How to Make Oatmeal (Plus 4 Topping Ideas)

This isn’t the typical simmer and serve recipe that you’ll find on the back of the package. My goal was to make the creamiest, most flavorful oatmeal while keeping it healthy and easy enough to prepare on a weekday morning. 

This cook-then-soak method results in oats with the perfect creamy consistency. Cooking oats in milk is the trick to making creamy oatmeal with a boost of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. The oats themselves also have numerous health benefits—more on this below! 

It’s easy to customize oatmeal based on your preferences, and I have four ideas for topping oatmeal below. They are all on the sweeter side, focusing on fruit and nuts. (My favorite is the tahini, banana, walnut version, but I digress!) However, if you’re more team savory, we have this veggie-packed oatmeal recipe too.

Is Oatmeal Good for You? 

Given that whole grains are a key component of the Mediterranean Diet, it makes sense to include them as part of a healthy breakfast rotation. Oats are a whole grain containing both vitamins and minerals. Minimally processed varieties like steel-cut and rolled oats are especially healthy, and all oats are naturally gluten-free. Although some brands are processed in facilities with wheat products. So, if you have celiac, it’s a good idea to double-check the allergy labels on oats.

Eating oatmeal may help to lower your cholesterol, improve your heart and gut health, and aid digestion. Studies have shown that eating oatmeal regularly can prevent the onset of some diseases. Some evidence suggests that oats may also reduce the incidence of strokes, type 2 diabetes, ​​and certain cancers. 

Because oats are readily available and affordable, they’re a great whole grain to keep in your pantry for nourishing meals. Plus, adding an array of colorful toppings makes oatmeal an especially nourishing meal to start your day. 

What’s in this Oatmeal Recipe?

Here’s everything you’ll need to make old-fashioned stovetop oats.

• Rolled Oats: This recipe calls for one cup of old-fashioned oats, which will yield two servings. Be sure to check the packaging to ensure that you’re using the right type of oats for this recipe. You can easily scale the amount based on the number of people that you’re serving.
• Milk: I like using 2% milk for a basic oatmeal recipe because it’s creamy but doesn’t have a high fat content. I developed this recipe using 2% milk, but feel free to try it with skim, whole, or a nut-based milk instead. If you do substitute a nondairy milk, note that some alternative milks sometimes have added sugar or other sweeteners, which may affect the flavor of your cooked oats. 
• Cinnamon: I like to add a small amount of ground cinnamon to my oats as they cook for a warm and cozy flavor. 
• Vanilla extract adds a naturally sweet aroma, but a little goes a long way. 
• Kosher salt: It may seem counterintuitive to add salt to a traditionally sweetened dish, but a little bit of salt makes all of the other flavors pop.
• Honey: An optional spoonful of honey adds just enough sweetness. Feel free to substitute maple syrup or another sweetener of your choice. You can read more in our article, Six Reasons to Enjoy Honey.
• Toppings: Get creative with a variety of fresh and dried fruit, ground spices, and chopped nuts. I’ve shared some of my favorite seasonal variations below, but feel free to customize the toppings based on your preferences. 

Different Types of Oats

Although they have similar flavors and health benefits, different types of oats have varied textures and require varied cook times. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the most common types of oats: 

• Old Fashioned: Old-fashioned oats—also known as rolled oats—are flat, slightly thick oat flakes. Mills steam and press oat groats between rollers to give them their thin texture. Rolled oats typically take between five and 10 minutes to cook, but still retain a nice bite.
• Steel Cut Oats, which are sometimes called Irish oats, earn a reputation as the “healthiest” variety of oats, thanks to their high fiber content. Instead of steaming and rolling them, processors break the oat kernel into a few small, pointed pieces. They take 30 to 45 minutes to cook, which is significantly longer than any other variety of oat, but thanks to their nutty flavor and chewy bite, they’re hearty and satisfying. 
• Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats: With similar health benefits and a nutty flavor, this option is a great alternative to traditional steel cut oats that cook a little faster. Because mills cut these oats into smaller pieces, they cook in just about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Quick Cooking Oats: Quick cooking oats have a similar appearance and texture to old-fashioned oats but cook in under five minutes. Mills processed them in a similar manner to rolled oats, but they also chop them, which helps them to absorb liquid even faster for a quick cooking product.
• Instant Oats: As the name implies, instant oats are the fastest cooking type of oat—and they’re also the most processed. As the fastest-cooking oat variety, instant oats undergo the most processing. Mills finely chop them to speed up liquid absorption. You can cook them in the microwave in just minutes.
• Protein Oats: Some brands produce protein oats designed to keep you even more nourished. Some varieties contain added sources of protein, like pea and whey protein concentrates. Others, however, are simply a special variety that is higher in protein than other types of oats.
• Gluten-Free Oats: While oats are naturally gluten-free, mills often process them using the same machinery as wheat, which may make them unsuitable for anyone with celiac disease or other gluten sensitivities. Mills process”gluten-free” oats on dedicated equipment protected from cross-contamination.