The Ultimate Guide to Creamy Oatmeal

After being inundated with messages on how I make super creamy oatmeal bowls like this one here, I thought it was time to make the ULTIMATE guide to making the perfect bowl of creamy oats. 

So let’s just jump into this shall we? 

What Ingredients You Need to Use

• Use a mixture of rolled oats and quick oats OR use all quick oats: I personally like the combination of both rolled and quick oats. As the quick oats break down and become super creamy (similar to cream of wheat) while the rolled oats retain some chewy texture. However, all quick oats also yield an amazing creamy texture as well! 
• Cook the oatmeal in a mixture of water and milk: Please stop cooking your oats in water. Not only does it not make your oats creamy, the water adds zero flavor to the oats. Instead, I like to use half water and half milk (or all milk if I’m feeling fancy) to make my oats. The half milk, half water adds just enough richness to the oats without being overpowering. HOWEVER, if you’re using store-bought milk that isn’t super creamy, I would cook the oats in all milk!  
• Cook nut butter into the oatmeal: Yet another one of my tricks to add flavor and creaminess to my oat bowls. And the best part is, you can use literally any type of nut or seed butter – although sunflower butter is my personal favorite. 
• Slightly overcook the oats (trust): Yeah, it sounds weird, but hear me out. When you cook oats according to whatever is on the back of the oatmeal box, it’s usually still not cooked through. However, if you cook the oatmeal for at least 8 minutes, it’ll be super creamy, silky and soft. Ummm, how freakin good does that sound?!

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Helpful Chart of Oatmeal Ingredients

How to Cook Creamy Oatmeal 

Yeah, you’re probably thinking “I already know how to cook oatmeal” — but stay with me. Because there are a few things you may not know! 

• Bring the oats to a boil: Start cooking your oats on medium-high until they start to boil. This usually takes about 3 minutes and at this point, the oats will have cooked through. But, the oatmeal will still look watery and it won’t be thick or creamy. 
• Let the oats continue to cook on low heat: While most oatmeal boxes say to cook the oats for 3-4 minutes, oats need a little longer. Once the oats have begun to boil, turn down the heat to low and let them cook away for another 3-4 minutes. Make sure you’re standing by the stove to stir them. The oats will start to thicken up quickly and will burn to the bottom of the pot if not stirred. 
• Let them get creamy: The only way to get creamy oatmeal is to cook them for at least 8 minutes. This allows the oat grain enough time to break down and disperse their starches. Which makes the oatmeal creamy! As you stir the oatmeal, you’ll be able to watch the oatmeal gradually become thicker and creamier.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Now that we’ve covered how to make super creamy oatmeal, let’s dive into some common questions. 

• What is the healthiest type of oatmeal? Technically, there is no “healthier” oatmeal. Both rolled oats and quick oats have the exact same nutrition profile. The only difference is in steel cut oats vs. rolled oats. Steel cut oats have a ton more fiber (since the husk is still on the grain) and slightly higher nutrients in them. However, this does not necessarily mean that they are healthier than rolled oats. Many people tend to have more difficulty digesting steel cut oats rather than old fashioned rolled oats. 
• Is it okay to eat oatmeal everyday? Absolutely! Oatmeal is one of the healthiest foods you can start your day with. It’s packed with protein, slow-releasing carbs (no insulin spike), tons of minerals and vitamins. Not to mention a few key nutrients that play a role in preventing heart disease and other chronic illnesses! 
• Is instant oatmeal as good for you as regular oatmeal? Yep! There is virtually no difference in the nutrition of quick/instant oatmeal vs. old fashioned rolled oats. Quick oats are basically just rolled oats that have been steam-cooked and rolled a second time – meaning that they will cook fast. However, the nutrients remain the same. So if you’re wondering which is better, instant or rolled oats – go with what you prefer. I personally like a mix of both, as they give oatmeal both a slight chewy and creaminess that you can’t get without mixing them! 

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How to Make Oatmeal Less Boring

And before I let you go, I wanted to quickly answer a few questions on how to make oatmeal not be boring!  

• How do you make oatmeal less bland? Make sure that you’re adding salt and cinnamon into your oatmeal – at least ¼ tsp. Secondly, use a 2:1 ratio of milk to water to cook the oatmeal, this results in the best texture. Another important factor to add more “spice” is to add in a dash of vanilla or almond extract into your oatmeal. And lastly, make sure to cook in a dollop of peanut or any nut butter of choice in the oatmeal. This helps naturally add creaminess and tons of nutty flavor to the oatmeal! 
• Does oatmeal taste better with milk or water? As I stated above, oatmeal tastes best with a 2:1 ratio of milk to water. If you’re using ½ cup of oats, then use 1 cup of milk and ½ cup of water to cook the oatmeal. If you’re looking to make your oatmeal extra creamy, use all plant milk. Bottom line, never cook the oatmeal in just water, it doesn’t give great results. 
• How do you sweeten oatmeal naturally? There are so many ways to sweeten your oatmeal without sugar. Mashed banana makes a great sweetener and adds in tons of flavor – think banana bread oatmeal! Applesauce, mashed dates, mashed dried figs and date syrup are also all great options. Additionally, you can use my healthy date caramel to naturally sweeten oatmeal and add in tons of great flavor. However, I like to add a drizzle of honey on top of the oats to sweeten them or a few drops of liquid stevia.
• What can I add to oatmeal for flavor? Mashed banana, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, flavored protein powder, peanut butter, almond butter, plant milks, coffee powder, matcha powder…there are endless options of great mix-ins that will add so much flavor to oatmeal. However, the list above are some of my staple ingredients I always include in my oatmeal recipes. If you’re looking for an actual recipe, check out some of my amazing dessert-inspired oatmeal bowls, linked HERE.

Any more questions about anything oatmeal? Drop them below!

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