Blueberry Oatmeal

Kickstart your day with this simple, healthy, delicious blueberry oatmeal recipe. It takes five ingredients and only ten minutes to whip up this satisfying and nutritious breakfast!

Why you’ll love this blueberry oatmeal recipe

As a family of blueberry baked oatmeal lovers, sometimes we want something more classic and simple without the need to turn on the oven. This version is the answer.

• It’s a breakfast for all. Perfect for kids, busy adults, or those in their later years. It is soft, sweet, and wholesome, like my oatmeal smoothie. 
• Quick and easy. I love how easy it is to make this oatmeal. Just stir and simmer everything for 5-10 minutes. Like most of my oats recipes, this recipe also comes together quickly.
• Easy to scale up. It’s all the same whether you make it for one or five. You can also prep it days in advance for the week ahead.
• Healthy. Packed with wholegrains, fruit, and fiber, in our house, we this a home run breakfast-it will keep you full into the morning. Add some protein powder or pair it with some eggs (try over easy, medium, or hard), and you’ll start your day like a king!

Ingredients Needed

The ingredients in your oatmeal depend on how many toppings you wish to add. For basic blueberry oatmeal, you only need five things:

• Oats. While instant oats are quicker to cook, I like the added fiber and bite that rolled or old-fashioned oats have.
• Milk. Use dairy or plant-based milk of your choice. If you want blueberries to shine, I suggest you use non-flavored or vanilla-flavored milk.
• Salt. Adding salt to oats naturally brings out the sweetness of them (similar to when you add salt to a dessert like brownies or cookies).
• Maple syrup. Adds some sweetness without affecting the texture of the dish. You can also use honey or granulated sugar, like brown or white sugar.  
• Blueberries. Both fresh and frozen blueberries work in this breakfast. If you use the frozen kind, you don’t need to thaw it.
• Toppings. The sky is the limit! But I love adding seeds, chocolate, fresh fruits, nut butter, and granola to my oatmeal.

How to make blueberry oatmeal

1. Cook the oatmeal. Combine oats, milk, and salt in a saucepan, and cook them over medium heat. Stir continuously as the oats boil and soak up the milk. Add maple syrup and blueberries and stir to combine.
2. Add toppings and serve. Once cooked, transfer the oats to a bowl and load with your favorite toppings.

Flavor and recipe variations

• Make it vegan and gluten-free. Make gluten-free blueberry oatmeal by swapping oats with certified gluten-free oats and dairy milk with a plant-based alternative.
• Add more protein. Like protein overnight oats, add protein powder to this recipe as it cooks. Or you could also serve the oatmeal with a side of Greek yogurt.
• Enjoy it cold. If you prefer cold, overnight oats, combine the ingredients in a mason jar or a bowl and refrigerate overnight. Enjoy overnight blueberry oats the next day!

Topping suggestions

• Seeds. Add a spoonful of your favorite seeds like sunflower, pumpkin, flax, or chia to these oats. Dried fruits like raisins, goji berries, and cranberries also make excellent additions to this recipe.
• Nuts. I love the crunch of candied pecans, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, or macadamia nuts. They add a lovely crunch and healthy fats to this recipe. 
• Coconut. Toasted coconut flakes are one of my favorite toppings! Combine it with fresh tropical fruits, and it’s a flavor bomb!
• Fresh fruits. Although blueberries are the star of this dish, feel free to add fresh fruit slices like raspberry, strawberry, peaches, and apples!
• Nut butter and jam. Drizzle some granola butter, peanut butter, cookie butter, or almond butter on top of your oatmeal for a healthy dose of fats. Sometimes, instead of a sweetener, I add a teaspoon of mixed fruit or berry jam to sweeten the oats.

Storage instructions

To store. You can keep the leftover oatmeal in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

To freeze. Allow the oats to cool down, and store them in the freezer for up to six months. Store it in a freezer friendly container. 

To reheat. I heat the leftover oatmeal in a microwave-safe bowl for 30-40 seconds to enjoy warm oats.

Recommended tools to make this recipe

• Saucepan. A good quality non-stick saucepan to prevent any scorching.
• Spatula. To mix the oatmeal. Spatulas work so much better than a spoon or fork!

Recipe tips and tricks 

• Adjust the consistency. Depending on the type of oats and the milk, you may have to add more or less milk to get the perfect porridge consistency. 
• Don’t let your oats dry out. The oats continue to thicken after cooking. So once cooked, add a few tablespoons of milk to keep them moist and creamy.
• Know when to add the berries. Add fresh blueberries as suggested in the recipe. If using frozen ones, add them a little before the oatmeal is done. 
• Avoid cooking at high heat. Cooking at low heat allows the oats to soak in the milk and cook. High heat leads to uneven cooking, and there’s an added risk of the oats sticking to the pan.

Frequently asked questions

More oatmeal recipes to try

Baked Oats

Instant Pot Oatmeal

Cinnamon Roll Baked Oatmeal

Vanilla Oatmeal