Oatmeal is the champion of frugal and healthy breakfasts, but lately the traditional morning meal has been breaking out of its mold. Savory oatmeal is a new trend in the world of food blogging, and it's kind of genius. Oatmeal as a pantry staple is about as frugal as it gets, most grocery stores sell 48 ounces of off-brand rolled outs for around $2.50 and even organic and certified gluten free options are still affordable. If you've got a bulk bin option, go see for yourself how loose oats can be as cheap as $1 per pound.
If you're ready to adopt oatmeal as your new dinner staple, here are three savory and frugal oatmeal recipes you have to try.
Bacon & Cheddar Oatmeal
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 3 ¾ cups water
- 4 tbsp butter
- Salt & pepper
- 8 slices bacon, chopped and fried
- 1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded
Cook oats as directed on package. Remove from heat, mix in butter and salt & pepper while still hot. Serve into four bowls and top with bacon and shredded cheddar. Serves 4.
Huevos Rancheros Oatmeal
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 3 ¾ cups water
- 4 tbsp butter
- Salt & pepper
- 4 eggs, fried over easy
- 2 avocados
- Salsa
- Cilantro
- Sour Cream
Cook oats as directed on package. Remove from heat, mix in butter and salt & pepper while still hot. Serve into four bowls and top with a single fried egg, half of an avocado, salsa, cilantro, and sour cream. Serves 4.
Parmesan Mushroom Oatmeal
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 3 ¾ cups water
- 4 tbsp butter
- Salt & pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup portabella mushrooms, sliced
- 4 swiss chard leaves (or any greens), chopped
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
Cook oatmeal as directed on package. Remove from heat and stir in butter, salt & pepper while still warm. Serve into four bowls and set aside. Cook mushrooms in olive oil, adding greens for last minute to wilt slightly. Top oatmeal with mushrooms, greens, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Serves 4.
When it comes to oatmeal toppings, the sky's the limit. Use these recipes as inspiration, trying new combinations until you find your favorite frugal and savory oatmeal recipe.