With National Oatmeal Month in full swing, we encourage you to incorporate more of this nutritious grain into your diet, and our selection of vibrant and satiating vegan recipes is here to help! And even though oatmeal seems to have been relegated to the realm of sweet breakfasts, its neutral taste actually makes it the perfect base for hearty savory breakfast bowls, so we broke down the roundup in two parts highlighting its versatility and potential in both sweet and savory recipes that are serious game-changers. We’re sure you’ll find a vegan oatmeal recipe on today’s list that will either make you a fan of the grain or, if you already are one, will inspire you to experiment with flavors and toppings!
Oats are naturally gluten-free, which is an added bonus, but with modern processing methods they might contain traces of gluten still, so make sure you’re using certified gluten-free oats in case of intolerance or allergy.
What you’ll find in this article (click on the title to jump to each section):
Sweet Vegan Oatmeal Recipes
In this section, you will find almost a dozen ideas on how to make oatmeal become the highlight of your morning with toppings ranging from caramelized bananas and other fruits and berries to homemade hazelnut butter and pistachio dukkah; all sorts of warm and comforting spices like cinnamon and turmeric; and a few different cooking methods from stovetop to Instant Pot!
Vegan Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal by Make It Dairy Free
Making your oatmeal look nice doesn’t have to take a lot of time or many ingredients, as demonstrated by this easy vegan oatmeal recipe by Make It Dairy Free – just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes to prep, just what a (busy) (vegan) doctor ordered! All you’ll need are apples, some syrup, and comforting spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, as well as some non-dairy milk, and, of course, oats!
Click here for the full recipe.
Instant Pot Pear and Date Spiced Oatmeal by Rainbow Plant Life
If you own an Instant Pot, this vegan oatmeal recipe by Rainbow Plant Life will be a lifesaver – it yields up to almost a week’s worth of easy delicious breakfasts, that are healthy but don’t necessarily taste like it, with the bite from the steel-cut oats and natural sweetness of with dates and pears. Top it with whatever your heart desires, or go with Nisha’s suggestion of nuts, pomegranate seeds, thinly slices apples, and PB&J!
Click here for the full recipe.
Caramelized Banana Oatmeal by Healthier Steps
Cooking your rolled oats with green bananas, plant milk, allspice, and vanilla might be good enough for a healthy breakfast, but adding a delicious caramelized banana topping takes this humble dish to the next level!
Click here for the full recipe.
For more ideas on how to incorporate bananas into your breakfast, click here.
Crème Brûlée Oatmeal by Veggie Kins
If you’ve never considered browning the top of your oatmeal bowl to achieve a caramelized crème brûlée effect, this is your sign! Adding coconut milk to the base makes this vegan oatmeal recipe dessert-y already, but adding a layer of caramelized sugar on top is pure genius, and so simple to make! If you do not own a blowtorch, don’t fret! Use your oven broiler setting to broil the sugar topping instead.
Click here for the full recipe.
Strawberry Oatmeal with Pistachio Dukkah by Upbeet Anisha
Loving what you see, but wondering what on earth “dukkah” is? We’ll let Upbeet Anisha explain: “dukkah (or duqqa) is an Egyptian condiment of nuts and spices, most often used for savory dishes. The pistachio dukkah I made here features seeds, coconut, cardamom, sea salt, and black pepper.” Since it’s a crunchy and not necessarily sweet topping, it adds a lovely contrast in terms of taste and texture to the creamy strawberry oatmeal!
Click here for the full recipe.
Creamy Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats by From the Comfort of My Bowl
This vegan oatmeal recipe is a cozy breakfast idea for pumpkin lovers. Topped with blueberries, toasted cashews, caramelized bananas, and pumpkin seed butter, it will provide all the comfort you need on a winter morning! Be sure to read the full post on From the Comfort of My Bowl website, because it includes tips and tricks for best results, substitution and topping ideas, as well as three different cooking methods (stovetop, microwave, and Instant Pot).
Click here for the full recipe.
Coconut Cream Oatmeal by The Canadian African
Coconut lovers, rejoice: this is THE vegan oatmeal recipe for you! Featuring not one, but four different coconut products: cream, sugar, essence, and some shredded coconut as well. Top it with fresh or frozen mango or pineapple and let this lovely breakfast recipe by The Canadian African remind you that summer is always around the corner!
Click here for the full recipe.
For more delicious ideas on what to cook with different coconut products,click here.
Golden Spiced Oatmeal by The Plant Based Wok
A delicious anti-inflammatory single-serving vegan oatmeal recipe by The Plant Based Wok is a perfect winter breakfast idea! It gets its name from golden milk (typically made with turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon), and its fragrance from toasting the spices and oats before adding some plant-based milk and simmering it all together for a few minutes until thick and creamy.
Click here for the full recipe.
Carrot Cake Oatmeal by Vegamelon
Another vegan oatmeal recipe created at the intersection of breakfast and dessert, this carrot cake oatmeal by Vegamelon is quick to prepare and requires minimal staple ingredients, and isn’t impossibly sweet like a lot of carrot cakes out there. It’s also much more filling than your typical slice of cake, yet has all the familiar flavors, so this recipe should be ideal for carrot cake lovers trying to eat healthy.
Click here for the full recipe.
Did you know that there are over a dozen other ways carrot cake has inspired different vegan treats? Click here to find out what they are!
Mocha Hazelnut Oatmeal by Pick Up Limes
If this recipe by Pick Up Limes doesn’t make you a fan of oatmeal, we don’t know what will. Simply imagine a decadent, praline, Nutella-like flavor provided by the hazelnut butter (storebought or homemade) and roasted hazelnuts combined with the overall chocolate mocha feel coming from adding dark chocolate, cacao and instant coffee to the mix… Brb, we’re already making this!
Click here for the full recipe.
Pink Porridge Oats by Two Spoons
We love a simple recipe made special by using an easy hack like adding just one secret ingredient! In the case of these porridge oats by Two Spoons, it’s the pink pitaya powder that lends it its lovely color. But the best part about this recipe – aside from requiring just 5 ingredients and being super customizable in terms of toppings – is that the pitaya powder is totally optional if you can’t get your hands on some, and it will taste amazing anyway!
Click here for the full recipe.
Savory Vegan Oatmeal Recipes
If you’ve never tried savory oatmeal or deem it out of your comfort zone, we hope this part of our selection will inspire you to explore this unconventional side of the beloved grain! All the recipes on this part of the list are packed with nutrients, flavors, and textures, which make them appropriate for any time of day if you’re not a fan of filling savory breakfasts.
Savory Turmeric Chickpea Oats by The Full Helping
If you’re new to savory oats, this vegan oatmeal recipe by The Full Helping is a perfect place to start. It’s easy enough to make, yet all the ingredients are masterfully balanced and paired together for a perfectly nutritious breakfast: the golden hue of turmeric and black pepper that enhances its anti-inflammatory powers, healthy protein from chickpeas, fiber from greens, and umami and B vitamin from nutritional yeast – this bright and comforting bowl will lift your spirits even on the gloomiest day!
Click here for the full recipe.
Vegan Savory Oatmeal with Zucchini and Black Beans by Earth of Maria
Ever heard of putting grated zucchini in your oatmeal? Well, it works! Doing so creates a fluffy texture that gives this dish a lot of volume, without leaving an aftertaste. What about black beans in your porridge? No? Well, it works too – as a great source of plant protein that sweet breakfasts often lack – but you could experiment with other legumes if black beans aren’t your thing. And of course, you don’t need our word on this to imagine how lovely the kitchen will smell thanks to the spice combo of turmeric, cumin, and garlic powder. And if you can’t imagine having all this savory goodness for breakfast, you can have it for lunch or dinner just as well! Check out the full post by Earth of Maria for step-by-step photo instructions, substitution ideas, and tips for best results.
Click here for the full recipe.
Korean Style Savory Dolsot Oatmeal by The Korean Vegan
If you’re wondering what a dolsot is, it’s a stone pot that is often used in Korean cooking to make rice (think bibimbap), but The Korean Vegan is known for thinking outside the box, so she used hers to make a delicious savory oatmeal topped with tofu omelet, vegan sausage, seaweed, and, of course, kimchi! Ideally, to achieve the same results, you’d need a dolsot of your own – that’s the whole point – but you could check the recipe notes for alternatives if you don’t own one.
Click here for the full recipe.
Inspired to learn more about Korean cuisine and its signature dishes? Click here to read all about it in the Culture Tuesday column exploring Korean cuisine!
Savory Steel Cut Oats Bowl by Sweet Potato Soul
If you’re as big of a fan of balanced and abundant vegan bowls as Jenné of Sweet Potato Soul is, you’re gonna love her savory vegan oatmeal recipe inspired by Japanese flavors. Besides the miso, seaweed, and a rich vegetable broth, this bowl features roasted sweet potatoes and mushrooms, spinach, and a savory tahini sauce. Bonus: you can double the recipe and prepare all of the ingredients ahead, so you can enjoy easily assembled nutritious vegan breakfasts throughout the week!
Click here for the full recipe.
Savory Oatmeal with Veggies & Sausage by Sweet Simple Vegan
This savory vegan oatmeal recipe manages to include so much goodness in just one bowl: celery, shallots, carrots, sweet potatoes, green peas, garlic, kale, vegan sausage and avocado, as well as roasted pumpkin seeds and chives that provide a crunchy contrast to the creamy oats. This is the definition of a comforting winter breakfast that will keep you full and satisfied for hours!
Click here for the full recipe.
Vegan Oatscaldo Porridge by Astig Vegan
Born under the constraints of 2021 quarantine restrictions (read Astig Vegan’s post for the full story), this savory vegan oatmeal recipe is a pantry-friendly twist on the Filipino favorite arroz caldo. Using oats instead of rice changes up the usual grains used in this all-time favorite, and yet it has all the familiar flavors from garlic, ginger, seaweed, onions, and more! It’s an umami-packed recipe that will keep you satiated throughout the winter.
Click here for the full recipe.
Wonder what other dishes are signature to Filipino cuisine? Culture Tuesday is here to give you everything you want to know! Click here to read the full article.
Golden Savory Oatmeal by From My Bowl
Another savory take on turmeric-flavored oatmeal, From My Bowl’s version features carrots, fresh herbs, and vegan cream cheese, as well as a roasted red pepper topping. This vegan oatmeal recipe is oil-free, and easily customizable, which makes it a perfect healthy meal-prep breakfast idea!
Click here for the full recipe.
Savory Vegan Oatmeal by Vancouver with Love
Who knew you could turn plain old oatmeal into a vibrant Mexican-inspired savory bowl? With lots of flavors in the oatmeal itself (coming from cooking it with olive oil, garlic, lime juice, and taco seasoning), it’s topped with salsa, beans, corn, avocado, tortilla chips, and cilantro – all the works synonymous with Mexican food!
Click here for the full recipe.
3 Savory Oatmeal Recipes by Cheap Lazy Vegan
We have to give props to Cheap Lazy Vegan who went above and beyond when faced with a challenge to come up with unconventional oatmeal ideas and developed not one, but three different recipes! There’s oatmeal bibimbap (made with carrots, kale, garlic, gochujang, and vegan spam), oatmeal congee (made with ginger, garlic, and lentils), and creamy oatmeal risotto (made with shiitake mushrooms, soy curls, vegan butter & milk). Needless to say, all these sound delicious and, in true Cheap Lazy Vegan fashion, are easy to make with ingredients you likely have on hand!
Click here for the full recipe.
Want to learn another way to make congee? Click here for a more traditional rice-based version by Conscious Cooking.
Savory Steel-Cut Oats with Greens and Vegan Mushroom “Bacon” by The Vegan Atlas
Another recipe starring steel-cut oats on today’s list, this one by The Vegan Atlas is made with plenty of greens, vegan butter, and cheese, and topped with an umami bomb that is mushroom bacon. It will make a delicious weekend breakfast or brunch that you’ll want to make over and over!
Click here for the full recipe.
Vegan Oat Risotto with Peas by Plant Based School
We finish off today’s list with a healthy wholegrain oat-based risotto that sounds way fancier than the process of making it is (don’t tell your brunch guests, though, let them be impressed by your Plant Based School inspired culinary genius). It’s unconventional in several ways and stands alone among other vegan risotto recipes (not to mention the traditional ones) thanks to not using any butter/cream/cheese (not even the vegan ones!). What gives it its silky smooth texture? Check out the full post to find out!
Click here for the full recipe.
Pin this article so you don’t lose your favorite vegan oatmeal recipe!
Now that you’ve found a vegan oatmeal recipe perfect for you, check out more breakfast ideas that will make your mornings brighter:
23 Hot & Iced Vegan Coffee Recipes to Get You Through the Day
https://bestofvegan.com/15-sweet-and-savory-vegan-waffle-recipes-to-step-up-your-breakfast-game/
Editor: Anna Kot.