Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how often do we get too busy and scattered to think about making sure we’re eating something nutritious in addition to delicious? Or we end up just scarfing down a granola bar and calling it a day.
This recipe, a One Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, is the fix for that! It takes the classic instant oatmeal you may be used to and levels it up a notch, using fresh ingredients and just one dish to make a delicious breakfast that’s sure to be a hit!
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Why we love One Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
This delicious, healthy breakfast is great for many reasons — for one, it tastes absolutely delightful, kind of like an apple pie but with the crunch of oats, but it’s definitely got that cinnamony, nutmeg flavor that the best pies do. Another reason we love it is that it’s so good for you! Oats are super healthy and filled with nutrients.
Finally, this recipe is gluten-free, which means it’s safe for you if you have an intolerance. And we love that!
What are one pot meals
One pot meals are essentially just meals you can make using just one pot! While we do a lot of one pot pasta dishes, you can also make other meals with just one pot – like this oatmeal recipe! It’s simple, easy to clean up, and low-effort but the reward is delicious, nutritious oats!
In a one pot meal, not only do you skip having a ton of dishes to clean up, you also get to really let the flavors soak into one another. And because we use milk directly to cook the oats, they are so much more flavorful and texture-filled!
History of oatmeal
Oats are an incredibly ancient grain — they date back conclusively to Egypt in about 2,000 B.C., though some think China may have known about them even earlier. That’s more than 4,000 years of oat history!
But when it comes to oatmeal, that took a bit longer to come about. Some people suggest the first instances of cultivated oats turned into a porridge-like meal come from Scotland. The climate in the UK is ideal for growing oats.
How to make One Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- In a 4 qt pot on medium heat add butter, brown sugar, apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until tender, about 2-3 minutes.
- Top with oats, milk, as well as vanilla extract, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Serve with walnuts/pecans, a drizzle of maple syrup, and an extra splash of milk, if needed.
How to store One Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal leftovers
Once cooked, oatmeal should be stored in an airtight container or resealable bag in the fridge. It will keep for up to three days when stored properly.
To reheat, simply top the oatmeal off with some fresh meal and place in the microwave for 60 seconds.
More Oatmeal recipes to try
One Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 2 medium honey crisp apples peeled and diced
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter or coconut oil
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a 4 qt pot on medium high heat add butter, brown sugar, apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg and cook, stirring, until tender and caramelized, about 2-3 minutes.
- Top with oats, milk, as well as vanilla extract, bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Serve with walnuts, a drizzle of maple syrup, and an extra splash of milk, if needed.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is easy to make and delicious. I also added a banana, chia seeds, walnuts and did not add the brown sugar.
Sounds delicious! Love the additions/modifications!
Delicious and super easy to make!
This was easy and delicious. I made this with my 5 yo and she loved helping out.