Best Pumpkin Oatmeal
21
Published Sep 05, 2024
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
This cozy pumpkin oatmeal makes for the perfect healthy fall breakfast. It’s loaded with pumpkin flavor and warm spices and is super easy to make with just 6 ingredients.
I have so many different pumpkin oatmeal recipes on the site like this pumpkin baked oatmeal, pumpkin overnight oats and pumpkin baked oatmeal cups, but the recipe I’m sharing today is my go-to stovetop pumpkin oatmeal recipe!
I love making this oatmeal on chilly fall mornings paired with a fancy caffeinated beverage (like my pumpkin spice latte or pumpkin cream cold brew). It’s packed with pumpkin flavor and comforting spices and is the perfect balance of savory and sweet. I love that it comes together in no time at all so I can savor my fall morning!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Oatmeal
- Cozy Fall Vibes – Start your day with all the warm, comforting flavors of fall. It’s like having your favorite pumpkin spice treat for breakfast!
- Quick & Easy – With just a few simple ingredients, this oatmeal comes together in minutes, making it an easy, go-to breakfast that still feels special.
- Nutritious – Packed with whole grains and fiber, it’s a healthy option that will keep you full and energized all morning. Plus, it’s easy to customize with your favorite toppings!
Ingredients Needed
- old fashioned rolled oats – rolled oats make for a super creamy bowl of oatmeal and are my personal favorite type of oatmeal! I typically use Bob’s Red Mill rolled oats, which are gluten-free. If you’re looking to use steel cut oats, try this pumpkin pie oatmeal instead.
- water – the liquid you’ll cook the oats in.
- pumpkin puree – make homemade pumpkin puree or use store bought. If you are using canned, make sure it’s pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling! Pumpkin pie mix has added sugar!
- pumpkin pie spice – make your own pumpkin pie spice with cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg or purchase a store-bought blend.
- cinnamon – compliments the pumpkin flavors perfectly.
- salt – just a hint to bring all of the flavors together.
- pecans – I added chopped pecans as a topping for this oatmeal, but feel free to skip this or use another type of nut like almonds or walnuts. Use pepitas for a nut-free option.
Notes & Substitutions
- Swap the pumpkin: Sweet potato puree or butternut squash puree can be swapped for the pumpkin as they all have similar textures and flavors. The sweet potato and butternut squash will be slightly sweeter.
- Use milk instead of water: You can totally use milk if you’d like your bowl of oatmeal to be extra creamy. Unsweetened almond milk is my favorite for oatmeal.
- Add protein: If you’re looking to add protein to your oatmeal, try this protein pumpkin oatmeal instead!
How to Make Pumpkin Oatmeal
Step 1: Add all your ingredients, except for the toppings to a medium saucepan.
Step 2: Heat over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes. You’ll know the oatmeal is done when all the liquid is absorbed and the oats are thick and fluffy.
Brittany’s Tip!
Be sure to stir the oatmeal several times while cooking so the oats don’t stick to the pot!
Pumpkin Oatmeal Toppings
Surprisingly, this pumpkin oatmeal is really versatile. Here are some topping ideas:
- maple syrup – I always love adding an extra drizzle of maple syrup to sweeten my oatmeal a bit.
- nuts or seeds – I usually top my pumpkin oatmeal with pecans, which compliments the flavors in this oatmeal perfectly! Feel free to use another nut or seed of choice like walnuts, almonds or pepitas. Chia seeds and hemp seeds are also a great option.
- milk – add a splash of milk to thin out the oatmeal a bit if you’d like. Dairy-free milk or regular milk works!
- chocolate – for a more decadent breakfast top your oats with chocolate chips or cacao nibs. Chocolate + pumpkin = a match made in heaven!
- coconut – I love adding shredded coconut or toasted coconut to my oatmeal when I have it on hand.
- granola – add extra crunch and flavor by sprinkling some homemade granola on top. This pumpkin granola would be delicious for more fall flavor!
- nut or seed butter – add a drizzle of your favorite nut butter on top like peanut butter or almond butter. For a nut-free option you can use tahini or sunflower seed butter. Coconut butter is another great option.
- coconut whipped cream – feeling fancy? Add coconut whipped cream for added creaminess and sweetness!
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftover pumpkin oatmeal, you can easily store it in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Just transfer the cooled oatmeal into an airtight container.
When you’re ready to enjoy it again, simply reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk or water to bring back its creamy consistency. Give it a good stir, and it’ll be just as delicious as when you first made it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Just add the rolled oats, water, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and a dash of salt into a microwave-safe bowl with plenty of room for the oats to expand and bubble up. Microwave for 1 minute, stir and then microwave at 30 seconds increments, stirring between each one. Cook until the oatmeal is the consistency you like – it usually takes about 2-3 minutes, but you’ll know it’s ready when most of the liquid is absorbed and the oats are hot.
Yes, you can, but keep in mind that steel-cut oats take longer to cook and will have a chewier texture. You’ll need to adjust the cooking time and possibly add more liquid. The flavor will be just as delicious, though! You can follow my recipe for steel cut oats as a guideline.
Quick oats can be used, but I don’t love them because they tend to lose a bit of texture in the cooking process resulting in mushier oats.
More Pumpkin Recipes to Try
- Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
- Pumpkin Chia Pudding
- Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
- Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
- Pumpkin Protein Bars
- Pumpkin Banana Bread
- Healthy Pumpkin Pie
Be sure to check out the full collection of pumpkin recipes and all my quick bread recipes here on EBF.
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Pumpkin Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups water
- ½ cup canned pumpkin or homemade pumpkin puree
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- chopped pecans, for topping
- splash of milk, for topping
- maple syrup, for topping
Instructions
- Add oats, water, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon and salt into a medium saucepan.
- Heat over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes. Be sure to stir the oats several times while cooking to make sure the oats don't stick to the pot. You’ll know the oatmeal is done when all the liquid is absorbed and the oats are thick and fluffy.
- Portion oatmeal into two bowls and add pecans, a splash of milk and maple syrup, to taste.
Notes
- Use milk instead of water: You can also use milk if you’d like your bowl of oatmeal to be extra creamy.
- Add protein: If you’re looking to add protein to your oatmeal, try this protein pumpkin oatmeal instead!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Super tasty and comforting oatmeal. Portions and ingredients were perfect although I substituted almond milk for one of the cups of water. My toppings were pecans, wheat germ and flax.
Yay! So glad you loved this recipe, Judi. Pecans, wheat germ, and flax are perfect toppings, and I love the almond milk swap for a bit of creaminess. Thanks so much for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it.
I hardly ever make oatmeal on the stove, and I tried this to see how it came out. The texture is good, but it was really bland. I added more pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon, and a little maple syrup when I ate it, but it still didn’t have the sweet flavor I wanted. I’m not sure what to do to make this better next time. If anyone has any advice, I’d love to hear it. I eat oatmeal almost every day, so I’d like to have some good recipes to use.
Hi Melissa – This recipe isn’t supposed to be super sweet, so if you prefer your oatmeal on the sweeter side, you could add some brown sugar or maple syrup into your oatmeal mixture on the stove. You could start with 1 tsp and build up from there depending on your desired level of sweetness. Thanks for your feedback.
Can we make your oatmeal, hot oatmeal that is, recipes with steel cut oats? Is there a major difference, calorie, macro, protein-wise?
Thanks!
Hi Sue – If you are wanting to use steel cut oats for a pumpkin based recipe, I would recommend THIS recipe. Let me know if you give it a try!
I made this a while ago and it is sooo good. 10/10 would recommend.
Perfect! I am so glad you are loving this recipe, Zenith. Thank you for your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
This is not a rating for this recipe, but for your website. Between the 3 ads and videos that popped up when I opened the page, I had exactly 1.5 inches of my phone screen where I could see the actual recipe. I understand that this is how you make money, but it is greatly affecting usability. I don’t really want to visit your site after this morning, even though I enjoy your recipes. Just wanted to let you know what your readers are experiencing.
I bet there’s a nicer way to provide feedback on a website than to trash a recipes ratings.
I’m just here to counteract this ridiculous comment with 5 stars. Ignore this hate Brit. Some people have nothing better to do with their angry, jealous lives
So far this week, I have made this oatmeal every morning. It’s SO. GOOD. !!! Last week I made some of your pumpkin spice trail mix, so I’ve been topping the oatmeal with some of that! *chef’s kiss*
I’ve actually made several of your recipes, but this is the first time I’m reviewing – whoops. Gonna express my appreciation more from now on!
Hey Ann- so pumped to hear you’re loving this pumpkin oatmeal! Thanks so much for trying it out and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks delicious! Joinzoe has a link to it on their app as a healthy breakfast for me.
Hope you love this recipe, Laura! Enjoy. ☺️
Love your PB banana oatmeal now I can’t decide which I love more. Used extra water in it because I love the texture of your PB banana oatmeal. Looking forward to your new book
Happy to hear this pumpkin oatmeal was a hit, Amy! Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate the kind words :).
So delicious! I added flax and hemp seed!
So pumped you loved this pumpkin oatmeal, Dana! I love the addition of flax and hemp seed, so great. Thanks so much for the review + star rating. I so appreciate it!
Chefs kiss! Loved adding pumpkin to my oatmeal-it gave me all the fall feels! I added pecans, banana, chocolate chips, peanut butter and syrup on top! So delicious! Will make again soon!
Excellent!! Will try it for sure.