Easy Oatmeal Recipe (+ Best Oatmeal Recipes)
Published 11/9/2023 • Updated 6/17/2024
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This is our go-to oats recipe. It’s so fluffy and perfectly smooth and creamy. For this healthy oatmeal recipe, you make it on the stove and need rolled oats, milk, and banana. We use this very recipe as the base recipe to so many other flavor variations here on Fit Foodie Finds. If you can make this version, you can make about 100 more flavors!
Scroll down for our best healthy oatmeal recipes to inspire you to start your day off right with the perfect bowl of oats!
This is our go-to oatmeal recipe on Fit Foodie Finds. So many readers have made this recipe and loved it so much and we hope you do too.
I became obsessed with oatmeal in college (hello 2008) and haven’t looked back since. While cooking oatmeal in the microwave is quick and easy, this stovetop oatmeal recipe is my go-to when I want a perfectly sweetened, fluffy bowl of oats.
The rundown: Simply combine rolled oats, milk, mashed banana, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt on the stovetop. Bring to a boil and then turn down to low and let simmer for 3-5 minutes or until thickened.
Featured Comment
“Loved this recipe! Tasted delicious, simple to make and healthy. Likely to become a go-to breakfast. Added some blueberries on top making it even better. 🙂” – Kari
What You Need for this Oats Recipe
- Rolled oats: we used rolled oats, but you can also use quick-cooking.
- Almond milk: feel free to use any kind of milk.
- Banana: we used mashed banana as an all-natural sweetener.
- Flavors: we added a little vanilla, cinnamon, and salt
Easy Oatmeal Flavor Variations
Below are some easy oatmeal recipe flavor variations. Just add the ingredients into our base recipe.
- Apple cinnamon: 1/3 cup grated apple
- Protein: 2 tablespoons protein powder
- Pumpkin:1/4 cup pumpkin puree and replace the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice
- Peanut butter: 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Do you make oatmeal with milk or water?
We prefer to make oatmeal with milk, but any kind of liquid will work! Milk adds a creamy flavor and texture, which is why we prefer it.
What is better, rolled oats or quick oats?
You can actually use either or in this recipe! We prefer rolled oats because you get more of a “bite,” but quick oats cook faster.
More healthy Oatmeal Recipes
On Fit Foodie Finds we have upwards of 60 oatmeal recipes and we can’t wait for you to make them all. For starters, check out some of our top posts
5-Minute Healthy Oatmeal Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 2 cup plain, unsweetened almond milk, any kind of milk works
- 1 medium banana, mashed
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a small saucepan and turn heat to medium/high.
- Bring to a boil. Then, turn the heat down to low/medium and continually stir for around 3-5 minutes as the oatmeal cooks and thickens.
- Once oatmeal is at the desired consistency, remove from heat, and serve immediately.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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If you didn’t like that oatmeal recipe above, we’ve got a lot more inspiration where that came from! Now check out all of our best oatmeal recipes that will turn you into an absolute oatmeal lover…if you aren’t already there 😉
This list of healthy oatmeal recipes brings you all the oatmeal flavor combos you could ever imagine.
Stovetop Oatmeal Recipes
Stovetop oatmeal recipes take a little extra effort, but they make your oatmeal extra fluffy and delicious. Check out some of the best stovetop oatmeal recipes on the internet below!
- Fluffy Banana Bread Stove Top Oats
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Oatmeal
- Superfood Oatmeal Bowl
- Srawberries and Cream Oatmeal
Overnight Oatmeal Recipes
Overnight oats are an easy way to meal-prep your breakfast for the week. You only need a few staple ingredients and then different add-ons to make a breakfast that tastes like dessert, but that’s actually healthy!
- Carrot Cake Overnight Oats
- Coconut Latte Overnight Oats
- Vegan Peanut Butter Cup Overnight Oats
- Birthday Cake Batter Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Chia Overnight Oats
- Espresso Overnight Oats
- Blueberry Muffin Overnight Oats
- Brownie Batter Swirl Overnight Oats
- Maple French Toast Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Cover Strawberry Overnight Oats
- Vegan Chocolate Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
- Strawberry Cheesecake Overnight Oats
- Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats
Baked Oatmeal Recipes
Oatmeal doesn’t have to be boring! Make one of these amazing baked oatmeal recipes for a crowd-pleasing breakfast.
- Dark Chocolate Berry Oatmeal Bake
- Lemon Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
- Strawberry Rhubarb Oatmeal Bake
- Apple Chai Oatmeal Cups
- Best Baked Oatmeal
Slow Cooker and Instant Pot Oatmeal Recipes
Throw all of your ingredients for one of these slow cooker oatmeal recipes into your crock-pot and you’ve got a healthy breakfast recipe waiting to be eaten.
- Crock-Pot Samoa Steel Cut Oatmeal
- Crock Pot Maple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Pie Slow Cooker Oatmeal
- 10-Minute Instant Pot Steel Cut Oatmeal
- Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats
- Instant Pot Oatmeal
Fiber rich oatmeal galore! I didn’t know you can do so many variety of recipes with oatmeals!
Wonderful, it is really a pretty amazing post, every single recipe and doable, I am dying to apply them to by breakfast routine.
I’m so sorry to hear about your breakup. But. I believe everything – good and bad – shapes us, and makes us even better. You’re a strong, beautiful woman – and I’m confident that one day you’ll even be thankful for what you’re going through right now. Take care. {and thanks for including my buttery baked oatmeal recipe}
<3 Thanks lady! Everything happens for a reason. Thanks for making delicious oatmeal recipes and giving me a reason to link to you :)
“FUCK YOU TIME IS BULLSHIT” is quite possibly the best thing you’ve ever written on the blog. <3 <3 But in all seriousness, glad to hear you are doing well. 🙂 (and these pictures alone have turned me into an oatmeal lover)
HAHAHA. I hold back when it comes to swears and FFF. If you ask anyone who knows me in real life….I have a HUGE potty mouth and I need to watch it sometimes 😛 I am surprised I haven’t gotten any comments about the FUCK YOU TIME IS BULLSHIT for swearing. Some people.
Gah I totally feel you! I would love to describ
^^ OOPS. What I was GOING to say… I feel you on the potty mouth. And I would love to describe all of my recipes as f-ing but I have a feeling that wouldn’t sit well with too many peeps 😉 But they’re just WORDSSSSS. Word to ya motha.
Thanks for sharing Lee. I’m sorry you’ve been going through a rough patch but happy to hear things are getting better. I know it’s cliche but everyone is right when they say that time heals. I split with my college boyfriend of 3 years when I first moved to LA and it was very hard. Time + new love was the recipe for repairing my broken heart 🙂
PS – I want to make EVERY SINGLE ONE of these oatmeal bowls!!
WAHHHHHHHH. I heart you. So much 🙂
Just wanted to say that I know exactly what you went through – I broke up with my college boyfriend after 3.5 years, and now, 3 years later, I am so so happy! (Not saying it took 3 years to get here – just wanted you to know that it does get better, and that things do happen for a reason. Also, most of the time, our gut instinct is right.) When you meet the RIGHT one, you’ll know it right away. 🙂
Love the blog, and keep it up! Everything will be fine.
🙂 I love connecting with other people who have gone through a similar situation! Let’s me know that life is gonna be just fine!
SO many good oatmeals here!! I am so happy to hear you are doing better, girl time definitely helps! Enjoy your weekend
Thanks Liora! You too!
UMM, you know I also nearly had a panic attack when I read your little joke about quitting the blog! LOL, Lee! I was like HOLY CRAP I’m going to need to save a million recipes, like stat (and then there’s also this little Q&A thing I’ll need to redo probably…HA! Whew!). Anyway…You’re clearly a very strong gal and I’m so happy you are feeling like you’re on the other side. Nowhere to go but up for you superstar! Grateful we connected! And also Yes to all these oatmeal recipes!!! XX Katie
😛 I’m glad I’m not the only one who would be devastated if I just stopped running this thing. OATMEAL4LYFE
So so glad u r not quitting the blog!, my favorite!, keep up the great posts and we r all here for u!, Lucky girl, wish I had the single lifestyle. Haha. Married 35 years and he is totally , totally opposite!
<3 <3 <3
you inspire me.
that is all.