chai mix.

Recipe: Men's Fitness

Nutella and Banana

Try a decadent way to start the day with Nutella oatmeal and sliced bananas. The recipe also calls for milk, brown sugar, and sea salt. To change it up, swap out the Nutella for peanut butter — or combine them.

Recipe: Simply Scratch

010917_creative_oatmeal_ideas_slide_9_fs — Rimma Bondarenko/shutterstock

Sweet Mix-Ins

Those with a sweet tooth can add cacao nibs or cocoa powder to oatmeal. Graham crackers are another option for sweetness and crunch.

Recipe: The Kitchn

Savory Mix-Ins

Crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, or a bit of both can give oatmeal a savory spin. Other options include scallions, tomatoes, or zucchini.

Recipe: The Gracious Wife

Overnight Oats With a Topping

Instead of making hot oats in the morning, try cold overnight oats. The basic recipe involves equal parts rolled oats, milk, and yogurt with chia seeds, salt, and cinnamon. Simply combine the ingredients and store them in the fridge overnight. In the morning, top with something crunchy and a little bit of healthy fat, such as nuts.

Recipe: Kath Eats Real Food

Vegan Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

A gluten-free and vegan alternative, this recipe uses almond milk, chia seeds, peanut butter or almond butter, maple syrup, and gluten-free rolled oats. After the mixture sits overnight, top with fruit, flaxseed meal, or more chia seeds.

Recipe: Minimalist Baker

010917_creative_oatmeal_ideas_slide_13_fs — Nataliya Arzamasova/shutterstock

Adaptable Overnight Oats

This recipe for overnight oats (including chia seeds or flaxmeal, vanilla extract, salt, and either honey or maple syrup) can easily be adapted for different tastes. Swaps can make it vegan, sugar-free, or gluten-free, and there are chocolate peanut butter and carrot cake variations.

Recipe: Wholefully

010917_creative_oatmeal_ideas_slide_14_fs — Elena Veselova/shutterstock

Slow-Cooker Apple Pie Oats

After cooking overnight, slow-cooker oats are hot and ready first thing in the morning. This recipe turns apple pie into part of a nutritious breakfast. The recipe calls for steel-cut oats, almond milk, apples, coconut oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, and lemon juice. The mixture cooks for four to eight hours.

Recipe: The Healthy Maven

010917_creative_oatmeal_ideas_slide_15_fs — Ekaterina Kondratova/shutterstock

Blueberry Baked Oatmeal

For those who like the idea of oatmeal but not the texture, baking could be the answer. This dish uses spices, toasted nuts, and fruit and makes a substantial six to eight servings.

Recipe: Cookie + Kate

Baked Oatmeal With Applesauce

Applesauce replaces most of the butter in this baked recipe. The recipe also includes dried cranberries and raisins, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a few other ingredients, taking only 20 minutes to cook.

Recipe: Two Peas & Their Pod

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies

Take oatmeal on the go in cookie form. These cookies are made with almonds, overripe bananas, dried cranberries, maple syrup, molasses, and spices. White chocolate chips are an optional addition.

Recipe: Oh, Sweet Basil

Oatmeal Muffins — OksanaKiian/istockphoto

Oatmeal Trail Mix Cupcakes

Oatmeal trail mix breakfast cupcakes are a good grab-and-go option, and they are egg-free and dairy-free. Ingredients include banana or applesauce, salt, cinnamon, a sweetener, dried fruit, wheat germ or flax meal, water, vanilla, and oil (or a little more applesauce).

Recipe: Chocolate Covered Katie

Related: Best Cupcakes in Every State

010917_creative_oatmeal_ideas_slide_19_fs — Julia Sudnitskaya/shutterstock

Berry Oat Breakfast Smoothie

For a cold and fruity oatmeal option, especially for those who don't like the flavor or texture of a bowl of oatmeal, this recipe is a blend of milk, frozen berries, honey, yogurt, and ice.

Recipe: Creme de la Crumb

010917_creative_oatmeal_ideas_slide_20_fs — Liliya Kandrashevich/shutterstock

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie

This smoothie can be a sweet, filling breakfast or a hearty snack. It calls for combining oats with ice cubes, coconut milk, peanut butter or peanut butter powder, cocoa powder, honey, and vanilla extract.

Recipe: What the Fork