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If you’ve been here for a while, you probably know I use oats a lot. I even ended up creating my own overnight oats brand, Oath. But my love for oats started long before that. They’re simple, affordable, and one of those ingredients that can work in way more than just a bowl of oatmeal. This collection brings together 30 oat recipes that show just how versatile they are.
30 of My Best Oat Recipes
Using oats in various ways opens the door to so many tasty recipes. Here are 30 different ways to cook with oats, from the classic oatmeal recipes to baked oats, overnight oats, and delicious snacks and desserts.
Overnight Oats Recipes
Easy Overnight Oats Recipe
This easy overnight oats recipe is a healthy simple breakfast that you can make ahead for busy mornings and customize with many add-ins and toppings!
8 hours 5 minutes
Overnight Steel Cut Oats Recipe
This Overnight Steel Cut Oats recipe is one of my family’s favorites. Meal prep a batch for a week of easy make-ahead breakfasts!
8 hours 5 minutes
Blended Overnight Oats
This Blended Overnight Oats recipe packs in 17 grams of protein and is a fun twist on my classic recipe, but blends everything together for a smooth and creamy version. So good!
2 hours 10 minutes
Tips for Making Recipes with Oats
- Different oats, different recipes. Make sure you know what type of oats you’re using. While old-fashioned oats are a popular choice for most recipes, steel-cut oats offer a heartier texture that requires longer cooking time. Alternatively, you can opt for instant or quick oats that take minutes to cook, but the texture isn’t as chewy.
- Make oat flour. For some dishes, like pancakes and savory recipes, you can replace regular flour with oat flour. This is a great alternative and a healthier option for gluten-free eaters. Oat flour isn’t quite a 1-to-1 exchange, though. Instead, you’ll need 1-⅓ cups of oat flour for every cup of all-purpose flour.
- Make and use oat milk as a dairy replacement. Oat milk is also simple to make yourself and can replace dairy in some recipes. You can also buy it from the grocery store. Add it to your morning coffee or over cereal, or try it in some savory recipes like cornbread or wild rice mushroom soup.
- Toast for flavor. Oats don’t add much to the flavor department, but you can take the extra step to toast them in a nonstick pan with butter or oil for a nuttier taste. This is especially useful when making steel-cut oats.
- Don’t over-stir them. If making oatmeal or cooking it on the stove, try not to stir them too much, as it can become gummy. Just let them cook with a cover undisturbed as much as possible for the best texture.
FAQs
Rolled/Old-Fashioned Oats: This type tops the list as the most popular form of oats and can be used in almost any recipe, and is exceptionally versatile. Use for stovetop or baked oatmeal, overnight oats, baked goods, granola, pancakes, energy bites and bars, and smoothies.
Quick Oats: Much like old-fashioned oats, quick oats are steamed and rolled flat, the difference being they are processed more, require a shorter cook time, and can be a little mushier than the latter. You can use it for all the same recipes as rolled oats, but the cooking time will likely be less, and have a softer consistency than a chewy one.
Instant Oats: Often pre-cooked and chopped finer after drying, this version cooks extremely quickly. You’ll find this in the little packets of individual oatmeal servings. They’re great for a super fast oatmeal breakfast but shouldn’t be a substitute for rolled or quick oats because of how quickly they cook.
Steel Cut Oats: When processing steel-cut oats, the whole oat groat is roughly chopped a few times with a steel blade, hence the name. They take more time to cook, usually up to 30 minutes on the stove. They have an amazing chewy texture and are just as delicious as rolled oats.
Oat Flour: Rolled oats processed into a finely ground consistency that can be used to thicken sauces and gravies, as a binder in recipes, and for baking.
