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OATMEAL

How to Make Oatmeal

YUMNA JAWAD
January 17, 2019
5 from 3709 votes
Updated June 13, 2021

This is a guide for how to make oatmeal on the

stovetop and in the microwave, plus four ways to
customize. It's a heart-healthy easy staple
breakfast recipe

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There’s one thing I buy in jumbo size in my

house – it’s old fashioned oats! I eat oats for
breakfast Monday thru Friday – in the summer I
love cold overnight oats, and in the winter, I’m
all about warm oatmeal! I share my bowl of
oatmeal often on Instagram and Snapchat and I
always get questions about how to make
oatmeal. So here’s how to make this easy staple
recipe. And you’ll never wonder again what to
have for a healthy breakfast!

What I love about oatmeal is that it’s really quick

and easy to make, you can customize it with
any toppings, and it keeps you full with lots of
energy to last your morning! And I love that
routine in my morning to have something
consistent that I know will make my body feel
good.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE OATMEAL

It all starts with the simplest ingredients. You’ll

need old fashioned oats or rolled oats, milk,
water and a dash of salt. Those are the only 4
ingredients you need to to make oatmeal.

There are 3 types of oats out there.

1. Quick Oats: These are more fine oats that

can be cooked really quickly. You can
certainly use those, but I don’t recommend
them because they are more processed in
general and only save you an extra minute of
cooking time.

2. Steel Cut Oats: This is the whole oat,

unrolled and unprocessed type. These take
the longest time to cook, and need at least
20 minutes on the stovetop. Be sure to also
check out my tutorial on how to cook steel
cut oats.

3. Old Fashioned Oats or Rolled Oats: In

between the quick oats and steel cut oats,
you’ll find old fashioned or rolled oats. They
are pretty similar, but the rolled ones are
slightly rolled/pressed, which makes them
more processed. These are thicker than quick
oats, so they need more time to cook. Either
old fashioned oats or rolled oats work great
for this recipe.

MICROWAVE COOKING
INSTRUCTIONS

Start by measuring the oats and liquids. The

ratio is 1:2. The usual serving size is ½ cup oats
to 1 cup of water, milk or combination of both.
I like combining ½ a cup of water and ½ a cup of
milk for the best consistency.

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Then place in the microwave without a cover on

it (we don’t want any microwave accidents when
the liquid boils). Microwave on high for 2
minutes and the consistency should be perfect.

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STOVETOP COOKING INSTRUCTIONS

For the stovetop, you’ll still use the same ratio of

old fashioned oats to liquid. But to start, you’ll
want to bring the liquid to a boil in a small
saucepan. Then reduce the heat to low and pour
in the oats. Allow them to cook until they
thicken and absorb all the liquid, stirring
frequently. It will take about 5 minutes.

Regardless whether you use the microwave or

the stovetop instructions, now you know how to
make oatmeal and how quick and easy it is. The
result is a warm cozy bowl of soft creamy
oatmeal that’s ready to be topped with your
favorite add-ons.

HEALTHY OATMEAL RECIPES

I really enjoy the taste of plain oatmeal with

simple brown sugar and nothing else. It’s my
comfort zone. But I also like to vary up my
oatmeal and use it as my base to enjoy some
fresh fruit for the day. I like to have fun with
some healthy oatmeal recipes that take the
simple humble bowl of oats and make them an
extraordinary superfood breakfast bowl. Here
are 4 of my favorite recipes:

Maple Brown Sugar: This is a classic flavor

most oatmeal packets come in. But the
homemade maple brown sugar is so much
better. I make it with brown sugar, maple syrup,
pecans and cinnamon.

Banana Nut: This is another one of the classic

oatmeal flavors that comes in a packet, so I love
recreating it with actual fresh bananas (not the
taste of bananas). I usually slice half a banana
and add walnuts, ground flaxseeds and
cinnamon.

Strawberry & Cream: This is such a dreamy

yummy combination. Just add fresh sliced
strawberries, a splash of half and half or
coconut cream or any non-dairy creamer, along
with some honey and a touch of vanilla extract.

Chocolate Peanut Butter: This one’s for the

kiddos. And who am I kidding, sometimes for me
too! When the oatmeal is still warm, I stir in
cocoa or cacao powder and keep stirring until
the mixture looks chocolatey. Then embellish the
chocolate taste with chocolate chips, and add a
spoon of peanut butter along with crunchy
peanuts on top. My kids devour this, and it’s a
bit on the indulgent side of healthy, but
nonetheless still good for you.

OATMEAL TOPPINGS

Those healthy oatmeal recipes can get you

started with ideas for oatmeal toppings. But
there are endless ways of topping your oatmeal.
Think of it as a canvas or a starting point. Add
some fruit to sweeten it and get some fiber in
your body. Add some nuts and seeds for extra
protein and healthy fats. Or add spices to boost
the flavor without added sugar.

Here are more ideas for oatmeal toppings

Fruit: Fresh fruit like bananas, berries and

apples; dried fruits like raisins, cranberries,
apricots, dates or coconut; frozen fruits like
berries or mangoes, jams, fruit zest or
applesauce.

Nuts & Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, pecans or

peanuts; chia seeds, ground flaxseeds,
sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds. You can
also do any nut butter or seed butter.

Cooked Grains: Quinoa, amaranth or wheat

germ. You can cook them separately or with
the oatmeal. You can also add granola.

Spices: Cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg,

pumpkin spice or ginger.

Dairy: Splash of any type of milk or creamer

or a dollop of yogurt

Protein Powder: If you’re trying to add more

protein to your diet, I recommend half the
normal scoop.

Sweeteners: Honey, maple syrup, brown

sugar or agave syrup.

TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE OATMEAL

1. Use old fashioned oats for the best

consistency. Steel cut oats have a different
cooking method entirely, so I would definitely
avoid those if you’re following this specific
recipe. Quick oats work, but they are pretty
mushy in my opinion. They work great for
kids though since they only need a minute in
the microwave and are easier to chew and
digest.

2. Pay attention to the oat to liquid ratio. This

is usually printed on the oats package. For
reference, it’s always ½ cup oats to 1 cup of
liquid. If you use less liquid, it may not fully
cook all the oats. If you use more liquid, it
may end up looking too mushy. I recommend
sticking to the ratio and then either making it
thicker by mixing in toppings or thinner by
mixing in milk.

3. Don’t forget the salt. I used to wonder why

salt was needed to make oatmeal, but then it
clicked when I first made oatmeal with salt. It
has a way of making it less bland and really
enhances the flavor. It’s hard to explain, but it
actually brings out the sweetness and
nuttiness of the oats. But all you need is a
pinch.