Here’s how to make oatmeal on the stovetop, plus 4 simple flavor variations. It’s incredibly easy to make and so delicious.

Over the years I’ve shared so many oatmeal recipes and even today it’s still one of my all-time favorite breakfasts! It’s healthy, warm, comforting and so easy to whip up. Plus, it can be customized with so many different mix-ins and toppings. I love mixing in fruit, nut butter and a variety of textures to take my oatmeal to the next level. No more boring bowls of oats over here!

Today I’m sharing how to make oatmeal on the stovetop with four different flavor variations that are so delicious… maple brown sugar, apple cinnamon, banana nut and berry almond.

I know it can be tempting to purchase the little packages of instant oatmeal out of convenience, but you should skip them. They often have a lot of sugar in them, they’re more expensive and they honestly don’t taste as good as rolled oats cooked on the stove. So, that said, it’s best to just make your own!

Ingredients Needed

Rolled oats, milk or water and salt are really all you need to make oatmeal, but I love adding a little cinnamon and vanilla to my base recipe. The oats turn out absolutely delicious and have the perfect consistency.

• old fashioned rolled oats – rolled oats make for such a creamy bowl of oats. Instant, quick-cooking and steel cut oats don’t work because they don’t absorb the liquid in the same way that rolled oats do.
• water or milk – water works great, but you can use milk if desired. I usually do a 1:2 ratio of oats to liquid. I typically use water for the liquid, but sometimes I’ll do half water and half unsweetened almond milk for creamier oats. 
• salt – just a pinch to help bring out the nutty flavors of the oats.
• ground cinnamon – this is optional, but I love adding it for a warming spice.
• vanilla extract – another optional ingredient, but vanilla adds a lovely flavor.
• toppings – this is where the magic happens! The key to making really good oatmeal is the mix-ins and toppings. I share lots of ideas below.

Different Types of Oats Explained

There are a few different oat options at the store (steel cut, old fashioned/rolled and quick oats) and they all have approximately the same amount of fiber, protein, calories, and other nutrients, but there are some differences in processing and cooking.

Steel cut oats: these are the least processed type of oats. The oat groat (the full oat “grain”) is simply cut into two or three parts to get steel cut oats. Because they are less processed, they absorb more liquid and take longer to cook. Here’s my go-to cooking method for steel cut oatmeal.

Old fashioned rolled oats: for this type of oat, the oat groats have been steamed and then rolled. This bit of processing speeds up the cook time for all of us at home. Rolled oats make for a super creamy bowl of oatmeal and are my personal favorite!

Quick or instant oats: these are the most processed of all the oat varieties. They are pre-cooked, dried, and rolled and pressed slightly thinner than rolled oats. They cook faster than steel cut or rolled oats, but they also lose a bit of texture in the cooking process so they tend to be mushy and less voluminous.

How To Make Stovetop Oatmeal

I love all types of oatmeal, but this basic stovetop oatmeal recipe might just be my favorite method of preparing oats. It’s easy to make and results in a warm, cozy bowl of oats that I can customize with different toppings. Here’s how to make it:

Step 1: Add rolled oats, water or milk and a dash of salt to a pot and heat over medium/high heat. 

Step 2: Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce heat and cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. It’s ready when the oats have soaked up most of the liquid and are nice and creamy. Transfer oats to a bowl and add your favorite toppings. 

How to Cook Oatmeal in the Microwave

I prefer to cook my oatmeal on the stovetop, but you can also microwave it!

Just add ½ cup rolled oats with 1 cup water or milk and a dash of salt into a microwave safe bowl with plenty of room for the oats to bubble up. Microwave for 1 minute, stir and then microwave at 30 seconds increments, stirring between each one.

Cook until the oatmeal is the consistency you like – I typically cook mine for about 3 minutes but you’ll know it’s ready when most of the liquid is absorbed and the oats are hot.

Oatmeal Variations

Once you’ve mastered the base recipe, it’s time to get creative with variations! Here are four delicious ideas to get you started:

Apple Cinnamon

Top your oatmeal with 1/2 cup of chopped apples and a sprinkle of extra cinnamon. You can also add some chopped apples to the oats while they’re cooking for even more apple flavor or make cooked cinnamon apples like I do for my apple overnight 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’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 can also add the banana slices during the cooking process. The banana will add a ton of flavor to the oatmeal and a bit of sweetness. I use this method for my peanut butter banana oatmeal and my baby oatmeal recipe.

Berry Almond

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

Oatmeal Toppings

I love the flavors I shared above, but the flavor options for oatmeal is practically endless. Here are some additional ideas you could try:

• Fresh fruit – you can’t go wrong with bananas and berries, but 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 could also try my cinnamon raisin oatmeal.
• Veggies – for a nutritional boost try adding 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 adds a delicious sweet and salty flavor to the oats.
• Greek yogurt – try a dollop on top 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 touch of protein.
• Nut or seed butter – top your oats with almond butter, peanut butter, cashew butter. sunflower seed butter or tahini. You could also make this peanut butter banana chia oatmeal, which is my favorite combo ever!
• Chia jam – swirl in my strawberry chia jam to your warm bowl of oats.
• Granola – I love adding a handful of granola to my oats for some crunch!
• Maple syrup or honey – for a little sweetness.

Oatmeal FAQ’s

Everything You Need to Make Oatmeal

Bob’s Red Mill Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, 32-ounce (Pack of 4)

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Le Creuset Tri-Ply Stainless Steel 3 Quart Saucepan, Medium

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Williams Sonoma Cereal and Soup Bowls

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More Oatmeal Recipes

• Banana Bread Oatmeal
• Tropical Oatmeal
• Blueberry Peach Oatmeal
• Peaches and Cream Oatmeal

Check out all of the my full collection of breakfast recipes!

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