Name: How to Make Oatmeal
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 cup water; ½ cup whole rolled oats; Pinch sea salt; Cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or cardamom (optional); Honey or maple syrup (optional); Thinly sliced apple; Frozen tart cherries (thawed); Chopped almonds; Frozen blueberries (thawed); Orange zest; Greek yogurt; Chia seeds; Coconut flakes

Learn how to make oatmeal on the stovetop and in the microwave! Piled with your favorite toppings, this easy oatmeal recipe is healthy and delicious.

breakfast / winter — Jump to recipe

Let’s make oatmeal! This healthy breakfast is warm, creamy, and SO easy to make. I think it’s delicious with toppings like nut butter and fresh fruit.

I didn’t always feel this way. When I was in college, I made instant oatmeal every single morning. By the end of those four years, I didn’t want to see a bowl of oatmeal again, let alone eat one. I thought oats were bland and mushy—totally not for me.

But over the years, oatmeal recipes like overnight oats and steel cut oats have gotten me back onto the oatmeal train. I’m committed to getting fellow oat skeptics on board too!

Below, you’ll find a simple guide to how to make oatmeal. I break down the different types of oats and share tips for making oatmeal on the stove and in the microwave. You’ll also find fun topping ideas!

Lately, I’ve been loving two flavorful topping combos. One is a mix of tart cherries and apples, with a sprinkle of chopped almonds for crunch. The other consists of blueberries, orange zest, yogurt, coconut, and chia seeds, with a pinch of cardamom and a drizzle of honey. On cold mornings, they make me excited to get out of bed. I hope they do the same for you!

4 Different Types of Oats

To cook perfect oatmeal, you have to know your oats. In the store, you will typically see these four types:

Whole oat groats – Oat groats are the least processed form of oats. They have the longest cooking time and require the most liquid—4 cups water for every 1 cup of oats. If you’re interested in cooking them, check out this whole oat porridge recipe!
Steel cut oats – These are oat groats that have been roughly chopped. They create oatmeal with a great texture—it’s creamy and a little chewy. They cook in 20 to 30 minutes on the stove. Check out my steel cut oats recipe to learn how to cook them.
Old fashioned oats – Old fashioned oats, or rolled oats, are made by steaming oat groats and rolling them into flakes. They have a short cooking time, just 5 minutes. To cook them, I use 2 cups water for every 1 cup oats.
Quick oats – Quick oats are similar to old-fashioned oats, but they are steamed longer and rolled more thinly. Like rolled oats, they use a 2:1 ratio of oats to liquid. They only take 1 minute to cook, but they have a mushier texture than the types of oats above.

Quick oats are great for days when you’re in a hurry, but for the most part, I cook with steel cut oats and whole rolled oats. Whole rolled oats are a great choice for everyday oatmeal, balancing texture and convenience. Learn how to cook them below!

How to Make Oatmeal on the Stovetop

To make this stovetop oatmeal recipe, you’ll need 3 simple ingredients:

Water
Old fashioned oats
Salt

Combine them in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the water to a boil.

Then, reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 5 minutes, or until the oatmeal is thick and creamy. The exact timing will depend on your particular oats.

Remove from the heat and let stand for a minute before serving with your desired toppings.

That’s it! Stovetop oatmeal is easy to make.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Oatmeal in the Microwave

If you prefer, you can make oatmeal in the microwave instead.

Combine the water, oats, and salt in a deep, microwave-safe bowl.
Microwave for 90 seconds, then remove the oats from the microwave and stir.
Microwave for another 30 seconds to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until the oats have absorbed most of the water. The exact timing will depend on your microwave and oats. Keep an eye on the oats in the microwave. They puff up as they cook and can easily overflow!
Let stand for a minute before serving.

Oatmeal Recipe Tips

If you’re gluten-free, make sure to buy certified gluten-free oats. Oats are a naturally gluten-free food, but many are processed in facilities that also handle wheat products. If you’re gluten-free, be sure to seek out certified gluten-free oats, which are processed in wheat-free facilities and tested to make sure that they don’t contain gluten.
Add a dash of salt. Made with just water and oats, oatmeal can be bland. Adding a dash of salt won’t make your cereal salty, but it will bring out the nutty flavor of the oats. To take it over the top, add a drop of maple syrup or honey for a delectable sweet/salty contrast.
Make it creamier. Replace half the water with milk. Try regular milk, or use a non-dairy milk like almond milk or oat milk.

Topping Ideas

Don’t forget to add toppings before digging in! Try one of the combinations in the recipe below, or mix and match toppings like these:

Fresh fruit like berries, banana slices, chopped apples, or peaches
Dried fruit like raisins, dried cranberries, figs, or apricots
Nut butter like peanut butter or almond butter. A drizzle of tahini is delicious too!
Toasted nuts or seeds like walnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, or pecans
A sweetener like honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar
Warm spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, and/or nutmeg
A dollop of Greek yogurt

You could even stir a little cocoa powder into your bowl of oats or top it with chocolate chips for a chocolatey breakfast!

Variation: Make savory oatmeal by topping your bowl with sautéed veggies and a soft-boiled egg.

What are your favorite topping combos? Let me know in the comments!

More Oatmeal Recipes to Try

Love all things oats? Try one of these delicious oatmeal recipes next:

Overnight Oats
Baked Oatmeal
Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats
Or any of these 60 Healthy Breakfast Ideas!

How to Make Oatmeal

rate this recipe:

4.97 from 33 votes

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 5

Total Time: 10

Serves 1

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This is my go-to healthy oatmeal recipe. It's creamy, nourishing, and delicious with all sorts of seasonal toppings! Find a few of my favorite combinations below.

Ingredients

1 cup water
½ cup whole rolled oats
Pinch sea salt
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or cardamom, optional
Honey or maple syrup, optional

Variation 1: Apple & Tart Cherry

Thinly sliced apple
Frozen tart cherries, thawed
Chopped almonds

Variation 2: Blueberry & Coconut

Frozen blueberries, thawed
Orange zest
Greek yogurt
Chia seeds
Coconut flakes

Instructions

In a small pot, stir together the water, oats, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 to 5 minutes, or until the oatmeal is thick and creamy. Stir in a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or cardamom, if desired. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 minute. Serve hot with honey or maple syrup, if desired.
To make the Apple & Tart Cherry variation, top with sliced apples, tart cherries, and almonds.
To make the Blueberry & Coconut variation, top with blueberries, orange zest, a scoop of Greek yogurt, chia seeds, and coconut flakes.