Rolled oats, old-fashioned oats, steel-cut oats, and quick oats — these are simple ingredients to keep on hand that are budget-friendly and easy to make into delicious meals. There are many different ways to serve oats; all of which can help you save money and enjoy a great breakfast or dessert any day of the week.
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If you’re looking for an easy way to enjoy breakfast on a budget, make sure you check out oats. You can cook oats in all its forms in various ways from easy overnight oats to stovetop oatmeal, from baked oatmeal to breakfast cookies, granola to instant oats.
But, oats are for more than just breakfast! It’s a great whole grain to stir into streusel to top muffins, pie, or apple crisp. And of course, oats are delicious in oatmeal cookies!
The options are endless and also budget-friendly. Oats are one of the key players in our Budget Grocery List, worthy of stocking up and including in weekly meal plans.
What’s so great about oats?
Oats have a lot of things going for them besides being delicious. From a nutritional standpoint, they are high in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. There is a correlation between oats consumption and improved gut health, blood sugar, and blood cholesterol.
Folks looking to establish a heart friendly diet are often encouraged to add more oats to their diets.
Types of Oats
There are many different types of oats, or more specifically ways that they are processed and sold. You can serve oats on their own or worked into your recipes. They include:
whole oat groats – These are oats in their most raw form, though they have been cleaned, toasted, hulled, and cleaned again. Groats are cooked served as cereal, much like rice.
steel cut oats (or Irish oats) – These are groats that have been chopped into pieces instead of being rolled. They have a different texture and take longer to cook than rolled oats.
Scottish oats – Groats that have been milled which results in a creamier texture than steel-cut.
rolled oats (aka old fashioned rolled oats) – These are groats that have been steamed and flattened with huge rollers. They are most often used in oatmeal and cookies.
quick-cooking oats – These are processed similarly to rolled oats, but are cut before steaming and rolled into thinner flakes. This allows them to cook more quickly. I’ve used these as a gluten-free substitute for bread crumbs in meatballs and meatloaf.
instant oats – Not quite the same as quick-cooking oats, these are groats that have been precooked and dried before rolling. If you’re a fan of instant oatmeal, be sure to try our recipe for instant oatmeal packets.
You can also find oat bran and oat flour for sale at the grocery store to use in baked goods or for breading chicken or fish.
Oats are one of our favorite grocery staples to keep on hand, for their taste as well as how cheap they are to stock.
Fun Toppings for Oatmeal
Cooking oatmeal in a pot on the stove is probably the most classic way to serve any type of oats. It’s an easy breakfast any time of year, but definitely welcome in the winter months when you want a hot and hearty morning meal.
Follow the directions on the bag of oats for a stovetop oatmeal recipe. (If you want to avoid a mushy texture, be sure to make our Not Mushy Oatmeal recipe!) Then top the warm bowl of oatmeal with one of the following:
- cream, milk, almond milk, or oat milk
- yogurt, such as plain greek yogurt or a non-dairy yogurt
- fresh fruit, such as chopped apples, pears, or fresh berries
- dried fruit, like raisins, craisins, dates, figs, or chopped dried apricot
- nuts or seeds, like sunflower seeds, sunflower butter, peanut butter, or almond butter, flax seeds or chia seeds
- sweeteners such as brown sugar, pure maple syrup, or honey
- sprinkles and chocolate chips are also fun toppings!
- You can also jazz up a classic oatmeal recipe by adding cocoa powder, vanilla extract, or warm spices for a tasty breakfast
What to Make with Oats
Breakfast Recipes
These easy oats recipes are perfect for busy mornings. Most of these are make-ahead breakfast recipes that you can prep in advance and in some instances freeze.
Desserts
Oats are great to use in your favorite breakfasts, but they are also great for adding whole grains to your desserts. And we’re not talking just cookie dough, delicious though it may be.
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