Getting tired of the usual plain old bowl of oats? Here are 13 ideas to use oatmeal for flavors and meal ideas that are a little different.
Oatmeal is a budget-friendly, complex carbohydrate with high fiber contents to keep you full and healthy. True, the same old bowl of oats can get boring after a while, but oats can be the base for many different meals. Here is a list of the best, tastiest new ways to use oatmeal.
Switch it to savory…
Savory Oatmeal with Egg, Turkey Bacon, and Parmesan
Ingredients:
- ½ cup oats
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 egg
- 2 slices turkey bacon strips
- 2 tbs grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tbs sliced scallions
- ¼ squeezed lemon
- Seasoning: sage, garlic salt, pepper.
Recipe:
- Prepare oatmeal with chicken stock and set aside.
- Coat a small nonstick pan with cooking spray and turn on medium heat. Add bacon, cook until browned, and then remove.
- In the same pan, cook egg until the white is set and the yolk is still runny (about 3-4 minutes).
- Squeeze lemon into oatmeal, then top oatmeal with the egg, bacon, Parmesan cheese, scallions, and seasonings.
Turkey Meatloaf
Yields: 6
Ingredients:
- 1 pound of lean ground turkey, uncooked
- 2 eggs
- 1 bunch of chopped green onions
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup chunky salsa
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup of oatmeal
- 1 can of low-sodium tomato soup, 10.75 ounces
- 2 tbs Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbs brown sugar
Instructions:
- Stir ground turkey, eggs, onion, oatmeal, ketchup, salsa, salt and pepper, ½ can of soup, and 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce. Use hands to mix
- Mold and put into bread pan.
- In a separate bowl stir the brown sugar, 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce, and a ½ can of soup and pour over top of loaf.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 90 minutes.
Oatmeal-Crusted Chicken Tenders
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. chicken strips
- 1 cup oats, uncooked)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese (freshly grated)
- 1 egg
- 1 tbs milk
Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Set a wire baking rack on top of a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.
- Place 1 cup oats in a blender or food processor and grind till smooth to make oat flour.
- In a small bowl, beat egg with milk and set aside.
- Put the oats, salt, pepper and Parmesan into a medium sized bowl and mix thoroughly.
- Dip each chicken tender into the egg mixture and coat it on both sides. Immediately roll the chicken tender in the oats mixture and coat well on both sides.
- Place chicken tender onto baking sheet (place on top of wire baking rack if you are using one). Repeat steps 5-6 until all the chicken tenders have been coated and are ready to bake.
- Bake in a 450 degree oven for 10-15 minutes, or until brownded. Carefully turn each chicken tender over and bake for another 10-15 minutes until chicken tenders are golden brown and cooked through.
Switch up the slurp…
Oatmeal Power Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 frozen banana
- 1tbs peanut butter
- 2-3tbs cooked oats
- 1t bs agave nectar
- ½ tbs vanilla extract
- 1 cup of milk
- Optional: 2 tbs chia seeds (soaked overnight)
Recipe:
- Combine all ingredients in a blender.
- Pulse until smooth.
Switch up the shape…
Baked Blueberry-Banana Oatmeal Cups
Ingredients:
- ½ cup oat
- ½ diced banana
- 1/3 cup blueberries
- ½ cup 0% milk
- 2 tbs egg white
- ½ tbs stevia
- Pinch baking powder
- Dash cinnamon & nutmeg.
Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
- Pour into greased large muffin tin. Top with sliced banana.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes. Yields 2-3 large muffins
Switch in some veggies…
Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup oats
- 1 tbs egg whites
- 1 /3 cup shredded carrot
- 1/4 cup apple, peeled and shredded
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tbs golden raisins and walnut pieces
- Cinnamon
Recipe:
- Boil 1/2 oats with 3/4 cup water.
- When almost done, add 1 tbs egg whites and stir constantly for 2 minutes.
- After oatmeal looks creamy and fluffy, add 1 large shredded carrots (about 1/3 cup), 1/4 of an apple (peeled and shredded), then stir and let sit for 3 minutes.
- Scoop oatmeal into bowl, top with big dollop Greek 0% yogurt (preferably vanilla!), sprinkle with 1 tbs golden raisins and walnuts, and finally top with a kind dash of cinnamon.
- Dig into your creamy and decadently healthy oatmeal!
Chocolate Zucchini Oats with Chocolate Cream
Ingredients:
- ½ cup oats
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbs egg-whites
- 1 tbs cocoa powder
- ½ tbs stevia
- Dash cinnamon and nutmeg
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 2 tbs golden raisins
- ½ zucchini
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt 0%
- 1 packet hot cocoa mix
Recipe:
- Make egg-white oats base (1/2 cup oats, 1 cup water; add 1 tbs egg-whites when almost done, quickly stir for 1 minute)
- Turn heat to low and add 1 tsp cocoa powder, 1/2 tsp stevia, dash cinnamon and nutmeg; stir.
- Add applesauce (1/2 small container= 1/4 cup), 2 tbs golden raisins and 1/2 shredded zucchini. Stir.
- Put lid back on pot and let “marinate” for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour into bowl and top with chocolate cream (1/4 Greek 0% and hot cocoa mix). Top with shredded zucchini and dash of nutmeg.
- Enjoy some chocolaty, hidden veggie oats for a healthy breakfast!
Switch up the style…
Overnight Oat Pancakes
Ingredients:
- ½ cup oats
- ½ cup liquid (Soy, almond, regular milk)
- Topping:
- Yogurt butter and berry sauce: ¼ cup blueberry, 2 strawberries, 2 tbs light syrup
Recipe:
- Make overnight oats (1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup liquid. Let sit overnight in fridge, or 7-8 hours.
- Pour into blender and blend till smooth.
- Pour mixture onto hot skillet; About 1 minute each side. (Makes 6-7 small pancakes).
- Top with yogurt butter and berry sauce (heated up 1/4 cup blueberry and 2 diced strawberries with 2 tbs lite syrup)
Cinnamon Protein Pancakes
Ingredients:
- 1 mashed banana
- 2 tbs ground flax
- 2 tbs cinnamon
- 3 tbs egg white
- ¼ cup applesauce
- 1 scoop vanilla whey
- 3 tbs whole wheat flour
- Toppings: cinnamon, yogurt butter, and agave syrup
Recipe:
- In a medium bowl, mix 1 mashed banana, 2 tbs ground flax, 2 tbs cinnamon, 3 tbs egg whites, 1/4 cup applesauce, 1 scoop vanilla whey, and 3 tbs whole wheat flour.
- Pour small-medium drops of batter to make 4-5 pancakes. About 1-2 minutes each side.
- Top with cinnamon, yogurt butter, and agave syrup.
Blow your taste buds away.
Switch up the prep…
Overnight Oatmeal
Overnight oats are super easy and fun to make. There are a ton of variations you can do by simply changing the liquid, adding fruit, spices, or nuts. The Overnight Oatmeal base recipe is: 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup liquid, Let sit overnight in fridge, or 3-4 hours.
Variations:
- Chocolate-Covered Strawberry: Add 1 scoop chocolate whey, 1tbs cocoa powder, and 5 diced strawberries to overnight oats base. Top with organic, sugar-free chocolate sauce and 1 strawberry
- Chocolate PB: Use chocolate almond milk for liquid; Add 1tbs peanut butter, ½ mashed banana, and 1tbs sugar-free chocolate chips
- Banana Cream Pie: Use almond milk as liquid. Layer oats with banana slices, greek yogurt. Top with almonds and cinnamon.
Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal
Slow Cooker Apple Pie Steel-Cut Oatmeal Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup steel-cut oats
- 4 cups soy milk
- 2 medium apples, chopped
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 2 tbs maple syrup
- Splash of lemon juice
- ½ lemon zested
- Toppings: Diced apple, chopped nuts and cinnamon
Recipe:
- Add all ingredients to your slow cooker. Stir. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Stir, serve, and top with your favorite toppings.
- Store leftovers in fridge for up to 1 week. To reheat add a splash of almond milk and heat up in microwave.
Switch in some crunch…
Cherry-Cranberry Almond Granola
Ingredients:
- Cooking spray
- ½ cup tart cherry juice
- 1 tbs honey
- ¼ cup canola oil
- ¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 tbs ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla bean extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 3 cups oats
- ½ cup ground flaxseed
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup dried cherries
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Instructions:
- Preheat to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Stir juice, honey, oil, and brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in the cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
- Mix the oats, flaxseed, nuts, and dried fruits in a large bowl. Stir in the juice mixture and toss to coat. Spread the granola evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the granola for 15 minutes, stirring once or twice. Continue baking until lightly browned, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes more. Let cool completely. Store granola in airtight container.
Banana Bread Granola Bars
Yields: 10-12 bars
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 2 tbs ground flax
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup very ripe mashed bananas
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped dates
- ¼ cup raisins
- ¼ cup chopped pecans
Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 350F and prepare an 8×8 baking pan by lining it with a sheet of aluminum foil, coat foil with cooking spray and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, flax, nuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add mashed bananas, honey, and vanilla, mixing until fully combined. Fold in dates and raisins.
- Pour mixture into prepared baking pan. Using a greased spatula or your hands, spread the mixture evenly in the pan, pressing down firmly.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, until top sets and edges begin to turn golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes before cutting into bars with a sharp knife.
Switch it into dessert…
Simply Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Yields: 16 cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 cup of uncooked quick oats
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tbs egg-whites
- 1 tiny pinch baking soda and baking powder
Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a non-stick cookie sheet with cooking spray
- Combine the mashed bananas, oats, egg-whites, baking soda, and powder in a bowl. Fold in the chocolate chips and place a tablespoon of each on the cookie sheet.
- Bake 15 minutes.
