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Each of these 25+ recipes with oats are healthy, delicious, easy to make, and pack a ton of flavor in every bite. From brownies to cookie dough and banana bread, you’ll never have trouble finding new, creative ways to fit heart-healthy oats into your day.
Oats have always been a breakfast staple in my house. They’re effortless, versatile, and a great source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. While they’re still a part of my everyday breakfast, I’ve enjoyed creating recipes to incorporate oats into every meal of the day, including snacks and desserts.
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What are the different types of oats?
There are two main types of oats: rolled oats and steel-cut oats. Both begin as raw oat groats, with the exterior hull being removed. Rolled oats are steamed and pressed flat, while steel-cut oats are chopped into coarse nubs. There are three types of rolled oats used in cooking and baking:
- Old-fashioned. Old-fashioned oats are steamed before being rolled flat. They tend to take longer to cook but have a better texture.
- Quick-cooking. The happy medium, quick-cooking oats are cooked and dried before being rolled. They cook more quickly than old-fashioned oats but keep their texture better than instant.
- Instant oats. Cooked and dried before being cut and flattened. They cook the quickest and can become mushy if overcooked or soaked in liquid for too long.
Steel-cut oats are less processed, but they can also be less versatile to work with since they usually require more cooking. With the exception of overnight steel-cut oats, most of my recipes call for rolled oats.
Can I eat raw oats?
Technically yes, all varieties of oats can be eaten raw, though I prefer old-fashioned oats since they keep their chewy texture without becoming mushy.
Breakfast oat recipes
Oats are an irreplaceable pantry staple, and I can’t imagine a breakfast without them. Each of these recipes are nutrient-dense and easy to make ahead of time. Plus, they’re vegan and gluten-free, but make sure to use certified gluten-free oats.
- Chocolate granola– Top your yogurt, ice cream, or smoothie bowls with this crispy, chocolatey granola.
- Granola butter– Turn your granola into the viral sweet treat, smooth and creamy granola butter. It’s perfect on toast, oatmeal, or by the spoonful.
- Oatmeal pancakes– Nothing’s more satisfying for breakfast than a stack of buttery, fluffy pancakes, and you’d never be able to tell these are jam-packed with rolled oats.
- Breakfast bars– Made with rolled oats, bananas, and creamy peanut butter, these sweet treats are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast bar.
- Oat milk latte– A homemade version of the popular coffee shop beverage. I explain how to froth the milk, even if you don’t have an espresso machine.
- Oat milk smoothie– Sweet, creamy, and made with 3 ingredients, you’d never guess it’s completely dairy-free.
- Strawberry oatmeal bars– If you’re looking for something simple but full of flavors everyone loves, you can’t beat these chocolatey strawberry oat bars.
Overnight oats and baked oats
Overnight oats are hands down my favorite make-ahead breakfast recipe. Prep them before bed, and you’ll wake up to creamy, sweet, energy-packed oats ready to grab and go in the morning.
- Classic overnight oats– This base recipe explains how to make decadent overnight oats in 5 minutes, with endless flavor combinations.
- Baked oats– If you’re not a big fan of creamy oatmeal, you’ll love this hearty baked version.
- Tiramisu overnight oats– If you love tiramisu, you will fall head over heels for this tiramisu overnight oats recipe. It tastes exactly like the decadent dessert but way healthier and easier to make.
- Snickers overnight oats– The best parts of your favorite candy bar in a hearty breakfast bowl, plus 33 grams of protein.
- Brownie baked oatmeal– Perfect for meal prep, these fudgy baked oatmeal bars require minimal prep time and come out tasting exactly like brownies.
Sweet treats with oats
Satisfy your sweet tooth without sacrificing your waistline. These desserts made with oats are every bit as decadent, just completely dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, and filled with wholesome ingredients.
- Oat milk ice cream– If you’ve got an ice cream maker at home, this oat milk ice cream is a no-brainer. Even if you don’t, you can still enjoy this homemade treat using just a blender.
- Protein cookie butter– Yes, you can turn oats into the creamiest nut butter spread that tastes exactly like Biscoff, with over 12 grams of protein per serving.
- Oatmeal brownies– Naturally sweetened and made with whole grains, these fudgy brownies are the holy grail of healthy brownie recipes.
- Oatmeal cookie dough– No matter how old I get, I’ll never be able to resist eating raw cookie dough out of the bowl. Luckily, this recipe is totally safe (and encouraged) to eat raw.
- Flapjacks– A bit different from the American flapjacks, this British breakfast bar is made with rolled oats and sweetened with golden syrup.
Recipes with oat flour
Once you learn how to make your own oat flour, you’ll find excuses to use it in everything, especially baking your favorite gluten-free treats.
- 2-ingredient flatbread– Blended oats and milk combine to make soft and chewy flatbread, perfect for wraps, sandwiches, or healthy pizzas.
- Pancakes– I share a simple trick to make the best fluffy, thick pancakes with no flour needed.
- Banana bread– Get that classic banana bread flavor with zero wheat, dairy, or gluten.
- Chocolate chip cookies– Soft, chewy, and chocolatey, you’d never be able to tell these cookies are entirely vegan and gluten-free.
- Oatmeal chocolate chip bars– 5 ingredients and no eggs or flour!
- Cookie dough protein bars– These chewy bars are the perfect snack, made with no added sugar and over 20 grams of protein each!
We’ve been eating oats like they’re going out of style lately. Wait. Are they going out of style? You live in LA now. Tell me oats are still in style! 🙂 Thanks for the link, mate. Hope your week is going well!
These look so stinkin’ good! Thanks a bazillion trillion for the link love darling! Now make me breakfast, will ya!?
of course! Sending you eggs and kale, STAT
I love using oats for muffins – so much fiber packed into a little muffin cup 🙂 I’ll try and remember to link up when I get back home and onto my laptop 🙂
Of course 🙂 Thanks Jess!
I really love these series, and you picked a great assortment of recipes. I just bought some oats in bulk, and I can’t wait to try some of these out. 🙂
Please do, Elaine! 🙂
I just clicked on this to read it (because I love your blog, duh) and totally didn’t expect my almond butter bars to be there! Thanks so much for sharing <333 These all look SO good.
Your so welcome, Emilie!
Yes, I LOVE how versatile oats are too. Everything looks amazing. Thanks for hosting the linkup, Arman! 🙂
🙂 Thanks for linking up, Sarah!
Whooooa did I fall off the face of the earth last weekend? Totally did not know what was going on here. But no fear, I’ve now caught myself up with your post from last weekend. This is awesome! What a fun and generous link up! Oh you two. Always thinking of us hungry folk.
Thanks so much for linking up- Your recipe had me drooling!
Seriously, that fruit tart. Swoon.
Right? One of the few times I’d enjoy fruit 😉
So many recipes with so many feels! I was ECSTATIC to see Ambitious Kitchen, Running with Spoons and Running to the Kitchen because I love their blogs too! I cannot wait to try these recipes out because they look absolutely amazing. Great picks this week!
Thanks so much, Cassie!
Seriously LOVE this new series!!! I usually take weekends off but I am gonna have to make an exception for this series that you and Amanda are doing! Fantastic!
The most unique way I’ve eaten oats is in a “Skillet Baked Oatmeal Risotto” – it was savory and had ‘shrooms in it – I probably should have shared that one but I already attached the adapted beetified chocolate cake from POY. Happy Saturday Arman!
Thanks so much, Shashi- Please feel free to link up any two recipes which fit the theme- You could have totally added both hhaha 🙂
I’m totally enjoying this as I eat some baked oatmeal! I go through so many canisters of them, but I am always happy with more options of what to do with them! I’ve been eyeing those chunky monkey pancakes for too long! Time for me to make them.
For sure- They sound like a great choice!
Thanks for the link up! You know I love my oats 😉
You sure do haha! 🙂
this is a great roundup..i always have a container of oats and since im not a big fan of oatmeal, i like when i have other ideas!
For sure! Thanks Dixya!
I think the most unique way to eat oats – is savory style 😉 One day I made some kind of plain oatmeal pancake (just oats and egg) and added tomato sauce and cheese on top. So good!
That sounds delicious!
No oats recipes here but drooling over the chunky monkey pancakes among others! Love that is is Saturday morning before breakfast for inspiration 🙂
🙂 Your welcome!
I can’t wait to see all of the oats recipes! I think I’ll be pinning everything here. This is a great idea! Thanks you guys! 😀
You are so welcome, Neil!
I think this link-up is a pretty cool idea. I hope many people contribute for a great list of recipes. I have oats in different forms almost every day. But as much as I rack my brain I can’t come up with a savory recipe I tried. Maybe I find some inspiration here 🙂
Guess who got the #1 most clicked linkkkkk