Oats Recipe for One

Kickstart your day with this simple and healthy stovetop oats recipe for one! It requires just 3 essential ingredients: old-fashioned oats, a pinch of salt, and water.

Don't let the simplicity fool you because there are many flavor possibilities for this single serve. From fresh fruit and crunchy nuts to a drizzle of honey or maple syrup, the add-ons are endless!

I love oats but since I'm the only one in the family who eats it, I've started making just enough for a single serving with no leftovers.

The quantities depend largely on how famished I am. Some mornings I'm barely hungry but must eat for sustenance and I love oats over any other breakfast so it's less rather than more.

Oats to Water Ratio for A Single Serve

I use ¼ cup oats on the not so hungry mornings and a ½ cup oats for a larger appetite.

¼ cup oats with a half cup of water. The banana and serving toppings are all additional to the oats so consider that when working out how much you need.

½ cup oats to 1 cup water for mornings when my appetite is larger (like in winter, right now in South Africa).

For a 3 to 4 oats serving recipe, take a look at my Peanut Butter Oats Recipe. 

3 Types of Oats

Below are the 3 types of oats and I've added a little description for each one. In this single serving recipe, I used rolled oats. They don't cook as fast as quick oats nor do they have all the nutritional benefits of steel cuts oats, but they're an easy classic oatmeal for busy mornings. 

Steel-Cut Oats: They have a very chewy, nutty and coarse texture and require the longest cooking time with about 20 to 30 minutes. Steel cut oats take longer to cook but are very high in fiber and also keep you full for longer. 

Quick Oats: This type of oats has the shortest cooking time, like 1-2 minutes so you have to watch them. They also cook to a soft and mushy, smooth texture. Quick oats are rolled and flattened much more than old fashioned oats. They can be very convenient for quick breakfasts because they absorb flavors really well. Unfortunately, it does lose nutrients because of the processing. 

Old Fashioned Rolled Oats: I love old fashioned rolled oats because they are the perfect in-between. Softer than steel-cut oats and chewier than quick oats with a slightly flattened texture. Cooking time of 5-10 minutes with a good balance of texture fiber and nutrients.

Additional Notes

• All three types of oats come from whole oat groats, which have the outer hull removed. The processing method determines the texture and cooking time.
• Steel cut oats and old-fashioned rolled oats are generally considered healthier choices due to their higher fiber content and slower digestion compared to quick oats.

How Much Water to Use? 

Simply double the amount of liquid to oats ratio, so in this recipe I used 1 cup of oats and 2 cups of water, it's always double. However, sometimes you want your rolled oats to cook a little longer and it's already absorbed all the liquid, then you simply add a dash more water. It will also depend on what you've added into the oats. If you have chia seeds in there too, you probably will need about a couple tablespoons more liquid. 

Can I Cook My Oats in Milk?

Yes, sure you can. You can cook your oats in any liquid. The only time I use water to cook my oats is when I'm going to eat it with milk. If I am not serving it with milk, I will cook it in milk and serve it with a sprinkle of brown sugar. It's a lot creamier when you cook it in milk, you don't necessarily need to serve it with milk too. 

Simple Oatmeal Recipe Topping Ideas

• Versatility is key - a mix of textures and flavors:  A combination of chopped nuts and dried fruit.  Sliced fresh fruits like bananas, strawberries, or peaches.  Seeds like chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, or hemp seeds. A drizzle of honey or maple syrup with a sprinkle of cinnamon or brown sugar for a classic combo.  Diced dark chocolate for a spoil!

Side Note:  If you are planning to use nuts and seeds as a topping, consider toasting them or adding them to your air fryer to roast. If you do this ahead in a big batch, you can use them in multiple ways! Granola is another element of crunchy to add to your favorite toppings. 

Delicious Breakfast Recipe

What You Need, Ingredients

You need only a few simple ingredients to make a delicious oats breakfast with a creamy texture. 

• Oats: Rolled oats were used in this recipe. 

• Water:  To cook the oats, and since it's for one it will be less than a cup water. 

• Salt:  You need a pinch of salt to cook the oats for taste. I must admit, there are times I leave the salt out because it depends on what my body needs and there are times, it doesn't need salt. 

How To Cook Oats for One

• Add all the ingredients into a small saucepan or pot and stir. Cook on medium-high heat and watch it so that you can drop the heat the minute you see it starting to cook, then you cook it on medium heat for 2 minutes while stirring continuously because you don't want it to stick. 

• Keep stirring until the liquid is all absorbed, it will take a minute or two so don't walk away! Once the liquid is absorbed and the banana all melted, remove it from the stove.

• Serve your warm oatmeal with your choice of milk, sugar, a sprinkle of cinnamon, honey or a drizzle of maple syrup. These are all optional ideas including a lovely sprinkle of cocoa powder with fried banana, I mean, the options are all delicious!

What Can I Add to My Oats?

• Vanilla extract, if you follow my recipes, you know that every time I talk about vanilla extract or paste, I'm always mentioning the cost, so if you have it and want to use it, go ahead otherwise, leave it out. You only need a small amount.

• Serve your oats with milk (and it can any milk), almond milk, coconut milk, full cream milk, fat free milk whatever you prefer. Other add-ins are chia seeds, banana slices and a wide selection of other fruit. Fresh blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, kiwi and for sweetness, I love either coconut sugar or brown sugar. There's also honey, pure maple syrup and cinnamon sugar or regular syrup. 

Recipe Notes

• A smaller quantity of oats will require less time on the stove as opposed to a larger quantity.
• When the water is more, you don't have to stand and watch it and stir because the larger quantity of water helps it not burn quickly.
• If you are using quick oats, it will cook, yes, quicker than rolled oats. The texture will be softer (mushier if overcooked!) as opposed to the thicker rolled oats texture.

How To Cook Half Cup of Oats

½ cup oats to 1 cup of water: Add oats, water and a pinch of salt to the pot on medium-high heat and place the lid on. The minute it starts to boil, remove the lid, stir it and give it a minute to cook. Remove from the stove and carve, it will thicken as it sits. Add cinnamon sugar, fruit, cream or milk to your liking.

The image below is the ½ cup oats measure.

More Breakfast Recipes

• Cinnamon Sugar Pancakes
• Peanut Butter Oats Recipe
• South African Pancakes
• Peanut Butter Avocado Toast
• Easy Mediterranean Breakfast Egg Muffins

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