Savory Oatmeal
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Published Dec 22, 2023, Updated Feb 07, 2024
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Make savory oatmeal in less than 10 minutes! Rolled oats are topped with an egg, avocado, tomatoes and feta cheese for a healthy and delicious breakfast.
If you haven’t tried savory oatmeal before, you’re in for a treat.
This oatmeal truly hits the spot when you’re craving something savory but also don’t have time to whip up a full breakfast hash or frittata. If you think it’s weird to have savory toppings on your oatmeal, think of it more like a breakfast grain bowl. Or think about oats as you would grits, which are usually served in a savory fashion. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it!
Why You’ll Love These Oats
- Easy to make – This recipe comes together in under 10 minutes with simple ingredients for a quick and easy breakfast option!
- Nutritious – This bowl is packed with protein, veggies, healthy fats and fiber for a balanced meal.
- Customizable – Feel free to top your oats with your favorite toppings!
// ★★★★★ REVIEW //
“Tried this bc I’m looking at healthier breakfast options and I was surprised by how much I liked it. I thought there’s no way I would go for savory oatmeal but I was wrong! I used vegan Parmesan bc I don’t eat dairy. Thx for coming up with this!” – Sharon K
Ingredients Needed
Rolled oats, water and an egg are the three main ingredients for this bowl. From there, feel free to customize your toppings based on your preference and what you have on hand.
- rolled oats – can’t have oatmeal without the oats! Old-fashioned rolled oats will work best for this recipe, but quick oats or steel-cut oats will work too! Just remember that steel-cut oats take much longer to cook compared to rolled oats. You can use my steel cut oats recipe as a guide.
- water – for cooking the oats, creating the perfect consistency. Feel free to use your favorite milk if you prefer your oats a bit creamier or vegetable broth for more flavor!
- egg – adds protein and a savory element to this bowl of oats. I prefer a fried egg, but you can prepare your egg anyway.
- feta cheese – adds a creamy, tangy and salty element to this bowl. Goat cheese or freshly grated parmesan cheese would also be great options.
- grape tomatoes – adds a juicy, fresh element. Cherry tomatoes work too!
- avocado – adds creaminess and some healthy fats.
- everything but the bagel seasoning – this is my favorite part! It gives this bowl a burst of flavor with its blend of seeds and spices. My go-to is the Trader Joe’s everything but the bagel seasoning, but there are many other brands available at most grocery stores.
- sea salt and pepper – to taste, for seasoning.
- fresh herbs – I love adding fresh herbs to these oats! I like parsley, but fresh basil, cilantro or chives would all be great options.
- hot sauce – I love adding hot sauce to my savory oats! It brings the bowl to a whole new level so I highly recommend, but if you aren’t a spice lover, you can definitely skip it.
How to Make Savory Oatmeal
This recipe is so easy to whip up! It’s perfect for those busy weekday mornings when you’re short on time, but still want something filling and nutritious for breakfast. Here’s how to make it:
Step 1: Add oats, water and sea salt to a pot and cook over medium heat, stirring until creamy, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 2: Fry or poach an egg. Then put your cooked oats in a bowl and top with egg, cheese, tomatoes, avocado, seasoning and herbs. Add hot sauce if you like and serve warm.
Savory Oatmeal Tips
- Cook your oats in broth for more flavor!
- Adjust the amount of water to get your preferred oatmeal consistency. Add more for a soupier texture and less for thicker oats.
- Feel free to cook your egg to your liking. Fried, poached, scrambled, etc… they’re all delicious!
Dietary Substitutions
- Vegan: Replace the egg with a tofu scramble or vegan egg substitute and use a dairy-free cheese option.
- Gluten-free: Oats are naturally gluten-free, but often contaminated so make sure you grab certified gluten-free rolled oats if needed. I love using Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free organic rolled oats.
- Dairy-free: Use a dairy-free cheese alternative or nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor without the dairy.
Savory Oatmeal Topping Ideas
I love topping my savory oats with a fried egg, feta cheese, tomatoes, avocado, herbs, seasonings and hot sauce, but the options are endless when it comes to the toppings. Here are some ideas:
- Eggs: I prefer a fried egg, but a poached egg, soft boiled egg, scrambled eggs or hard boiled eggs are all great options!
- Protein: If you want more protein, feel free to add breakfast sausage, bacon, turkey bacon or grilled chicken. For plant-based options try tempeh bacon, baked tofu or chickpeas!
- Veggies: Add tomatoes, cucumber, sprouts, broccoli, edamame, caramelized onions, sautéed spinach or sautéed mushrooms. Another great option is to add roasted veggies like roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, brussels sprouts or summer squash.
- Cheese: Feta cheese, goat cheese or parmesan would all be great options. Opt for a dairy-free option if needed or try this hemp parmesan.
- Spice: Add hot sauce, diced jalapeños or a sprinkle of chili flakes for a spicier version.
- Nuts/seeds: For some crunch, add almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, pecans or walnuts.
- Herbs: Add some fresh parsley, cilantro, basil or thyme for some freshness.
- Other toppings: Experiment with other toppings like avocado, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, or roasted red peppers for added flavor!
How to Meal Prep & Store
This recipe serves one, but if you want to meal prep the oats for the week you can double or triple the recipe, portion them out into individual airtight containers and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. In the morning reheat the oats in the microwave or on the stovetop (or eat them cold) and add your favorite toppings!
More Oatmeal Recipes
- Strawberries and Cream Oatmeal
- Blueberry Oatmeal
- Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal
- Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Cauliflower Oatmeal
Be sure to check out all of the oatmeal recipes as well as the full collection of breakfast recipes on EBF!
Savory Oatmeal
Ingredients
- ½ cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup water
- 1 cooked egg
- 2 Tablespoons feta or grated parmesan cheese, dairy-free, if needed
- 3-4 grape tomatoes, halved
- ¼ avocado
- Everything But The Bagel seasoning
- Sea salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh herbs, parsley, for topping
- Cholula hot sauce, optional
Instructions
- Heat water and oats in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add a little sea salt to the oats. Cook the oats, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes or until the oats are creamy and the consistency you like. Remove from heat.
- Meanwhile cook your egg however you like, poached or fried is my favorite.
- Once both the egg and oats are finished cooking grab a bowl (I like using a shallow, wide bowl) add oats and top with cooked egg, cheese, avocado, EBTB seasoning, fresh herbs and hot sauce, if using. Enjoy warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I was planning on doing my usual banana and nut butter oatmeal this morning but I think I will finally take the leap on savory oatmeal because that looks SO good!
This is such an amazing breakfast bowl! I used a hard boiled egg because I was short on time, but a fried egg with a runny yolk would be even better. This oatmeal is just such an awesome idea!
To say this recipe is delicious is an understatement. This recipe is out of this world, it is sooooooo yummy! The creamy oatmeal with the splash of Parmesan cheese makes the dish for sure! You almost feel like you’re eating cheesy grits! Omg so so good! This is a new staple for sure! Thank you for this recipe!
Woo-hoo!! That makes me so happy to hear, Erin. 🙂 I’m really glad that you tried and enjoyed this recipe. And thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it! The ratings are super helpful to other readers.
Savory oatmeal sounds odd at first, but this is SO good! Thank you for sharing your gift of recipe creation with us!
Ahh this makes me so happy to hear, Brenda!! Thanks for giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. And thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
I was very intrigued when I saw this recipe yesterday and realized I had all the ingredients to make it… and let me say, I was NOT disappointed! This is SO delicious, and a nice change from the everyday oatmeal!
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Andrea! Thanks for giving my recipe a try and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it. <3
So dang good! I added some mushrooms and chives on top. I definitely lean towards sweet oatmeal so I was hesitant but it was awesome!
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed this oatmeal, Kalli. Thanks for giving my recipe a try and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
Loved it!! Oatmeal is my “go to” daily breakfast. Saw this and thought great change up!! I was right!
Thank you!
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed this oatmeal recipe, Bob. Thanks for giving it a try and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
My son was asking for savory oatmeal and I wanted something mostly vegetarian. This was delicious! I added in a half cup o spinach to each serving to increase the nutritional value. I did briefly cook the spinach so it wilted.
Oh yay!! So glad this recipe was a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I so appreciate it!
I made a version of this today with whatever random ingredients i could rally together. Started with tomato paste, seasoned frozen veggies like onion and peppers, Mexican spices in olive oil, added the quick oats and water, salt and pepper, mixed in cheese. Topped with an over medium egg with hot sauce. So creamy yum!
Ohh sounds yummy!! So glad you tried and loved this recipe, Christal.
I loved this! I’ve wanted to make savory oats for a long time but was afraid. This is delish! The ingredients are almost identical to a lentil bowl I enjoy as well.
Ah yay!! So pumped to hear you enjoyed this savory oatmeal, Amy. Thanks for trying out the recipe and I really appreciate the review!
Hi! Just tried this recipe but subbed the avocado for cooked spinach, plus I didn’t have the everything seasoning. I even added hot sauce!! This was delicious. 🙂 i think i slightly overcooked the egg so some of the yolk was slightly firm and not runny. First time trying a savory oatmeal recipe and I liked it alot!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Danny! Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it.
I’ve been wanting to try savory oatmeal and this recipe did not disappoint!!! I used sriracha lime seasoning instead of hot sauce and it was delish!!! Thanks for the great recipes Brittany.
Woo! This makes me so happy to hear, Shelley! I love the addition of sriracha lime. Thanks for the review. I so appreciate it!
Outstanding!
Thank you, Katie! So glad you are enjoying this recipe. Thanks for the review!
Tried this bc I’m looking at healthier breakfast options and I was surprised by how much I liked it. I thought there’s no way I would go for savory oatmeal but I was wrong! I used vegan Parmesan bc I don’t eat dairy. Thx for coming up with this!
Yay! I am so happy that you are loving this recipe, Sharon! Thank you so coming back and sharing your review, I really appreciate it!
Customized with what I had on hand. While oatmeal cooked in microwave, I sautéed an egg with some leftover roasted sweet potato cubes. Topped with EBTB and parm. DELISH!
Oh YES! This sounds absolutely delicious, simply the best, Sue. Thank you for sharing your review & star rating, I truly appreciate it!
I was very sceptical for some time since I always have sweet porridge… this blew me away with how delicious it was!!!! Definitely worth trying if you like porridge and eggs❤️
WOO! This seriously makes me so happy, Mia. I am glad you gave this recipe a try and are loving it. Thank you for sharing your review + star rating, I truly appreciate it!