17 Crazy Fresh Ways to Prepare Oatmeal

Rinsing and toasting any grain or psuedograin (rice, millet, quinoa, etc.) prior to cooking offers an unreal nutty flavor, plus it helps burst the grain open, aiding in shorter cook time and fluffier texture. So, before you cook those old-fashioned oats, try the technique out! In addition, try mixing the oats with half quinoa for quinoatmeal!

Get the recipe: quinoa oatmeal porridge

Anything in a cupcake form instantly looks more appetizing, huh? These oatmeal cupcakes start with cooked oatmeal and are topped with a coconut-pecan crumble before baking into sweet breakfast treats that can be enjoyed on the go.

Get the recipe: oatmeal cupcakes

Another way to add more protein and fiber into your oatmeal (aka a trick to stay full for longer) is by mashing up garbanzo beans and folding them into the cooked oatmeal. PS: you won't detect any strange flavor or texture.

Get the technique: banana cashew overnight oatmeal

Zoats, or zucchini oatmeal, have become the next "green smoothie" craze. Though it sounds crazy to do so, try mixing zucchini in your oatmeal for a way to sneak more veggies in your diet, and you'll never look back again.

Get the technique: banana cinnamon zoats

Egg whites offer a fluffy consistency to oatmeal when whisked in at the last few minutes of cooking, plus they'll make the batch even more filling.

Get the recipe: pumpkin oatmeal with egg whites

Did you know you can blend oats into pancake batter? You sure can with the addition of banana, eggs, baking powder, and milk. That way, you can have your oats and pancakes too!

Get the recipe: banana-oat blender pancakes

Arguably the most popular way to eat oatmeal this year, overnight oats are so easy to make, it's worth trying at least once. Add oats (about 1/4-1/3 cup) to a mason jar, fill the jar about 2/3 full with milk, cover, and let it set in the fridge overnight. Reheat it in the microwave the next morning or simply eat cold. Don't forget to add your favorite fruit and nut toppings.

Get the recipe: coconut-chocolate-almond overnight oats

Growing tired of the texture of oatmeal? Try microwaving your oats into a mug cookie! Instead of adding water or milk, mashed banana and peanut butter rehydrate the oats into a cake-like cookie.

Get the recipe: microwaveable banana peanut butter oatmeal

Sometimes you want old-fashioned oats pronto without the long cook time. To do so, try cooking up a big batch of oats, dividing it in a muffin tin, freezing it, then popping out the little molds and storing them in a resealable bag in the freezer. The oats can be quickly reheated in the microwave!

Get the technique: how to freeze oatmeal

If you like waking up to a hot breakfast, consider slow-cooking your oats. It'll take about eight hours, and you'll enter the kitchen with the scent of spices wafting through the air.

Get the recipe: slow-cooker pumpkin pie oatmeal

Another fluffy filler? Pumpkin puree! Try it in any and all variations of oatmeal, whether slow-cooked, baked, stovetop cooked, or microwaved.

Get the recipe: microwaveable mug pumpkin spice oatmeal

Prep a giant batch of oats the night before and allow them to soak in the milk-and-egg mixture. The morning of, bake the casserole for ultrasoft oatmeal — no crunchy, under-cooked pieces, promise!

Get the recipe: overnight pumpkin pie baked oatmeal