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Tired of runny oats or a texture so thick it’s not right? Use this old-fashioned oats recipe to make oatmeal on the stove in 5 minutes that tastes great!
The Best Oatmeal Recipe with Old Fashioned Oats
During marathon training, I consumed oats in every which way a few times a day; so I’m fully confident when I tell you that this is the best oatmeal recipe with old-fashioned oats you’ll make.
You can use water or milk, regular or dairy-free, to make the oats on the stove. The outcome is a hearty bowl with a creamy and rich texture that’s perfect to enhance with your favorite oatmeal toppings.
By the end of this post, you’ll have learned how to make oatmeal and understand why I eat a bowl daily to get all the health benefits of oats first thing in the morning.
Quick Oats vs Old Fashioned
Both quick oats and old-fashioned oats can be cooked on the stovetop. They’re both the same groat (grain of oat) that’s been steamed and rolled flat into a flake; the fashioned oats are larger in size and take 5 minutes to cook, and the quick oats have been cut into smaller pieces, so they cook faster in about 1 minute.
What You Need to Make Oatmeal
Here's what you'll need to make that classic bowl of creamy oatmeal you can top with your favorite toppings:
- Old-fashioned oats: they yield a thicker and richer bowl.
- Water or milk: use only water or a mix of both.
- Salt: just a pinch to enhance the flavor of your oatmeal.
Can You Make Oatmeal with Milk
Absolutely! In fact, using milk (dairy or plant-based) to make oatmeal gives it a creamier texture I personally love.
Are Old-Fashioned Oats and Rolled Oats the Same Thing?
Yes! Both old-fashioned oats and rolled oats are the same large flattened oat flakes with a thicker texture. Both of these take 5 minutes to cook.
These thicker, old-fashioned, or rolled oats are the best to use in all the overnight oats recipes.
How to Make Oatmeal on the Stove
In each of the steps below, I share some additional tips to help your stovetop oatmeal have the best consistency:
- Combine
Use a small-to-medium 1.5 qt to 2 qt saucepan. Combine the oats, liquid, and salt in it. - Cook
I start at medium-high heat, and once the mixture starts to simmer, I reduce it to low. It’s important to stir occasionally so the oats at the bottom of the oats don’t burn. You can cook them for the 5 minutes covered or uncovered. - Enjoy!
Serve the oats warm as is or topped with fruit.
Bonus tip: soak the saucepan with water immediately to make cleanup a breeze!
Ratio of Water to Old Fashioned Oats
When cooking old-fashioned oats, the optimal ratio of water to oats is 2:1. This translates to 1 cup of water for every ½ cup of oats.
| Servings | Oats | Water |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ½ cup | 1 cup |
| 2 | 1 cup | 2 cups |
| 3 | 1 ½ cups | 3 cups |
| 4 | 2 cups | 4 cups |
Oatmeal Texture
The amount of liquid added when cooking a serving of oats will vary the results of the oatmeal texture. As is, you’ll enjoy a nice hearty bowl, but if you want to adjust the texture to be more like porridge, which is thinner, you can add more hot water, about 2 tablespoons, to your cooked oats.
How to Thicken Oatmeal
If you eyeballed adding liquid to your old-fashioned oats and your oatmeal is too thin, there are a few ways to thicken oatmeal. Some of my favorites include:
- Protein Powder: quickly absorbs extra moisture! Stir in 1 tablespoon at a time, mix well, and wait a minute.
- Coconut Flour: is highly absorbent and adds extra fiber. Add 1 teaspoon of coconut flour, mix it well, and let it sit for 1 minute.
- Flax Meal: stir 1 teaspoon into the old-fashioned oatmeal and let the mixture rest for 2 minutes. This adds omega-3s and fiber.
- Nut Butter: a favorite! Add 1 tablespoon of any nut/seed butter to your oats and stir to combine. Using peanut butter powder is lower in fat and works great!
Favorite Oatmeal Toppings
Loading up my bowl with a few healthy toppings is my favorite way to make oatmeal feel exciting to eat on repeat:
- Fruit: sliced bananas, blueberries, diced strawberries, cinnamon apples, diced peaches.
- Yogurt: regular or Greek yogurt, plain or flavored, adds protein and an additional creamy texture.
- Healthy fats: any nut butter or nut-butter alternative, chopped nuts, coconut flakes, flax seeds, or chia seeds.
- Sweeteners: brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, homemade fruit syrup, chocolate chips, and even roasted strawberries!
- Spices: cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and nutmeg.
- Savory: a fried egg, roasted veggies, crispy bacon, and/or cheese!
These savory oatmeal recipes turn a bowl of cooked old-fashioned oats into a meal!
More Ways to Make Oatmeal
You can make an epic bowl of oatmeal in other ways beyond the stovetop! I love overnight oats, baked oatmeal, slow cooker oats with steel-cut-oats, microwave oatmeal, or for a grab-and-go option; you can also make your own instant oat packets with quick-cooking oats.
- Bananas Foster Overnight Oats
- Strawberry Overnight Oats
- Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal
- Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oats
- Instant Oatmeal Packs
How to Make Oatmeal (Stovetop)
Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 2 cups milk (or water)
- Pinch of salt
- Toppings: sliced fruit Greek yogurt, etc.
Instructions
Cook:
- Add the oats, milk (or water), and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and once it simmers, reduce the heat to the lowest setting.
- Cook the oatmeal for 5 minutes, stirring from time to time, until the desired consistency is reached. Turn off the heat. For a thicker oatmeal texture, cover and let the oats sit in the saucepan for 3 more minutes.
Serve:
- Divide the oatmeal into bowls and top it with your favorite toppings.
Deb says
My grandkids love it made this way. So creamy and filling.
Ciro Silva says
Awesome comprehensible tips!