Oatmeal

By Ali Slagle

Updated March 28, 2024

Oatmeal
Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
15 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Rating
4(412)
Comments
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For a loving bowl of oatmeal you can pull off first thing in the morning, use a trick from Samantha Seneviratne: Cook the oatmeal in a skillet instead of a pot. The oatmeal will be creamier and more evenly cooked in under 10 minutes, ready to be topped to your heart’s desire. Plus, a skillet is easier to wash, making this recipe extra kind to your still-waking-up self.

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Ingredients

Yield:2 servings
  • 1cup old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1cup whole or non-dairy milk, plus more for serving
  • 2teaspoons maple syrup or brown sugar, plus more for serving
  • Salt
  • Toasted nuts, sliced fruit, jam, regular or nut butter and/or cinnamon, for topping (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2 servings)

231 calories; 5 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 39 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams dietary fiber; 9 grams sugars; 9 grams protein; 391 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a large skillet, combine the oats, milk, maple syrup, 1 cup water and a pinch of salt.

  2. Step 2

    Bring to a simmer over medium-high, then reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, until the oats are tender and a spoon dragged through the liquid leaves a trail for a second or two, 4 to 7 minutes. (The oatmeal will thicken off the heat.)

  3. Step 3

    Scoop into bowls and top with a drizzle of milk and maple syrup, plus any optional toppings.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
412 user ratings
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Comments

Ford

It’s actually fine and good to make oatmeal without an induction cooktop, though you might not realize this if you follow other commenters here. You just need to know how your cookware heat on your stove. Not everyone needs to have the best possible fanciest equipment to make, uh, oatmeal

Biff

Do yourself a favor and take the time to cook steel cut oats instead of rolled oats. Your life will never be the same. I made them for my girlfriend and now we are getting married. I kid you not.

sur

I microwave 1 cup water, one half cup oats, pinch of salt, large Pyrex glass measuring cup or glass bowl. Three minutes. Just another option

Chaerin

Yum!! So good. I heeded the advice of some comments and toasted the oats before adding the milk in and that really helped with the texture. Also, if you’re using whole milk, there’s no need for syrup—milk is plenty sweet on its own.

Cat

This seems like too much liquid. I usually make it with one cup water and 1/2 cup oatmeal. This is two cups of liquid to one cup of oatmeal and I am using old fashioned oats. My fav will always be steel cut oats. Thanks for the recipe!

Andrea P.

I really enjoyed this method- thanks for sharing! It works as described, with creamy oatmeal and no burning/sticking/overflowing. I left out the syrup and added sweetness with toppings.

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