This best oatmeal recipe is quick and easy and makes for a hot and hearty breakfast. Packed with flavor and nutrition, this oatmeal will become a fall staple!
First Published September 2011; Updated July 2020
Best Oatmeal Recipe Backstory
I have never been much of a breakfast person, until I tried this best oatmeal recipe. I remember being a kid that was forced to eat breakfast. For some reason, I couldn't stomach milk in the morning so I would eat dry cereal. You couldn't even get me to eat a donut. Sweets in the early morning is not my thing. It still isn't. I'd much rather have a savory omelet with potatoes than a big stack of pancakes covered with fruit and whipped cream. If I am working out or have to be somewhere early, I force myself to have a banana or bowl of cereal. Otherwise I prefer to eat breakfast later in the morning rather then when I first wake up.
Oatmeal has never been one of my desired breakfasts. But it is so good for you and provides many nutrients, antioxidants and fiber. It also can help reduce cholesterol. So why wouldn't I want to start my day out with a bowl of oatmeal? I have always thought of it as boring with not much taste.
Recently, I decided to change my way of thinking and start out with a bowl several mornings a week. I have experimented with adding different kinds of seasonal fruits to my oats. This way, my bowl never gets boring. With the fall weather here, I thought pears, walnuts and figs would make the perfect topping. I have to say I enjoyed my oatmeal this morning.
What's your favorite oatmeal topped with?
Variations On My Best Oatmeal Recipe
- If fresh figs aren't in season, dry figs can be substituted.
- You can also make the old fashioned or steel cut oatmeal and use this as a topping. While those are both much more wholesome, I like making the quick cooked oats in less than 5 minutes. I also love the Greek yogurt to make it just a little more creamy.
- For some more fall flair, add some nutmeg or even pumpkin pie spice to bring out those autumnal flavors.
- You could use apples instead of pears if you prefer, which would hearken back to the classic fall dessert: apple pie!
- Some of the ingredients may be omitted entirely if you don't want to include them. This oatmeal would still be delicious without the walnuts.
- If you aren't a fan of figs but still want something sweet and a little sticky, consider using dates or apricots instead.
Ingredients Tips
Choosing the Best Pears
- Press a finger gently into the top of the pear, right where the stem enters the fruit. It should have a little bit of give there. If it's soft or bruised anywhere else, try a different pear; this could mean over ripeness and results in mushiness and mealy skin.
- If you have to buy pears that are under ripe and want to speed up the process, place them in a paper bag with a ripe banana or apple.
Choosing the Best Figs
- The fruit should be soft to the touch. It may even release a bit of nectar if you give it a little squeeze, which means it's ripe.
- Your figs should also have a pleasant smell to them. Anything funky or fermented means they've gone past freshness.
- Figs don't ripen off the tree, so whatever state they're in at the store is what you get.
- Be sure to buy your figs not too long before using them; they typically only last 3 days or so.
Other Breakfast Recipes
- Strawberry Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits
- Skinny Mini Mexican Frittatas
- Healthy Banana Pancakes with Pecans
- Lemon Blueberry Muffins
- Brioche French Toast from Valerie's Kitchen
- Pumpkin Spice Waffles from Kylee Cooks
- Philadelphia Cheesesteak Breakfast Sandwich
- Broccoli and Roasted Red Pepper Quiche
If you like my Best Oatmeal Recipe, please give it a 5-star rating below!
RECIPE
Best Oatmeal Recipe with Pears, Figs and Walnuts
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons walnuts coarsely chopped
- 3-4 cups water (depending on if you like your oatmeal thick or thin)
- 2 cups quick cooking oats
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 2 large pears
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ Teaspoon cinnamon plus extra for garnish
- 4 fresh figs chopped
- ¼ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
Instructions
- Stir walnuts in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat until lightly toasted, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Bring 3 or more cups of water to boil in a medium saucepan. Add oats and stir over medium heat until oats are softened and very thick, about 1 minute.
- In the skillet, melt the butter on medium heat. Toss together pears, sugar and cinnamon. Saute pears for 5 minutes or until softened.
- Add the figs and reserved walnuts. Cook for a minute or two and mix to make sure the figs are coated with the syrup from the pears.
- Top the oatmeal with the warm pear mixture in individual bowls. Top with the yogurt and sprinkle with cinnamon for garnish.
Nutrition
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brandi
this sounds so good! and our figs are hitting their fall harvest, so it's perfect timing 🙂
Erica
The toppings make that bowl look incredible! I usually do brown sugar and coconut
Karen Harris
I'm with you 100%, never much of a breakfast eater. In fact, I'm not much of a breakfast food eater (bacon is the exception of course), but I can eat oatmeal and bagels after I've been up several hours. Your oats look really great. Next to bacon, this might be my other exception.
The Japanese Redneck
I usually just eat it with a little milk and sugar. But, this sure sounds good.
That Girl
I'm such a breakfast on the go person. I need to sit and enjoy more often.
The Food Hunter
I'm not a huge fan of breakfast either...sort of just get it down because I know I should. I would try this oatmeal though
claudia @Whats Cookin
this looks yummy my dear!
New Jersey Memories
Oh, I really love breakfast. I'm so hungry when I wake up. This recipe sounds delicious.
Katrina
That looks so good. It looks more like a dessert than breakfast!
chinmayie @ love food eat
I think I should oatmeal one more shot! I am not a big fan of oatmeal but with so many delicious fruits in it I might just like it 🙂
teresa
what a gorgeous dessert! i love the figs!
Fran Amenábar Ch.
This recipe looks so amazing, yiaamiii
Greetings from Chile.
Ciao Chow Linda
pears, figs and walnuts? I'd eat oatmeal for dessert every day with those toppings. Now that peach season is over, I'm going to try your ideas in my morning oatmeal.
kellypea
This looks like it would be a special holiday breakfast for us. I love fixing up a good bowl of oatmeal and you've made it quite lovely! Love the Greek yogurt in it.
Cookin' Canuck
I admit that I am not much of an oatmeal person, but these toppings make it very enticing.
Curt
That is absolutely awesome. You've hit most of my favorite foods in one!
I haven't eaten tree fresh figs since I lived in Texas and really miss figs.
I love oatmeal for breakfast with fresh fruit mixed in. I'll be trying this for sure. I'll have to go looking for figs now.
kat
We have steel cut oatmeal every morning. Matt likes it with homemade jam and dried cherries or raisins. I have mine with brown sugar, cinnamon, sliced almonds and golden raisins,
Cathy W
Wow..I'd eat this for dessert! I generally top my oatmeal with bananas or blueberries and I love it, but I often get an upset stomach. I think it's the dairy...I'm thinking of making the switch to almond milk.
Barbara Bakes
What a great way to start the morning. So pretty!