Oatmeal can be a great breakfast go-to, but once you keep eating the same thing over and over, it can become a bit of a snoozefest (which is definitely not helpful in the morning). Here are 10 ways to spruce things up and revive your love of oats.
Oatmeal egg bake with bacon and maple syrup
Baking an egg into your oatmeal is a delicious—and nutritious—way to liven it up. Adding a bit of crisp bacon for crunch and topping with maple syrup gives oatmeal a truly Canadian touch.
Recipe: www.julesfood.blogspot.com
Cinnamon roll oatmeal
What’s not to like about putting the layered flavours of a cinnamon roll into your oatmeal? Cinnamon sugar and creamy cooked oats are a perfect combo, and the cream cheese glaze just sends the whole thing over the top.
Recipe: www.motherrhyme.com
Pina colada oatmeal
It’s a classic flavour combination—you can’t really go wrong when you mix pineapple with coconut. Cooking your oats in coconut milk really takes things to the next level, and the pineapple adds a refreshing dimension while also sweetening the whole dish naturally.
Recipe: www.theoatmealartist.blogspot.ca
Blueberry baked oatmeal
If you’re not a fan of the texture of cooked oatmeal, then baking it might be a good solution since it then has more of a soft granola bar feel. Blueberries give it that extra pop, and a bit of syrup or a dollop of yogurt on top before serving is the pièce de résistance.
Recipe: www.crazyforcrust.com
Savoury oatmeal with soft cooked egg and cheddar
Making oatmeal savoury is always a good way to change things up. Stirring some sharp cheddar into your cooked oats and then adding a soft-cooked egg on top with a sprinkle of scallions is a great way to make boring oatmeal more gourmet. Just imagine breaking that creamy yolk so that it oozes into your cheesy oatmeal mixture…mmm.
Recipe: www.framedcooks.com
Peanut butter and banana oatmeal
Peanut butter is the perfect complement to banana, and cooking oats into this dynamic duo of flavours makes for a creamy and satisfying breakfast. A partially caramelized ripe banana naturally sweetens the dish, and peanut butter, with some cinnamon and ground nutmeg thrown in for good measure, adds a comforting depth to it all.
Recipe: www.ohsheglows.com
Date-sweetened apple pie oatmeal
Get out of your oatmeal rut by making an apple-pie version for breakfast. Chopped dates are a tasty way to naturally sweeten your oats, and a bed of baked cinnamon apples will trick you into thinking you’re having dessert instead of your morning meal.
Recipe: www.minimalistbaker.com
Steel cut oats with caramelized onions and ricotta
This can be a bit more labour intensive if you choose to use steel cut oats and your own fresh ricotta (although it’s really not that difficult to make!), but it all comes together quickly if you prepare both ahead of time. Caramelized onions and fresh ricotta add a nice savoury twist to the nutty and creamy oats.
Recipe: www.injennieskitchen.com
Spiced carrot cake oatmeal with coconut cream
Giving your oatmeal a carrot cake flavour is a nice way to indulge while actually keeping things healthy. Chopped dates, maple syrup and raisins naturally sweeten the dish while chopped pecans and coconut cream add wanted fats—plus a whole grated carrot and the oats themselves are no-brainer good-for-you elements. Best of all, the entire dessert-for-breakfast dish is vegan!
Recipe: www.ilovevegan.com
Savoury sriracha oatmeal
To make oatmeal particularly unconventional, sriracha will do the trick. Cooking your oats with the hot sauce, plus meaty cashews, rosemary, garlic and soy sauce, definitely adds a spicy, flavourful kick to breakfast and is sure to wake you up. Topping with a fried egg makes the dish even more hearty and the whole thing makes for a satisfyingly savoury start to the morning.
Recipe: www.thesrirachacookbook.com
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