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Peanut Butter Oatmeal

This peanut butter oatmeal is the ideal healthy and easy breakfast recipe starring whole grains! Here’s the trick to making it taste great.

There’s no breakfast better than oatmeal, in our minds! So let us introduce you to a daily staple around here. This delicious Peanut Butter Oatmeal! Here’s the thing: oatmeal be gloppy and gooey, or under-seasoned. But cook up a pot the right way, and it tastes like a dream. Here we’re sharing our favorite method for chewy toasted oats, and there’s a peanut butter banana variation if you prefer a little natural sweetness. Plus we’ve got the all important key: when to add the peanut butter. We make this every day (no joke) and it’s incredibly filling…and satisfying.

The key to peanut butter oatmeal

Here’s the thing. We figured that peanut butter oatmeal would be absolutely delicious if you throw spoonfuls of creamy peanut butter right into the pot and cook. Wrong! Here’s what happened, and how to avoid it:

Don’t put peanut butter into the pot while the oatmeal is cooking. Why? When it’s done, you can barely taste the peanut butter. Even if you add a load of PB, there’s something about the flavor and texture that’s just not right. (Trust us.)
The best way? Swirl it on top right before serving. Yeah, so it’s oatmeal topped with peanut butter. But this is the only way to get big peanut butter flavor! Top it right away and the warmth of the oats makes it heart meltingly good.

Why it’s the best oatmeal: toasted and chewy!

The other part to this peanut butter oatmeal? You’ve got to make the best pot of oatmeal imaginable! Over here, we’re anti creamy, gloppy oats with no texture. Our best oatmeal is lightly chewy and toasted before you add the liquid. This makes it utterly irresistible. Here are the keys to toasted oatmeal:

Toast the oats in butter or coconut oil until fragrant. It takes just a minute or two, but it makes a big difference.
Add liquid and cook on low without stirring. This easy method makes the oats chewy with separate grains, instead of a gloppy mess.
If you like it creamier, add milk at the end. Add as much milk as you like to get to a creamier texture to these oats.

Variation: peanut butter banana oatmeal

Like your oatmeal sweet? No problem! Adding mashed bananas during the cooking time makes a beautifully creamy body to the oatmeal and a lightly sweet flavor. This is one of our favorite variations, and a quicker way to get the flavor of our banana baked oatmeal. Try this variation when you have a few ripe bananas on hand!

Peanut butter oatmeal toppings

How do you like to top your oatmeal? This peanut butter oatmeal is absolutely perfect with just a swirl of nut butter on top. I’ll admit: my daily oatmeal (and I do eat this every day) is simply oats, peanut butter, and salt. I like it on the savory side! But want to jazz it up a bit? Here are some ideas:

Honey or maple syrup: a small drizzle is all you need!
Jam or jelly: PB&J oatmeal is where it’s at! Try our homemade strawberry jam
Berries: Blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries pair well
Banana slices: Especially if you do the peanut butter banana variation
Bee pollen: The confetti in the photos is bee pollen, and it adds a nice crunch

More variations: change up the nut butter!

It goes without saying, but peanut butter oatmeal can morph into all sorts of other types of oatmeal just by changing the nut butter. We love making lots of different nut butters at home, but these days you can easily find them at your grocery. Here are a few fun variations:

Almond butter oatmeal: top it with homemade almond butter (the vanilla bean or chai variations would be killer)
Pecan butter oatmeal: we especially like this homemade pecan butter on oats
Cashew butter oatmeal: another great option! Cashew butter has beautifully sweet flavor

Oatmeal nutrition info

Why eat oats in the morning? Well, these whole grains are a wholesome and filling breakfast idea that’s hard to beat. Here are some of the nutritional benefits of oats (source):

Oats are high in plant based protein. 1 cup of raw oats have 11 grams protein. That’s about 20% of your daily need!
Oats are high in fiber. 1 cup of raw oats have 8 grams of fiber, which is about 30% of the daily value.
Oats are very filling: they may reduce appetite and help you eat less calories.

More oatmeal recipes

There are so many great ways to eat this versatile grain in the morning! Here are a few favorite ideas:

Try all our Oatmeal Recipes to Start the Day
Go basic with How to Make Oatmeal
Bake it up with Everyday Baked Oatmeal (and eat off leftovers all week)
Blend up an Oatmeal Smoothie
Opt for the easiest prep with Overnight Oats
Go outside the box with Easy Oatmeal Bars

This peanut butter oatmeal recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal

(7 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

5 from 7 reviews

Author: Sonja Overhiser
Prep Time: 0 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Yield: 2 to 3 servings
Diet: Vegan

Print Recipe

Description

This peanut butter oatmeal is the ideal healthy and easy breakfast recipe starring whole grains! Here’s the trick to making it taste great.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter or coconut oil
2 cups Old Fashioned rolled oats (do not use instant oats or steel cut oats)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup water
1 cup milk, oat milk or almond milk (or additional water)
Sweet variation: 2 ripe bananas, mashed (optional)
2 to 3 tablespoons peanut butter
Other toppings as desired: small drizzle honey or maple syrup, berry jam, fruit, etc.

Instructions

Melt the butter or coconut oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the oats and toast for about 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant.
Add the salt and cinnamon. Turn the heat to low and carefully pour in the water and milk, stirring. Add the mashed banana, if using. Cover and cook for 5 minutes until tender, then remove from the heat. Serve immediately for a chunky texture, or stir in an additional 1/2 cup milk for a creamier body. The texture is intentionally chewy (not gloppy or soggy!). Top with the peanut butter and any other toppings as desired.

Category: Breakfast
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Breakfast

Keywords: Peanut butter oatmeal

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Easy Black Bean Tacos

This black bean tacos recipe takes just 15 minutes! It’s a fast and easy dinner idea that’s easy to customize and pleases everyone.

On the lookout for those elusive recipes that are healthy, easy and delicious? Meet our new favorite: these easy Black Bean Tacos! We created this recipe to be totally customizable based on your diet and available time. It stars our 5 minute black beans, a quick taco filling idea that’s bursting with flavor in just a few minutes. Top it with all the best taco toppings: corn, avocado, pickled onions: and a sprinkling of feta cheese. If you have time, we love it with cilantro lime sauce: but taco sauce and sour cream does the trick too! There’s really something for everyone with this one.

More seriuously easy tacos? Try our Refried Bean Tacos or Egg Tacos!

How to make the easiest black bean tacos

These black bean tacos are beyond easy: and they work with whatever toppings you’d like! The secret behind them is the easy black bean filling. Here’s what to know about how to make the fastest black bean tacos there are:

Mince garlic, then cook 30 seconds in butter and olive oil. The combination of two cooking fats makes for the very best flavor. But you can substitute all olive oil if you’d like!
Add drained but not rinsed black beans and cook 3 to 4 minutes. Here’s the key: a little bit of the can liquid will remain on the beans, making a thick sauce for the tacos.
Note: all black bean brands are different. Some canned black beans are more tender than others. We like this best with a black bean brand that’s very tender vs a more al dente type of bean. You’ll have to experiment to find your favorite!

Customize your taco toppings!

Once you’ve got the black bean filling, it’s time for toppings! We’ve listed our favorite toppings in the recipe below. You can customize based on your preferences and diet. But it is important to have a few elements. Here’s what to note about topping your black bean toppings:

Crunchy veggies are required! Because black beans are soft in texture, you’ll need a crunchy contrast. Here we used chopped romaine and corn. Use these if at all possible!
You’ll need a good sauce. A good sauce is the key to a tasty taco! Purchased taco sauce or salsa and sour cream is the fastest option. If you have 5 minutes, make our Cilantro Lime Sauce.
Cheese is nice, but optional. We like adding a sprinkle of feta crumbles or queso fresco: you can also use shredded cheese.
Add other veggies as desired! We love it with avocado and the bright tang of pickled red onions, made in advance. A few sliced jalapeno peppers are nice too. If you have lots of time, make them with roasted sweet potatoes for an even tastier taco!

Sauce options for black bean tacos!

There are lots of other sauce options for these tacos! Here are a few more great options listed in terms of timing and diet preferences:

Taco sauce or salsa: It’s easy to use purchased, but you can also make homemade taco sauce or salsa.
Cilantro sauce: We love 5 minute Cilantro Lime Sauce or Cilantro Crema. For vegan, use Creamy Cilantro Sauce made with soaked cashews.
Chipotle sauce: This Chipotle Sauce is easy and dairy free.
Fish taco sauce: It’s not just for fish tacos! Try this creamy, spicy Fish Taco Sauce.

Tip: warm your tortillas

Here’s our biggest tip for black bean tacos: warm your tortillas! There’s nothing worse than a taco with a tough, cold tortilla. Here’s how to warm tortillas like a pro:

Place them over the flame of a gas burner (preferred!). The best way? Place each tortilla directly on a gas burner for a few seconds per side. It lightly chars the edges and warms the tortillas. Then throw them into a tortilla warmer!
Or, warm them in the oven. If you don’t have a gas burner, you can warm them in the oven. Go to How to Warm Tortillas.

Make gluten free or vegan black bean tacos

It’s easy to adapt these black bean tacos for various diets! Here’s what to do:

For gluten free, use corn tortillas. There are also lots of gluten free tortilla options these days, like cassava, sweet potato, and more. Check your local grocery!
For vegan, use vegan toppings. Use all olive oil for the black beans and omit the cheese toppings. Add a vegan sauce like Cilantro Sauce.

Black beans nutrition

What makes these black bean tacos such a great healthy dinner idea? They star black beans! Black beans are:

Excellent source of protein. 1 cup has 15 grams of protein, about 30% of your daily protein needs.
Excellent source of fiber. 1 cup also has 15 grams of fiber, about 50% of your daily intake.
Lower glycemic index compared to many other high-carbohydrate foods, meaning they cause a smaller rise in blood sugar after a meal.

This black bean tacos recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.