Ready for an amazing savory breakfast idea? Try these Savory Oatmeal Bowls topped with a fried egg and sautéed veggies for a hearty, filling, flavorful, healthy breakfast. Ready in just 15 minutes from scratch, gluten-free.
More breakfast bowl recipes: Chocolate Cream of Wheat Bowls
Why should you try savory oatmeal?
Savory oatmeal has an amazing flavor and texture similar to risotto, and makes an amazing filling breakfast that keeps me full well past lunch time! It's creamy, salty, a little peppery, and has an amazing savory flavor thanks to some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Oh yes, leave it to me to find a way to add cheese to oatmeal!!
You can customize your savory oatmeal with any toppings and fillings you like! I am sharing a very basic breakfast bowl with you, topped with a fried egg and sautéed baby spinach and grape tomatoes. But I'll give you TONS of ideas for different toppings below.
We are in LOVE with this quick and easy meal and sometimes end up making it for lunch or dinner when I realize it's 6pm and I still have no idea what's for dinner!
These savory oatmeal bowls are:
- Ready in 15 minutes
- Super filling, thanks to the fiber in heart-healthy oatmeal
- Loaded with protein and veggies (what a great way to get some veggies in with breakfast!)
- Customizable
- So delicious!
Ready to make them??
Savory oatmeal reminds me a lot of risotto, and I love it!
Related recipe: Savory Pancakes with Scallions
Ingredients
This recipe makes 2 servings, but feel free to scale up or down!
For the oatmeal:
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats (I prefer these over 1-minute oats, but you choose your favorite!)
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the toppings:
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 eggs
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach (this stuff cooks down!!)
- ½ cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Related recipe: Savory French Toast
Other savory oats topping ideas
- Sliced avocado
- Shredded cheese or feta
- Salsa
- Hot sauce
- Bacon (of course!!)
- Diced ham
- Cooked chicken
- Diced green onions
- Canned tuna (a little play on the classic Bahamian tuna and grits savory breakfast)
- Everything bagel seasoning (this stuff is AMAZING on eggs!)
- Pepitas (for a little crunch)
Related recipe: Savory Chicken Crepes
Instructions
Prepare the oatmeal: In a small saucepan, combine the oats and water. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until the oatmeal is cooked to your liking, stirring frequently. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Carefully taste (it's hot!) and season with more salt, if desired.
Prepare the toppings:
Step 1: Preheat a medium skillet, add the olive oil, and cook the eggs to your liking - scrambled or fried. I love cooking fried eggs in a little extra oil to get those crispy edges. Another option is to poach or boil the eggs. Set the eggs aside.
Step 2: Add the baby spinach and halved tomatoes and cook over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted and the tomatoes are juicy and a little wrinkled, stirring frequently. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Related recipe: Pumpkin Cream of Wheat Bowls
Assemble the oatmeal bowls: Divide the cooked oatmeal between two bowls or plates. Top each with half the eggs, spinach, and tomato mixture. Season with salt, everything but the bagel seasoning, or freshly grated cheese. Add your toppings: chopped scallions, sliced avocado, bacon, fresh herbs, salsa, hot sauce, or anything else you like!
Related recipe: Mini Quiches
Other healthy breakfast recipes you must check out:
- Whipped cottage cheese bowls
- Sweet potato breakfast hash
- Veggie-loaded breakfast flatbread
- Bell pepper egg rings
- Stovetop frittata
- Swiss chard, potato frittata with kale
If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!
Savory Oatmeal Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats - uncooked (use gluten-free, if needed)
- 2 cups water
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano - or other meltable cheese (see notes for dairy-free option)
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pinch salt - or more to taste
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cups fresh baby spinach - tightly packed
- ½ cup grape tomatoes - halved (or cherry tomatoes)
- salt and pepper - to taste
- salsa, hot sauce, sour cream, sliced avocado, cooked bacon, everything but the bagel seasoning, sliced green onions, fresh cilantro or parsley
Special equipment
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the oats and water. Cook over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until the oatmeal is cooked to your liking, stirring frequently. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Carefully taste (it's hot!) and season with more salt, if desired.
- Preheat a medium skillet, add the olive oil, and cook the eggs to your liking - scrambled or fried. Another option is to poach or boil the eggs. Set the eggs aside.
- Add the baby spinach and halved tomatoes and cook over medium-high heat for 3-5 minutes, or until the spinach is wilted and the tomatoes are juicy and bursting, stirring frequently. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Divide the cooked oatmeal between two bowls or plates. Top each with half the eggs, spinach, and tomato mixture. Add any other toppings you might like (see notes).
Notes
- Cheese notes: any meltable cheese works great here! I love the saltiness of Parmesan, but I recommend only using real grated Parmigiano-Reggiano instead of the crumbled stuff from the green bottle. The crumbled Parmesan cheese just doesn't melt as well as the real thing!
- For a dairy-free option, use 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast instead of cheese to give the oatmeal that savory cheesy flavor. This stuff is amazing AND it's loaded with nutrients. Win win!
- The game plan: if you can multi-task, you can cook the eggs and the spinach while the oatmeal is cooking, just make sure to pay attention to both because both cook quickly! Otherwise, cook the oatmeal first, since it needs time to cool. Then cook the eggs and spinach.
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Other savory oatmeal topping ideas:
- Sliced avocado
- Shredded cheese or feta
- Salsa
- Hot sauce
- Bacon (of course!!)
- Diced ham
- Cooked chicken
- Diced green onions
- Canned tuna (a little play on the classic Bahamian tuna and grits savory breakfast)
- Everything bagel seasoning (this stuff is AMAZING on eggs!)
- Pepitas (for a little crunch)
Nutrition
The nutritional information displayed is an estimate and not to be used as dietary or nutritional advice. Consult a nutritionist or dietician for nutritional info based on the exact ingredients you use.