How to Make Oatmeal
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
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 it’s still one of my go-to breakfasts. It’s warm, filling and incredibly easy to make. If you’re looking for fun ways to switch things up, recipes like my banana bread oatmeal or blueberry oatmeal are great options.
Once you know the basic stovetop method, you can customize it in so many different ways with different flavors and toppings. No more boring bowls of oatmeal over here!
Today I’m walking you through exactly how to make oatmeal on the stovetop, plus four simple flavor variations: maple brown sugar, apple cinnamon, banana nut and berry almond.
Table of Contents
- Why You Gotta Try This One
- Ingredients Needed
- Different Types of Oats Explained
- How To Make Stovetop Oatmeal
- Tips for Making the Perfect Bowl of Oatmeal
- How to Cook Oatmeal in the Microwave
- Oatmeal Variations
- Oatmeal Toppings
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Oatmeal Recipes You’ll Love
- Perfect Stovetop Oatmeal Recipe
Why You Gotta Try This One
- Perfectly creamy every time: Once you learn this stovetop method, you’ll get a consistently creamy bowl of oats without it turning too thick or mushy.
- Easy to customize: You can keep it simple or switch things up depending on what you’re craving, like turning it into something cozy like my cinnamon raisin oatmeal or something fresh like my strawberries and cream oatmeal.
- Budget-friendly breakfast: Oats are inexpensive, filling and a great option for everyday breakfasts.
- Way better than packets: Homemade oatmeal tastes so much better than the pre-packaged versions and you can control the sweetness and ingredients.
“Absolutely loved this recipe! My daughter wouldn’t eat the packet store bought oatmeal so I wanted to try something different. And she loved this! Very filling and so delicious!”
Ingredients Needed
- 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 types of oats you’ll see at the store—steel cut, rolled and quick oats. They all have similar nutrition, but they cook differently and give you different textures.
- Steel cut oats: These are the least processed and take the longest to cook. They have a chewy texture and need more liquid. If you want to try them, check out my go-to method for steel cut oatmeal.
- Old fashioned rolled oats: These are my favorite for stovetop oatmeal. They cook quickly and give you that perfectly creamy texture.
- Quick or instant oats: These are the most processed and cook the fastest, but they tend to get soft and a bit mushy, which is why I don’t usually use them.
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.
Tips for Making the Perfect Bowl of Oatmeal
- Use gluten-free oats if needed: Oats are naturally gluten-free, but often cross-contaminated with gluten so if needed make sure to grab certified gluten-free rolled oats. I use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free rolled oats.
- Don’t forget the salt: Just a pinch of salt is necessary to help prevent a bland bowl of oatmeal. It also bring out the nuttiness of the oats.
- Use the correct ratio: For this recipe I use a 1:2 ratio of oats to liquid and that seems to be the perfect ratio and one I recommend sticking to!
How to Cook Oatmeal in the Microwave
I usually make oatmeal on the stovetop, but the microwave works great when you need something quick.
Add ½ cup rolled oats, 1 cup water or milk and a pinch of salt to a large microwave-safe bowl (make sure there’s room for it to bubble up).
Microwave for 1 minute, stir, then continue cooking in 30-second increments, stirring between each, until the oats are creamy and most of the liquid is absorbed. This usually takes about 2–3 minutes total.
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 cinnamon 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 a 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
Once you’ve got your base oatmeal down, the toppings are where you can really make it your own. I love switching things up depending on what I’m in the mood for.
- Fresh fruit: Bananas and berries are always a win, but you can also switch things up with something like my tropical oatmeal or blueberry peach oatmeal for a fun twist.
- Dried fruit: Raisins, cranberries, dates or dried cherries add a nice chewy texture and a little natural sweetness.
- Veggies: It might sound a little different, but adding veggies like in my cauliflower oatmeal or zucchini bread oatmeal is a great way to boost nutrition.
- Something sweet: A drizzle of maple syrup or honey works great, or you can go all in with my salted caramel oatmeal made with date caramel sauce.
- Creamy add-ins: A spoonful of Greek yogurt or nut butter makes your oatmeal extra rich and satisfying. Try it with my Greek yogurt oatmeal for a protein boost.
- Crunchy toppings: Add nuts, seeds or granola for texture. Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed, or homemade granola are all great options.
- Extras: Swirl in something fun like my strawberry chia jam for added flavor and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it’s totally fine to eat oatmeal every day. It’s not only nutritious and filling, but it’s easy to change up the flavor profile of your oats with different mix-ins and toppings so you won’t get bored having it on the daily.
Oatmeal is known to be a healthy breakfast option because it contains soluble fiber, which can keep you feeling full and aid in weight loss. (source) Of course, you’ll want to be mindful of what mix-ins and topping you use as these things can add a lot of extra calories, sugar and fat.
Oatmeal is packed with soluble fiber, a type of fiber that absorbs water and helps to moisten and soften stools for easier passage. So yes, oats can help with constipation and make you poop more regularly (source).
Yes! Oatmeal is loaded with so many health benefits!
I’ll be the first to admit that plain oatmeal usually isn’t filling enough for a meal unless you pair it with a little protein and some healthy fats. For added protein, I like making one of my protein oatmeal recipes, savory oats (with an egg on top) or serving it with a couple hardboiled eggs on the side. For healthy fats, I like adding chopped nuts (like almonds, walnuts and cashews) and seeds (like chia, flax and sunflower seeds). Or adding a big spoonful of nut butter on top!
More Oatmeal Recipes You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Perfect Stovetop Oatmeal
Ingredients
Base Recipe
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup water or milk
- pinch of sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon, optional
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla, optional
Apple Cinnamon
- ½ cup chopped apple
- sprinkle of cinnamon
Maple Brown Sugar
- ½ Tablespoon maple syrup
- 1-2 Tablespoons brown sugar
Banana Nut
- banana slices
- 2 Tablespoons toasted walnuts
- ½ Tablespoon peanut butter
- ¼ teaspoon chia seeds
Berry Almond
- ¼ cup fresh berries
- 2 Tablespoons chopped roasted almonds
- 1 Tablespoon chocolate chips
Instructions
- Add oats, water or milk, salt, cinnamon and vanilla (if using) to a pot or saucepan over medium/high heat.
- Bring mixture to a low boil, reduce heat to a low simmer and continue to cook for about 5-7 minutes; stirring occasionally. Oatmeal is ready when the oats have soaked up most of the liquid and are creamy.
- Transfer to a bowl and add toppings of choice. See flavor ideas above for maple brown sugar, apple cinnamon, banana nut and berry almond variations.
Video
Notes
- Add to a bowl and microwave: Add 1/2 cup oats and 1 cup water or milk into a large microwave-safe bowl and stir to combine. Microwave for 1 minute, then stir and continue to microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between each, until the oatmeal is the consistency you like. I usually cook them for a total of 3 minutes, but you’ll know it’s done when most the liquid is absorbed and oats are hot.
- Serve with toppings: Carefully remove from microwave (bowl will be hot) and top with your favorite oatmeal toppings. See topping ideas above for maple brown sugar, apple cinnamon, banana nut and berry almond.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Equipment
- saucepan (this saucepan has an easy-pour spout)
Like This Recipe? Rate & Comment Below!
I make oats at least 3x a week. I top with nutritional yeast, and a variety of nuts – almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas etc. Serve with Tamari.
Love that combo, Mardi! Nutritional yeast and tamari are such a fun savory twist, and the nuts add great crunch. Thanks for sharing your version!
The recepi is good dint know the toppins to add on oats.thank you
So glad you enjoyed this one, Grace! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it.
I found the microwave method to be a little too heavy on the liquid….so far i’ve done increments of 30 sec to five minute total and it’s still watery. i did about 35% soy milk to water.
Hi Susan – What type of oats did you use? The recipe calls for a 1:2 ratio, oats to liquid so about how much did you use of each?
Awesome recipe!
Tip: Make sure to add brown sugar for extra sweetness ( About at tablespoon or two)!
So glad you are enjoying this recipe, Aditi. Thanks for sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
Brittany,
I have a copy of your cookbook, “Mostly Veggies” and want to make the instant oatmeal packets on page 57. I may be missing it, but I can’t find the quantity of water needed for the “serve immediately” instructions. I would assume it is the same as in the microwave instructions, but want to be sure.
Thank you!
Hi Cindy! Yes, it is the same. Enjoy!
What’s a kcal? I read it’s not the same as calories and that would make oatmeal 15,300 calories, which I know can’t be right… just wondering how many plain calories per serving..
Hi Christine – 1 kcal or kilocalorie is equivalent to 1 large Calorie. Since calories are too small a measurement to use when discussing nutrition and exercise, kcal measurements are used instead and the term is interchangeable with calories. Hope that helps.
This is the exact recipe I use, but I just stick it in the fridge and eat it after my exercising. After about 60-90 min the oats have soaked up the milk. I add frozen blueberries too!
Amazing – such a great post workout meal!
Absolutely loved this recipe! My daughter wouldn’t eat the packet store bought oatmeal so I wanted to try something different. And she loved this! Very filling and so delicious!
WOO! This is the great, Mandy. I am so glad this recipe was helpful and your daughter loved it. Thank you for your review & star rating, I really appreciate it!