Ditch the packets: 13 oatmeal recipes to upgrade your morning

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Alright, let’s have a heart-to-heart. We’ve all had those mornings, rushing out the door with an oat packet in hand, thinking it’s the best we can do. But what if I told you there’s a world beyond those cardboard-tasting oats? A world where your morning bowl can be as exciting as your weekend brunch.

Trust me, with these 13 oatmeal recipes, you’re about to view breakfast in a whole new light. They’re easy, delicious, and will make you wonder why you ever settled for the packets in the first place. Ready to upgrade your oat game? Let’s dive in.

Spiced pear oatmeal in bowls with caramelized chopped pears.
Spiced Pear Oatmeal. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Baked Turmeric Oatmeal

Ditch those uninspiring oat packets for this baked turmeric oatmeal. Enhanced with cinnamon and raisins, this is not just breakfast—it’s a health-boosting, anti-inflammatory start to your day, and perfect for prepping ahead.
Get the Recipe: Baked Turmeric Oatmeal

Strawberry Oatmeal

Set aside those berry-flavored packets and embrace the real deal. This strawberry oatmeal boasts a natural strawberry punch, ensuring every bite is creamy and delightful. It’s also a brilliant option for your weekly meal prep.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Oatmeal

Strawberries and cream oatmeal garnished with fresh strawberry slices in a bowl with a spoon.
Strawberry Oatmeal. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Chocolate Cherry Steel Cut Oatmeal

Level up with this slow cooker oatmeal that’s a feast for the senses. Compared to instant oat packets, waking up to a bowl of chocolate and cherry-infused steel cut oats feels like morning luxury.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Cherry Steel Cut Oatmeal

Spiced Pear Oatmeal

Dive into a bowl that’s beyond the ordinary. Spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg make this pear oatmeal a standout, and the caramelized pear topping is a gourmet touch instant packets can’t replicate.
Get the Recipe: Spiced Pear Oatmeal

Gingerbread Oatmeal

Packets can’t capture the magic of seasonal flavors like this gingerbread oatmeal does. The blend of molasses and gingerbread spices offers a nostalgic taste, making every spoonful a reason to enjoy it all year round.
Get the Recipe: Gingerbread Oatmeal

Gingerbread molasses oatmeal topped with pecans.
Gingerbread Oatmeal. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Chocolate Baked Oats

Who knew morning oats could feel like dessert? Move over bland packets; this chocolaty delight, inspired by TikTok, feels like you’re indulging in breakfast cake. Vegan, gluten-free, and blended to perfection, it’s a must-try upgrade.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Baked Oats

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Elevate your breakfast with this revamped classic. Laden with cooked apples and fragrant spices, this oatmeal outshines any packet version. The maple syrup-sautéed apple slices and chopped pecans are a gourmet touch you won’t find in instant oats.
Get the Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Creamy apple cinnamon oatmeal in a bowl with maple apple slices.
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Almond Joy Oats

Trade your sugar-laden packet for these almond joy oats. They give a healthier morning spin to your favorite candy bar, packed with almond and coconut, making breakfast feel indulgent yet wholesome.
Get the Recipe: Almond Joy Oats

Apple Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Forget bland oat packets. This oatmeal, inspired by carrot cake, is accentuated with apple butter and apples. The apple butter mascarpone topping transforms your morning bowl into a delightful, cozy autumn treat.
Get the Recipe: Apple Carrot Cake Oatmeal

Sweet potato steel cut oats in a bowl with nuts and cream.
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Steel Cut Oats. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Instant Pot Sweet Potato Steel Cut Oats

Instant packets have met their match! Let your Instant Pot work overnight, and by morning, enjoy a bowl of sweet potato steel cut oats, dotted with golden raisins and spices. It’s a hassle-free, delicious upgrade to start your day.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Sweet Potato Steel Cut Oats

Blackberry Orange Steel Cut Oats

Say goodbye to plain oat mornings! Revel in the luxuriousness of steel cut oats paired with a vibrant orange-blackberry sauce. This meal offers a sophisticated palate experience far from the monotony of instant packets.
Get the Recipe: Blackberry Orange Steel Cut Oats

Green oatmeal in a bow with nut butter and chopped nuts.
Green Oatmeal. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

Triple Chocolate Steel Cut Oats

Turn your breakfast into a chocolate haven. Unlike the diluted flavors of chocolate oat packets, this triple chocolate steel cut oatmeal is like dessert in a bowl: creamy, chewy, and irresistibly chocolaty. It’s the morning indulgence you didn’t know you needed.
Get the Recipe: Triple Chocolate Steel Cut Oats

Green Oatmeal

Reinvent your morning with these green oats! Not your typical green smoothie, this oatmeal blends spinach, bananas, and milk for a nutrient-packed start. And rest assured, you won’t taste the spinach—just pure morning delight!
Get the Recipe: Green Oatmeal

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