Making a nutritious breakfast is super easy with these 3 Oatmeal Recipes. I’m sharing my favorite ways to cook this heart healthy breakfast food!

Oatmeal might be one of the most common breakfast foods on the planet! It’s easy to make, versatile, and one of the most nutritious ways to start your day! Also called porridge, this filling whole grain basically is the alpha when it comes to breakfast foods.

cooked oatmeal in a bowl topped with some pineapple, banana and honey

Health Benefits of Oatmeal

Some of the reasons oatmeal is such a popular breakfast and snack food have to do with the health benefits of oatmeal. One of the main reasons oatmeal is considered heart healthy is because of this high amounts of fiber in each cup! This soluble fiber helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol keeping your heart in tip-top shape.

Oatmeal also contains many beneficial vitamins and minerals. It’s high in manganese, phosphorus, and vitamin B1. Not to mention oats contain more protein than just about any other grain!

Different Types of Oats

Before diving spoon first into a delicious bowl of oatmeal you will want to decide what kind of oats to use for your morning bowl! Here are the most common types of oats and what you should know about them before making your bowl.

three types of oat meals in individual bowls

Oat Groat– Oatmeal comes from an oat berry, also called an oat groat. The groat has the most fiber and is in the most natural state. This also means it takes more water and a longer time to cook.

Steel Cut Oats– Steel cut oats come from cutting oat groats with a steel blade. They take less water and time to cook than oat groats.

Rolled Oats– Also called old fashioned oats, rolled oats are made from steaming the groat and rolling it into a flat flaky shape. These oats are the most common and readily available at stores. Steaming the oats makes them quicker to cook than steel cut and needs less water on average to cook.

Instant Oats– Instant oats take the rolled oats and steam them a second time making them quicker to cook. As the name implies these oats cook instantly and are traditionally made in the microwave.

Oatmeal Recipes 3 Ways

How to Make Old Fashioned Oatmeal

Ingredients you’ll need:

1 cup water or milk
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 pinch of salt (optional)

Directions to make Stovetop Oatmeal

In medium sauce pan, over medium heat, bring water or milk to a boil.
Once boiling, stir in rolled oats and a pinch of salt.
Cook for about 5 minutes on medium heat stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and serve with desired toppings!

pouring oatmeal in a pot filled with water

oatmeal and water in a pot before it got cooked

How to Make Steel Cut Oatmeal

Ingredients you’ll need:

1 1/2 cup water or milk
1/4 cup steel cut oats
1 pinch of salt (optional)

Directions to make Steel Cut Oatmeal

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, bring water or milk to a boil.
Once oiling, stir in steel cut oats and salt. Reduce heat to low.
Simmer the oats, uncovered, for about 25-30 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent the oats from sticking to the pan.
Remove from heat, top with desired toppings and enjoy!

uncooked oatmeal bring poured into the bowl

oatmeal in a bowl and water being poured into the bowl

How to Make Overnight Oats

Ingredients you’ll need:

1/2 cup old fashioned (rolled) oats
1/2 cup milk- I like to use almond milk but regular milk works well too
1/4 cup greek yogurt
1 Tbsp chia seeds

Directions to make Overnight Oats

In a mason jar add oats, milk, yogurt, and chia seeds.
Stir together until smooth.
Cover with lid and refrigerate at least 2 hours but for best results overnight is better.
When you are ready to eat, top with some of the toppings listed below and enjoy!

Top it Off

I think one of my favorite parts about making oatmeal has to be the toppings! Oatmeal really is a blank canvas you can add just about anything to. A few of my favorites include:

Fruit– sliced bananas, blueberries, sliced strawberries, cinnamon apples
Granola– basically crunchy oats on top of soft oats!
Nuts and seeds- flax seeds, chia seeds, sliced almonds, salted peanuts
Extras– shredded coconut, chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips

How to Cook Oatmeal

Health Benefits of Oatmeal

Different Types of Oats