Peanut Butter Oatmeal

You’ve got 15 minutes before you need to be out the door and on with the day, and it’s going to be a busy day at that. So the question is, what breakfast can you make in that short time that will fuel you through the morning? Answer: peanut butter oatmeal. Delicious, hearty and filling, oatmeal and peanut butter make the perfect quick combo breakfast.

You can dress up and customize this recipe in so many ways, but at its heart, when you put peanut butter in oatmeal, you’ve already got a winner. And what’s even better is that this is a breakfast kids will love, so you won’t have an argument over breakfast on those frenzied school day mornings anymore.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Ingredients

• Water: We don’t always list water as an ingredient, but here you need to be quite precise, so it’s noted clearly.
• Salt: Just a bit of salt is all you need to help the flavors of the other ingredients come out and play.
• Oats: Use classic old-fashioned oats for this recipe, if you can. They have a richer, more pleasing texture than instant oats, though of course instant is better than nothing.
• Peanut butter: We recommend a good creamy peanut butter, as it will blend evenly in with the oats.
• Honey: Be generous with the honey—its sweetness is always welcome, and it pairs well with cinnamon.
• Flaxseed: Flaxseed offers some extra flavor and texture, as well as some welcome protein.
• Ground cinnamon: Add as much or as little cinnamon as you’d like.
• Chopped apple: The chopped apple is optional here, but we do highly recommend it.

Directions

Step 1: Cook the oatmeal

In a small saucepan, bring the water and salt to a boil. Stir in the oats and cook for five minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Step 2: Add the flavorings

Transfer the oatmeal to two bowls, then split the peanut butter, honey, flaxseed and cinnamon between the bowls.

Step 3: Add toppings and serve

Add the apple and/or any other toppings you want to include, then serve immediately and enjoy.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Variations

• Skip the flaxseed: If you’re not a flaxseed fan, you can leave it out. You can also replace the flaxseed with chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and so much more.
• Add other fruit: Apple is great in this recipe, but so too are chopped pears, chopped peaches, berries and so many other fruits.
• Leave out the honey: For a less sweet but still quite tasty peanut butter oatmeal, you can leave out or cut down on the honey content.

How to Store Peanut Butter Oatmeal

Leftover oatmeal can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days, then reheated in the microwave or in a pan with a splash of milk or water added.

Can you freeze cooked oatmeal?

While the texture won’t be as good as it tastes fresh, you can safely freeze cooked oatmeal for up to three months. Thaw it in the microwave or in a pan over a low heat with liquid added.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Tips

Can I use instant oatmeal for this recipe?

Yes, just prepare it according to package instructions, then follow the recipe as laid out above.

What else can I add to this oatmeal?

All sorts of additions will be great. Some people add sliced banana, while others add chocolate chips. You can try the seeds mentioned above, or toss in some berries.

Can I cook the apples ahead of time?

If you want softer apples, try adding them to the water as it heats up, then remember to stir the oatmeal in well when you add it afterward.