How to Make the BEST Oatmeal

This is the only oatmeal recipe you’ll ever need! Creamy, easy, and simple, this healthy oatmeal is protein packed, gluten free, and easily made vegan! Get ready for the best oatmeal of your life!

Ever wonder how to make the best oatmeal? I know I did for quite some time because I used to hate oatmeal. I thought it was so gross! But that was only because I had only had the microwave oats that were apple cinnamon flavor…and only made with water…ick!

I actually discovered this method by accident when I was in college just trying to find an easy and delicious yet satiating breakfast to handle my day full of classes (Tuesday and Thursdays were my go from 8 AM to 9 PM days, it was tough!).

Want to know the secret?

Don’t worry, I trust you. It’s mixing in yogurt to the oatmeal while it’s warm! So it’s basically warm overnight oats yet they’re more pudding like and creamier AND there’s a vegan protein oatmeal option!

So much goodness, I know, I know, so let’s dive in!

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What makes this the BEST oatmeal

Personally, I think what makes this the best oatmeal is the use of yogurt combined with almond milk. Almond milk is a little different than regular milk in that it’s actually pretty creamy and sweet, thanks to the nutty flavor.

Combine with the yogurt that heats up in the stove top with the oatmeal, it’s like this basic oatmeal recipe just gets amplified beyond belief!

You see, everyone always loves protein overnight oatmeal, which don’t get me wrong, I enjoy it from time to time too. But sometimes you just don’t want cold oats! Which by the way, I always prefer cooking my oats before eating them anyways, not just soaking them! I find they’re still too chewy.

What makes this the best oatmeal is that it’s like overnight oats and the creamiest basic oatmeal recipe came together a produced a hybrid: oats that are majorly thick and protein packed, much like overnight oats, and also creamy and warm and comforting, much like your creamy basic oatmeal recipe!

It’s my go to oatmeal recipe because I love having a decent amount of protein to start my morning, as well as carbs because your girl over here lovessss carbs ha!

So making high protein oatmeal as my canvas for toppings is really just a win win win situation!

How to make the creamiest oatmeal

Let us get into how we’re going to make the best oatmeal, and how to make high protein oatmeal at that!

To start, add almond milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and sea salt to a small saucepan and heat on medium until it’s just warm enough. We don’t want it to boil, as this will evaporate the milk.

Once it’s warm, add in your oats, give it a good stir, and then cover and reduce the heat to a simmer. Let these oats just sit and cook, you don’t need to do anything here!

The next step is removing the oats from heat, uncover, and stir in your yogurt. This is the key here. Stirring in the yogurt to the warm pot warms the yogurt so it’s creamy but still remains thick, which gives you basically pudding oats!

Once your oats are completely mixed, pour them into a bowl and top with your favorite toppings 🙂 We’ll go over the best toppings down below so keep reading!

How to make protein packed vegan oatmeal

So you might be wondering, well this is great and all, Britt, but I don’t consume dairy for x reason, so what do I do?!

Don’t worry, dude, I’ve got you covered 😉

Because this basic oatmeal recipe already starts off with a base of unsweetened almond milk and oatmeal, you’re already off to a good start. But to make the best oatmeal that is also vegan friendly but also protein packed, you’re going to need two more ingredients rather than just one more.

Dairy free yogurt and a scoop of your favorite vegan protein.

For dairy free yogurt, I love either CoYo, which is coconut milk based and organic. Really good company and really high quality product. You could also go with Kite Hill’s almond milk based greek yogurt, which actually has a good amount of protein in it, but definitely still add an extra scoop of protein powder.

Now for vegan protein, I personally love and use Nuzest (I love the Nuzest Smooth Vanilla Protein Powder, as it’s very basic and delicious, yet packed with protein. You can use the code: thebananadiaries for 15% off of your order!). However, there are other great options out there as well, such as Garden of Life. Go with your gut!

I always just emphasize eating enough protein because honestly, protein serves so many important roles in the body, and I feel that people don’t place enough importance on it anymore. A good quality protein is seriously important for maintaining a healthy metabolism (especially after one may have restricted for quite some time) and helps to repair damages to the body after injury. I’d say that’s pretty important!

To prepare your vegan protein oatmeal to mirror how we’re making the best oatmeal, follow directions as normal, but add in the protein powder with the almond milk in the beginning step.

Then follow all else as normal!

What to top your creamy oatmeal with

Now, I have a few favorite ways to top this basic oatmeal recipe to really elevate it to the wow factor.

Personally, I just love oats so I actually totally could eat these plain Jane style…but that’s not what you came to the Banana Diaries to hear, right?! You want the real deal flavor combos for the best toppings!

I personally love sautéing some banana coins and adding a berry jam, like this homemade blueberry jam, on top. Pair with a few melted chocolate chips (because who doesn’t love chocolate in the morning?!), and top with your favorite nut butter!

You could also make some delicious brownie batter oats after you’ve mastered how to make the best oatmeal just as is! Stir in a little cacao powder and cinnamon to the mixture and top with a few chocolate chips 🙂

Turn it into Nutella oats by topping them with this Paleo Vegan Nutella 🙂

Or maybe you just love all the berries! As Jared’s grandma, who is 93 by the way, says, the key to a long life is oatmeal with blueberries and slivered almonds in the morning, and gelato at night ha!

I’ll have what she’s having!

I hope you loved this tutorial on how to make oatmeal, and I hope you enjoy your new creamy and delicious high protein oatmeal! 🙂 Let me know your favorite topping combination down below!

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