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It’s difficult to overstate oatmeal’s many advantages. It’s warm and satisfying, easy to make and provides good-for-you fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. The only real problem with oatmeal is that it can get a bit boring, especially if you eat it plain or limit yourself to a sprinkle of nuts and dried fruit. Thankfully, this breakfast go-to is incredibly versatile. It can be cooked in different ways, paired with a wide range of both sweet and savory ingredients and even served at different temperatures. In fact, with so many options, it would be hard to ever tire of oatmeal. Read on for six ways to reinvent this morning meal.
Go Savory
Sweet additions like honey, brown sugar and dried fruit may be standard, but once you open your oatmeal up to savory combinations, the options are almost endless. The simple addition of veggies and cheese turns oatmeal risotto-like, while black beans, Cheddar, and scallions make for taco-inspired oats and curry, cashews and raisins create a wonderfully aromatic morning meal.
Prep Ahead
Recipe pictured above:Blueberry-Banana Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are made in advance and refrigerated in jars or containers for a convenient on-the-go breakfast. Because they’re cold, they have a unique taste and texture that some folks actually prefer to traditional oatmeal. Like hot oats, overnight oats take to a wide range of flavors. Try ourtropical fruitorcinnamonversion.
Put an Egg on Top
Recipe pictured above:Sriracha, Egg & Avocado Overnight Oats
Adding an egg is one of the best ways to bump up oatmeal, as it adds not just taste and texture, but an extra hit of protein that will keep you full for hours. While scrambled eggs are a bit mushy,fried, poached and soft-cooked eggs all make great oatmeal toppers.Eggs can even be added to overnight oats, as in thisavocado toast–inspired version.
Look Beyond Oats
Recipe pictured above:Quinoa & Chia Oatmeal Mix
Oats are a breakfast superstar, but grains likequinoa, barleyandwheat berriescan be added to vary the taste and texture of your breakfast. You can even forego oats completely and usegrainsto create a bowl that is similar but not quite the same as traditional oatmeal. And, if you’re really up for experimenting, trypolenta, which can be topped with different veggies—and even a fried egg!–to create a smooth and creamy take on hot cereal.
Swap Nuts for Nut Butter
Recipe pictured above:Peanut Butter Protein Overnight Oats
Bake Your Oats
Recipe pictured above:Vegan Pineapple & Coconut Baked Oatmeal
Baking gives oatmeal a wonderfully crisp, almost cookie-like top, and turns average oats into a meal that feels a whole lot more special. Plus, baked oatmeal can be made in advance, will take to your favorite flavor combinations—trybanana, raisin, walnutorpineapple and coconut—and is great for feeding a crowd. You can alsobake oatmeal in muffin cupsthat are perfect for on-the-go breakfasts and snacks.
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