[ad_1]
Start the day off on a nutritious and totally delish note with this super easy Pumpkin Oatmeal. It has all of our favorite spices from pumpkin pie, but with just 5 ingredients and about 10 minutes (or less!) of cooking.
Pumpkin Oatmeal
I love starting the day with a dose of veggies, which is why we do a lot of smoothies in the warmer months. But come fall and winter, we turn to oatmeal a lot. It’s budget-friendly, easy to make, and it’s so simple to make it with all sorts of different flavors…including pumpkin spice!
This recipe has a nice dose of pumpkin, but a subtle flavor that everyone will enjoy.
And you can actually serve it up whether you like or have rolled oats, instant oats, steel cut oats, baby oatmeal…and you can transform the leftovers into a riff on overnight oats.
It’s an easy and very adaptable method so you can try it all sorts of ways.
It could work as a make-ahead breakfast to warm up come morning or a quick one to make while you (hopefully!) drink some hot coffee or tea.
Ingredients You Need
To make this recipe you’ll need:
- Rolled oats: These are sometimes called “old-fashioned oats.
- Pumpkin puree: Look for unsweetened puree, not pie filling. (The labels are often very similar, so double check.)
- Vanilla extract
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Cinnamon
- Maple syrup, brown sugar, or honey (if desired)
- Milk: This is for serving, so you can use whichever type you have on hand.
TIP: You can then top your bowls with any sweetener of choice if desired and milk. The base recipe is very easy to adjust.
Ingredient Substitutions
Step-by-Step Instructions.
Here’s a look a the simple process involved in making this recipe. Scroll down to see the full recipe at the bottom of the post.
- Bring the water to a simmer in a medium pot.
- Add the oats, spices, and vanilla and simmer, stirring occasionally until the oats are soft and the water is absorbed.
- Stir in the pumpkin.
- Add toppings of your choosing!
TIP: I sometimes make a batch of this oatmeal ahead of time, store it in the fridge, and simply warm it up at breakfast.
Optional Add-Ins for Pumpkin Oatmeal
You can add nutrients to your oatmeal with these optional ingredients.
TIP: Remember that chia and flaxseeds will make the oatmeal thicken a bit, so you may need to add extra milk to thin it to the desired consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure! You’ll just need to use more water and cook longer. See the notes at the bottom of the recipe for all of the options.
If you prefer to use instant oats, you sure can. You’ll just need to use less water and reduce the cooking time. See the Notes at the bottom of the recipe for all of the options.
Yes and it’s really easy to stir some pumpkin into baby oatmeal once it’s prepared according to the package directions. See the Notes at the bottom of the recipe for more info.
Pumpkin Overnight Oats
To turn this easy oatmeal into protein-packed Pumpkin Overnight Oats, you just need to mix together equal parts plain or vanilla Greek yogurt with cooled oatmeal. Then you can store it in the fridge and serve it cold for breakfast or a snack.
This is a great option to change up the way you serve oatmeal, to vary any leftovers, and to make a more portable breakfast that packs really well.
TIP: Traditional overnight oats let yogurt or milk soften raw oats overnight in the fridge, but this way of combining leftover cooled cooked oatmeal delivers a similar final result!
How to Store
Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-5 days and reheat as needed in 30 second increments in the microwave. You can also reheat on the stove. Add a little water to the bowl with either method if the oatmeal is very firm.
Best Tips for Success
- Stir occasionally during cooking to ensure that the oats don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Aim to keep the heat at a low simmer with small bubbles—rather than a rolling boil.
- Sweetened to taste with maple syrup, honey, or applesauce. I typically add 1 tablespoon maple syrup to the whole batch for just a little sweetness.
- Stir in 2-4 tablespoons ground flaxseeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, nut butter, or shredded unsweetened coconut to add nutrition.
- Top with milk, dried cranberries, raisins, or pecans if desired.
- To make Pumpkin Overnight Oats: Combine equal parts cooled oatmeal and plain or vanilla Greek yogurt together. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- You may also like Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins, Pumpkin Baked Donuts, and Pumpkin Mini Cupcakes.
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share!
This post was first published October 2020.
Easy Pumpkin Oatmeal (with Any Kind of Oats)
You can make this in about 15 minutes on any morning, or make the whole recipe ahead and simply warm right before serving. See the Notes for variations to make it with other types of oats.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup
Optional stir ins:
- 2-4 tablespoons chia seeds, ground flaxseeds, hemp seeds, nut butter, or shredded unsweetened coconut
Optional toppings:
- raisins, dried cranberries, apple butter, chopped pecans, chopped walnuts, additional maple syrup or honey
Instructions
-
Place 3 cups water in a medium pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat on the stovetop.
-
Add the oats, vanilla extract, and spices. Let simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the oats are soft and the water is absorbed. Stir more towards the end of cooking to prevent the oats from sticking to the pot.
-
Turn off heat and stir in the pumpkin and any optional stir-ins. Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes.
-
Serve topped with milk and any optional toppings.
-
Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-5 days and reheat as needed. Or turn into Overnight Oats (see below).
Notes
- Stir occasionally during cooking to ensure that the oats don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- Aim to keep the heat at a low simmer with small bubbles—rather than a rolling boil.
- You can sweeten with applesauce or apple butter for younger toddlers and babies if desired.
- Dairy-free: Top with nondairy milk.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free rolled oats.
- To make Pumpkin Overnight Oats: Stir equal parts cooled leftover oatmeal and plain or vanilla Greek yogurt together. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- To make Pumpkin Instant Oatmeal: Use 2 cups water and cook for about 5 minutes or until water is absorbed and oats are soft.
- To make Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats: Use 6 cups water and cook for about 30 minutes or until water is absorbed and oats are soft. Stir more towards the end of cooking to ensure the oats don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.
- To make Pumpkin Baby Oatmeal: Prepare baby oatmeal according to package directions and stir in a little pumpkin puree. Sprinkle with cinnamon. (Just make enough for one serving at a time as most baby oatmeals are not meant to be served from leftovers.)
- To make one serving in the microwave: Prepare according to oatmeal package directions and stir in pumpkin and spices once oatmeal is cooked. Top with optional ingredients and serve with milk. This is a great way to make one serving at a time if using rolled oats or instant oatmeal. (It’s not a great option for steel cut oats—they are better on the stovetop.)
Nutrition
Calories: 149kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 5gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 5mgPotassium: 220mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 7151IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 2mg
[ad_2]
Source link