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Looking for new ways to eat oats? Try these healthy oatmeal recipes, from make-ahead overnight oats and baked oatmeal to muffins and breakfast cookies.
My Favorite Healthy Oatmeal Recipes
Oats are one of the healthiest grains, and it doesn’t take much to turn a plain bowl of oats into a satisfying and delicious morning meal. Below, I’m sharing my favorite recipes featuring nutritious oats, from sweet to savory oatmeal recipes, overnight oats, oatmeal cookies, muffins, and more.
Why I Love Oatmeal
Oatmeal helps me work toward my goal of getting 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day, starting with breakfast. Oats are a whole grain and contain soluble fiber called beta-glucan, along with nutrients such as manganese, magnesium, iron, and vitamin B1. I love how easy they are to make my own: I’ll add berries and seeds for even more fiber, or pair my oats with Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, or eggs when I want more protein.
Which Type of Oats Should I Use?
You’ll find steel-cut oats, rolled oats, quick oats, and oat flour in these recipes. Steel-cut oats are chewy and take the longest to cook. Rolled oats keep more of their shape, while quick oats cook faster and make a softer bowl. I also use oat flour in some baked recipes. When it’s made from whole oats, it still contains the grain’s fiber and nutrients, even though it’s finely ground.
Choose the type listed in each recipe rather than swapping them freely. Their different textures can change how much liquid a recipe needs and how it turns out.
21 Satisfying Oatmeal Recipes to Try
Whether you want a warm bowl of oatmeal, overnight oats ready when you wake up, or muffins and bars to grab on your way out the door, there’s something here for you. I’ve grouped my favorites so you can find the one that fits your morning or afternoon.
Warm Oatmeal Recipes
Slow Cooker Steel Cut Oats
The slow cooker softens up steel cut oats perfectly, and you hardly have to lift a finger! Flavored with maple and cinnamon, this hearty and healthy slow cooker oatmeal recipe is filled with bananas and berries and topped with crunchy nuts.
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Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
The Instant Pot is an easy way to soften up those steel cut oats in a fraction of the time. This recipe produces perfectly light, fluffy oatmeal that’s ready to load up with your favorite oatmeal toppings.
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Banana Nut Protein Oats
This banana nut oatmeal is the best way to cozy up with a warm, satisfying breakfast in the morning. Vanilla protein powder and egg whites pack in even more healthy protein!
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Savory Steel Cut Oats
Change up your morning routine with this protein-filled recipe for savory oatmeal, made from steel cut oats, chicken breakfast sausage, mushrooms, and parmesan, topped with a fried egg. It’s a surefire way to stay fuller for longer!
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Zoats or Zucchini Oats
Combine a cup of grated zucchini with oatmeal and banana, and you get zucchini oats or “zoats” that taste just like zucchini bread! This is an easy high-fiber breakfast idea you’ll want to make on the regular, I just know it.
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Overnight Oats
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Nothing beats no-fuss breakfast recipes like these apple pie overnight oats. All the flavor of spiced homemade apple pie, sweetened with maple syrup and punched up with walnuts, loaded into an easy make-ahead breakfast.
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Overnight Oats
Creamy overnight oats with banana, blueberries, and chia seeds. Mix everything the night before for an easy, no-cook breakfast that’s ready in the morning. Double or triple the recipe for meal prep.
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Tres Leches Overnight Oats
Tres Leches Overnight Oats are inspired by my favorite cake. Oats soak in three milks overnight, creating a high-protein, high-fiber breakfast that’s lightly sweetened keeps you full all morning.
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Baked Oatmeal Recipes
Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Cups
Made with pumpkin puree, oats, pumpkin pie spice, and Greek yogurt, these Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal Cups are an easy, creamy breakfast full of fall flavor. They’re perfect to make in advance for breakfast on-the-go!
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Oatmeal Cookie Recipes
Healthy Banana Oatmeal Cookies
Three easy ingredients and 20 minutes are all that stand between you and these delicious and healthy banana oatmeal cookies! They’re the perfect sweet snack or breakfast to-go, made without flour so they’re also gluten-free.
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Protein Cookies
I almost always have a batch of protein cookies on hand for light breakfasts and easy snacking. These peanut butter oatmeal cookies are one of my favorite recipes!
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Healthy Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies
Healthy cookies are the best way to sneak in an extra dose of protein, fiber, and deliciousness into your day. These guilt-free chocolate chip oatmeal cookies are rich and chewy, filled with pops of melty chocolate in every bite.
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More Ways to Use Oats
Instant Pot Oatmeal Banana Bars
One thing I love about my Instant Pot? It’s wonderful for so much more than just dinner recipes! Case in point: this easy, gluten-free, and dairy-free banana bread baked oatmeal. It’s packed with bananas, cinnamon, dates, coconut, and chia seeds.
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Oatmeal Berry Smoothie Bowl
When you can’t choose between oatmeal and a smoothie bowl, why not have BOTH? This smoothie bowl is filled with nutritious oats, frozen fruit, and bananas, for a yummy, high-fiber breakfast.
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High Protein Waffles
Start off your day with filling, protein-packed waffles made from oat flour, cottage cheese, and eggs. This is a light, easy waffle recipe the whole family will love!
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Is Oatmeal Gluten-Free?
Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they can come into contact with wheat, barley, or rye during growing or processing. If you need to avoid gluten, choose oats labeled gluten-free and check the other ingredients in the recipe, too. The Celiac Disease Foundation explains what to look for when buying oats if you have celiac disease.
Looking for More Healthy Breakfast Ideas?
Looking for something beyond oatmeal? Browse my breakfast and brunch recipes, high-fiber breakfasts, and meal prep recipes. You can also explore my full oatmeal recipe collection for even more ways to use oats.
