Tasty Recipes That Oatmeal Lovers Everywhere Will Enjoy

If you're in love with oatmeal recipes, you've come to the right spot. This is the place to find the best of them, where oatmeal is the star player in the dish. On their own, oats can be admittedly bland with their pale color and uninspiring flat oval shape, but they're a versatile ingredient that can give recipes structure, texture, and — perhaps most importantly — a ton of nutrition. While superfoods get all the hype, the humble oat is important for your heart, brain, and waistline with vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber while regulating blood sugar and improving cholesterol. Don't underestimate oats! And with a little dressing up, they can be downright delicious.

Here, you'll find just as many traditional, humble, and straightforward recipes like porridge (it's not as simple as you think!) as there are ones that go against the grain (sorry not sorry). It's all here, really. Whether you fancy yourself a fan of this ingredient, need some persuading, or maybe you've acquired too much and are looking for a way to offload them, get ready to have more ideas than you can shake a stick at. These are tasty recipes that oatmeal lovers and newbies alike are sure to enjoy

Let's start simple, shall we? Maybe you're just oat-curious, wondering how to make porridge from scratch. It may seem easy enough; after all, you'll just mix water or milk with oats and cook it all until it's gluey. Simple, right?

But sometimes people can forget how to make even the simplest of dishes, leaving themselves in a culinary slump. That's why having a straightforward porridge recipe is more important than you might think. There are so many places that promise to make it with finessed technique, but really, it's not that complicated. You just need someone to hold your hand and show you how to do it right the first couple of times. Plus, this recipe gives you permission to seek out interesting add-ins, like blueberries and coconut flakes. Enjoy, for this is the stuff that your wildest cottagecore dreams are made of.

Now, let's turn it up a notch. While oatmeal gets looked at as some bland, last-ditch morning meal, there are plenty of ways to up the ante when you're making this breakfast classic. One of those ways is adding egg whites, which not only lends a silkier texture into the mix but also ups the protein and overall nutrition levels of the oatmeal. 

Don't go thinking it's as simple as just chucking in egg whites and letting it cook off, though. There's a  bit of technique involved to keep the egg whites from scrambling but, once you get it, you'll likely add this to your regular morning rotation.

Welcome to peak oatmeal. It's as if Trader Joe's doesn't already have enough of a reputation of being a granola-crunching brand. Of course, you can go into a location and walk on out with all the ingredients you need to make a lip-smacking, oat-based breakfast bowl you'll love. 

This dish is made creamy with a combination of almond, cashew, and macadamia nut milk and topped with crunchy and sweet toppings. All told, it's incredibly easy to make. Best of all, once you've gathered all five ingredients from one grocery store trip, you can easily make it all over again in the comfort of your own kitchen!

Maybe you're not so into the idea of cooking, but you want all of the nutritional benefits of oats. Maybe boiling stuff in the morning for your breakfast just isn't your idea of fun. No problem. Yes, it's true: you don't even need to use a microwave for this recipe.

If that sounds like the perfect cooking method, then overnight oats like this are going to be your best friend. Prep it the night before, pop it in the fridge, and then, the next morning, you either grab it on your way out the door or eat it immediately. Don't think that's simple enough? Get this: The entire process won't take more than three steps to complete. We're pretty sure that's a record.

The low and slow method involved with classic, old-school oatmeal doesn't always agree with everyone's fast-paced schedules. And maybe you're frankly bored with quick-cooking or instant oats and just want something different. If you need something that you can cut off a square of and wolf down as you run out the door, this baked oatmeal recipe is for you. 

But don't start thinking the result is some hard and crunchy granola bar, though! The incorporation of milk or non-dairy milk, as well as chunks of fruit, make sure that the final result is wonderfully moist and cake-like.

When it comes to breakfast — or a really filling late night snack, we won't judge — oats don't always need to served up in the form of oatmeal. In fact, they can be a surprisingly good treat. Oatmeal pancakes like these are proof of that, and they're far from some gray pucks with a gluey texture on the inside. 

Rather, if you follow the steps, you'll find the end result is fluffy in texture and slightly nutty in flavor thanks to the use of oats. Just remember to cook them long enough in the pan to give them some caramelization on both sides — that makes for even more flavor!

Sometimes, you need to try something really different. While it may seem like a curveball amongst a bunch of oatmeal-forward recipes, this congee recipe makes a rice porridge that will agree with any oatmeal lover out there. Typically eaten for breakfast, congee can be — much like oatmeal — just as thick in consistency, creamy in texture, and comforting in its effect on the diner. Just consider it to be a wonderfully savory option to enjoy in the morning.

If you like oatmeal, then we humbly suggest that you branch out just a bit and try congee. Chances are, you'll really, really like it. The only real difference here is that it will take a bit longer than oatmeal to make.