Trader Joe's 5-Ingredient Oatmeal Breakfast Bowl Recipe

Oatmeal is a breakfast classic for good reason. Rich and hearty, it's full of fiber and gives you plenty of energy: the perfect way to start your day and keep you fueled and satisfied well into lunchtime. And with this recipe from Maren Epstein of Eating Works, you can make an oatmeal breakfast bowl loaded with tasty toppings exclusively with ingredients from Trader Joe's.

The secret to this Trader Joe's 5-ingredient oatmeal breakfast bowl is the perfect blend of contrasting flavors, textures, and colors. To a base of oatmeal cooked in plant-based, protein-rich nut milk, Epstein adds crunchy almond chips, almonds, and sweet blueberry preserves. You could also easily opt for Trader Joe's granola, another kind of preserves or jam, a nut butter in place of the chopped almonds, or even dried fruit. The key is to maintain those contrasts and to balance out the sweet ingredients with something slightly savory. With that in mind, you'll be golden!

You need just five ingredients to make this Trader Joe's 5-ingredient oatmeal breakfast bowl, all of which come from Trader Joe's. The base of the bowl is made with TJ's old fashioned rolled oats, which cook up quickly in a rich plant-based beverage made with a combo of almond, cashew, and macadamia nut milks. Used in place of dairy milk, this product is rich in flavor and protein and adds a lovely creamy texture to the oatmeal.

For the toppings, you'll be using crushed almonds, sweet blueberry preserves, and banana chips for crunch.

The first step of this Trader Joe's 5-ingredient oatmeal breakfast bowl is, of course, to make the oatmeal. Simply combine the oats and milk in a small saucepan and simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally.

"The oatmeal cooks pretty quickly," noted Epstein, "but if you make the heat too high, the milk can boil over." To keep this from happening, keep the heat on medium-low and stir often. It won't be long before it's time to dish up!

The secret to rich, creamy oats is similar to the secret to rich, creamy scrambled eggs: Turn off the heat before you think you need to. "You don't want the oatmeal to get dry," says Epstein, "plus, the liquid will continue to absorb after you turn off the flame." Turn off the heat when most — but not all! — of the liquid is absorbed, and you'll be rewarded with the perfect creamy oatmeal.

It's time to serve your Trader Joe's 5-ingredient oatmeal breakfast bowl! Transfer the oatmeal to a bowl and add the toppings. Arrange them in stripes over the surface of the oatmeal for a pretty presentation that allows you to sample each of the ingredients both on its own or in combinations of your choosing.

Now that you've got the secret to making this bowl, feel free to jazz it up. Add spices like cinnamon or ginger to the oats themselves and experiment with your favorite toppings until you've landed on your ideal oatmeal bowl combo.