When we typically think of a big bowl of oats, we envision a dish filled with sweet fruits, brown sugar and maybe a bit of maple syrup. And while sweet bowls of oatmeal are undoubtedly great, savory bowls are equally as delicious. The mild and nutty flavor of oats pairs well with ingredients of all flavors and textures, making this dish incredibly versatile. If you're someone who prefers savory dishes, then you'll love these cheesy oatmeal recipes. Keep scrolling to discover our favorite cheese-filled oatmeal recipes.
Cheesy Oatmeal Recipes
Ready to infuse your next bowl of oats with cheesy flavor? Though the two recipes below are quite different, they are both incredibly delicious. From powdered cheese to cream cheese, making a delicious bowl of oats got a lot easier with these recipes on hand.
Cheesy Oatmeal
If your family is a fan of cheese-based dishes, they're bound to enjoy adding this ingredient to oatmeal. Though fresh cheese can be added directly to oatmeal, we opted for powdered cheese to make this dish simple to make anywhere. This Cheesy Oatmeal is a delicious afternoon treat and the perfect meal to prep for your next camping trip. Plus, it's made with just four ingredients: water, Gluten Free Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, pepper and powdered cheese. Creamy, cheesy and incredibly delicious, this recipe can be tweaked to include all of your favorite ingredients. When making this dish, get creative in the kitchen and use flavorful toppings like caramelized onions, sauteed mushrooms and spinach.
Morning Glory Oatmeal
Wondering what cheesy oatmeal will taste like as a breakfast dish? It depends on the cheese you use. While a savory bowl of oats makes for an excellent breakfast, swapping cheddar cheese out for cream cheese can create an entirely new masterpiece. An award-winning recipe, this Morning Glory Oatmeal combines all of your favorite sweet and savory breakfast ingredients to create a meal that is hard to beat. In this bowl, tropical flavors like coconut and pineapple are combined with sweet and savory ingredients like carrots, raisins, cinnamon and orange zest. This mixture of ingredients results in an unbeatable flavor prevalent in each bite. When served with a homemade cream cheese frosting, it's sure to be one of your family's most memorable breakfasts.
Savory Oatmeal Recipes
The great thing about making a bowl of oatmeal at home is choosing what goes into it. Though your favorite recipes may not call for cheese, you can choose to add it to the ingredients list to create an even better-flavored bowl. We love doing this with the two savory recipes below. Though they taste great as is, just a bit of grated cheese opens the bowl up to a world of new and delicious flavor combinations. Try them out for yourself, and let us know what you think.
Savory Oatmeal with Chicken and Spinach
Many individuals turn to rice-based dishes when searching for a savory breakfast or lunch recipe. Though we love rice, we like to change it up occasionally–and save a little time in the kitchen. For a great-tasting dish that you can create in a short amount of time, swap the grain from white rice to quick cooking rolled oats. To cook a savory bowl of oats, make this Savory Oatmeal with Chicken and Spinach. Loaded with flavorful ingredients like chicken stock, chicken, spinach and sea salt, the addition of cheese will add a creamy texture and undeniably good flavor. When making this oatmeal, be mindful of the amount of chicken stock you use. For a porridge-like consistency, use 3 cups of chicken stock. For a thicker texture, two cups is best.
In addition to being quick -cooking, this oatmeal can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Then, when you're ready to enjoy it, reheat it in the microwave and stir until hot.
Savory Oatmeal with Baked Eggs
Eggs and oatmeal are two widely loved breakfast foods. However, they're not often enjoyed together. Try out this Savory Oatmeal with Baked Eggs for a unique and easy way to enjoy steel cut oats. A hearty comfort food that is perfect for brisk mornings, this dish pairs green onions, garlic and eggs with the nutty flavor of oats to create a breakfast so good you won't want to put the spoon down. But don't take our word for it. Try it out for yourself and let us know what you think!
Oatmeal Making Tips
Making oatmeal is a reasonably simple process. However, there are a few tips and tricks that you can follow to ensure that your bowl of oats tastes excellent every time.
Toast the Oats Before Cooking
Oats add a subtle nutty flavor to whatever you combine them with. However, they may taste a bit bland when eaten on their own. To boost the flavor of any oat, toast them a little before cooking them. To toast oats, combine them with a bit of butter, olive oil, or coconut oil, and place them on the stove over medium heat until they begin to brown a little. A flavor that you can't beat, toasted oats are an easy way to upgrade the taste of any recipe.
Boil the Water First
When cooking oats, it's important to wait for the water to boil before adding them in. Adding the oats in with the water and bringing everything to a boil together can quickly create overcooked and mushy oats. Instead, bring the water to boil first, and you'll have better control over how much or little the oats cook.
Salt the Pot
When creating a bowl of sweet or savory oats, you'll want to salt the pot before cooking them. Seasoning oats with a bit of salt as they cook provides a richer flavor that blends well with all types of ingredients.
Stir Continuously
One of the biggest mistakes we hear about when making oats is over stirring them. If oats are continuously stirred as they cook, they'll quickly create a gluey and gummy texture. Though it's tempting to want to mix the oats as they simmer, try to leave them alone as they soak up the water. To help restrain stirring temptations, cover the pot and let the oats cook independently for the time stated in the recipe. Then, when you check on them, you'll find that the oats have kept their form and texture and are cooked to perfection.
Mix Things Up
As we mentioned earlier, sprinkling a bit of brown sugar and nuts on top of oats is a classic topping that's loved by many, but that's not the only way to make oats. To truly get the most out of these unique ingredients, be sure to mix things up every once in a while and try out new toppings. Gain inspiration from one of the recipes above, or take a chance and create your own topping combination. From sweet to savory, there's an endless amount of ingredients that will taste great as a topping on oats.
Plan Ahead
While you might want to enjoy a bowl of fresh oats every morning, the reality is you won't always have the time. Mornings can get a bit hectic, making it hard to ensure that you're eating a healthy breakfast before heading out the door. If you know that your schedule for the week is pretty full, plan out your menu and bake up a batch of oats ahead of time. Oats can be prepped the night or weekend before and reheated throughout the week.
Choose Quality Oats
To get the best-flavored oats, ensure that you're purchasing quality ones. Quality oats will keep their flavor and texture better than others and result in a great-tasting meal. Additionally, quality oats offer several vitamins and nutrients essential to a healthy diet.
Ready to swap your sweet bowl of breakfast oats for a savory one? Choose from one of the cheesy recipes above. We are confident you'll love the result. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you a flavorful and cheese-filled day!
Do you enjoy adding cheese to your oatmeal recipes? We'd love to hear about the unique oat-based bowls that you create. Share your favorites with us in the comments below.
