Oatmeal Bowls

Name: Oatmeal Bowls
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 1 min
Total time: 6 min
Ingredients: ½ cup rolled oats; ½ cup water; Pinch salt; 2-3 tablespoons milk of choice; Optional to sweeten: stevia, sugar, brown sugar, honey or maple syrup; banana slices; chopped walnuts; chocolate chips; a combination of raspberries and blueberries; chopped almonds; drizzle of creamy almond butter; sliced strawberries; splash of creamer, heavy cream, half and half or whole milk; dollop of strawberry, vanilla or plain yogurt; sprinkle of chia seeds; a dollop of jam swirled in; drizzle of peanut butter

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on June 10, 2024 25 comments »

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Creamy, comforting oatmeal bowls with a variety of different toppings! From chunky monkey to strawberries and cream, there’s something for everyone!

Bowls of oatmeal with different toppings.

Warm, delicious oatmeal bowls are the perfect way to fuel your day! A piping hot bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh fruit and a drizzle of peanut butter is one of my favorite breakfasts. It’s quick and easy to make, plus, you can add a variety of different mix-ins and toppings!

Looking for more oatmeal recipes? Try our banana bread oatmeal, pumpkin baked oatmeal or these easy chocolate chip oatmeal bars.

Table of Contents

4 Variations

I’m sharing four simple, yet tasty variations, so you can make oatmeal bowls to fit any mood.

Chunky monkey includes banana slices, chocolate chips and a nutty crunch from walnuts.
Mixed berry is made with a combination of raspberries and blueberries, chopped almonds and a drizzle of almond butter.
Strawberries and cream is a creamy, dreamy delight with fresh strawberries, cream, yogurt and chia seeds.
Peanut butter and jelly is oats swirled with jelly and drizzled with peanut butter. Each one is different but they’re all so flavorful!

Ingredients needed

Oatmeal packets are convenient, but it’s cheaper and so much more delicious to buy rolled oats and make servings yourself! Here’s a list of what you’ll need to make various oatmeal bowl recipes:

Bowls with rolled oats, berries, milk, peanut butter and various other ingredients for making oatmeal.

Base recipe

Rolled oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats are the best for making oatmeal with the perfect thick, chewy texture.
Water: Necessary for the oats to absorb as they cook.
Salt: Just a pinch is needed to enhance the flavor.
Milk: Use your milk of choice to add creaminess.
Sweetener: Optional to sweeten. Some good options: stevia, sugar, brown sugar, honey or maple syrup.

Chunky Monkey Oatmeal

This flavor combo is incredible! You can actually add the banana slices in during the cooking process. They will add a ton of flavor to the oatmeal and a bit of natural sweetness. Sprinkle in some coconut flakes, chopped walnuts and chocolate chips.

Banana: For natural sweetness!
Walnuts: Adds nutty flavor and great crunchy texture.
Chocolate chips: The chocolate chips get irresistibly melty!

Oatmeal topped with chopped walnuts, mini chocolate chips and banana slices.

Mixed Berry

Berries: Use any combination of berries you’d like. We went with raspberries and blueberries!
Almonds: Chopped almonds or even pecans pair well with berries but you can really use any nuts you’d like.
Almond butter: Drizzle creamy almond butter over the top for even more almond flavor. Cashew butter would be a great option too!

Oatmeal topped with berries, chopped almonds and almond butter.

Strawberries and Cream

Strawberries: Fresh, juicy strawberries bursting in every bite!
Cream: Add a splash of creamer, heavy cream, half and half or whole milk for creamy oats.
Yogurt: For extra creaminess, add a dollop of strawberry, vanilla or plain greek yogurt. You can use regular yogurt too!
Chia seeds: Optional, but I love sprinkling chia seeds on all of my oatmeal bowls for a boost of healthy fats and fiber. Hemp hearts would be another good option.

Oatmeal in a white bowl with strawberries and strawberry yogurt.

Peanut Butter and Jelly

Jam: Make this taste just like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich by swirling jam into the oats.
Peanut Butter: So good paired with the warm oats and fruity jam or jelly.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Variations and substitutions

The oatmeal recipes, above, will get you started with ideas for oatmeal toppings. But there are endless ways of topping your oatmeal bowls. Oats pair well with almost any type of fruit, nuts and seeds. You can even add spices to boost the flavor!

Different types of oats: The cooking instructions for this particular recipe are for old-fashioned rolled oats. You can use instant oats or steel cuts, just be sure to adjust the cook time and amount of liquid needed.
Flavorings: Add more flavor with spices such as ground cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice. You can also add in some vanilla extract. About 1/4 teaspoon is a good amount for both spices and vanilla.
Nuts: Feel free to use any nuts or any type of nut butter for your oats.
Fruit: Try different varieties of fruit! Anything from fresh berries to peaches will be delicious!
Savory oatmeal: Sounds strange but it can be really tasty! Budget Bytes has a very popular recipe for savory oatmeal that includes mushrooms and spinach.

How to make this recipe

Oatmeal is easy to make in the microwave or on the stovetop! No matter which version you choose, it will be wonderful and can be ready to enjoy in just minutes. I prefer to cook my oatmeal on the stovetop, but you can also microwave it! Here’s how:

Microwave Instructions

Place the oats, water and salt in a microwave-safe bowl.
Heat in the microwave on high for 90 seconds. If needed, add 15-second increments until the oatmeal is of desired consistency.
Add milk and desired sweetener (if using) and stir before serving. Enjoy with your desired toppings!

Stovetop Instructions

Using a wooden spoon to stir oats with water in a saucepan.

Step 1: In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and pour in the oats.

Step 2: Cook, stirring occasionally, until the oats are soft and have absorbed most of the liquid, about 5 minutes.

Step 3: Stir in the milk and desired sweetener (if using). Remove from heat, cover and let stand for 2-3 minutes.

Topping oatmeal bowl with chopped almonds and fresh berries.

Step 4: Transfer oatmeal to a bowl and add desired toppings. You can also make the consistency a bit thinner, if you’d like, with a splash more of milk. Enjoy warm.

Helpful tips

Gluten-free oatmeal: Oats are naturally gluten-free but you need to make sure that they are processed in a gluten-free facility in order for them to be certified gluten free. Look for a “certified gluten free” label on the packaging of the oats.
Old fashioned oats for the best consistency: Steel cut oats have a different cooking method and ratio of liquid to oats, so I would avoid those for this specific recipe. Quick-cooking oats work, but they have a mushy texture.
Oat to liquid ratio: You will find this printed on the oats package. For rolled oats, it’s always ½ cup oats to 1 cup of liquid. If you use less liquid, it may not evenly cook the oats. If you use more liquid, the oatmeal may end up becoming too watery. Stick to the ratio when cooking and then either make it thicker by mixing in extra toppings or thinner by stirring in a splash of milk.
Don’t skip the salt: A pinch of salt will make the oatmeal taste less bland and really enhances the flavor. Just like when baking a batch of cookies, it actually brings out the sweetness and nuttiness of the oats.

Frequently asked questions

Is it good to eat oatmeal every day?

Yes, oatmeal is a high-fiber, satisfying breakfast that you can enjoy every day. Plus, you can easily switch up the flavor profile with different mix-ins and toppings so you’ll never get bored.

How can I make oatmeal more filling?

The base oatmeal recipe without the toppings has 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fat, which isn’t much for a meal. I like to serve my oats with some bacon or turkey sausage on the side. You can also add some protein powder to your oats like in my apple protein oatmeal.

How to add protein to oatmeal?

Use about half of a scoop of protein powder to one serving of oatmeal, to make it super delicious, but not give it an unpleasant texture. A half scoop of your average protein powder has about 12g of protein. Also, be sure to stir the protein powder in right at the end, after cooking. It will combine easily and get really creamy without any powdery chunks. Add extra liquid (almond milk or water) for desired consistency.

Storing recommendations

Homemade oatmeal is great for making ahead! With proper storage, you’ll be able to enjoy this tasty breakfast days later!

Prep ahead: Scale this recipe to make a big batch ahead for the whole week! Store individual servings in Mason jars or another type of storage container and use different toppings each day.
Storing: Your homemade oatmeal will store for up to one week in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When storing, leave the oats plain. Add toppings just before enjoying, so the fruit will be fresh and any nuts will be crunchy.
Reheating: In a microwave-safe bowl, add a serving of oatmeal and pop in the microwave for 2 minutes. Stir after one minute to ensure it’s warmed through. Add more milk, as desired to get the consistency that you like.

Oatmeal bowls with different toppings like fresh berries, peanut butter and nuts.

More breakfast recipes

If you try this, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.

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Oatmeal Bowls

Yield: 1 serving

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 6

Creamy, comforting oatmeal bowls with delicious toppings!

Author: Kim